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Original Rings of the Kriegsmarine
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Lorient Commemorative Ring (Item KRIEG 10-30) |
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| DESCRIPTION: The Port of Lorient, France, was of vital importance to the German naval agendas, and the most famous of the U-boats were docked there. In 1941, the Germans, then occupying France, chose to establish one of their U-boat headquarters in Keroman; however, the submarines quickly became targets of constant bombing from Allied air forces. It was decided to build the largest WWII U-boat flotillas for the bulk of the Battle of the Atlantic. Karl Dönitz, then supreme commander of the U-boat arm, moved his staff in Kernével, just across the water from Keroman, in Larmor-Plage. In 1943-1944, Lorient was nearly razed to the ground by Allied bombing, which failed in their objective of destroying the submarine pens, despite 4,000 tons of bombs dropped. During the war, the U-boat flotilla was part of the Keroman complex. Here, the subs were docked and repaired if necessary. They could not have been in a more perfect strategic location and in the beginning of 1943, Lorient was at the peak of its activity and there were as many as 28 U-boat at the base at the same time. These U-boat pens are intact and remain to this day. In their day, they provided forward bases for Germany’s commerce war against Britain. Some collectors are familiar with the Lorient Shield that, where authorized, was worn on the sleeve of any of the sailors and marine infantry uniforms. It was in recognition of the heroism of those who went through the “hell on earth” brought about by the Allied bombing. The defenders of the U-boat base were isolated following the Allied advance through Normandy, but managed to hold out until the end of the war. The Lorient Shield was designed to commemorate their tenacious defense. It was thought to have been designed by the German naval commander in December 1944. There remains great disagreement about the existence of the shield although in collectors’ circles it is the second most highly sought after behind the Cholm Shield—there is still controversy on it. I would say it was absolutely not an issued award, but what would stop vets of the battle from commissioning some skilled jeweler to make up such a shield to honor their participation in the epic battle and if they had a shield manufactured, then we would assume that at least a few of the veterans might have had the commemorative ring made, as well. Almost every German Third Reich ring ever produced has been copied by the sleaze balls that do that, but this one (at least at this point in time) has never been reproduced. So the one offered here is 100-percent authentic and period. It is in a size 11 with a good-sized picture area with a blackened background and has the naked helmeted Germanic warrior standing defiantly with sword and shield with eagle and swastika emblazoned upon it. The date “1944” and the title “Lorient” appear. This ring has been in a private collection for the past 25 years. It may well be unique.
PRICE: $1,500.00;Special price now as agreed with the consignor, $1,200.00 |
Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence.
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