Couple questions from begginer. Need veterans advice.

[BOB COLEMAN]

Welcome to the Forum. Never try to convince yourself that a piece is genuine. That likely means it is not. The forum is here to help both the beginner and the experienced collector. Welcome to the addiction

[Wilhelm Saris]

This forum here is a great help to all. Believe me!

We all started, knowing nothing. As there were not much books in those days.
For me it all began with an NSDAP party-badge in about 1970 or so. Gathering
information was my goal. Now I have a rather nice archive with over 400 port-
folio's and have written twelve books and hundreds of articles. And as Bob says:
welcome to the addiction.

As show before and maybe it gets boring or even annoying:

S6003116 - kopie.jpg

What I intended to say is: after all those years (45), I have learned I do not know
much of the Third Reich period. There is still a lot to learn for me. I would need
another 100 years!!

Ylang you're still young. Make a start and in about 45 years you will advice
eventually starting collectors! But first you should study.......(correct is: Besitzzeugnis)

[Ylang]

Are you collecting as an investment or are you collecting for the pleasure and knowledge it brings?

I have utmost respect for all the items that are out there, regardless of the side they were with, nation, or ideology. Im not a history nerd, but having all these things, brings me closer to the past, I also think, that preserving the history is quite important, in its genuine form, no censorship, no propaganda. Im not a Richie Rich type, just an ordinary guy who has a hobby, and wants to reach a new level. I will stick to easily available, common, cheap items. Maybe one day that will change, hopefully, there is a vast amount of items for me to collect. Im only afraid of the amount of copies, fakes, and other garbage, that is out there.

As a teenager I have been collecting coins, but that was a mistake, then I started collecting Russian medals, but that was a mistake as well. I had no idea what I was doing, and what I want, now I know. For all these years I have been thinking about it, pros, and cons. The time has come, to start doing it.

My main focus:
Germany during World War 2
Germany during World War 1

Thank you to everyone who replied, and hello.

PS. Sorry for my English.

Ylang you're still young. Make a start and in about 45 years you will advice
eventually starting collectors! But first you should study.......(correct is: Besitzzeugnis)

I like when someone sees my mistakes, and corrects them. Thank you, and I agree, maybe one day I will be giving advices here, for all the newbie Ylangs that come here hungry of knowledge.

[Chopperman]

I have utmost respect for all the items that are out there, regardless of the side they were with, nation, or ideology. Im not a history nerd, but having all these things, brings me closer to the past, I also think, that preserving the history is quite important, in its genuine form, no censorship, no propaganda. Im not a Richie Rich type, just an ordinary guy who has a hobby, and wants to reach a new level. I will stick to easily available, common, cheap items. Maybe one day that will change, hopefully, there is a vast amount of items for me to collect. Im only afraid of the amount of copies, fakes, and other garbage, that is out there.

As a teenager I have been collecting coins, but that was a mistake, then I started collecting Russian medals, but that was a mistake as well. I had no idea what I was doing, and what I want, now I know. For all these years I have been thinking about it, pros, and cons. The time has come, to start doing it.

My main focus:
Germany during World War 2
Germany during World War 1

Thank you to everyone who replied, and hello.

PS. Sorry for my English.



I like when someone sees my mistakes, and corrects them. Thank you, and I agree, maybe one day I will be giving advices here, for all the newbie Ylangs that come here hungry of knowledge.

Good answer
and BTW, you English is just fine.

I am glad to hear that you have that connection to the past. Many of us find it easier
and more enjoyable helping out others that want to learn and are not here just to take
advantage of our free help.

Some of us are just born to collect. I had coins, rocks, model cars and other things as a kid.
When I turned 13, I started collecting a few odd military pieces and it just expanded from
there. Today I try to just focus on just certain items.

If I can ever be of help, don't hesitate to ask.

[Jerry B]

Looking at a few of the posts, you will need a glossary of abbreviations first, EK's, ISA's, PAB's etc......

Have fun and enjoy the hobby otherwise do something else.