Lappland Doc

[WaltherW]

Hi gents,

need your help with this doc, a collector friend gets this straight up from the vets family...some collectorfriends of me have bad feelings with it.

Can someone give me a statement to the shown doc ?

Thanks a lot for your work and help

BR Ww



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[Gerdan]

The document is dated 5.7.1945 - after the end of WW2 - and the document form is "home

made" not an official print. But units may not have been able to use correct documents in

those days.

Gerdan

[Antonio Scapini]

IMO this doc is a fake.
Simon I think will confirm my opinion...

[max history]

This is an obvious fake made either in the USA or by an American. The date is the American version of 7th May 1945, placing the month before the day. This does not ocurr in real German. The signature is a joke and the emblem appears to be the work of a seven year old. I am amazed that anyone might consider this as authentic. It's crap.
Max.

[Ian Jewison]

Max,

I would disagree on the date theory as these were normally awarded post war....however I do agree with crap

/Ian

[WaltherW]

...thanks gents.....doc returns to seller

[Simon O.]

Unfortunately i have to agree. I'm pretty sure the faker used the example pictured on page 660 of Detlev Niemann's price guide to the same company as a base for the information in the doc.

Vardø is in East Finnmark, an area evacuated by the Germans in Oct.44. In Aug.45 detachments of troops under British supervision were sent back in to the area to clear mines, dispose of ordnance and help with reconstruction. it must have been a bit uncomfortable for the Germans that far up as the Russians were still occupying parts of East Finnmark at the time and they greatly feared being handed over to them.

A few words on dates.

ALL Lappland shields were awarded from 1st July 45 onwards, with the latest i've come across thus far being from late Oct.45, the tiny minority we see dated prior to 8th May are backdated, with the earliest i've thus far seen being march '45. My belief currently is that the order from 20 Geb.Armee HQ authorising the award was given on the 1st July 45. This is because you see no awardes dated between 8th May and 1st July. Those awards coming from AOK 20 HQ and some Korps HQ are also dated 1st July. ie. they would have been first to get the signal. Units lower down you most often see awards begining in mid to late July. The example i mention above in Detlev's book is also backdated, but backdated to 1st July.