Diamonds are forever.

[August von Mackensen]

WOW, thats awsome, a chance for the "poor" collectors to have a look on these rar badges.

Matt

[Rich G]

Nice collage of photos showing the diamond wearers but the photo of Reinhard Heydrich should be removed as it shows him wearing the regular pilot badge not the one in gold with diamonds.

[Sepp45]

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.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/war_...r_diamonds.htm

[Thomas Durante]

Great thread! Thanks for putting this collage together, interesting to see all these badges in one thread.

Tom

[Sepp45]

Another photo:


A group of French soldiers with the badge; can't tell who are they, but in the list of recipients are listed two french Jacques Petitjean and Joseph Vuillemin. The second one looks like General Vuillemin..

[jabnus]

Very nice topic

It may be interesting to add as well where some of the badges are located today? (Museums or privat collections). Or where (good) references can be found on (some of) the badges?

In post 1 is mentioned the Goering badge as being part of the Eric campion collection, but it has been in the Christopher Ailsby collection since around 1982 i think? (also been on the frontcover of the Combat Medals of the Third Reich book). Also if i remember correctly there have been at least two editions of the Klaus Patzwal "Militaria" magazine that had articles on the badges. Ill try and dig them out.

Looking forward to see and read more on them, interesting topic and some very nice images. I didn't know the ones of Hanna Reitsch and Friedrich Christiansen, more please!!!

best regards,
Gaston

[Sepp45]

but it has been in the Christopher Ailsby collection since around 1982 i think? (also been on the frontcover of the Combat Medals of the Third Reich book).

Hi Gaston, they have been on Ailsby's collection since 82', mainly because Eric Campion died that very same year.

Glad you like the thread

[Sepp45]

Generalfeldmarshall Hugo Sperlle

I've found Sperrle's badge. This was shown at John Angolia's book.



Let's continue with the search

[Jos L C]

Fake or not, amazing pieces, still waiting for one of those to pop up in the Bazaar for 75 euro ..

Jos.

[jabnus]

Hi Sepp45,

The page from Angolia is quite confusing, but the badge shown there is actually the Goering badge, not the one from Sperle i think. There's quite easily made some mistakes regarding these badges, as many information about them is used zigzag in the (old) reference books as well. It's a bit a minefield to get it all right.

@Jos: don't we all wish for that

best regards,
Gaston

[AFF96]

fake or not, amazing pieces, still waiting for one of those to pop up in the bazaar for 75 euro ..

Jos.

sold!

[DaveNZ]

A group of French soldiers with the badge; can't tell who are they, but in the list of recipients are listed two french Jacques Petitjean and Joseph Vuillemin. The second one looks like General Vuillemin..

well thats interesting: didnt know any french guys got one

[Sepp45]

Hi Sepp45,

The page from Angolia is quite confusing, but the badge shown there is actually the Goering badge, not the one from Sperle i think. There's quite easily made some mistakes regarding these badges, as many information about them is used zigzag in the (old) reference books as well. It's a bit a minefield to get it all right.

@Jos: don't we all wish for that

best regards,
Gaston

Hi Gaston, why would you say it's Goring's? It clearly says it is the one that belonged to Sperrle

[chen]

" Inspecting...." not equals to " Eric Campion's photo claims to be Goring's badge".

[Sepp45]

Some more rare photos


Unknown Italian officer with the badge.


A good photo of H. Himmler wearing it.


Francisco Franco, leaving Germany, wearing the badge.


Italo Balbo.


Il Duce, with the Diamonds.


Dr. Ing. Fritz Gorrnert, behind Goering, with the Badge.


Another recipient, Karl Koller.

Thanks to everyone for the contribution.

Regards,
Sepp.