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Just picked this up. More experienced opinions welcome, let me know what you think. Also could the corner staining be blood? Thanks!

Unquestionable provenance from a veteran who brought said items back from the war is the best credibility,,, HOWEVER,, these veterans often forget details over time and lets face it, this event (WW2) was 79 years ago today or at least the end (VE-DAY) so they may have "added" stuff to the things they brought back. Period photos of said veterans holding the items are always sought after, but lets face reality, a GI is more likely to hold up a captured flag, helmet or pistol than a set of steak knives... But some of the rarer silverware from the Eagles Nest, the Special Trains, Hitler's apartment in Munich and other places will have much more value, but again many fakers know this and make in some cases very convincing copies... Finding images or TR era catalogs with some of these pieces is one way to verify that they existed, but this takes a lot of research and contacting folks in the Bundesarchive (The German equivalent of our NARA (National Archives). Supply catalogs and other documents that have yet to surface may contain the information we have been searching for since the end of the war. There has been much written about these items some of the information is speculation, other is fact. Some of the older Auction catalogs from the days before the internet have some images and information and also the 1970s mail order catalogs from companies like DELTA International which was full of fake and fantasy things as well as some authentic items too.. So the short answer is to know what you are collecting, be suspicious of the Adolf Hitler salad fork for $20.00 and continue to seek out the information... Simple unaltered mess hall dinnerware can be very inexpensive ($10-15) per fork, knife, spoon. The problem now is that so many people see a swastika and equate that to expensive and they sometimes will put ridiculous prices on something that is very common. Then you get the Entrepreneuring types that start stamping all kinds of fake and fantasy stamps on them and then add Hitler to the conversation and the next thing you know its a rare piece of silverware.... The dinner plates and porcelain ware were used well after the war for obvious reasons, and many are still readily available for decent prices. The dinner plates and cups from a mess hall average maybe $15.00-20.00 a plate in some cases much cheaper, some times a coffee mug can be had for $8 dollar or so, it just depends on where you are and where you find them.. This of course is just my opinion... Leigh

Much appreciated. I'm wondering - is there any legitimate process to authenticate these pieces? I'm assuming there's nothing specific that can "guarantee" credibility? Leigh do you have any idea what pieces likes these would be worth, if anything at all? I of course know you're just providing an opinion.

The books I referenced were by James A. Yannes. He has written I believe 5 books on the subject, most of the content is repeated in his books. The Collectors Guide to 3rd Reich Tableware The Encyclopedia of Third Reich Tableware A Guide to Third Reich Cutlery, its Monograms, Logos and Maker Marks The Third Reich's Two Most Desirable and Collectable Tableware The Special Trains of Hitler and Goring et al (Their History and Collectibles) Leigh

@Rakkasan187 I really appreciate the help here. If you hear back from your friends I would love to know their opinions. Where could I find references/books similar to those you mentioned?

It did not even occur to me to look beyond European designs for this one, but the possible Albanian connection makes enough sense for it to have possibly drifted off to Czechoslovakia at some point since it was supposedly brought over from the, "old country." Shame that it's in such poor condition for its age, though. Thanks A Lot For Your Help!

I was able to look through some of my tableware reference books and the RAD fork you posted has similar markings to one that was in one of the reference books. Now I will add this caveat to this. The author of these books states that he is not an Expert on Third Reich dinnerware, he is not even a collector but more of an accumulator of said items. With this said I can't dismiss the possibility of the fork or even the spoon as having the stampings added post MAY 1945. His books do have some good factual information about the organizations that have the stampings on the silverware (RAD, DAF, HEER, etc.) but very little research into the makers of the wares. His books also have many fantasy items and fakes as well. The materials used are consistent with materials used during the Third Reich era and in many dining facilities throughout the country. These appear to have been used in mess halls where many Soldiers would have dined. The finer engraved cutlery that you may find (silver) would most likely would have been used in Officers dining facilities and other high-ranking offices. Anything with Adolph Hitlers monogram and Eva Brauns initials for example one would have to be highly skeptical unless rock solid provenance accompanied the pieces... The HEER stamped spoon I have not yet been able to find a similar marking in references, but I have also reached out to some of my friends who have a larger collection of tableware's than myself. I mostly have the lower end aluminum mess hall utensils for HEER and LUFTWAFFE enlisted mess halls. Will continue to research the markings and get back with you Best regards Leigh

I love the helmet!!

Hello, there we go we have an answer. Thoses guys are the flag guard of the 7e Régiment de Chasseurs d'Afrique 29 february 1944 Italia on the left lieutenant DE ROCHAMBEAU

Hi sorry Guys its a lot of pins but I want to add them all to my collection. Let me know if there fake.

Luftwaffe Mann und Weib.

Here's one right off the Das U-Boot in Farbe FB page I saw. Kreigsmarine submariner with family and a JR sailor.

Hi CryoMark12. This site holds information on Reichbahn Eagles, genuine, reproduction and fake. https://thirdreicheagles.com/eagles/railway-eagles/ Gunner

I agree with Rakkasan that these items are good.

I've never seen a first pattern German pith with side vents or that type of chinstrap, can you please post inside photos? Bill

Hello and sorry for the delay in answering. I have the patch identified as the Ukrainian SBU State Security Service. That appears to be an older camo pattern that predates the current war.

@Rakkasan187 Thanks Leigh - I really appreciate it. I can send additional photos if you think that will help. Any information would be really helpful.

I hope you had a happy landing😁.

The porcelain bowls are fine, the cutlery looks to have post war stamps placed on them. I would be cautious to claim they are pre-May 1945 items, especially the RAD stamped fork. There are some cutlery books on Third Reich dinnerware but as with many other reference books these books have questionable if not fake/fantasy items pictured as well. When I have some time I will look and see what they have to say.. Leigh

@SARGE - Agree - I can see its not a complete set - It's seems more a collection of random table items. I understood this when purchasing. I'm hoping to confirm the legitimacy of most/all items, as well any information on the manufacturers, or history. Thanks so much.

Your mess items appear OK to me. Mixed organizations such as a DAF bowl, Luftwaffe plate, Rad fork, etc.

I'm very new to this....space. I purchased a plate/bowl set with a fork a knife - the seller told me he bought it from a man who is "active in the online forums". I'm not necessarily looking for the original seller (although that would be great). I'm hoping those with a level of expertise can weigh in on the legitimacy of these items. Any help at all is much appreciated.

Hello, i shared the pic on a french forum, and people saw more things than me. The guys on the left are not US troops but french Colonial Infantry Division, could be the 9eDIC. If you look closely one guy have a ranks on his shoulders and you can see an anchor painted on the helmet tipicly 9eDIC. The guys with the flags could be somes resistants or a Choc Regiment, the 1st Choc regiment got the 235eRI flag. On the flag of this picture there is a "1".

Nice historical artifact yhat I suspect most didn't know existed.