UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories The Honor Ring Forum Bittrich Honor Ring

After some thought and conversations with Gaspare, I have decided to post my HR. It is uncleaned and has been authenticated by Don years ago. It is not and will be up for sale. Later on, when I get some more time and feeling better, I will post the inside pics and some info. Thanks, Ron

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Super nice ring Ron and I look forward to seeing the inside.
I have a question though regarding the photography. If you click on "Properties" your pics are around 1200 x 470 pixels and the formant is Hyper Text Transfer Protocol(HTTP).
My question is how do you photograph and post in that format rather the JPEG since you're getting larger and sharper pictures this way?
Jim

Hello
After reading my initial post,there is a mistake. It should say, It is not for sale at this time and will not be for sale at any other time. Ron

Hello Jim
I am still learning how to use that camera, so I am not really sure how I got them to turn out like that. It was purely by accident if they showed up too big. I hope I did not take up too much space for the pics. If so, maybe Gaspare can resize them. The inside pics are taken on a different background and I took them on macro and then enlarged them. Hope they did not distort or loose detail. Ron

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Gee, too bad the ring belonged to such a completely unknown guy. David

yeah, those paper pushers,,how boring



*Ron, first I'd like to say a BIG THANKS to you for posting your magnificent HR that belonged to Wilhelm Bittrich..

This ring was once on this forum a while ago. The photos were not good and just did not do the ring justice. They also got 'lost in the sauce' as they say..But now here again..The photos are excellent!!!

Ron I'm sure you have plenty of paperwork/files on Willi,,,,for the members heres a short bio on old Willi...A very nice combat career, Knights Cross winner,,a real treat to have the ring here. Thanks again Ron..

*Willi Bittrich bio..

*

Hello Gaspare
You are very welcome and thank you for the bio link. I have his SS file on microfilm from the Berlin Documents Center and quite a lot of info I have research over the years. The last document I have is his death certificate when he died in 1979. He had a very interesting military career biginning WW1 and then ending in WW2. The earliest pic I have of him is when he was in command of the 74 Standarte. This would have been during the 1934 period. (attach pic). As far as I know it is an unpublished pic as I have never seen it referenced in any books or history of Wilhelm Bittrich. It really shows some interesting insignia like the SA/SS Flying Wing.
Again, hope I did not use up too much space with the pics. Thanks, Ron

Very nice ring.

I'm curious as to how you all acquire these rings when the recipients have lived long after the war.
Do the owners sell the rings themselves?
Do they give them to people?
Did they lose them and they were later ground dug?

How do you find these rings?!!

Excellent ring and history. Thanks for sharing and feel free to post more pictures of the ring and more about Bittrich's history!!

Thanks Glowlight
I will see if I can take some better close up inside pics instead of enlarging regular pics. Ron

Willi Bittrich served in WW1 as a pilot. ( In the bio link, I believe it says he served in the Army). Ron

Ron, yes,I've seen on another bio where he is listed as being in the 'Army' during WW1,,probably a mistake.Maybe you'd want to contact Wiking for a correction, [email protected]
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That is one excellent photo!! The SS/SA wing has to be one of the rarest pieces of insignia there is!!really a great shot, thanks for posting it..
It also looks like he was a member of the Freikorps H�lsen also....

*Freikorps Hulsen*

*

Hello Gaspare
That is correct. He was in the Freikorps Hulsen Reichswehrbattl. Berlin. This is documented in his personelbogen.
He seemed to have a very interesting military career! Someday I will have to make it to a show to meet you and show the documentation for him. It is all in German and some of the early documents are hard to read due to the writing style. Anyway, let me know if you need other info on him. Thanks again Gaspare, Ron

Of course the German Air Service was part of the German Army in WWI and the Navy also had a flying branch.

jds
I thought they were different. Must be in name only. Yerger has some great reference books on the Waffen commanders and Das Reich. Ron

Ron,
Nice ring!

I may be incorrect in calling it the Air Service, but it was certainly part of the Army and completley under Army command, uniforms and regulations. I think that this was also true for the British and of course the U.S until the late 1940s.

The Luftwaffe was formed in 1935 or 36.

By the way, do you have any information on how the ring was taken? At his capture or did it come to the U.S. much later?

Hello jds
Yes, I have the info on how it was obtained. It was directly purchased (a friend of mine purchased it and then sold it to me) from the vet who first got it. I have pics and unit info as well. I would prefer to keep all details of that part private at this time as he is still living. I have kept in touch with the vet and have developed a good friendship which I don't want to jeopardize. Ron

Very nice.

Ron-

That is a wonderful ring and an awesome history!

Thank you very much for posting it.

Best regards,

Vincent III

Thank you gentlemen. Glad you enjoyed it. Ron

Great named finger-ring - and yes, that SA/SS Wing-in-wear pic is effin' stupendous - these must be much rarer even than the rings....

Ron: Super ring, and thank you for posting it. Since you first told me about this ring a couple of years ago, I have always wanted to buy it from you. I have only handled one other ring to a Swords winner, and it is quite a rare piece. I own two oakleaf winner rings, and your ring is far superior to my examples. A SUPER piece!

Thank you Craig. I am very fortunate to have his career so well documented. I will try and work on the pic this week for you. Ron

Ron, I should have mentioned this last year when the thread came up. I understand that Bittrich's close combat knife is or at least was also in a Tenn. Collection. The knife (a Puma type) was taked from him at his capture/surrender and also had a short note from Bittrich himself at the time of his surrender stating that the knife was his.

It seems that maybe a number of Bittrich's items were souvineered at the the time of his capture.

Hello jds
Yes, I was already aware of the boot knife (it and the note was pictured in one of TJ's books). I had been corresponding with Tom on its where abouts and the owner wished to remain anonymous. Tom suggested I write a letter and send it to Tom and he would would forward it to the owner. I did this about 5 or 6 times without any response. After discussing it with Tom, I basically gave up trying to obtain it. As far I know, it is not in TN and is still retained by that owner. Ron

Ron, I always love to see this ring. Its gotta be one of the top 10 HRs discovered and in a collection right now...

Ron

A fabulous ring.

My hearty congratulations delivered with a healthy amount of envy.

Raymond

I like to bump rings like this to the top..A good early pattern ring to study..
One of the great Honor Rings out there in every respect. Enjoy guys.

another fabulous example with terrific provenance,,,super ring and history,,,very kind of you to share,,,thanks for that,,,robert

I'd suggest that everyone take the time to really examine this unquestionably original ring. I am going to ask everyone to concentrate on the flaws. NOT the die flaws but the other apparent flaws in this used but not abused ring. Because of the photography this is a unique opportunity for us to jointly examine a ring as if we collectively had it under a jewelers loupe. To start this off: For example; what caused the half moon flaw in the skull?
Jim

Jim, there are a few marks on this ring! Put a red line on the openning skull photo to show us exactly where..

G:
I don't know how to put red marks on but I'm talking about the half moon shaped flaw halfway up between the left eye socket and the top of the skull. It appears to me to be an original void in the metal.
Jim

Jimbo,, That looks like a 'useage' dent.. He was a tough MFer,,I'd love to have seen what that ring did!!

You can also read more about Bittrich in a book by Christopher Ailsby called SS: Roll of Infamy.

Sepp

GDC 0292 Gold