Good Nazis/Bad Nazis: Enamel vs Paint

[Rick Research]

I'm wondering if the crappy ones were all made by the same 2 makers, were rejected by quality control, and lay around never issued....

[jlava]

Here's a painted HJ pin ...

[Joe]

I got this one from Detlev

[Joe]

backside

[Joe]

It's also marked RZM M1/102
Joe

[McCulloh]

bob et al:
According to M. Katers' The Nazi Party (derived from the Party archives and the Statisical Riech Jahrbucher etc.) the party grew to 8.1 million members by march 1945.It had "only" 5.1 million members in september 1939. between Jan 1940 and Jan. 1944 the party grew from 5,339,567 members to 7,600,000 members. A significant number of these new members were female and middle class @35%. Also, the new membership statistics show a marked "youthfulness" in the party from 1941 onwards. By 1944, 70% of new Party members were aged 18-24.
Cheers,
JeMc

[sjl]

Some Painted Pins

Here are a few from my collection, with the earlier enamel ones above for comparison.

The manufacturer numbers for the painted versions are:

NSDAP: M1/101
DJ: M1/63
Frauenschaft: M1/185
NSDStB: M1/1? (obscured by pin)

[Richard]

There is a similar situation that is well documented. The Reichs Trade Day badges (awarded in Kreissieger, Gausieger and Reichssieger levels) were beautiful enameled badges in 1938 and 1939. When issued again in 1944 they had deteriorated to painted versions, but still had maintained a high quality standard.

Has anyone ever given thought to the possibility that maybe there were "black market" manufacturers of party badges? Just like the fake antennas sold during the "car phone mania" of the late 80's maybe there were some who manufactured non authorized badges for sale on the cheap for those that wanted to appear loyal but weren't willing to pay more than a few Pfennings for a badge.

All in all though, I do thing the painted version badges were legitimately produced. As with lots of things, quality and price varied.

Richard V

[Tony Farrell]

Variant badge

I had a rather nice RZM marked & numbered, enameled variant bearing the legend ADOLF HITLER 1933 around the edge instead of the usual NSDAP legend. I've never seen one since. Anyone else encountered them?

[sjl]

Adolf Hitler 1933 RZM Badges

Hi Tony,

I've always felt the "Adolf Hitler 1933", "Deutchland Erwache 1933", and "Heil Hitler Judendorf u. Grafe" badges to be modern repros if they have the RZM mark.

Real ones wouldn't be subject to RZM controls because:

(a) they weren't really NSDAP member badges (actually "sympathizer" election pins) under RZM controls, and,

(b) RZM didn't start marking things until 1934.

Typically the fakes have a "M1/129" number on them. Originals only have "Ges. Gesch." and sometimes a maker name on the reverse.

The repros are otherwise very well done.

[Tony Farrell]

AH loyalty badges?

Hmm, I'll have to check it out, as I'm working from memory here. It now lives in a friend's display cabinet, so I shall have to phone him up. Ta anyhow!

[Tony Farrell]

Well, apparently, it has a RZM mark on it and Ges. Gesch, but no M1/129 number. He reckons it's 'pukka'. Ideas?

Also, he asked me to ask if anyone could shed any light on a small enameled 21mm party badge that has the legend NUN ERST RECHT instead of the usual. This has Ges. Gesch on the reverse.

Party badges - although interesting, aren't really mon sac, so any info will be gratefully received!

[colin davie]

These "Erwache" type pins were discussed at lenth on GDCOM, here is a link to the thread.

http://daggers.infopop.net/2/OpenTop...3&m=7703092973

Hope this link works.

[Frank Heukemes]

Mine brings even another maker and pin fitting into the discussion:

Marked RZM and M1/17:


Cheers, Frank

[sjl]

Nun Erst Recht

The Nun Erst Recht badges seem to be less faked than the others. The one you describe seems fine - there were a half dozen variations on this "sympathizer" badge.

I think it virtually impossible that these late badges were done as black/grey market knock-offs for cheap Nazis. The RZM numbers we have seen belong to well-established companies (Deschler, Assmann, etc.). The penalties for making or wearing NSDAP insignia without permission were very harsh, and strictly enforced. The Party badge was only 1 Mark, and the Gold Party Badge was 2.50 Marks - so I can't see a lot of savings.

The GD Forum thread above deals with these "sympathizer" badges exhaustively, and that exchange just about convinced me that there may have been some genuine Erwache badges with the RZM logo and no maker number - although they defy explanation. Like everything, tread carefully.