Edelweiss pin, authentic or not?

[Wilhelm Saris]

Could be a civilian item

Is not an official political or military Edelweiss, so it will be civil.
But there are so many forms for them, it is not even sure it
is manufactured before 1945.

[wizardman]

Just found this in another Forum, it will help with the difference Real vs. Post-War/Repro Gebirgsjäger Edelweiss? - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums

[Wilhelm Saris]

It has nothing to do with Gebirgsjäger or army. It is just civil.
A look-a-like for this Edelweiss is shown in an early cataloque
from about 1934 from the concern of Steinhauer & Lück
(see lower row).



And some of such flowers by the concern of Wilhelm Deumer from
their 1926 cataloque. The one on the right is a close look-a-like
for the second form for the RAD traditions cap badge.



And from a 1937-cataloque from the concern of F.W. Assmann & Söhne.




The one shown in the next post is a post-war Edelweiss.

[wizardman]

Heres a stickpin of the same design GERMAN EDELWEISS STICKPIN Jims Militaria Collection || 989-274-6314

[CBH]

Heres a stickpin of the same design GERMAN EDELWEISS STICKPIN Jims Militaria Collection || 989-274-6314

It calls it a German Cultural pin , not a military or political item .
Mr. Saris what was the 1937 catologue selling , civilian items ? Item 24021 seems to match .

[bigmacglenn]

Thank you for the added information, Wilhelm...Clearly non-military, and the high-quality that we see in official examples simply isn't there either...
Glenn

[Wilhelm Saris]

Item 24021 seems to match .

No, there is quite a difference between the Assmann flower and the shown one.
The Assmann quality is obvious, which lacks with the shown thin metal version.

The 1937 dated cataloque mainly was about military, political and state items.
The cataloque is well-known and was practically the same for the years 1935/1936
through 1939/1940, except for the additional pages. The page where the
Edelweiss-flowers are shown, is named:
Abzeichen aller Art (different types of insignia).

[Wilhelm Saris]

Actially there are only two army versions shown in the cataloque (one was worn at the side of the
visored field-cap and one in front of the visored cap) and two political forms.
The Austrian form was not even shown then, but was worn by the SA, HJ, NSKK and NSFK. The
Bavarian form is the one with a swastika, which was worn by the SA and allowed to be worn by HJ.
So, there is not much choice!

The police did wear the well-known army form and one political form, the form from Austria.

In hardly any of the state organizations this flower was officially mentioned in regulations, but it
was worn by customs and seen in wear by Reichsbahn. The RAD had its own forms, worn as
a traditions cap insignia.

[goldmatt]

Hmm interesting information, must say I am disappointed, however I am glad to know now exactly what it is.

[wizardman]

I wouldnt be upset Goldmatt, i had not seen one like it before...and Mr Saris enlightened us all with his vast knowledge, which will help us not to get caught out..so it was a gain for all