Why do some award documents have binder holes?

[Brian R]

The subject of punched holes in documents has come up in the "value of EKII & IAB group" thread. Some folks have stated that they don't mind the holes while others have stated that they feel these detract from the document's value. Personally I don't mind them but everyone has their own preference. I think I'd rather have a document with holes but no folds as opposed to a doc that has folds but no holes. Obviously it depends on the details of the doc such as unit, commander, etc.

Why are these holes in some docs in the first place? Did a soldier recive his document with his award and then send it home to be stored safely in an organized binder away from the front? Or, were these done by the soldier's unit? Were award documents sometimes stored by the unit, the way the Wehrpass was stored? Perhaps if we understand the reason the holes exist, it may help us decide if these are good or bad when deciding the value of a doc.

Brian

[Chris Boonzaier]

Someone once posted a theory that they were stored by the unit but I dont buy that at all.
A unit at the front had to much to do tha award docs, and then take them back for safekeeking.

There were no plastic sheets back then and ifyouare lucky enough to get a 100% from the vet untouched looked at once since the war vet group... you occasionally still find the docs in the binder, often with all the other religiously stored paperwork (Insurance claims, tax returns, baptism certificate, school reports etc)

[Richard]

Germans are notorious for organization. Most documents considered important were stored (and to this day still are to a large degree) in binders that are 2 hole. They are simply punched and then stored. Other than the fact fakers have now caught on to this, I used to prefer the punched docs when I first started collecting. Way back then it was an additional sign of authenticity since most fakers wanted to produce something that appeared "undamaged".
Richard V

[Blut_Orden]

Binder holes............

I'm quite notorious for organization. I keep a notebook that I print out histories of my collection along with the documents that go along with them. The binder holes could best be explained by the fact they are binder holes, to be kept in binders. I'm sure that every award document had a copy that was kept on file. Yeah, I'm sure. I'm looking for a German Order and Blood Order document to print out from the internet. Know where any images are? Thanks.

[Tom Yanacek]

I think I'd rather have a document with holes but no folds as opposed to a doc that has folds but no holes.
Brian

Hello Brian,
Neither holes nor folds bother me when it comes to award documents. These things should be expected. From my experience at least, the document without holes and/or folds is the exception rather than the norm. So long as the documents are real, and not falling apart, I like them. I don't think that binder holes or folds hurt the value of the document.
Best regards! Tom

[Chris Boonzaier]

Anyone noticed that officers docs (not ALWAYS but OFTEN) are in better shape than mens? The higher the rank the better condition the doc. Not because they valued them more, but because they probably had better possibility of keeping their stuff safe and sound.

[Pieter Verbruggen]

That's why I collect Knights Cross Mappes, they don't come wit punched holes....

Pieter.

[Simon O.]

It's the content and history behind the docs which i value most. Binder holes and folds are almost irrelevant to me.

[Edward]

Hello Brian,

Both during and after the war the biggest reason is that both veterans or family members would put the docs into binders which gave added protection. I have seen numbers of such doc groups over the years still in the original binder. It has nothing to do with supposed unit files, officer docs, or the Germanic penchant for ordern...it was simply to protect the documents using the most popular method of doc storage at the time.

Regards