Diamonds are forever.

[Sepp45]

Hope you like this little research and compilation I've made about the PO badge with Diamonds.

These are ones I could find so far:

Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen in Gold mit Brillanten

Admiral Miklós Horthy

Photo moments before the awarding of the badge to Admiral Horthy, by Goring himself.







His badge was sold at Hermman Historica.


Generalmajor Dietrich Peltz

The badge awarded to Peltz, shown at Ritterkreuz.eu


Generalfeldmarschall Erhard Milch



Both pares of Milch's badges with Diamonds.








Major Erich Hartmann



Erich Hartmann, his wife Ursula and his daughter Ursula Isabel looking at his Knights Cross and Pilot’s badge.


Generaloberst Otto Deßloch

His badge can be seen here.







And, also his other badge, without the swastika.








General der Flieger Friedrich Christiansen

During his award ceremony, the badge can be seen here.



His badge was sold at Hermann Historica.


Reichmarshall Hermann Goering

During, in 1945 when he surrendered. His badge with Diamonds, visible.


Photo when it was in Eric Campion's collection.


Generalfeldmarshall Hugo Sperlle








His badge was recently sold at Hermann Historica.

Oberst Werner Molders

Udet and Molders; he's wearing the badge.




SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Skorzeny











His badge with Diamonds and medals, on the day of his funeral.


Oberst Hans Ulrich Rudel

Rudel and his badge.




Oberst Werner Baumbach

Oberst Baumbach wearing his badge, alongside Goering.


Baumbach badge is shown at Ritterkreuz.eu


And now, some interesting photos of the badge being worn. I still haven't found photos of these, yet:

Hanna reitsch


Reinhard Heydrich


Ion Antonescu




Karl Donitz

A rare photo of this badge being wear by Donitz.

Benito Mussollini




I hope you enjoyed it

Regards,
Sepp.

[Lubo]

Hi Sepp,
Again on the road, huh? Excellent subject!
I hate to cut in like this, but IMO PO with diamonds shown here supposedly awarded to:
Skorzeny, Sperrle, Christiansen, Dessloch and Horthy are reproductions!
Skorzeny's badge is an already discussed fake!

Lubo

[Jos L C]

Hanna Reitsch had one of these ?
At least not in that pic ..

Jos.

[JAndrew]

Jos,
If I am not mistaken Hanna Reitsch was awarded a special badge that had extensions out to the sides as if it were on a long horizontal pin. I believe there is a picture of her wearing it in Littlejohn and Dodkins book on German awards.
JAndrew

[blitzkrieg gsd]

So you are saying that most of thesee PO badges are fakes? If thats true how do you know? And where are the real ones at then? Are the ones you see at the SOS every year fakes to? These are way out of my price range but ii would like to know if i have been dreaming about fakes all these years.

[Gran Sasso]

Hanna Reitsch had one of these ?

No - also not Hartmann

[Bob Hritz]

I can assure the denazified Dessloch piece is original. I own it with impeccible provenance from Desloch to US Colonel William F Woolley, whom he gave it to. It was purchased from Colonel Woolley's son.

Bob Hritz

[Lubo]

Hi guys, Bob, the denaz.badge is an IMIT. piece (badge issued for everyday wear - no gold/platinum or diamonds there), which looks like a lovely original (especially when comming with provenance)!
I was talking only about the gold/platinum pieces with diamonds!

[Bob Hritz]

Hi guys, Bob, the denaz.badge is an IMIT. piece (badge issued for everyday wear - no gold/platinum or diamonds there), which looks like a lovely original (especially when comming with provenance)!
I was talking only about the gold/platinum pieces with diamonds!

Lubo,

I agree with your assessment on the gold diamond badges.

Bob Hritz

[Sepp45]

Thank you guys for all the comments and corrections you've made. I'm really not an expert in these badges, so it's great to see what's real and what's not

Regarding Hanna Reitsch, I'm guessing this is the correct badge?


I've made a list of the recipients, so maybe we can get as many photos of them with the badge.

ANGERSTEIN, Karl
DONITZ, Karl
HIMMLER, Heinrich
DIETRICH, Sepp
HARTMANN, Erich
Von BLOMBERG, Werner
HARLINGHAUSEN, Martin
Von BRAUCHITSCH, Walter
GALLAND, Adolf
BAUMBACH, Werner
GOERING, Hermann
JESCHONNEK, Hans
BODENSCHATZ, Karl
Ritter Von GREIM, Robert
KORTEN, G?nter
BAUR, Hans
GRAFF, Hermann
KELLER, Alfred
Von BELOW, Nicolaus
GOLLOB, Gordon
KESSELRING, Albert
CHRISTIANSEN, Friedrich
Von GABLENS, Carl - August
KAMMHUBER, Josef
KASTNER - KIRDORF, Gustav
PARANI, Albert
STUDENT, Kurt
LOHR, Alexander
PELTZ, Friedrich
TRETTNER, Heinrich
LENT, Helmut
PFLUGBEIL, Johanus
UDET, Ernst
LOERZER, Bruno
ROMMEL, Erwin
RAMCKE, Bernard
WEVER, Walther
MOLDERS, Werner
Von RICHTHOFEN, Wolfram
REITSCH, Hanna
SKORZENY, Otto
MILCH, Erhard
SPERRLE, Hugo
NAVRATIL, Frederick
NOWOTHY, Walter
STUMPFF, Hans-Jurgen
von MANSTEIN, Erich
RUDEL, Hans - Ulrich
SCHNAUFER, Heinz

Foreign recipients:

BORIS, King of Bulgaria
MUSSOLINI, Benito
VUILLEMIN General
MORAGILIA General
PETITJEAN Colonel
SCHMIDLEIN Capitaine
ANTONESCU, Ion
HORTHY, Niklos
BALBO, Italo
VALLE, Ugo
FRANCO, Francisco
von MANNERHEIM, Carl Gustav Emil, Baron

[chen]

Hanna's

[Sepp45]

Thanks Chen for the amazing photo!

Before I continue with the gallery of recipients, let me share with you these amazing photos of the badge, recently sold at Andreas-Thies, for 70.000 Euros.























Acording to the website, this is a 1943-44 period item. Maybe the experts can give us some directions about markings and stuff

Now, lets continue with more photos!


Oberstgruppenführer Sepp Dietrich
It's really hard to get good photos of the badge in this case..


One of the most known photos of the badge, during a meal at the Eagle's nest.


During his funeral, the badge can be seen on the Ordenskissen (or medal cushion).





Major Hajo Hermann


Generalisimo Francisco Franco

During a state visit, he can be seen wearing the badge.

Marshall of Finland Emil Mannerheim
There's some controversy surrounding the true facts of the badge in this case. I've never seen Mannerheim wearing it, until I saw this photo during a visit of Hermann Goering. I'm guessing that would have been a proper occasion for the award ceremony..



King Boris III of Bulgaria
Same situation here. The list of recipients gives Boris as one of them, but I couldn't find a photo of him wearing it. As above, here's a photo of Goering with Boris..



Reichsführer Heinrich Himmler






Slovak Army Minister Ferdinand Catlos


Generalleutnant Walther Wever
The first german who was awarded with the badge, in 1935.


Well, my search goes on..

Regards,
Sepp.

[chen]

Hajo Hermann's

[Sepp45]

Hajo Hermann's

!!!

Thanks! keep them coming, if you have more

[blitzkrieg gsd]

You guys need to school me on these badges please help the new guy understand. Who and for what were these givin? I always thought they were for luft pilots more like top aces is that wrong? And why would Himmler and sepp d have earned one? Sorry if these are stupid questions but im new and want to know the truth.