Help! --wkh -alles für den sieg--?

[helmut01]

Hallo specialists,please help igot this weekend from privat WKH ? what is this ?
Thanks Helmut !

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello Helmut,

A very interesting piece utilizing both the Odal-rune and the Sunwheel cross. I never seen a piece like this before and I don’t know what WKH stands for. Whatever this is, it certainly looks old and legitimate.

Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

I am going to move this over to the Tinnies and Political Badges sub forum. Perhaps someone there will recognize this.

Best regards,Tom

[HPL2008]

The WKH was the Wirtschaftlicher Kriegsdienst der Heimat [Economic War Service of the Homeland], a program supporting the war effort that was undertaken by the Ethnic German community in Hungary.

I can only find scattered references to the WKH in various places, but don't have detailed information on the program. However, as I understand it, it was focused on food production.

The WKH was implemented in April/May 1942, with the Landesbauernführer Fritz Metzger put in charge of the program by the Volksgruppenführer Franz Anton Basch.

In a flyer of May 1942, the Landesjugendführer Matthias Huber appealed to the Ethnic German youth to participate in the WKH:

"An die deutsche Jugend. Der deutsche Soldat siegt an allen Fronten. Die Heimatfront hat seine und des ganzen Volkes Ernährung zu sichern. Es ist die schönste Aufgabe der Jugend, am Siege der deutschen Waffen mitzuhelfen. Ich rufe deshalb die ganze Jugend auf, sich im WKH mit allen Kräften zur Verfügung zu stellen. Wer nicht mitschafft, soll auch nicht mitessen. Ich selbst und alle Führer der Jugend werden jedweden Einsatz mitmachen und vorangehen."

["To the German Youth. The German soldier is victorious on all fronts. It is up to the homefront to ensure his food supply and that of the whole populace. It is the most beautiful task of the youth to help with the victory of the German arms. Thus, I call the whole youth to put themselves at the disposal of the WKH with all their strength. If you don't do your bit, you shouldn't eat. I and all of the the youth leaders shall participate in any and all kinds of work and lead the way by example."]

All of this explains the symbolism of the badge: Both the Odalrune (as a general "blood and soil" symbol) and the Sunwheel Swastika were widely used in connection with the various Ethnic German communities abroad; the Sunwheel Swastika in particular was used on a variety of badges and insignia of the Ethnic German community in Hungary. The ears of corn stand for agricultural production and the sword for the war effort.

[Wood]

Looks like it should have had two opposed fixing sliders on the reverse (a typical Hungarian method IMO) one is missing.
Pete

[Tom Yanacek]

The WKH was the Wirtschaftlicher Kriegsdienst der Heimat [Economic War Service of the Homeland], a program supporting the war effort that was undertaken by Ethnic German community in Hungary.

I can only find scattered references to the WKH in various places, but don't have detailed information on the program. However, as I understand it, it was focused on food production.

The WKH was implemented in April/May 1942, with the Landesbauernführer Fritz Metzger put in charge of the program by the Volksgruppenführer Franz Anton Basch.

In a flyer of May 1942, the Landesjugendführer Matthias Huber appealed to the Ethnic German youth to partipate in the WKH:

"An die deutsche Jugend. Der deutsche Soldat siegt an allen Fronten. Die Heimatfront hat seine und des ganzen Volkes Ernährung zu sichern. Es ist die schönste Aufgabe der Jugend, am Siege der deutschen Waffen mitzuhelfen. Ich rufe deshalb die ganze Jugend auf, sich im WKH mit allen Kräften zur Verfügung zu stellen. Wer nicht mitschafft, soll auch nicht mitessen. Ich selbst und alle Führer der Jugend werden jedweden Einsatz mitmachen und vorangehen."

["To the German Youth. The German soldier is victorious on all fronts. It is up to the homefront to ensure his food supply and that of the whole populace. It is the most beatiful task of the youth to help with the victory of the German arms. Thus, I call the whole youth to put themselves at the disposal of the WKH with all their stregth. If you don't do your bit, you shouldn't eat. I and all of the the youth leaders shall participate in any and all kinds of work and lead the way by example."]

All of this explains the symbolism of the badge: Both the Odalrune (as a general "blood and soil" symbol) and the Sunwheel Swastika were widely used in connection with the various Ethnic German communities abroad; the Sunwheel Swastika in particular was used on a variety of badges and insignia of the Ethnic German community in Hungary. The ears of corn stand for agricultural production and the sword for the war effort.

Awesome!!! Thank you for posting this information. You da man!

Best regards,
Tom

[Reinhard2]

Looks like it should have had two opposed fixing sliders on the reverse (a typical Hungarian method IMO) one is missing.
Pete

Pete is right with the 2 sliders.

[Volksturmer]

HPL2008,
thank you for that excellent information- I agree with Tom - You Are The Man!! You never cease to impress me.

Pete, thank you as well, I echo Reinhardt - great work!

This one looks very legitimate to me as well, very nice item.

We all love to see mysterious badges we haven’t seen before.

Helmut, Thanks for sharing this!

John

[helmut01]

Super thanks very much for your great details -you are the best !!!!
great thanks ,Helmut !!!!