German aircraft balkan cross

[philgilou]

Hello again

Just also want to show you my second german aircraft relic.

It is the balkan cross cut off on a german aircraft in the airport of Berchtesgaden

The vet wrote on the back x=where and when he cut it off.

[HPL2008]

Very nice and thanks for sharing.

However, as this is a bit of a pet peeve of mine, do allow me to remark that I wish collectors would stop referring to the symbol as a "balkan cross".

It is called Balkenkreuz, which literally means "beam cross". The term has no connection to the Balkans whatsoever.

[harryamb2]

is it just the cross or the whole thing ? if the whole thing its on a strange material for a plane.

[philgilou]

Yes it is the whole thing. I think the Vet wrote "airplane" but it could be a glider beam cross

[Danmark]

How big is it? Some had these on the rudder rather than the swastika.

[philgilou]

The cross only is 30x30

I think it could be that:

[Danmark]

Yes I think so too.

[Allegra]

This question is genuine.

I'm the first to admit that I really know very little about the history of airfields and their associated planes in WW2, but why would Hitler have a glider on his private airfield?

I'm also a tad puzzled as to why the serviceman didn't cut out the entire Stammkennzeichen marking - but that's just me.

[philgilou]

I think that at this moment, the trophy what was interesting the US soldiers was the cross only (beam cross or swastika), because they represented the victory on the 3rd reich.
There were symbolic! They didn't have in their mind that these items will become very valuable for collectors.

[Allegra]

Yes, this is very true - on both accounts.

Cheers