GPB's 53269, 82643 and 9316. Does anybody have any recipient info please?

[Br. James]

"I presume the member signed up in 1923 but is there anyway of knowing roughly what month from the number alone?"

Hi Joe,

I fully agree with Andreas' responses to your question above. According to my list, NSDAP Membership Numbers assigned in the 7300--7500 range were entered into the Party records between June 1 and mid-June of 1925.

While it is certainly possible that the recipient of this GPB (or any GPB) had initially been a member of the pre-Putsch NSDAP, or even the earlier DAP, only in-depth research might bring those facts to light. While membership numbering continued unbroken from the DAP to the original NSDAP -- it was merely a name-change for the organization and the corporation, after all -- all of that came to an abrupt end at the Putsch, when the NSDAP became outlawed nationally. But this was actually a good thing for the 'Hitler Movement,' since it allowed Hitler to reorganize the Party in his own image and begin issuing membership numbers starting with Number 1...and we all know who got to be Number 1, don't we!!

Cheers,

Br. James

[Joe Mc]

Hi James,

Sorry for the delay, I had this thread bookmarked but it was on page 2 and I hadn't realised your message was here.


Many thanks for the information. That's really interesting with the numbers, I had wasn't keen on later number badges but now thinking about it just because a number is quite high doesn't mean that it won't be to somebody interesting.

I've learnt so much the last few days I'm really greatful for the help. I thought I knew a fair bit about the NSDAP but it seems that I've still got s lot to learn.

I'm still no closer to making a decision, I will make one but I'm dreading buying one and then an attributed badge comes onto the market.

Best regards,

Joe

"I presume the member signed up in 1923 but is there anyway of knowing roughly what month from the number alone?"

Hi Joe,

I fully agree with Andreas' responses to your question above. According to my list, NSDAP Membership Numbers assigned in the 7300--7500 range were entered into the Party records between June 1 and mid-June of 1925.

While it is certainly possible that the recipient of this GPB (or any GPB) had initially been a member of the pre-Putsch NSDAP, or even the earlier DAP, only in-depth research might bring those facts to light. While membership numbering continued unbroken from the DAP to the original NSDAP -- it was merely a name-change for the organization and the corporation, after all -- all of that came to an abrupt end at the Putsch, when the NSDAP became outlawed nationally. But this was actually a good thing for the 'Hitler Movement,' since it allowed Hitler to reorganize the Party in his own image and begin issuing membership numbers starting with Number 1...and we all know who got to be Number 1, don't we!!

Cheers,

Br. James

[der-hase-fee]

I'm still no closer to making a decision, I will make one but I'm dreading buying one and then an attributed badge comes onto the market.

Best regards,

Joe

Attributed bagdes are not impossible to come by. Just check the other thread, numbers 1401 & 1402. Or this one:

[Br. James]

Hi Joe,

Always happy to help out whenever I can! Another consideration with GPBs is the very short period of time when the first 100,000 Party Members were assigned their numbers -- less than three years: February 1925 through 1928. A lot of people who were members of the SA or the SS, NSKK or other NSDAP organizations apparently assumed that membership in that organization was tantamount to being a member of the Party itself...which was quite wrong! One had to apply for each organization and, most importantly PAY THEIR DUES regularly to each org. Those were financially hard times in Germany and young people, students and the like were hard-pressed for money; many had lost their jobs. So, when they finally realized that, while they had been members of the SA for a number of years and struggled to pay their SA dues, they still weren't actually members of the NSDAP! What a surprise that must have been!

Br. James

[Joe Mc]

Attributed bagdes are not impossible to come by. Just check the other thread, numbers 1401 & 1402. Or this one:

All very very nice badges but out of my reach at this time unfortunately.

Many thanks for the links though,

Joe

[Joe Mc]

Hi Joe,

Always happy to help out whenever I can! Another consideration with GPBs is the very short period of time when the first 100,000 Party Members were assigned their numbers -- less than three years: February 1925 through 1928. A lot of people who were members of the SA or the SS, NSKK or other NSDAP organizations apparently assumed that membership in that organization was tantamount to being a member of the Party itself...which was quite wrong! One had to apply for each organization and, most importantly PAY THEIR DUES regularly to each org. Those were financially hard times in Germany and young people, students and the like were hard-pressed for money; many had lost their jobs. So, when they finally realized that, while they had been members of the SA for a number of years and struggled to pay their SA dues, they still weren't actually members of the NSDAP! What a surprise that must have been!

Br. James

Hi James,

They were very hard times indeed. I suppose that is why less than a quarter of the 100,000 members were eligible for the badge. I wonder how strict they were with the continuous membership? I've always wondered if you missed a month of dues then that was enough not to qualify. Very easy to miss a month.

I've pretty much decided that I will be going for the large Deschler with the replaced pin but I'm in Germany next week so I'm going to hold off buying until I get back, just in case I see another over there.

I'm excited about getting one and even more excited at the prospect of researching it.

Many thanks again for all the help and advice, much appreciated.

Best regards,

Joe

[Br. James]

Hi Joe,

It has long been my assumption that most of the "missing NSDAP memberships" -- perhaps three-quarters -- were due to individual failure to pay their dues over a period of time. Indeed, some of those with Membership Numbers lower than 100,000 were considered ineligible to receive the GPB, though they managed to continue their memberships into the 1930s and even beyond. That was the job of the NSDAP committee established under the Schwarz office, to make such decisions.

Back 'in the day,' the early members of the Party had no idea that they might one day become eligible to receive such a special award as the GPB was, for maintaining their memberships; the committee obviously felt that if you cared enough about belonging to the NSDAP throughout the Kämpfzeit that you did whatever you needed to do to keep your dues paid up, thereby supporting the Party when it needed financial support the most, then those were the loyal members that they wanted to honor with the GPB. But I have no doubt that if a member missed a month or two of dues -- and then made double payments shortly thereafter -- that would not automatically disqualify that person from receiving the GPB. As you say, that could happen to anyone, and if it turned out that almost NO ONE was seen to be qualified to receive the GPB, then what would be the point of making the awards?! But making the effort to catch up would have been key to qualification in such cases...IMO.

Cheers, and do enjoy your trip,

Br. James