WW2 medals insignia and memorabilia

[HERMAN BIX]

Hi HERMAN BIX
Where did you move to OZ from, if you dont mind me asking?
Regards
Frank

The Shaking Isles of New Zealand !!
We were able to have the good stuff there then, all in working order.
Gone but not forgotten, and at least I had a chance to have them.
The Ppsh is a hell of a plaything! Guarantee to get a lot of hot brass down your shirt after ripping a burst out !!

[Topper]

Last one

[igi911]

[Topper]

Hello
These are Otto Carius awards, he kept them in a coffee tin,

[43rdRecceReg]

Hello
These are Otto Carius awards, he kept them in a coffee tin,

Truly amazing, Topper. The Carius fans on the board (and there are quite a few) will be decidedly envious

[Jimster]

Very awesome! It’s cool that in his book he mentions receiving his awards and there they are! Funny he stored them in a coffee can.

[Topper]

Hi
Mr Carius sold his 50 PAB to a collector ( if I remember correctly) and bought a copy of the 100 PAB shortly after the war, because he was not given the actual badge because it was in the final months of the war.He told me his tank crew made a badge like the wound badge after he was shot by the Russian but called it an idiots badge.

[EAO]

It's cool that he managed to hold on to his awards. Many highly decorated German vet's weren't so lucky. I'm hoping his RK with Eichenlaub is the original. Many hard earned awards were eagerly snatched up by "trophy" hungry G.I.'s. Many of these German vet's would be later rewarded with the post WW2 Federal Republic of Germany official denazified "1957" awards. Production of these awards was ended in 1986. The swastika was replaced by either oak leaves or the Balkan Kreuz, and the original beautiful workmanship was sadly lacking. These awards have become fairly collectible in their own right and run the gamut of most WW1 and WW2 higher end awards.

I believe it was Hans Ulrich Rudel, who landed at an U.S. airfield to surrender. Upon landing and opening his canopy a G.I. jumped on the wing and made a grab for his RK. Rudel immediately slammed the canopy shut and locked it. The G.I. threatened him with his firearm but Rudel held fast. Finally, an Officer arrived and allowed Rudel to exit and retain his awards.

My Uncle Raywald, served as a MP towards the end of hostilities. He was at a large POW camp processing German's into it. I distinctly remember him telling my Father and me that if a soldier had anything on him that you wanted, you just took it. If he resisted he got the butt of his Thompson to the head and that ended that. Sounds harsh and unjust, but I guess that was the norm back then?!

Regards,
Eric.

[Topper]

Hi Eric
Mr Carius was not wearing his awards when he surrendered, we did talk about this, we also spoke about the Rhine meadow camp where he was held , I also asked about the awards on the mannequin in the Saumur tank museum because I though they were his awards but Mr Carius produced his Knights cross from a draw and handed it to me. I can tell you of the conversation I had with vets ,one gentleman I knew well ,also Otto, he severed in Africa and was awarded the EK1 for shooting down a RAF aircraft, he told me "I was good with the machine gun" He lived near Trier and his family still produce wine. We would drink Spätlese and chat, its a funny world.

[EAO]

Good to talk to you to you again Topper.

Yes, it is indeed a funny world. Hopefully, we won't ever have a reason to go back to a full, world wide altercation ever again! Magnificent armies, and generations of young men squandered. But then again, human nature is indeed an odd thing at times.

Cheers,
Eric.