Kommandantur KZ Lager discs

[Runic]

I really hate to bring this up.
But during my collecting years, I have seen discs made of something close to tin,
With a cheap TR eagle and acid etched Kommandantur Auschschwitz, or whatever KZ Lager was in vogue for the fakers. But then by accident, I got one from KZ Lager
Kemna.
What made me sit up and take notice is that "Kemna" is not a 'famous' concentration camp-- and the fact that these tags were made in the cheapest possible way and they are all consistent with each other - Auschwitz was exactly the same as Kemna in every detail. Which made me wonder- who would fake a very little known camp to exactly imitate a famous death camp?
Just saying. These discs may be legit and historically important
R

[Erich B.]

I would think they'd be made with every KL name.
Erich

[Runic]

Erich, you are probably right. The real, and/or the fake would be made with every KL name, I would guess.

This being 2016, it is much more likely these are fantasy pieces, because more would have shown up by now. I'm putting this down to an extremely clever fake.
If anyone knows more, let us know.

[Runic]

Just for everyone's FYI. Some collectors haven't come across these.

[Runic]

The story I have heard on these, is that they were cheaply made, probably inmate made, tags used as baggage tags for personnel being transferred to various camps.

I have physically seen only two - one from Auschwitz, and this one from Kemna. What makes it believable is the cheap construction.

The war economy being such that only the cheapest possible material and construction methods would have been employed. In this case, a standard Eagle stamped out of a tin-like material, then what appears to be possibly an acid etched process to put each KZ camps name on the standard disc.

Also believable as something produced for a specific, short-term purpose, and not meant to last. The KZs weren't going to produce practical stuff as mementos - these were highly disposable once they had served their short-term purpose.

Real history or more fantasy?

[schönbeck]

Have or have had one of those as well. I might have thrown it away, pitty if real.

[planet]

Unfortunately fake discs.
You could buy them in the 1990ies at Berlins flea markets, often stamped with RZM marks on the back which make no sense at all. Also still have a few somewhere.
Best, Thomas

[Runic]

Thomas, thanks a lot. I knew someone out there would know about these.

My gut was telling me fantasy/fake.

Reminds me of the old saying, which is worth repeating - "buy the item, not the story that goes with it!"

[planet]

You're welcome.