UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Medals & Badges of the Third Reich Forum Bund der Saarpfalzvereine

Here are 3 examples of Bund der Saarpfalzvereine badge from my collection, the more often seen Saarabstimmung 17. 1. 1935 with the wreath plus two, much harder to find standard versions without wreath.

Many years ago when I first started out collecting, (& before the internet!) it was speculated amongs enamel collectors that the small version was just a wreathed badge which had been cut down to remove the wreath. This was common practice with some badge manufacturers to save on the cost of multiple dies & can often be seen with the Tiroler Kreisschiessen badges where 4 different grades were required.

However, when the reverse of the badges are examined it can be clearly seen that seperate dies were used due to the wording around the edges. The thickness of the wreath means that, if trimmed off, the wording would be lost or at least damaged.

If you have any examples, please post them.

Don

Don, a colorful badge that I have admired without a purchase. Only the one manufacturer known?

--dj--Joe

I’ve only ever seen them marked like this Joe.

Don

Don, as you well know different size badges are not unknown. For one example the N. S. Frauenschaft series. Disregarding the wreathed examples do you think the smaller non-border badges were just a marketing ploy with sales choice in mind?

--dj--Joe

I'd bet the smaller one was for a lesser ranking or less important person.

Joe,

It wouldn't surprise me There have been various reasons for different size membership badge, such as for males & females, different ranking within the organisation (as Dave suggests), and to differentiate between actual paid up members of a group & their supporters, as with the size differerence of Steirischer Heimatbund & Kärntner Volksbund badges.

As an added bit of info, the organisation lasted with a slight name change, into the 1950's at least, as shown by these badges offered by Hüsken....

Don

A mystery has been solved thanks to a young researcher (K-R) that I know from another forum. After seeing my set of badges she immediately set upon a search of the newspaper archives & came up with an answer.

"When Germany became national-socialist, and the French-occupied Saar was returned to Germany, Saar became part of its original Bavarian Pfalz-region again (hence Saarpfalz instead of Saar).

The two badges on the right are membership badges from after the Abstimmung in 1935." The one on the left was issued in 1938 with an accompanying certificate to all members who belonged to a regional association and took part in the 1935 Saarpfalz Referendum....

Here is the newspaper article she found.....

Roughly translated (by Google) it says;

Wear the Saarpfalz Referendum Badge!

The Association of Saarpfalz Associations will present the Saarpfalz Referendum Badge and the accompanying certificate to all members who belong to a regional association and took part in the 1935 Saarpfalz Referendum, namely in Stuttgart from the chairman of the Saarpfalz Association, Hans Maher, Bad Cannstatt, König-Karl-Straße 51; in Ludwigzburg from Fritz W. Thirh, Solitudestraße 54; in Heilbronn from Kan G. Müller, Karmeliterstraße 40, and in places where no registration office is specified, from the regional group leader of the Saarpfalz Associations, J. Seibert, Stuttgart-W. Falckertstraße 75. On Saturday, May 7th, at 8 p.m., there will be a Saarpfalz Spring Festival in the Europäischer Hof, Stuttgart, Friedrichstraße. Applications for the badge and the certificate of honor can also be submitted there.

Now I need to find the certificate!!! (Thanks K-R)

Don,

Thanks. Have you introduced the lady here ?

Dave

Don, best of luck on finding that certificate. Thank you for sharing. Please convey my thanks also to (K-R).

--dj--Joe