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The Sotilaspassi certified that the holder had completed his conscript service, contained certain personal and military training information and was sometimes updated with exercise or other data the holder completed as a reservist. Newer versions resemble a credit card and have less data.

Thanks! Putty and sanding, base color with pre-shading and a first layer of dark yellow color.

Thank you very much!

Soviet Cheka(secret police) founder Felix Dzierzynski is celebrated in a lot of East German Stasi awards and Memorabilia. As founder of the original Cheka (forerunner) of the KGB he is celebrated as the ideal or model Chekist (secret policeman). Both of these MfS table medals also feature his famous mantra that a "Chekist can only be a man with a cool head, a warm heart and clean hands." Considering the amount of nefarious deeds and bloodshed these people were responsible for "irony" doesn't begin to characterize this saying.

I'd sure appreciate ant help trying to identify this steel helmet brought home by a Vietnam vet. I believe its a Chinese helmet. Thanks for any help! Keith

It has always been in the boxes with my Grandfathers WWII bring backs. My Grandmother said it was a 'German Tea fork'??? It may not even be military IDK, but with the stampings and general construction it kind of looks like it. Have never been able to find any info on it. Even Google Image search comes up empty, showing pictures of medieval leg armor or old motorcycle mufflers. Any help would be appreciated.

Wow! That must have been interesting. I was an EOD guy. Back in the 80s I had a Berlin detective (Kriminalkommisar) in my class when I got to do the German Police IED course (BKA Lehrgang fur die entscharfung unkonvensionaler brand und sprengfvorrichtungen) ... forgive the spelling I'm sure I'm rusty after all these years. Had a great time over there. Spent almost all of the 80s in Germany.

Two nice Naval photographs. I notice Endrass seemingly went from flying in Spain to submarine command later in the war. I have never seen a photo of a regular sailor wearing a Knight's Cross.

Nice! I particularly like the Border Post Commander clasp.

Thanks Scott. I am retired from my local police agency as well. A lot of police collectors seem to be retired law enforcement. As to the East German Police, I was in Berlin just after the fall of the wall and did a ride-along with the newly united Berlin Police. They were trying to retrain the VP guys and they could not answer calls until they had completed a retraining course. They had the ex-VP policemen posted as traffic police so the Ost- guys were not happy campers at this assignment and of course managed to get into various forms of minor trouble due to complaints from the public. I also recall going into the Dresden Police main station and trading patches with a fellow. They were still wearing their DDR uniforms with new patches so his trading patch was a Volkspolizei one that he had cut off his shirt. Fine with me but new patches were limited while these guys drove old Trabant cars and used up old equipment in a wear out period. One man's trash is another man's treasure. George

Thanks Arkaidiyh. It is always nice to see that ones efforts are appreciated.

Hi Lars,it is a field chaplain, usually carried on a shoulder strap.

A Pre War Conscript say in 1912 of the 2nd Bavarian Infantry. Königlich Bayerisches 2. Infanterie Regiment Kronprinz, his Shoulder Strap has the Cypher of an Entwined M and Double E for Maximilian Emanuel II Elector of Bavaria, Max Emanuel was the founder of the Regiment back in 1682 as Regiment zu Fuß Degenfeld.

And in Korea itself in 1951, Major-General James Cassels, Commander 1st Commonwealth Division chit chats with an Officer and an OR of the Irish Hussars.

The ceremony of awarding the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes medal to Bootsmannsmaat Karl Jörß (Marine-Bord-Flakführer on the transport ship "Dora"), which took place on 17 February 1943. An excerpt from a German media article dated 22 February 1943 explaining the reasons for awarding the Ritterkreuz to the Kriegsmarine Flak champion this: "German Navy anti-aircraft units in Mediterranean waters - stationed on transport ships - have so far succeeded in shooting down 76 Allied aircraft. The tasks assigned to the Flak crew often required quick decision-making and determination to carry it out, in order to concentrate fire on enemy planes attacking merchant ships and their valuable cargo. In a situation like this, even a few minutes can be crucial, and the success of the defense in it depends greatly on the ability of the commander of the ship's anti-aircraft unit. and the weapons under his control. In the battle to defend himself against so many incoming air attacks, Karl Jörß has proven his extraordinary capacity as a brave man with cold hands and full of caution. His unmatched dedication to duty also inspired his subordinates to achieve extraordinary achievements. Through advanced fire control, he managed to repulse every air attack aimed at his ship by shooting down 12 enemy aircraft, and thereby was instrumental in saving valuable cargo. Even more extraordinary, the achievements achieved by Bootsmannsmaat Jörß were recorded in Mediterranean waters which are known to have very difficult terrain. He earned the honor of being the first non-commissioned officer in the entire Kriegsmarine to receive a medal as high as the Ritterkreuz.

Great find! I like your kind of junkyard. mikie

Hi kanemono. You probably have these but if not they are William's enlistment and service papers. William is listed as being wounded in the 'Lancashire Daily Post', Tuesday April 22 1902 and a further article in the "Yorkshire Post, Tuesday April 22 1902 has the detail the incident was at Windburg. I will send the while page over by pm. Best Gunner

Found in a Richmond, VA junkyard. Never know what you’re going to turn up there. 90mm AT round on left for scale Interesting history from 314th.org

Found this online and thought it may interest those members keen on portrait images Engelbert Endrass, Commander of the U-46 - 20th July 1941 @patches

I have always been a big fan of Danish army insignia. You have posted some very nice insignia, thanks for sharing! What is the one in the first pic, 2nd row far right, please?

I know right! Aside from being an old retired soldier, I also served with local law enforcement here in the Fayetteville area for 24 years after retiring from the Army. I don't know why I was surprised that so much of the DVP's duties were as routine as any other LE agency but apparently they were. BTW, I am REALLY enjoying and learning from your detailed posts and encyclopedic knowledge of MdI / DVP and other subjects. I'm sure I speak for many other members. THANK YOU! Scott Samson, US Army (Ret) Fayetteville PD (Ret) Cumberland County S.O. (Ret)

Some more detailed shots

I originally put this in the uniform section with some shots of a Zoll (Customs) Hauptsekritar (senior NCO or Warrant Officer) uniform and with no detail shots of the awards. Rookie mistake. I'll try to do better in future! Detail pics: Zoll Academy School Grad Badge, Verdienstmedaille der Zollvervaltung, Fur Treue Dienste in der Zollvervaltung der DDR (newer version w/ # of years svc on the medal) and Medaille fur Teue Dienste in der Zollvervaltung der DDR (older version issued in bronze, silver and gold colors w/out the years svc shown).

What a neat VP manual. Chock full of great information.

An un-molested ubu-ha blunt space on the blade edge and a family mon along with the owner name on the tang. It just gets better and better. Thanks for sharing and congratulations on such an excellent sword.