Gents,

Does anyone collect the 1957 versions of Third Reich Awards?

I recently became interested in them since they are essentially newly manufactured de-Nazified versions of the wartime awards that were allowed, by law, to be worn by uniformed personnel who continued to serve in the Bundeswehr, Polizei, and Feuerwehr. Of course, they were also worn by WWII veterans at reunions, funeral services, etc.

I looked in old threads and only found a couple of threads on them including one on an IC 1st Class and one on a Paratrooper badge.

Here is a good example of an early 57er IC 2nd Class manufactured by Steinhauer & Luck. This is an early made award that has a magnetic iron core and is of three piece manufacture.

Seems an interesting field of endeavor. Also seems appropriate that the medals be re-issued.

I've always been tempted to pick up a few items but so far no go.
I've read the early made examples were better quality than the later period examples. Also the earliest used left over war period parts, for example EK frames.
That is a nice example you have.

--dj--Joe

Our archive 1957 links.
Minis.
http://phpstack-500133-1583587.cloudwaysapps.com/ubbthread...=true#Post92744
EKI.
http://phpstack-500133-1583587.cloudwaysapps.com/ubbthread...true#Post227572
Para. badge.
http://phpstack-500133-1583587.cloudwaysapps.com/ubbthread...=true#Post98885

Joe,

I was just like you... I had an interest in them but did not own any. After studying them for a period of time I figured out some guidelines. You are absolutly right that the early manufactured, that is to say late 1950s - early 1960s, awards are much better quality. Actually, Souval in Vienna (and perhaps others) made some de-Nazified medals before they became legal in Germany in 1957. Of course Souval was located in Austria so the very early ones he made (prior to 1957) often had old parts and were quite different from the "official" 1957 German awards. He made restrikes of wartime medals (considered as fakes today) but he also made some Iron Crosses with a plain core without the oak leaves on the front. These are not really 57er medals but were made for postwar wear and since they did not have the swastika are not really restrikes or fakes.

The S&L Iron Cross II that I show above is an early circa 1960 medal, It is quality made of three pieces and a good example of an "early" 57er. If you look closely you can see that the iron core is painted before it is assembled and is slightly loose in the frame. All the other things we would expect to see on a wartime IC are also there. The two piece frame is nicely soldered, the fit and finish is good, and the die strike is crisp. Later examples of these awards are not of this high a quality.

I have a few others that I can post later if there is any interest.

Here is an example of the Iron Cross 1st Class manufactured by S&L during the same early time period as the 2nd Class shown above. It too has a painted magnetic steel (I generically said iron when I meant stamped steel of course) core. The backs and pins are more distinctive of the various makers and this one has the early S&L pin and hinge block helping date this 57er IC.

Other 57er manufacturers were:

Steinhauer & Luck
Deumer
Souval
Assmann
Deschler

Some collectors think the S&L awards were the first official 57ers manufactured but I am not so certain. Certainly, Souval was making restrikes and de-Nazified awards but some do not consider these as "official" 1957 awards. The other manufacturers also made these offical 1957 versions, authorized by German law, and some are still making them today. Most collectors want the early examples.

I might add a lapel pin to my collection someday. Had a nice example in my sights, dealer would not deal so I let it pass.

--dj--Joe

Here is a nice example of a very early Close Combat Clasp in Silver. Again, this one was manufactured by S&L and is very well made showing excellent detail. Notice that the eagle and swastika have been removed from the front of the clasp and the bayonet and hand grenade are re-positioned over the opening in the center of the badge.

The die strike is very crisp and the fit and finish are excellent. The clasp is not flat (like the later ones tend to be) and is vaulted from the factory. The back does not yet show a charachteristic S&L die flaw in the form of a hairline crack near the hinge that shows up on later examples. The pin is typical of early S&L 57ers as are the hinge and the catch. Finally, the blackened steel backing plate is crimped in and is magnetic.

I have also shown how the clasp was indicated on the ribbon bar in the manner of official 57er awards that were pin backs and originally had no ribbon associated with them.

The ribbon bars and miniatures I find quite interesting. Have looked at quite a few online but only recall having seen a small number of stick pins (usually poorly constructed), at the small shows I occasionally attend.

--dj--Joe

Hello

Some nice examples you have. I also find the ribbon bars interesting and I am looking for one also.

My main collecting interest is Infantry Assault Badges which has come to include "any and all things" IAB. This includes IAB's, pictures, doc, packets, boxes, fakes and the 57er awards.

Here are some of mine starting with the early S&L and Deumer examples.

Here are my bronze grade examples.

And my miniatures...

Finally, a chain set.

Fischer,

Thank you for showing your IAB examples. A great comparison of the early vs later S&L IAB badges alongside the Deumer example. Joe will certainly like your miniatures. BTW, I have not seen the bronze CCC made for chain wear done in this manner before but I am fairly new to 57ers. Neat!

Here is a 57er Infantry Assault Badge that you will like. It is identified as having been worn by a member of the 4. SS-Polizei Pz. Gren. Division. This unit received 3,320 IAB as of the January 1943 annual report (per the division history). I have not found later IAB numbers for this division. It is an early S&L that slipped by quality control with a mistake.

At first glance the badge is well made and finished. It has the early pin set up with the solid block hinge and round needle pin associated with the early S&L IAB. However, it seems that it slipped slightly in the trim die and left a bit too much metal along the top of the rifle that is evident in looking closely at the bayonet. It also left some excess metal along the right side of the wreath. Even though the die strike is nice and crisp the mistake is visible upon close inspection. It obviously slipped through the process and was silver frosted and sent out as it was.

Great comparison shots on the late vs. early 57 IAB's.

Ahh the 16mm mini. chain.

--dj--Joe

yeah, that chain is sweet!

I thought I would show one more postwar S&L badge that is not really a 57er but is germane in that it is from the same time period. This is a Deutsche Sports Badge (Deutscher Sport Bund) that was authorized in 1952 to replace the earlier DRA and DRL sports badges. This new DSB design did not have a swastika and was not available to replace one of the prohibited SA Sports Badges which could not be worn. War Wounded sports badges were no longer offically issued but a replacement standard DSB badge could be obtained upon presentation of a wartime certificate for these badges.

Notice that the construction of the S&L DSB badge is similar to these 57er S&L badges. The same pin, pin block, and catch are used with all of these pin back badges. Also, one will find these DSB badges on many postwar ribbon bars along with the 57er awards.

Nice DSB example. It brings to mind - many, many, many years back I had a bronze riders badge with the exact reverse set up.
Pretty sure it was also a St. & Luck. It still had the 'R' at the obverse base, so St.& L and or others were still manufacturing them post war without the removal of the 'R'.

--dj--Joe

I have a postwar set of DRL miniatures. I'll get them out and photo. them unless someone else wants to go ahead and post theirs.

--dj--Joe