Identification on WWII veteren bring backs- German cross medal, sweat shirt Nazi logo, hat pin

[hunter59]

P1020965.jpgAttachment 371163My dad passed away at age 70 and had served in WWII in the 449 Bombardment Squadron and 322 Bombardment Group flying 18 missions on a Martin B26 Marauder in the European Theater. While he was on occupation duty in Germany after VE day he traded a carton of cigarettes for some German Military items- Luger, Dagger (SA transportation?) a black and silver iron cross, etc...

I have identified the Luger on another forum as a WWI variety that was re-proofed with WWII stamps. They said the person caring it could have had it passed down in the family since the gun was a 1910 WWI version with all matching serial numbers and heat treat gold trigger, etc. I am trying to find the Dagger as I remember looking at it all the time, but after my Dad died it sat on a shelf in a spare room for a long time. My mom has had workmen over and now she can't find it, but at 85 she doesn't remember if she put it away from the grandkids on their visits or what. My point being Ii was intrigued with the information I got on the Lugar and thought by putting everything together I might be able to identify what unit or service branch or more specifics on this German solider. I am pretty sure the dagger and luger came off the same officer and possible the other things although the pin show looks like it are off a regular German service workers hat.

Any info would be appreciated. My dad has these things taped down onto on a black paper covered with a clear plastic page divider. I didn’t bother to un tape them. On the cross it sits flat and I don’t feel and kind of pin on the back of it.

[BOB COLEMAN]

I would like to welcome you to the forum. Without pictures, we will be unable to help you. Daggers were not carried in combat situations so it is unlikely the Luger and the dagger orignally came together. The exception would be if they were taken out of a private house. Without any personal identification markings on either, it would be impossible to trace them back to the original owner. During the period, Germans could have belonged to multiple groups both military and political. Items that seem unrelated could actually belong to the same individual. I have some researched items that belonged to a high ranking political leader who also was a high ranking postal inspector and also commander of a S A Signal Company. We hope you can find the items and furnish us with some pictures.


Your pictures did not load when I first wrote this. The large eagle is a sports shirt emblem for a member of the Luftwaffe, the German Airforce. The eagle is a form worn on visor caps of various civil organizations. You also have a 2nd class Iron Cross.

[hunter59]

Thanks Bob,

Can any one give me an estimated value (for my moms estate) for any of these things?

[Eric Zentner]

You need to get that tape off of them ASAP it is not good for them.

Eric

[Wagriff]

Hello Hunter, To make evaluations, we would need abit more info on some things. The Luger, for example-do all the numbers on it match each other? What are the markings on it on top near the breach and underneath the barrel, etc? And is it in working order? Is it shootable,in other words? Generally, a WWII era Luger can run anywhere from $1000 to $2000, so it does make a considerable difference. A 2nd Class Iron Cross would probably hover around the $100 mark give or take abit. 50-60 bucks or so for the hat pin and maybe another 100 for the Luftwaffe eagle cloth. Please keep in mind, though, that this is what you would Pay a Dealer for such an item. What the Dealer will Give you for it would be maybe a third to half again less than what he will sell it for.(They're in business to make money, of course).

[hunter59]

Thanks for the estimates- I was given an estimate of $1000 to $1200 on the luger on a WWII arms site. The dagger I remeber was in good shape and looked like an SA 1933 dagger- from looking at pictures from other websites- all brown handle with a brown shealth with the a nickle overlay on the top and bottom of the sheath. It had a little hook and loop type thing on it to hand it from the trousers.

[Wagriff]

For an SA dagger, condition is the key to consider. Is the paint intact on the scabbard? Any pitting on the blade or has it been sharpened? Have the wooden grips been cracked or chipped,etc? What is the makers mark on the blade? SA's come in a couple of different varieties, with Some of them being quite valuable and the common ones, not so much. Without seeing it, it's quite difficult to give even a ballpark estimate.

[hunter59]

I haven't looked at in probably 15 years and I am hoping someone didn't steal it from my moms house as it was just sitting out on cabinet shelf for many years, but I will keep looking. She said he had some workmen inside the house cleaning windows a couple years ago and doesn't remmber seeing it for a while. I am hoping she put it away somewhere and just can't find it. She is kind of a pack-rat.

[Adrian]

Hello Hunter and welcome to the forum.

The first thing to do would be to carefully remove all the tape from the items as Eric has suggested. The chemicals in the tape will damage these pieces over time and will affect their values.
The second thing to do would be to take good, clear, close up shots of each piece and post them here in the relevant forums, the Luger in the firearms forum, the cloth eagle in the insignia forum etc. The members who specialise in those areas of collecting will be able to help you.
The Eisernes Kreuz 2nd class with the ribbon was made by the company of Wachtler & Lange and would be worth around $100- $120.

I'll shut this thread as only the EK2 has any relevance to this section of the forum and we don't want to get daggers and firearms discussions mixed up in the decorations forum.