Opinions on Luftschutz please.

[peterwyndavies]

I have come across this Luftschutz medal which I am thinking of purchasing and would welcome opinions as to its authenticity before I decide to buy. Thanks.

[peterwyndavies]

A view of the back.

[Bill H.]

Hi Peter,

Looks great to me. Its interesting to see the Austrian style ribbon. I'd go for it.

Cheers, Bill Huber

[peterwyndavies]

Thanks Bill, it went for £51.75 in auction which I thought was a bit too much so I let it go. Do you think it was a bitb pricey?
Peter.

[Bill H.]

Thanks Bill, it went for £51.75 in auction which I thought was a bit too much so I let it go. Do you think it was a bitb pricey?
Peter.

If you are patient you can get almost anything at a good price. If I saw it at a flea market at that price I'd probably pass too but I've been collecting a long time and I have a hard time paying the prices things seem to be bringing these days. I can say I'm not shocked that it went for that price and it may even be fair by today's standards.

You just have to make the decision if its worth it to you. I've been known to pay more simply because the piece appealed to me only to have people tell me that I'll be buried with it because they will never be worth what I paid but after 30 years - guess what.....

The neat thing about that particular example (to me) was the Austrian ribbon.
I suspect its scarce for that reason simply because the Austrians were brought into the Reich in 1938 and from that point on their decorations were worn in the German fashion rather than the Austrian. This piece was worn by an Austrian right around the time of the anschluss or shortly thereafter while they were in a transitional mode. I have seen the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd class and Hindenburg Cross worn on Austrian fold ribbons but not too many Luftschuetz medals.

Cheers, Bill Huber

[peterwyndavies]

Thanks for the extra info Bill.
Peter.

[Stan]

RLB medal

Peter,

I also think that it is a great looking medal with the "Austrian" style ribbon.

However, having now owned 3 of these medals in the past 45 years I have come to the conclusion that the lightweight aluminium versions are far superior to the zincers.

So, if this medal was a nice lightweight aluminium medal with that great Austrian-style ribbon I would regret not having bought it for the price you mention.

Stan

[peterwyndavies]

Thanks Stan,
maybe I should have perservered a bit longer with the bidding.
Peter.

[ajtony]

As Bill mantioned the most interesting part of this medal for me the ribbon. You called it "austrian style" but it can be hungarian also!

I do not have any ispecific example for hungarian recipients, but in 1944-45 many hungarian troops were commanded to the Reich's territory (soldiers and members of the youth orsanisation as well) and the statutes of the medal allowed to receive by foreigns...

Anyway I have seen photo of hungarian general wearing the EK2 on this kind of ribbon!

[peterwyndavies]

Interesting comments Tony.
Thanks,
Peter.

[peterm]

Hi guys !

As I wrote in some other threads concerning these ribbons: 99 % were made for and worn by Austrian members of KAMERADSCHAFTSBUND (a veterans organisation in Austria). These ribbons were made postwar.

Kind regards,

Peter

[tgn]

Hi guys !

As I wrote in some other threads concerning these ribbons: 99 % were made for and worn by Austrian members of KAMERADSCHAFTSBUND (a veterans organisation in Austria). These ribbons were made postwar.

Kind regards,

Peter

I agree with Peter. When I lived in Austria during 1972-73, you could buy these ribbons at certain clothing stores. I bought a bunch of them and still have most somewhere. I believe the ribbons will probably glow under UV light.

Tom

[peterm]

Hi Tom !

They don't always glow, because the makers often had large amounts of ribbons in rolls from pre- and wartime production on stock and used these ones first. But the tryfold itself has been made postwar - often You can see it on the metal pieces of the tryfold. Please compare them to Austrian ribbons of WW I and the ones awarded between the wars.

Kind regards,

Peter

P.S.: I still don't know, if You got my mail concerning the "Gallipoli Star".

[peterwyndavies]

Thanks Peter and Tom for this extra information.
Peter.

[Bill H.]

As Bill mantioned the most interesting part of this medal for me the ribbon. You called it "austrian style" but it can be hungarian also!

Hi ajtony,

My appologies. Your point is well taken! Henceforth, I shall refer to this style as the Austro/Hungarian style fold.

Thanks for the input, Bill Huber