DRK and other mountain badge

[Don Scowen]

Warlord has requested the following pictures be posted.

Cheers
Don

[Don Scowen]

Reverse

[gebirgaussie]

No, it is too small a badge to support the stemless visor cap badge "edelweißmützenabzeichen". I've seen this same badge (same person) in other photos, and it is definitely a badge, not a cloth patch.



The wearer is Peter "Himalaya Peter" Aschenbrenner, an instructor at the Heeres-Hochgebirgschule in Fulpmes, Austria. Peter was an accomplished pre-war mountaineer and was extremely famous. The badge is, according to Patrick Kiser ("Bergführerkiser") the civilian model of the Bergführerabzeichen. Note how it is circular, not oval like the 1936 Heeresbergführer badge. This image is the clearest I've seen so far -- maybe I need to get Kaltenegger's book?


Bergheil!
--Guy Power

Could it be a mini stemless edelweiss (metal type) that has been sewn or pinned over a cross patch? After I magnified and enhanced this photo it looks more like a two-piece arrangement to me, with a metallic edelweiss on top of a cloth patch. Plus, I don't see any reason to believe it is a Red Cross. Under magnification, what looks like the ends of the cross arms are in fact somewhat rounded. So it looks more like a Gothic Runic Cross symbol in fact!! Whatever this badge is, I doubt very much if it was an official issue. Perhaps Peter wore this on occasion for "good luck", or he just wore it for this photograph because he was "dressing up".

Here is a mini edelweiss, which I talk about on another thread. I do not know if this badge was ever real or who wore them or where they were worn. Perhaps the photo of Himalaya Peter has answered this?

Miniature edelweiss (Sew on type) use unknown

Just to avoid confusion, I will post up your original photo, so everyone knows which badge I am referring to.
Your original photo of Himalaya Peter

Ian

[gebirgaussie]

Here is what I believe the cross should look like after enlarging the image, enhancing, averaging, and removing the Edelweiss. Despite the poor quality of the original image, under magnification the thing that struck me the most was the rounded ends of the cross arms, which indicates a symbol other than a Red Cross. Does anyone have any ideas? If not an official symbol, some kind of Gothic Runic symbol perhaps, which had local significance to this mountain community? A friend has told me that this is a Catholic Crusader's Cross. It was originally used with the phrase "In this sign conquer". I would greatly appreciate more photos that show this same badge in wear, especially clearer or higher resolution photos.

[GJR100]

I have here the Civilian version of the Ski- and Bergführer of the DAV. It belonged to Albert Öschler. I have many other pre- and war badges and documents including 2 photo albums that belonged to him. All the rest is in the archive of the modern DAV.

In the picture of Aschenbrenner I miss the two skis. Perhaps there was also a Bergführer version withou the skis ...

MfG,
Bart

[Duzig]

Hello,
I also have one of those alpine rettungdienst badge and it also is not numbered.
Duzig(Bill)

[ironfist]

my one

Hi guys I also believe this is period.it is well made. the number would surgest there were lot more ?? somewhere .
Or just an old fake .
Like said nothing in original pictures yet.
Regards Pete

[ironfist]

oops

forgot the pics

[LOTHRINGEN]

Hi !

do we no have more information regarding this badge ?
fantasy ... or original ?

please give me more details and more pics (especially of the back).

thanks for commenting

[M.E.E.]

Talking with many old DRK collectors there is no evidence of these until the late 70's early 80's. The ones like Ironfist posted above can be found on period post cards, and pictures and can be found in period news papers. Having owned the one you are asking about, the quality looks better in pictures than in person. They have a chalky white colour than a crisp white, the rivets are very delicate, you never see damage on any of these, no pin damage, no enamel damage. I would love to find one like Ironfists but they never come up for sale. Also you don't find the Swastika in the Red Cross on period items.