Dr Fritz Todt award - good or bad?

[Reinhard2]

Hi ! Something to think about: Here in Germany, the dates have always a point after the number ! So also a date on: badges or medals is like this: 20.4.1938, 8.4.44 and so on !

[Stan]

Of course you are right.

Many TR fakes are made in countries other than Germany and the fakers, as well as most of the collectors ,do not realise the importance of getting the German 100% correct.

When it comes to Luftwaffe Honour Salvers, many fakes can be spotted because the fakers use an English "1" in the date instead of the German which looks more like a number "7".

In the case of the Fritz Todt Awards, I think that the fakers have simply copied the numbers stamped on the gold award which Forman sold in 1993. This badge is a real enigma to me because it looks 100% correct apart from the numbers on the reverse which I assume were added at a later date.

Stan

[Stan]

Here's a vet bring back which I bought in the UK 1988. Sadly, I sold it to Detlev many years later and have always regretted it.

As you will see on the reverse, the recipient has had the details of his original award engraved onto the reverse of this private-purchase example. Not only is the engraving typically German for the period, it has the dots between the dates.

It also proves that original award No. 3 was a Silver grade and not Gold.

Stan

[Volksturmer]

Stan,
Thanks for sharing this.

It makes me re-think my previous post. These are very puzzling.


John

[ironfist]

nice

Stan you are a wealth of information .
that was very interesting
Regards Pete

[Stan]

What I know for sure is that the Dr. Fritz Todt badges are made from zinc with horizontal lines on the back. The Dr. Ing. Fritz Todt badges in silver and gold are made from alloy with a polished swastika.

Reinhard2 confirmed to me recently that by “alloy” he means “Cupal” which is what I have been saying all along.

Stan

[Stan]

Here's another of the "Rounded-Beak" variety which I found in an auction catalogue from 2006 which amused me.

They claimed that it was awarded to "Fritz Butenhoff, SS-Obersturmfuehrer in Stabe der Standarte SS- Der Fuehrer".

Fortunately, no-one believed the hype and it didn't sell.

Stan

[Volksturmer]

Stan,
That’s sort of damning evidence against the round-beak type.
Just saying.

John

[Stan]

Here's another one which appears to be the same as Kenny posted in #18 which has the rounded beak and fat swas.

As you will see, the description is "Sammleranfertigung" or "made for collectors".

Stan

[Volksturmer]

Stan,

Ouch. Another damning piece of information.

That may explain the shadow that hangs over this rounded beak type version.
Playing devil’s advocate, could the badge for collectors be a copy of an original?
I really don’t think so.
To paraphrase 2 famous authors in our field- forgive me, but this is from memory - ‘As regards to fakes, you the collector are the one who must ultimately be satisfied’ - Angolia.
‘If there is doubt, the piece is usually bad.’ Ailsby

IMO only, gentlemen.

John