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Austrian Bronze Statue of Saint Michael Guarding the Austrian Border (Item WWI 12-1 & KSTATUE 5-5)

DESCRIPTION: This is a magnificent bronze statue of the Patron Saint of Imperial Austria armed with sword and shield.  He stands defiant and steadfast as he guards the area known as the “Isonzo” named for the Isonzo River that runs from the Gulf of Trieste through Italy and Slovenia and joins with the Sola and Idrija Rivers as it ambles toward Austria. The battles of the Isonzo were a series of 12 battles between the Austro-Hungarian and Italian armies in World War One.  They were fought along this river on the Eastern sector of the Italian front between June 1915 and November 1917.  Most of the battles were fought on the territory of modern Slovenia and the remainder in Italy. During the war the Isonzo valley was part of the Alpine sector of the Italian Front, along which the armies of Italy and Austro-Hungary clashed. During World War One the sixty miles long river ran almost entirely inside Austro–Hungary in parallel to the border with Italy. There is a narrow corridor between northern Italy and central Europe. This corridor is also known as the “Ljubijana Gate.”  The Italian army wanted to break through this passage in order to penetrate into central Carniloa and then on to Stynia to the heart of Austria. The area between the northernmost part of the Adriatic Sea and the sources of the river Soca thus became the scene of twelve successive battles with the rest of the mountainous 400  mile long front almost everywhere dominated by Austro-Hungarian troops. The Isonzo was the practical area for Italian military operations during the war. The Austrians had fortified the mountains ahead of the Italian long expected entry into the war on May 23rd, 1915.  The details of the battles are available on the internet; we won’t go into further description here. Fratricidal War at its Most Heinous. Despite the huge effort and resources poured into the continuing Isonzo struggle the results were invariably disappointing and without real tactical merit, particularly given the geographical difficulties that were inherent in the campaign. Cumulative casualties of the numerous battles of the Isonzo were enormous.  Half of the entire Italian War casualty total some 300,000 - 600,000 were suffered along the Isonzo. Austro-Hungarian losses while by no means as numerous were never the less high at around 200,000 of an overall total of around 1.2 million casualties.  The statue stands today as a memorial to the brave Austrian soldiers who died in those twelve battles as defenders of their sacred fatherland the figure of Saint Michael depicted with the wings of an archangel.  His sword is the wavy blade type and his shield has the double headed eagle of the Hapsburg Empire.  The bronze figure stands at the peak of a simulated mountain. This model mountain is formed from actual Austrian granite from the area of Austria where such stone is quarried.  The realistic tone is exemplified by this clever artistic touch. The whole of the sculpture in height including the granite base is 15 inches with the base being 6 inches high and Saint Michael being 12 inches.  The sculpture and base are in A-1 perfect condition. Very dramatic looking and noble in its concept. This is one of the most meaningful art statues we have ever presented to serious Germanophiles worldwide. By the way, we might need a St. Michael or St. George at our border in the near future to guard against the Dragons and Devils from south of that besieged border. Let’s support Arizona! In Hoc Signo Vinces!!!

PRICE: $2,950.00

DESCRIPTION: This marvelous statue measuring 13 ½ inches high with a base 4 ½ inches square (length and depth) personifies the strength and determination of the “Deutscher Soldat” from the time of the battle of the Teutoberg Forest up through the pages of history and into the 2nd World War. The slogan that might go with this wonderful sculpture could be “Die Ganze Welt Gegen Uns”! The whole world against us! Yes, Germany in the embodiment of the Heilege Vaterland was always to protect Europe against the constant incursions from the east against the Magyars, Huns ,Goths, and Visagoths and even the moribund Roman Empire. The land of Germania and its Teutonic Volk took on all comers. It was no different in the 2nd World War when Germany with a few allies stood against the Maelstrom in what was a German led crusade to destroy the beast of Bolshevism before all of Europe was disseminated by what President Regan later called the Evil Empire. Tthis was truly “evil personified! “ And in this author's perception, all the nations who joined in the fight to preserve communism and crush Germany were the acolytes of Stalin and Tito and obviously Satan*. (*Authors historic opinion.) The statue you see here tells of a saga that we have briefly touched upon in the forgoing narrative. As this Warrior stands naked before the world, the artist who sculpted him conveys in statuary the defeated yet proud and militant German soldier who wears the Stalhelm (steel helmet) and makes ready the sword of Siegfried known as Nothung for the next time the call of the besieged Fatherland is heard. We readily admit that all of this will only be understood and honored by Germanophiles, but we can envision all the deep meaning that this artistic masterpiece conveys. Nothing else that we have ever offered or seen offered comes up to the artistic expression and important significance of this prodigiously important piece. Its historical importance is magnificently conveyed. This statue which may actually be unique; it is a presentation piece to an officer who was “Beirat” (military advisor) to the Third Ulan battalion in Berlin. This wonderful gift was from the Kameradschaft (comrades) and presented to him for his true service to the Batt. From 1920 to 1940 this illustrious unit was the Third Guard Uhlan regiment and in WW 2 the Uhlans became armored divisions and covered themselves with glory in the early campaigns in Poland and the military engagements against France and Russia. The sculpture weighs about 14 pounds with the marble plinth and is in perfect condition with a gorgeous patina throughout. Deutschland Uber Alles !  

PRICE: SOLD

DESCRIPTION: This has to be one of the neatest WWI German novelties of the Imperial Era we have ever seen or heard of. This Pickelhaube wearing Prussian soldier is a ‘Bandsman’ and “what a bandsman.” He is playing the “Grosse Trommel” (Grand Drum) and the large cymbal at the same time. He is in full Prussian Landser uniform with the ‘Birds nest” or swallow tail epaulettes on his shoulders and the special three button style cuffs that are sported on the dress tunic. He wears the Mauser 98 bayonet with portepee. The absolute most unique thing about “Fritz’ is found in his moving parts -- when the arm holding the drum stick is depressed downward, he raises the cymbal and brings it clanging down when the drumstick is returned to its original position. Of course when the cymbal is raised the ashtray is exposed.  Behind ‘Fritz’ is a small plinth where a pack of matches would be mounted. The figure is mounted on a base that is made to look like a brick street. Under the base are letters, D.R.G.M. (German registered patent) and another word is found by the base fixtures. It could be Mustersch.?  The figure with base stands about 8 inches tall. The drum is about 2 ½ inches long. The cymbal is about 2 inches in diameter. We at Germania are particularly proud to offer this great figure to the collecting pubic and at the same time in hopes he doesn’t go out too soon, he looks great on our desk. In all probability ‘Fritz’ was a table piece in an officer’s Mess Hall.  He is certainly not a toy. 

PRICE: $2,200.00 and worth every dime of this reasonable price. Sort of the ULTIMATE in a Germanic military statue

DESCRIPTION: We managed to find four of these beautiful mailing boxes that were issued to soldiers of Germany and Austria. They were for the soldiers in the field to send home letters, notes, souvenirs, etc. They are measured at 7 x 5 inches and are 1 ½  inches deep with the Austrian and German soldiers depicted with their colors behind them. Also seen is a picture of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Franz Joseph of Austrian side by side in portrait style while in the middle you can see the lines to be filled out as to address and destination and other lines for military identification of the sender. Across the top is written Feldpost-Brief Paket. (Field post letter packet). They are in mint condition and truly rare but a package of them was recently found (never issued). A great souvenier of the Great Fratricidal war.

PRICE: $60.00 each (a bargain!)

DESCRIPTION: This is a great little sculpture mounted on a marble base. It is highly detailed and an excellent likeness of the Great War leader who later became the first post-war president of Germany. He later appointed Adolf Hitler Reich’s Chancellery. There is a narrative about this much loved and respected leader in several of our pages and the Kaiser Reich section on bronzes and statuary page 4 at KSTATUE 4-2 and also on the Third Reich page 14-1. He was known as the “Father of the Fatherland” and Germany’s greatest war hero. Please do read about him on our pages at the WWI section. This is a fine period bust and a great historically important item. Small but dramatic! The bust with its plinth stands 4 3/4th inches high and the bust alone is 2 1/2 inches high; it is signed Burajze. The medals and birds nest shoulder boards and stand out in amazing detail and the face is remarkably life-like. The artist certainly captured the spirit of the grand old Marshal.

PRICE:  SOLD

DESCRIPTION: Here is a specimen in nearly mint condition of the Kaiserreich battle flag. We are not sure if it was manufactured in the period leading to or during the First World War. It could have been produced in the 1930's or 1940's. The Veterans Associations used this ensign in all their parades and ceremonies. The condition is great and it has the label of the flag maker on its rope edge. It is a great size for the collector (53" x 31") and is a very dramatic looking flag. It has the rope running through the left side (stitched on) with the loop and tie lanyard all there. The Banner Fahne Fabrik was known to make the finest in flags and standards in the Imperial era and in the Third Reich (they made the best!)

PRICE: $389.00

DESCRIPTION: This is a bronze sculpture by famed Paul Schmidt Felling 1835 - 1930. He was one of the most famous artists doing human figures in his time. Farmers, children, workers, soldiers and some animal figures, he was a very prolific artist and was most known for his very dramatic figures but also his Volkskunst(Art of the People). This example is a patriotic theme with a soldier of the Fatherland in the pose of officer holding the schwarz, weiss, rot banner as he advances with drawn sword. The officer seems to be rallying the troops for a charge against the enemy. The banner is seen to be divided into sections that, were they in color, they would be the national colors of black, white and red. We have seen a larger version of this Felling statue in a German art museum and it had the name ‘Vorwarts’ or ‘Forward.’ Certainly an appropriate title for this extremely melodramatic figure that is so striking and full of meaning to the Germanophiles among us.

PRICE: SOLD

DESCRIPTION: This has to rate as one of the absolute best groups we have ever offered at Germania International.  In a word, incredible.  The articles were the personal possessions of Herr Konrad Lepper who served in WWI and won the Iron Cross First and Second Class and was an adjutant, so we are told, in the unit I/417 and worked up the ranks to being an Oberstleutnant in 1942. The Second World War, he was in the Gebirgsjager Corps (Mountain Infantry) or at least that is indicated by the color of the underlay on his shoulder boards...light green Waffenfarbe. With the group there is a cigarette case that is crafted in 800 silver. It measures 3 ½" x 3" and about ½ inch thick; it has the Hohenzollern eagle in its center and K.L for Konrad Lepper. The initials are on the left (K) and in the bottom right (L) on the inside of the case. It is presented to Lepper with the words that are hand engraved -- Ihrem Lieben Adjutanten Lepper 2-M 14 5 1917. “To the Dear Adjutant Lepper’.  Then there are what looks to be five facsimile signatures of officers that  were presenting the case to Lepper. The only one at his point that we can make out clearly is Kluge -- this could be the famed General Von Kluge of WWI and WWII fame. That might have been the officer that Leper was adjutant to.

With the group are 10 medals in parade dress mount and his shoulder boards from his WWII rank -Oberstleutant 1st Colonel in the 15th Mountain Troop Battalion. His medals are mounted on a board that is similar to the funeral pillow that is used in display, these would be the awards won in the career of a soldier then deceased and this might well be the case here. We received them mounted like this when we purchased the group. Note the medals in our pictures and they are from the top on down:

1. The Iron Cross First Class
2. The ribbon bar contains the Iron Cross Second Class.
3. The red enamel medal is the Hanseatic Cross given for bravery in combat.
4. The cross of Honor WWI for a combatant
5. Cross for Military Merit awarded by Austria (“Militar-Verdienstkreuz”)

On the Next medal grouping parade bar we find:

1. WW II Kriegs Verdienst-Kreuz with swords for Combatants.
2. The 4 year Faithful Service medal for the German army.
3. The National Socialist Civil Service medal
4. The War Service medal presented by the Weimar Republic to Veterans who served in the First World War
5. (Separate) the war Merit Cross Kriegsverdienstkreuz with swords for combatants (in silver 1st Class)

On this board you can also see Lt. Col. Lepper's WW II shoulder boards from the 1st Gebirgsjager Regiment. We would hazard a guess that Lepper may have been retired at the age of 52 in 1943 or 53 in 1944.  He was born May 14th, 1871.  We say this because of the Weimar Kyfhauser bund medal and the N.S. Faithful Service award; it indicated he may have been in the Civil Service even before the First World War. To continue we come to the most incredible part of the group and that is a beautifully rendered oil portrait of the Soldat Lepper in full uniform in the WWI era with his sword. This is a large painting 42” x 30”.  It is actually from the period 1914-1918 and it is in fine condition.  We had to remove the frame to send the painting home but believe me the frame was nothing we would treasure. It was a black painted common frame in chipped up condition and this magnificent oil deserves a better framing job in any case.  We leave that to the buyer.  The painting is unsigned but is obviously the work of a truly professional artist; very life-like portrait of a real career officer, Germany’s finest.

Also fantastic is that we have the actual Mod 1889 Infantry officers sword that you see in the picture with Lepper's initials K.L. engraved in the pommel section.  The sword is in all around great condition  The wire wrapping is tight, the brass is all still with 90% of its original gilted patina.  The scabbard shows use but no abuse.  The blade is plain steel.  Unsigned, with double blood gutters. The royal Prussian crest are perfect as is the eagle on the brass foldable guard   The sword in its scabbard is 36 inches long. Herr Lepper was a proud German soldier so it is not so unusual to find their initials or names on the swords.  Usually it is the career men who are “button busting proud” of their army, their nation and their family who would have this done. To continue, we have Lepper's Wehrmacht officers model ‘Heersdolch’or (army dress dagger) with original portepee (knot) and hanger. The dagger was manufactured by the famous Solingen Firm of Puma. The cross guard on the back incredibly has his initials once again (K.L.) done in classic Germanic letters that exactly match the personalization on the sword. This dagger is in average to very good condition.  The blade is bright but could have at one time broken at the tip. But if so it has been expertly repaired even if shortened by a ¼ inch or so.  The grip may have had a chip near the cross guard but that also was excellently repaired. The scabbard shows some plating loss here and there but we think Lepper was no armchair officer; he was probably busy most of the time and wearing the weapon all the time as an adjutant.  The supplied hangers show use but are still good and serviceable (and highly collectable); all in all a very nice specimen of the official dress dagger of the German Army.

Next, and this is incredible, the original three promotions that Lepper earned through his long military career. This starts with:

1. The promotion document promoting him from a Hauptmann (Captain) in the infantry regiment 15 who has served form Dec. 1938 as a captain in the reserve to a captain in the regular army in the field for 1939 and it is hand signed by the Supreme Commander of the army, General Oberst Franz Halder.
2. The official document promoting him from Hauptmann (Captain) to Major on the 1st of April 1940. It says -- “I issue this promotion document and expect that the above Konrad Lepper to be true to his oath of service and he will execute his duty and the trust in him that is given to him with this promotion at the same time he can be assured of my special protection."  Fuhrers headquarters facsimile signed by Adolf Hitler in autopen on the 20th April 1940. This was Hitler’s birthday.  Under this is in large letters “Der Fuhrer Adolf Hitler”.  Under this is the handwritten signature of General Walther Von Brautisch who in 1940 was also promoted .He was elevated from General to Field Marshal
3. The original document promoting Lepper from Major to Oberstleutant.  (Lieutenant Colonel) The wording in this document is much the same as on the document preceding at (B) this one is signed by Wilhelm Keitel Supreme commander of the Army. It is dated and signed 8 April 1942 but is retroactive from April 1st 1942.  This one like the others has the facsimile Adolf Hitler signature. All three documents are in their original folders with the beautiful and noble Reichsadler eagle on the covers embossed in gold. The actual documents are on parchment stock paper and have the highly embossed official seal of the Reich (An eagle on a wreath of oak leaves). All of these documents are in marvelous condition and like all of the other Leper items were kept in a special state of preservation.

Next: When an officer reaches the high rank of Oberstleutenant the official Wehrmacht inspection always came to pass. And this was similar to the Party Rasse und Siedlungshauptamt “Race and Resettlement Office.” They wanted to know if the officer was of pure Germanic descent according to paragraph (1.) The law of Aryan descent. This was under the Reichsgesetzblat-filing system 1063 it says “We hereby certify that Oberleutnant Konrad Lepper who was born 14/5/91 is of German descent as is his wife Martha who was born Hupfeld Nov 1st 1893 and as far back as her grandparents is also Aryan Approved by inspection of official records here in Oct 1935.  This was signed in Kasssel the 22nd of December 1942.  It has the stamp of the inspection office and is signed by a captain and adjutant. This file paper is 8 x 6 inches in size.  

Last but not least is an envelope minus the letter -- 5 ½" x 4" addressed to Oberstleutnant Lt. Lepper # 316-2 509 083 U.S. Army POW 1 B France and dated 29 May 1946. It says to the side (German) and at the top Prisoner of War post. On the back it says Lepper Bringhausen UB Wildungen 16 Germany.   We believe this was a letter from his father or mother but could be from his brother or sister while he was a prisoner of war in France but at a US prisoner facility.

So here we have one of the most complete groupings of the personal articles ever offered -- absolutely stupendous! How and why they were ever released and sold by the family is unknown to us.  Perhaps it is because of the slander and debasement of Germany’s soldiers taught in the post-war German schools and in fact even in the media today in the Orwellian world we now seem to have reached.  Or perhaps most of the Lepper family is gone leaving behind a few of the ‘new’ Germans who have adopted the “Coca-Cola and gum chewing culture”. These types would sell their history and heritage in a snap! It means nothing to them. If they would be asked if they knew the difference between ignorance and apathy their answer would likely be “I don’t know and I don’t care!” Think about that one.  To us this collection is truly a Germanophiles dream and a tribute to a brave soldier of the Reich. May he rest in glory!  Alles für Deutschland!

PRICE: $9,800 an incredibly reasonable price for the finest historical group we have ever even hear of or offered (All inclusive!)

List of items with Group:

1. The oil painting
2. The cigarette case
3. 10 medals on velvet cloth covered board
4. Mod 1889 Imperial officer’s sword (the one in picture!)
5. Wehrmacht officers dagger with hangers and knot
6. Three official promotion documents issued by the offices of Adolf Hitler and hand signed by famous army commanders
7. The Aryan heritage paper showing Germanic ancestry
8. An envelope addressed to him when he was a POW in an American camp in France

DESCRIPTION: The original design of this medal was originally created by the famous German medalist Karl Goetz and was later copied by the British for propaganda purposes during WW I.  The medal on the obverse shows the Lusitania slipping below the waves and with obvious war contraband on her deck.  Cannon, war planes armaments with the admonishment above which translates to “no contraband goods!” And below it says the liner Lusitania sunk by German U-boat May 5, 1915. This is Goetz’ first obverse which bore the incorrect date of May 5, 1915 an error he later attributed to a flawed newspaper account and that error is what made this such a controversial piece. In the 2nd obverse, Goetz corrected the date to May 7th.  The actual date of the sinking of the Lusitania.   The reverse has a skeleton representing death selling Passage in the Cunard Line ticket office. Along the top of the medal are the German words for business overall mocking the Cunard Line for willingly placing passenger’s lives at stake. At the left is a man reading a paper on which are the German words for U-Boat Danger, while behind him is the German Ambassador Count Von Bernstoff wagging a wagging finger as a reminder that the Germans had placed a warning advertisement in the same newspaper as the Cunard Line sailing schedule.

The Controversy: Like all Allied propaganda, the actual Lusitania story is quite different than the one told by the British.  Winston Churchill once said “history will be kind to me for I will write the history”.  There are write ups to be found on the web that directly blame Churchill himself for the tragedy of the great ship.  We will leave it to the potential buyer to determine the rest of the story with a bit of research on line. All we can say at this point is that it has been established reliably that the Lusitania was indeed carrying live munitions and under the rules of war that would have made the liner a legitimate target as the Germans maintained at the time.  It is also known that the British Navy attempted to destroy the wreck in the 1950’s to conceal its military cargo.

The one we offer is one of the 300,000 reproduced in 1916 by Gordon Selfridge at the request of Captain of British Naval Intelligence for propaganda purposes.  It is struck in iron and plated bronze.  It is a reproduction (an old repro) from England but still a valuable historical item. 2 ¼ inches in diameter and in great condition.

PRICE: $125.00

DESCRIPTION: This is a gorgeous photo album presented by the elite 14th and 16th Hussar Regiment to their Brigade Commander, Major General Baron Oswald Coburg (probably a retirement gift). In the center of the front cover is a wonderful badge style escutcheon that employs all the equipment of the horse solders (Hussars) -- carbine, swords, shako, horse stirrups, revolver, bugle, etc. and all of this is surrounded by branches of palms and another of oak leaves. This is all in the finest of 800 silver. At top and bottom are the words of presentation. The corners are highly decorated with beautiful floral designs in high relief. The cover is in lovely blue leather. The album measures 13 x 10 inches and is slightly over 2 inches deep and contains 77 mounted picture all on the studio card stock of the age; there are also two loose pictures but all the photo slots that are made to contain the images are filled.  The pictures range in two sizes 2 ½ x 4 1/8th. And the bigger ones are 5 ½ x 4 ½. All are in perfect shape and the pages are clean. The Germanic phrase in the title of the albums cover KK stands for Kaiserlich and Koniglish (Imperial and Royal). This was applied to all units that served Austria and the Hapsburg monarchy. The album is in great shape throughout. The pictures of the uniformed Hussars show the dashing and daring of these soldiers of the horse. The Hussars were of course light cavalry which first originated in Hungary and of all the world's Hussars, the Austro-Hungarian riders were the best! They were very effective against the Prussians and French. The Allies in WWI and even against the Russians in the early days of WW II. This album miraculously turned up and bears silent testimony to a band of equestrian heroes who shall never be forgotten in the annals of military history and glorious renown.

PRICE: $1,600.00 

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