Ratisbon’s 45th auction

Consignments have started to arrive for the 45th Contemporary History Auction at Ratisbon’s. Here’s a selection of what you can bid on, starting with a Luftwaffe Pilot’s Badge, on police cloth, which makes it a rarity. This has been machine embroidered on green police cloth and is the EM/NCO type. Bidding starts at £42.45. Also with a police connection, here’s a Third Reich police visor cap for a policeman called Wachendörfer serving with Hessische Polizei. It has a large stamp to the orange lining and a celluloid diamond with cracks. Maker marked, with the original paper name tag ‘Wachendörfer 21. Rev.’, and has matching aluminium insignia. Bidding starts at £339.59.

Despite its condition, I have a feeling the next item will attract a few bids. It’s a Wehrpass to SS-Unterscharführer Wilhelm Wollmann. Comes with an original attached photo and was issued quite late in the day, on 13 March 1944. He served with SSTotenkopf-Regiment 10 and SS-Division Wiking. He was deployed in the defense of Germany and the General Government in Poland. Also in Russia.

Signs of use and water stains. The cover has two holes but even so, bidding starts at £169.80.

Another Wehrpass next, along with a pile of documentation. This includes an SA membership ID issued by SA Motorstaffel 13. The original photo is present, however, separated from the ID. The Wehrmacht Wehrpass was issued on 25 May 1939 and has the original photo in position. There’s also a certificate to 1939 War Merit Cross 2nd Class, certificate to SA Sports Badge in Bronze, plus two documents, five photos and a piece of an ID. Get bidding at £127.35.

There is usually a great variety of badges in a Ratisbon’s sale, and here’s one of the first ones consigned. It’s a Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge, made by Arno Wallpach though it doesn’t have a maker’s mark. It’s a laterwar bronzed zinc example, but even so, expect the bidding to rise from the starting point of £67.92.

An SS Long Service medal now, this is a 4th Class award to represent four years of service. Made from bronze with the original finish and suspension ring on the top. Unsurprisingly the bidding kicks off at £254.69.

And finally, an armband for those unfortunate enough to be roped into the pointless last ditch defence of the Fatherland. It’s a Wehrmacht Deutscher Volkssturm armband of the printed type.

The ends are not sewn together so probably didn’t see any use. Bidding starts at £42.45.

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