Trading of Erkennungsmarke....

[edwest]

I have much sympathy about this subject. My father was a soldier.

Would it help to post these items? Not for any profit but so that the images might at least be recorded? The Japanese government has a program where certain relics are returned there by paying the current owner. As disturbing as this sounds, relics are held by scoundrels and the unknowing. I hesitate to call these things souvenirs but sometimes, that is how they are regarded. Perhaps someone should contact the appropriate German museum of government agency to see if such items can be banned from sale. But again, the dilemma becomes that they may be lost forever in a box or drawer, only to be forgotten.

I am interested to hear what others think should be done.




Regards,
Ed West



P.S.

It is a terrible thing for those of decent character to imagine even for a second what some people are capable of, unfortunately, grave robbing has been going on for centuries.

[Hohentwiel]

Hi Ed,

I've read the article too and the author tells us that the
"Deutsche Dienststelle" in Berlin - in the 1940s known as
"Wehrmachtsauskunftstelle" - is watching all offers of dog tags
at ebay. I some cases ebay deleted some auctions. But mostly
the auctions end in the normal way. Ebay is not very cooperative.

It is an interesting question, the author is asking:
What is the price of a human fate? Some tags were sold for
20 USD or less...

I don't know if the officials in Germany know something about the
"Stammkarten" Andreas told us about but it may be very interesting
to ask them. Maybe we should post them to Berlin?

Sven.

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, Ed.

I think it would be a good thing to list these items also, along with photographs and albums. At least we will then get a possibility to see whats out there...

Regards,
Andreas

[Tomislav Haramincic]

Hello,

This just turned up by eBay,

http://cgi.ebay.de/20-Erkennungsmark...mZ150013223956

I guess this explains a lot how Erkennungsmarken are forged.

regards,
Tomislav

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi, Tomislav.

Yes of course, as long as you get the discs to punch information into. The punching tools however has been available in ordinary tool shops continously since the war, the empty discs are what makes this interesting for some I guess.

Punch them, dig them down under a tree in the garden and sell them next year...

Regards,
Andreas