Woldw1woldwa2 Posted July 16 #1 Posted July 16 Hi guys just post your favourite items and talks about them
Mr.Jerry Posted July 16 #2 Posted July 16 Great idea! We actually just did this to celebrate our 200th shop video, but here are a few of my (and my buddy Mark's) favorite things!
Rakkasan187 Posted July 17 #4 Posted July 17 SS plate from the ruins of Berlin This has a different twist to it. It was not brought back by a GI at the end of World War Two. It was brought back by a Soldier 44 years after the Battle for Berlin in April/May 1945. But first a little history to add to the context of this post: After the Battle for Berlin and the US Army was allowed entry into the US Zone by the Soviet Army, the first US Forces set up tents and bivouacked in the area in the US occupation zone known as the Grunewald. This was a forested area in the Southwest suburb of Berlin known as Stegliz/Zehlendorf area. This sector would later become the US zone of occupation from July 1945 to September 1994. Some of the buildings that were occupied by the US Army were McNair Barracks, named after General Leslie McNair who was killed in a friendly fire incident in Normandy in July 1944. McNair Barracks, built in the 1930s, originally housed Telefunken headquarters and a factory, until 1941 a joint venture of Siemens & Halske (S & H) and Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft. During the Third Reich, the installation was mainly used for development and production of military equipment, and the radar-guided flak system was perfected there. In 1945 the Telefunken plant was converted into barracks for occupation soldiers and was known as McNair Barracks. This housed the infantry units of the Berlin Brigade. The Support units of the US Army’s Berlin Brigade were housed at Andrews Barracks. Andrews Barracks was originally constructed in 1873-74 as the Imperial "Hauptkadettenanstalt" - the main military academy of the German Empire. In 1933, the academy was taken over by the "SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler” Hitler’s bodyguard. During the war, the facilities suffered heavy damage. The compound was taken over by United States forces in July 1945. During the battle for Berlin, elements of the German 18th Panzer Grenadier Division were deployed in the forested area of the Grunewald and they faced the Soviet 3rd Guards Tank Army. After the war large amounts of rubble from the center of Berlin as well as the other districts of Berlin was moved to the outskirts of the city and dumped in the Grunewald. Dirt was thrown over the rubble and after a several years the earthen mounds with buried rubble looked like natural landscape. In the US Zone of Occupation, a rifle range was built in the Grunewald forest. The berms or backdrops for the ranges where the bullets would impact were made of these earthen rubble mounds. This range was known as Keerans Range. Named after 82nd Airborne Division Deputy Commander Charles L. Keerans who was listed as Missing in Action after another friendly fire incident where his C-47 aircraft was shot down during the Sicily operation. I was stationed in Berlin in the late 80’s to 90s with the 6th Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment. We would frequently occupy Keerans range for weapons qualification as well as Expert Infantryman’s Badge training and testing. It was during the EIB testing when I was part of the test cadre when I discovered the relic. It was during a break in training, and I decided to take a walk behind the berms to see what was on the other side. While walking to the other side of the berms I noticed a lot of old .30 caliber ammunition cans, expended .30 caliber brass, machine gun links, rusted metal cans, and other debris. It had been out there for a long time. As I neared one of the berms I started seeing old glass bottles and other pieces of glass and things shining off the sunlight. I stopped and looked down and at my feet was a piece of white glass. I knelt down and dug a little and I saw the runic SS. I uncovered a little more and unearthed the plate fragment that is pictured. There is absolutely no way to know where this dinner plate came from, Andrews Barracks, SS Headquarters, The Fuhrer bunker, the possibilities are endless. What is also very ironic is the date in which I discovered this piece. July 20, 1989, 45 years after the July 20, 1944, plot to kill Adolf Hitler. This is my best Spoils of War bring back item that has provenance that is unquestionable. Unfortunately, this was the only time I had the chance to go and explore but for the first time out relic hunting in the city of Berlin, I think I did alright. I have other favorite SS items that are not relic condition but given the context of the item and the fast approaching date of 20 July, I thought I would post this now. Enjoy.. Best regards, stay safe Leigh
S.ChrisKelly Posted July 17 #6 Posted July 17 Post #2... Had no idea "Mr. Jerry" is a militaria dealer. Loved the half ~ hour video. Excellent cinematography. Superb commentary. Outstanding potential for a "reality television" show. Post#3... "Rakkasan 187", that was an educational and interesting story, from the guy who experienced it. Never better. Nothing finer. Hey, "one man's trash is another man's treasure". Awesome! Phenomenal!
SARGE Posted July 18 #8 Posted July 18 Picking a favorite item is sort of picking your favorite child. The pick changes from day to day. One of mine that I have had for a very long time is a tailor made uniform of the LAH.
Gear Fanatic Posted July 18 #10 Posted July 18 That’s an understatement. That would be a grail piece for me, and I’m sure for many others!
Gear Fanatic Posted July 19 #11 Posted July 19 This one is my favorite. this belt buckle I found at my first ever flea market, it was sitting on the table for $45 and I talked the guy to $20. I am not really a TR collector, on average I knew these went for $90-$150, so I didn’t have much to lose. Lo and behold when I get home I research it and find out it’s a fairly rare maker and the last sold one (at that time) had sold for just around 200. It is by far my best find from a flea market and my favorite out of my very minuscule TR collection. I think when I see it I enjoy more for the memory rather than the piece itself. It may not be anything spectacular or ultra desirable, but it definitely holds a special place in my heart l.
SARGE Posted July 19 #13 Posted July 19 I too love the way these material culture artifacts bring back memories of happy times of when you acquired them. I bought this W-SS uniform from a friend and fellow collector when he sold his uniforms. He is now deceased but it reminds me of him and his friendship every time I see this uniform. And... thanks for the kudos.
S.ChrisKelly Posted July 20 #14 Posted July 20 I picked up loads of World War One material when I was in secondary school in the 1980s, when there was little to no interest in it, and much of it was unbelievably inexpensive and copiously available. I still have some of it. Everyone loves "generals' stuff"... From any era!
GAZOO Posted July 20 #15 Posted July 20 Chuck Olders Silk Flying Tiger Banner Still researching and looking for a way to display Thinking in a large shadow box with an angled backing that I can just lay it on. No pins or attachments to hold in place
Woldw1woldwa2 Posted July 20 Author #16 Posted July 20 Always wanted one of those 42 minutes ago, S.ChrisKelly said: I picked up loads of World War One material when I was in secondary school in the 1980s, when there was little to no interest in it, and much of it was unbelievably inexpensive and copiously available. I still have some of it. Everyone loves "generals' stuff"... From any era! I love epaulettes
jmd62 Posted July 21 #20 Posted July 21 Mine would be a couple of items my Dad brought back from the ETO, but as far as a foreign collectible goes, my early NS Juncker PAB is definitely one of my favorites. I got it many years ago before they became ridiculously expensive.
S.ChrisKelly Posted July 21 #21 Posted July 21 Post #17 & 20... In today's vernacular... "That's what I'm talkin' about!" Absolutely super extra impressive!
GAZOO Posted July 21 #22 Posted July 21 2 hours ago, Preppy Picker said: Gazoo, what is your favorite foreign item? I dont have a lot of Foreign items so thats easy My FFI Resistance Group which also includes other items not shown in the below WMF Forum link Like the drop canister and X-Harness used in the Union II Mission lead by Peter Ortiz Savoie Resistance FFI Group
Preppy Picker Posted July 21 #23 Posted July 21 4 minutes ago, GAZOO said: I dont have a lot of Foreign items so thats easy My FFI Resistance Group which also includes other items not shown in the below WMF Forum link Like the drop canister and X-Harness used in the Union II Mission lead by Peter Ortiz Savoie Resistance FFI Group I remember that posting
jmd62 Posted July 21 #24 Posted July 21 1 hour ago, Preppy Picker said: I remember that posting So cool!!
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