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Wehrmacht
(Das Heer)
Page 34
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Signature of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel on Panzerarmee Afrika Stationary (Item WEHR 34-1; AFRICA 1-23; PERS 5-28) |
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DESCRIPTION: Here is a great Erwin Rommel letter and signature. Here was the most-famed German WWII leader whose valiant Africa Corps threw back repeated British and American assaults in North Africa. Later, he commanded the German troops at Normandy. He was said to be involved in the Hitler bomb plot of 1944, but very probably, he was not. The information we continually see on this comes from the “court historians” so therefore it is shady and dodgy, at the minimum. Rommel was loyal to Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist movement. Most Wehrmacht generals were never members of the Party, but Rommel certainly was and was proud to be. He had connections to the Hitler Youth movement as well. He was a patriotic German and thus he felt it was his duty to affiliate with the political apparatus of his country and he felt this to be the right direction for Europe in those crucial times. He was one of the most beloved officers to the thinking and the hearts of the German people. Even in today’s liberal Germany where traitors are lauded and heroes vilified, the name Rommel is respected and even revered. This document is an 8 x 11-inch form letter that is signed in hand by Generaloberst Rommel. The message is printed on official stationary headed with the words “Panzerarmee Afrika Der Oberbefelshaber.” The subject is a letter to all of his supporters and admirers thanking them for their letters. In part, it reads: “. . . from all parts of Germany I receive daily an extraordinary amount of mail. With the best of intentions, it is not possible for me to personally handle the magnitude of the task of answering each letter. I ask, therefore, for your understanding that your greetings can be answered in this form. In newsreels, you will find a striking picture of the unusual service given by the troops in North Africa. I am proud to say that even under extremely difficult desert conditions, the German soldier fights bravely and dutifully alongside our Italian comrades for our common victory. In the future, the German troops in North Africa will preserve in their heavy efforts and contribute to the final victory of the Axis.” The letter is boldly signed at the conclusion in pencil. There are folds and slight foxing and chipping at the folded-over left edge; otherwise, it’s in very good condition and nicely framed with a stunning picture of the “Desert Fox.” Rommel's signatures are extremely rare.
PRICE: SOLD |
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Large Poster Depicting the German Army in Action! (Item WEHR 34-2) |
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DESCRIPTION: This poster is large–23 x 34 inches (58 x 86 cm)–and is truly bold and colorful. It depicts three German soldiers who are in the act of charging an enemy position. The first soldier has a “Schmeisser” MP-40; “MP” standing for Maschinenpistole, while the second makes ready with a hand grenade (potato masher). The third soldier wears the Knight’s Cross at his neck and the Tank Destroyer Badge on his arm. This is very dramatic and it is reportedly out of the Russian captured-enemy archives department. At least that is what we were told by the Russian collector we bought some from. All we do know is that this ORIGINAL; NOT REPRODUCTION poster personifies and honors all the brave soldiers of the Deutsches Heer, who fought for their Fatherland and Europe’s freedom in the Second World War. The words at the bottom translated say: “Infantry, Queen of all Arms.” There are words in small print at the bottom–“Infanterie S.W. 1943.” Please ignore the white background under the poster; it is only a backdrop and is not with the poster. PRICE: SOLD |
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Beautiful Army Walking Stick Souvenir from the Nuremberg Rallies (Item WEHR 34-3) |
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DESCRIPTION: Here is a beautiful Gehstock or walking stick. In 1935, famed film director Leni Riefenstahl made a wonderful film called Tag der Freiheit–Day of Freedom. This event, also called, Der tag der Wehrmacht occurred in Nuremberg and focuses mainly on the German Army. The German populace greeted this great celebration of Germany’s power with boundless pride and joy. The people vastly admired their leader, Adolf Hitler, and his great accomplishment of rearming their brave soldiers. They waved flags and sang the “Deutschland Lied" and bought souvenirs that by their very nature expressed the pride in Germany’s armed forces. They bought little flags, tea towels, books, beer steins, postcards, busts made in terracotta, and bronze Soldatenköpfe—busts of soldiers—and one of the most treasured souvenirs to be had was an elaborate and beautifully made walking stick. This had the central theme at the top depicting either a tank or an aircraft, and usually the bust portrait of a helmeted German soldier. This one that we offer is exceptional in that its stick portion is so unusual. It has dozens of little cloth tassels spaced along the entire shaft. These tassels are modeled after the larger ones that decorated bayonets and swords. Some of them have different color schemes that would identify the units they represent. The shaft is seen with colors that represent the colors of the German Third Reich–black, white, red–all interwoven beautifully and the entire item is a tasteful patriotic art piece. In the entire presentation, the stick measures at a little over three feet long. It’s very, very impressive and historically important.
PRICE: $350.00 |
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Summer-Weight German Officer’s Combat Tunic and Cap (Item WEHR 34-4) |
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DESCRIPTION: Here is an extra-fine ensemble of an artillery major’s tunic and cap. The tunic is very fine with red-piped shoulder boards and fine bullion collar tabs, and a nice, crisp breast eagle. There is a General Assault Badge pinned to the pocket and the Wound Badge in black below it. There is a fine reinforced slit inside where the strap for dagger wear would be if a dagger were worn even though summer-weight combat-tunic wearers seldom if ever wore a dagger. The slight staining at the point below the right collar does not show when the tunic is closed. The Cap This cap still has its jaunty saddle shape and is very handsome. It has some trace of minute mothing on the crown. I repeat minute!!! Inside is a nice celluloid inner label with a very nice artistic company logo—bullion frontal wreath and metallic eagle. The chin cord is perfect. Overall, this is a perfect picture of Germanic military glory and splendor. They just don’t come better than this outfit. Remember, combat uniforms far exceed dress uniforms in collector desirability. Treat yourself to the best! PRICE: $2,500.00 for the tunic and cap |
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An Iron-Mounted Plaque Depicting a WWII Scene of a Charging Artillery Unit (Item WEHR 34-6) |
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DESCRIPTION: Here is a very dramatic art plaque that depicts in wrought iron an artillery team that is galloping across the scene that is mounted on wood. Not many people know that in WWII the greatest use of horses in any military conflict in history was by Germany; its entire transport was equestrian. The day-to-day mechanics of that fighting force involved an average of 11 million horses throughout the war. Of the 322 German divisions in the middle of the war (1943) only 52 were armored or motorized. The wooden plaque measures 42 x 9 inches and is a very impressive display piece. We believe it was painted black just after a GI brought it back from postwar Germany. In all probability, it originally hung in some central HQ hall or mess hall of an artillery command. This is rare and great looking!
PRICE: $600.00 SOLD |
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German Army GH-382 Reversible Winter Camo Hood (Kopfhaube) (Item WEHR 34-7) |
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DESCRIPTION: Here is an excellent example of the camouflage hood used on the Eastern Front. This one is in the splinter pattern and is in good condition. The interior is white and has yellowed slightly; no holes, tie strings intact. Snipers often used these. They were cut in the form of a head and had elongated neck flaps reaching to the opposite side of the neck and worn without a helmet underneath. This type hood is depicted and described on page 239 in John Angolia’s Uniforms & Traditions of the German Army, 1933-1945. This one is in far better shape than any we have seen offered anywhere else.
PRICE: $450.00 |
Set of Dominoes for a Wehrmacht Officers R&R Center (Item WEHR 34-8; NSTOYS 1-4) |
DESCRIPTION: This is one of the most unusual items that we have ever found or offered. Here are 28 separate pieces of little dominoes that would have been in a German Wehrmacht rest and relaxation Kaserne. European dominoes are traditionally bone or ivory. But in this case the manufacturer has produced them in a form of something like plastic or perhaps Bakelite and they are of correct weight and obviously are quite substantial. The condition is excellent. The number 28 is correct for an official domino set so not only is this group extremely rare, but perfect. Now the incredible part, each and every piece is deeply stamped with the German National eagle in the Wehrmacht style. They look like ivory, but certainly are not. They each measure two inches by one inch by about ½ inch thick. They are packed in a box which fits all of them perfectly for display. Although we think the bottom of the container may be original, if the top is original, then it was taped up and repaired through the years probably by a GI who brought the set back. It is rather astounding that this "Great War" souvenir made it here and intact! In all the years we have been at this we have never seen or heard of another set or even a single domino like this being available. This is absolutely rare and unique!
PRICE: $485.00; a bargain |
Krim Shield; Army Issue (Item WEHR 34-9) |
DESCRIPTION: Here is a fine example of the arm shield for the Battle of the Crimea in May of 1944. This badge was awarded to German Wehrmacht and Romanian soldiers who participated in this battle where the Red army made a series of offenses directed at the German-held Crimea. Unfortunately, the battle ended with the forced evacuation from the Crimean by the German forces. The shield we offer is mounted on the green/grey Wehrmacht cloth and has the proper backplate held in positon with metallic rods. The badge and cloth are in pretty much mint condition.
PRICE: $200.00 |
Kuban Shield (Item WEHR 34-10) |
DESCRIPTION: This shield was awarded to those brave soldiers who fought at the Kuban Bridgehead, also known as Gotenkopfstellung (Gothic’s head position), on the Taman Peninsula in the Soviet Union from January 1943 until it was abandoned in October that same year. The shield is struck in sheet metal or zinc and treated with a bronzed wash. The name “Kuban” appears with a stylized map of the Kuban region. This was one of the hardest-fought battles of the war for Europe and the defense of Kuban at least had a success in that it permitted the evacuation to the Crimea of nearly 245,000 German soldiers, 16,300 wounded, 27,500 civilians, thousands of tons of supplies and ammunition, tanks, motor vehicles, and 75 thousand horses. So, in essence this was a badge of honor worn by heroes whose stand seemed to practically emulate that of King Leonidas’ 300 Spartans who fought with such tenacity against massive odds at the Battle of Thermopylae. These Wehrmacht soldiers were also fighting a cruel and vicious enemy who sought to destroy their people and enslave them. The struggle was a noble one and this badge was the emblem of loyalty to the Western ideals that made Europe great. The badge was issued by the Wehrmacht and is mounted to Wehrmacht-Heeres green wool. The cloth is secured by a back plate that you can see is covered in old paper. The condition of the badge and cloth is rated excellent plus.
PRICE: $225.00 |
Wehrmacht Heer Gravy Bowl (Item WEHR 34-11) |
DESCRIPTION: Here is what's considered a rarity in German Army mess hall porcelain. The dishes and cups and saucers are in large supply and are found at every place setting numbering often 20 or more. However, the gravy bowl was only one to each of the settings, so are scarcer than the other implements. The one we offer has the permanently attached resting saucer under it. It has the national army eagle boldly stamped under the glaze on the bottom along with the company mark of Bauscher Weiden, and the date “1938.” It is in 100-percent perfect condition. The saucer measures about ten inches long by five inches wide. The saucer and bowl are about five inches tall. Actually, for mess hall porcelain this is quite beautiful with that great glow of Wehrmacht china.
PRICE: $370.00 |
Wehrmacht Heer Turkey Platter (Item WEHR 34-12) |
DESCRIPTION: Here is a large porcelain platter as used in WWII German Army mess halls. This platter measures 16 inches long x 11 inches wide (Big!). It has the German national army eagle stamped under the glaze with the maker’s stamp “Bauscher Weiden,” and the year “1941” under it. The platter is in A1 condition; no chips, no scratches. The very large platters such as this are especially rare.
PRICE: $270.00 |
Stag-Handled Dress Bayonet by WKC (Item WEHR 34-13) |
DESCRIPTION: We see lots of the black Bakelite grip examples, but seldom do we find the odd stag-grip version and they are much prettier than the standard type. They were mostly used by mountain troop Jäger regiments and worn with the intense pride that these elite regiments would project when in dress-parade formation. The bayonet in its scabbard measures about 15½ inches long with silver-plated crossguard and pommel. There is a little bit of plating loss on the right side of the blade’s tip, otherwise excellent! The scabbard has no dings or dents, but has minor paint loss. The piece has its original brown frog intact. There is a portepee in fair shape; a bit worn, but intact. The stag grips are excellent. This is a very nice original piece.
PRICE: SOLD |
Great Picture Album of German Soldier’s WWII Memories (Item WEHR 34-14; ALBUM 4-3a) |
DESCRIPTION: Here is one of the very best Wehrmacht Heer albums were have ever run across. First of all, the cover is in a rich, leather binding with a metal German Stahlhelm in the left corner (attached) and in silver print the words “Meine Dienstzeit” (My Service Time). The album definitely was the property of a soldier whose pictures occur all the way through the entire album. The opening largest picture shows the entire regiment including this soldier among them. Pictures include several bandsmen who can be recognized by their swallowtail epaulets on each shoulder. Thus our young hero was a musician and the next picture is of him with the bandsman’s swallows on the shoulders. He wears spectacles. In the next few photos he is seen in his new, recruit helmet and uniform with his comrades. Additional photographs show him at training in the 1930s followed with great pictures of the marching band and its bandmaster. Then comes a wonderful nighttime photo of the division’s playing at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. This was a Grosse Koncert in 1937. Then there is a page with more pictures depicting the uniformed band. After that some more clear-and-concise photos of the bandsmen. After this the action begins as the regiment is sent on the mission to free the Sudetenland in 1938. Our hero is clearly seen in several of the photos and then they are in Austria after the Anschluss. Our soldier is seen again beating on a large, bass drum in the victory parade. Here are some great band photos. Then we see the opening of the French and Belgian campaigns. Note the dragon’s teeth that was meant to stop the German panzers (they didn’t!). There are some super pictures of the German soldiers in Prague and pictures of the early Panzers and all sorts of comradeship hijinks and beach parties. Then we see page after page of camp life, armored vehicles, R&R scenes for the warriors and then a couple of pages of pictures of French prisoners including Negroids and Arabs, smashed French tanks, field guns, airplanes, bridges, etc. There are more pages of the Germans relaxing and enjoying field chow. Many, many pictures vividly show us what it was all about, for real. This is about the nicest album that we have seen that is identifiable with one particular German soldier.
PRICE: SOLD |
Coffeepot from German Army Mess Hall (2) (Item WEHR 34-16; MESSHALLPORC 1-2) |
DESCRIPTION: Here is a great mess hall coffee server as used by German troops in 1941. The piece is by the firm of Bauscher in the city of Weiden, Bavaria. This firm was the leading one making this glowing, white porcelain for various services of the Wehrmacht, especially the Deutsche Heer (Army). This porcelain was the toughest chinaware ever developed for military use. A soldier could drop this service piece from the dining table and the chances are good that it would not even break. The most sought-after items of this nature were the large pieces such as this coffeepot. The plates and dishes are far-more common, but it’s all getting scarce today. This one in absolute perfect condition is marked on the bottom with the Bauscher Weiden mark and the N.S. eagle and the date “1941.” The pot measures about 10 inches high with its serving lip and handle in perfect shape after all these years (remarkable!). I would have to consider them truly rare. The only places that anything like this ever seems to show up is at German flea markets if one is lucky enough to find one. This is an exceptional relic of the Second World War. There are no chips; absolutely perfect!
PRICE: SOLD |
Cup and Saucer Set for the German Army(8) (Item WEHR 34-17; MESSHALLPORC 1-8 |
DESCRIPTION: This set is from the large collection of German WWII mess hall china that we recently bought. Famous porcelain houses such as Meissen, Rosenthal, KPM, Baucher Weiden, and others manufactured these items for the Wehrmacht, Labor Front, and especially for the Deutsches Heer (German Army). Seldom do you see matching sets with the company name the same, or the years matching and in this case the makers are different and the years of issue are different (the cup is dated 1937 and the saucer is 1941). They both bear a company logo and of course they both have the army eagle with swastika that appears a little bit different on each piece of china. Yes, different, but still a set as to usage. The best description of this china would be “iron stone.” The name is derived from its notable strength and durability; a soldier could drop this cup from the dining table and odds are that it would survive, it’s that tough! The saucer measures 6 inches in diameter. The cup is 4½ inches wide counting the handle and the opening of the cup is 3½ inches in diameter. The wonderful patina glows like the finest china.
PRICE: SOLD |
Large German Army Mess Hall Platter(14) (Item WEHR 34-18; MESSHALLPORC 1-14) |
DESCRIPTION: Here is one of the larger mess hall pieces that we accumulated with the fantastic large assemblage that was gathered up by a dedicated collector over many years. This is stone-ware porcelain that was produced for the Wehrmacht (military services); this one in particular for the Deutsches Heer (Army).
Many of the major and minor porcelain firms in Germany made these before and during WWII. It is beautiful china in its own right and with its military markings, it is even more interesting. Up to now, pieces, especially large ones, were considered rare and almost unobtainable, but with the acquisition of all these great examples that we bought, we are proud to be offering some of the finest. Check with other pieces on these pages for more information about these great items. As I have said, several firms made these pieces from about 1937 to 1944. The major company that produced this particular one was by Hutschenreuther, which was certainly one of the most prestigious and famous makers in Selb, Bavaria. Nothing by Meissen, Rosenthal, or KPM could be superior to the porcelain pieces offered by this famed firm. The big platter measures 16 x 10½ inches. Many of the pieces we offer from this collection are in mint condition, but others like this one show slight evidence of usage. When you look at the bottom of the platter and view the edges of the platform you can see it sat on many a mess hall table ( nothing broken or chipped or nicked! Just good honest wear). The whole platter is sound and perfect. This is super-tough tableware. The year issued and shown is 1939, the first year of WWII, and the proud N.S. eagle and swastika are plainly evident as is the logo of the manufacturer.
PRICE: SOLD |
Assemblege of Mess Hall Porcelain for the Wehrmacht (Heer)(13) (Item WEHR 34-19; MESSHALLPORC 1-13) |
DESCRIPTION: This is a group of four pieces from the huge private collection we recently acquired. This is the typical German ironstone porcelain that was produced by many different porcelain companyies just before and during the Second World War. Here we present a huge deep-dish vegetable bowl and a potato bowl, plus two small dinner bowls. All are by different makers and all of them bear the typical German Army eagle and date issued plus the logo of the issuing company that manufactured the pieces. More about this mess hall china can be learned by reading some of the forgoing text seen in entries above. Suffice to say that in this instance the four pieces are all in pristine condition and with no nicks, chips, or abrasions—perfection indeed. The large square bowl measures 10 inches square across its top and it’s about 3½ inches tall and deep. It’s marked with the German Army (Heers) eagle and has the logo of the porcelain maker PMR in Bavaria. It has its company logo and is dated 1939. The potato bowl measured 4 inches high with a mouth opening across of 8½ inches in diameter. It also has a maker’s logo that shows a crown over a “W” and “Bavaria.” The two small dishes are of course showing the N.S. eagle and swastika plus the maker’s logos and dated 1939 and 1940. They measure 6½ inches in diameter. This is an incredible group and is 100 percent original. I have said and I now emphasize that this porcelain is the world’s toughest and a group like this is a collector’s treasure, indeed. No dealer site out there can compete with us in being able to offer pieces of this variety and amount plus quality! These will not last long at these very reasonable prices. We are proud to offer them. They are certainly an affordable, original WWII German relic.
PRICE: SOLD |
Army Large Meat Platter (Item WEHR 34-20; MESSHALLPORC 1-16) |
DESCRIPTION: Measures 16 x 10 inches. This one is by K & A Krautheim in Selb, Bavaria, and is one of the many pieces we bought from one of the greatest collections of these precious pieces of china. Many companies made these in the period of the Second World War for the various military services. If you buy this one there will be a bonus of a free dessert plate by the firm of Puls made in 1939. The large platter is clearly marked with National Eagle and swastika as is the dessert plate. Both are in great condition and unchipped. The usual iridescent white coloration is beautiful for this relic of the Second World War. This is a very affordable authentic relic indeed.
PRICE: SOLD |
Cup and Saucer (Item WEHR 34-21; MESSHALLPORC 1-18; LUFT 22-23) |
DESCRIPTION:This is a cup and saucer that are mixed; the cup is from a Luftwaffe mess hall and the saucer from a Heer mess hall. This was often the case as the war progressed and is interesting to collectors wanting to have something from both services. The cup was produced by company Thun in 1940. It bears the flying Luftwaffe eagle and the company logo. The saucer is by Hutschenreuther in Selb. It bears the Wehrmacht eagle and swastika and the Bavarian lion as the company logo. Hutschenreuther was the company with the largest contract with the Wehrmacht. The pieces show some small wear on the bottom and were definitely used in a mess hall. This is very good original grouping from the Second World War. Great collectibles!
PRICE: SOLD |
Original Sling for the MP38 and MP40 Submachine Guns (Item WEHR 34-22) |
DESCRIPTION:I understand that this is quite rare, but not being into guns I am not sure how it even works; I am sure you do, though. I do know that it is an original piece comprised of leather and webbing material. It is clearly marked “MP 38 u. 40” at the end of the sling. There is also in the leather portion a circular stamp with the SS runes and an RZM mark in a circle. Also, the date 1944 can be seen. These marks are fairly legible. You may ask why RZM marks appear in military equipment. Our theory is that almost anything issued to the SS would have mandatory stampings. Yes, the RZM is usually for political-issued equipment, but as we know the German issuing authorities would hardly ever let any piece of equipment go out without some sort of stamping and this RZM mark seems to fit the proportions of this piece of equipment, so here we have a belt that needed stamping. Make sense??? The belt is 47 inches long and in very good condition.
PRICE: $175.00 |
Engraved Bayonet (Item WEHR 34-23; DAG&SWORDS 1-2) |
DESCRIPTION: Here is a very nice army dress bayonet. It shows a soldier figure with oak leaves; the soldier seems to be holding an MP40 submachine gun. The engraving is to one side only and it is a typical “in memory of my service” type. Deeply etched, this is a classic example of these now-scarce pieces. Blade is fine. Where the maker’s mark would normally be this one has the name of the Berlin distributor “W. Roetz Brandenburg, H.” The black Bakelite, checkered grips are perfect with no chips. The brown carry frog is also in nice condition with a little wear on the lip where it meets with the crossguard. This is in brown leather. The scabbard is not repainted; it shows some wear but is in exceptionally good condition.
PRICE: $750.00 |
German Army Poster which Appeals to the German Worker to Support the Troops (Item WEHR 34-24) |
DESCRIPTION: This very dramatic poster shows a close up of a German soldier with hand grenades in his belt with sleeves rolled up ready to fight. The legend across the top says: “So wie wir Kämpfen” (“The way we fight”) and the appeal at the bottom says “Arbeite Du für den Sieg!” (“And you will work for the victory!”) The poster is in very good condition except for some minor scratches here and there. The uniform depiction is of course perfect and the expression upon the soldier’s face gives credence to the massive struggle that went on against Communism that should have been joined by the Western Powers, but they chose to support ‘Uncle Joe’ and his insidious murderous political system. In the left-hand bottom corner there are some words and numbers that come out to “PLAKAT Nr. 23 der R.P.L.” Poster measures 34 x 26 inches.
PRICE: $450.00 |
Archival Picture from WWII Russian Archives (Item WEHR 34-25) |
DESCRIPTION: Here is an amusing picture of a German soldier “tweaking” the nose of a statue of Lenin. Pictures like this were traded from a Russian dealer who claims these pictures were released from Russian archives. This one has a stamp in the Russian language on the back as well as a large scribbling which he said means “released” with some red lettering??? The size of the photo is 5 x 3¼ inches. The picture has the ragged edges like a snapshot. This is an interesting photo, to say the least.
PRICE: $65.00 |
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Meissen Plaque Commemorating the Return of Austria to the Germanic Reich (Anschluss) (Item WEHR 34-26; GEN 15-8) |
DESCRIPTION: This is a gorgeous piece finished in Meissen’s wonderful, exceptional porcelain. The depiction shows the Austrian eagle as he goes to the German Reichsadler. The date as seen on the medallion is “13 März 1938,” which was the day after the Anschluss was announced bringing Austria to the Germanic Reich once again. If you look closely, behind the head of the larger German eagle is the swastika of the Third Reich. The depiction of the eagles is extraordinary, to say the least. The medallion measures six inches in diameter. On the back you will see the swastika and under this the well-known expression of the times: “EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER.” Under this is the crossed-swords logo of the Meissen porcelain firm. We do know that the piece is by the Meissen’s artist Erich Oehme, who always worked in this particular style and special brown-porcelain effect. The piece is quite heavy and the porcelain workmanship is exquisite. In all our years, we have never seen another like it. It was probably produced by the Meissen firm to be presented to officials who participated in the Austrian Anschluss. It is in mint condition throughout. This is one of the finest pieces of Meissen and National Socialist art that we have ever encountered.
PRICE: SOLD |
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