Lately I have noticed a lot of fantasy awards and medals on E-Bay. I see them advertised as a WW2 Era Medal, I have even seen someone state that they are pre-1945 made. There are a lot of medals that were created by Germany during those terrible years when the world learned how bad racism can be when sanctioned by the state. But some were approved and never issued or manufactured. Awards documents on some were given, but only a few of the medals. I hope you read on, I am sure you will find what I have put together useful. It may even inflame you if you are the ones perpetuating these fantasies. But hopefully this will speak to your conscious.

Dedication (As I dedicate my collecting, reenacting and Wargaming) - "I dedicate this guide to every soldier of every war who ever had the honor and horror of the taking and the giving of a life, may one day we grow beyond the need of such sacrifices but may we never forget those that paid the ultimate price for our ideals."

The following is a list of medals and if they were approved and dates of approval, and if any at all were made or issued. I have 4 souces listed, they are noted below as [1] and [2]  ... repectively as to the book the information came from.

The Breast Star to the Social Welfare Medal - There were only 3 grades of this award, 1st Class being a kneck award, 2nd Class a Breast Badge and the 3rd Class a standard medal on a ribbon. For the Star, there are no proposals, no documentation and none were manufactured. [1] [2] and my thanks to E-Bay member aktaris373 for bringing it to my attention for addition.

The German Order Breast Cross with and without swords - Approved in 1939 and proposed to Hitler by Rudolf Hess. Was meant to augment the Blood Order and the Golden Party badge. The German Order had two grades, approved, the Grand Cross of the Golden Party Decoration (with a neck ribbon that looked exactly like the Blood Order's but wider) and the Breast Cross. Only the Grand Cross was ever bestowed (issued and manufactured). There were 10 of the Grand Crosses awarded all postumously (became known as "The Order of the Dead") and none of the Breast Cross. Both ideas were scrapped in 1942 with Hess' "defection" to the Allies. [1]

The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross - Approved in late June by Hitler, only one made and only one issued and that was to Goring on 19 July, 1940. It was a larger version of the Knights Cross and also suspended on a ribbon. [1] [2]

The Star to the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross - Approved  at the same time as the Grand Cross, only one manufactured and was to be conferred at the end of all hostilities and presented to the Fieldmarshal who contributed most to the German victory over all it's enemies. It is currently in the West Point Museum. [1] [2]

The German Cross in Gold with Diamonds - Approved 28 Sept, 1941- Only 20 examples were ever manufactured, none were ever issued and no award documentation exists. It was intended to be higher the Knights Cross but instead Hitler went to the Oakleaves with Swords with Diamonds in Silver and with the Oakleaves with Swords with Diamonds in Gold for the Knights Cross. Hitler then decided to only issue these at the end of the war to 20 soldiers who were proven to be the most brave. [1][2]

The Oakleaves with Swords with Diamonds to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross- Approved 15 July, 1941. Only 27 awarded and issued. [1][2] Not really a fantasy award and too few issued to Justify so many on E-Bay.

The Oakleaves with Swords with Diamonds in Gold to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross - Approved 29 Dec., 1944. Only 12 were made and only one awarded and confered, issued and documented and that was Luftwaffe Colonel Rudel. [1][2] With only one issued it qualifies as a fantasy award.

The Close Assault Clasp in Gold - Approved and issued in 1944. Only 200 awarded, most by Hitler himself who held that the recipient must have the German Cross in Gold as well to receive it [2] [4]. A hard medal to get. I was told by German Veterans that they held that ALL the Close Assault Clasps as higher awards than the Knight's Crosses all grades. They reason they felt that is because the Knight's Crosses were given to General's and others for not even fighting just for being in command, but to get a Close Combat Clasp in any grade awarded was to be a proven hero. So, the Gold is not a fantasy award by definition, but with only 200 awarded, how many would be up for sale as originals on E-Bay?

The July 20th, 1944 Wound Badge in Black - Never issed, never approved, never manufactured and no soldbuch entries exists [2]

The July 20th, 1944 Wound Badge in Silver - Only issued to those who were present when the bomb went off and were physically wounded.  Only one documented to be worn on a uniform.  With only 12 issued it deffinately rates being a fantasy award. [2]

The July 20th, 1944 Wound Badge in Gold - Only one manufactured and issued and that was to Hitler himself. A 2 piece design with gold over pure silver. No photographs of it ever being worn.  The only example is in a private collection and its value is undetermined.  Definately a fantasy award. [2]

1939-1940 Campaign Medal - Approved in early 1942 but no design was ready. It was never manufactured or issued, no documentation of any kind for receiving the award exists. By the time the design was completed Germany's war fortunes have changed and it was discarded. (Features an an Iron Cross in the center of a circled medal with a perched Heer eagle in center with 19 above and below the left arm of the cross and 39 above and 40 below right arm, the ribbon is small black on the border with small white next to it with large Red.) [1] [2]

The Stallingrad Shield - Considered during the Stalingrad Seige to inspire the troops but "von" Paulus surrendered before approval so it was never sanctioned (like Hitler would admit to it ever happening).  No citatations, award documents or even soldbuch entries exist. [1][2]

Warsaw Shield - Officially approved on 10 December, 1944 but never manufactured and the Dies were destroyed in a air raid soon after the dies were made. No citatations, award documents or even soldbuch entries exist. [1] [2]

Lorient Shield - Never officially approved but rumored to be approved unofficially by Fahrmbacker in late December, 1944 who swore after the war that the shield never happened, None are known to be manufactured, no award documentation not even a piece of paper exists. It is also rumored that some survivors of Lorient made thier own and gave them as Christmas gifts to each other as keepsakes only. But then again all this is speculative and I agree with one of my sources, "an overactive post war imagination" [1] [4].

The "Metz 1944" Cuff Title - Approved on 24 October, 1944, but never officially manufactured, some were made in Metz by the recipients and it never went around the whole cuff (Germany ordered that all cuff titles manufactured during that period be half the size because of limited material). Only one known recipient was given one and that was Generalmajor von Siegroth's and it was made for him by his men. A few might have been made by the recipients, but most of the Metz fighters were captured or killed before the award was approved. [1] [2] [4]

The Aircraft Destruction Badge (in silver for 1 and gold for 5)- Approved on 12 January, 1945, but never manufactured, no photos of anyone with one on a uniform exists. [1][2] There was one confired on a piece of paper and only to a member of Sturm-Regiment 1 who shot down a low flying Russian Yak at 50 meters with his rifle near the town of Jaenkendorf on 3 May, 1945 and it is only an entry in his soldbuch. [1]

SS Auxillary Clasp for Women - Approved on 28 July, 1943, but never issued or manufactured (Himmler wanted to wait to the end of hostilities). Those qualifying did get a War Service Cross 2nd Class w/o Swords and full membership into the SS. [1] [2]

The Front Cross - Approved on 10 July, 1943 but no design was ever sanction or decided upon.  No citatations, award documents or even soldbuch entries exist. [1]

The Decoaration for Ethnic Germans - Proposed to Himmler on 22 July, 1943 for SS Foreign Volunteers and for Ethnic Germans who suffered under oppressive rule of the foriegn governments prior to "liberation" by Germany. Himmler told him to wait to all hostilities have ceased before he will consider it. Never approved, manufactured or issued.  No citatations, award documents or even soldbuch entries exist. [1]

The Memel Shield - Rumored to have been proposed by the 7th Panzer Div Commander in Oct 1944, the siege of Memal lasted only 2 days prior to surrender so it was never approved or manufactured, and when questioned about it after the war he denied any knowledge of it. No documentation of any sort exists. [1] [4]

The Dunkirk Shield - For holding out in Dunkirk in 1944 not for taking Dunkirk in 1940. Never officially approved or manufactured, like the Lorient Shield there are rumors some were made by the U-Boat Crews but I think not.  No citatations, award documents or even soldbuch entries exist. [1]

The Balkan Shield - Approved late in January, 1945 but never manufactured. Three trial samples were produced in March 1945 and only one of these were approved but too late, the war ended before production began.  No citatations, award documents or even soldbuch entries exist. [1] [2]

The Heer Balloon Oberver Badge - Appoved on 8 July, 1944 for Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Based on a point system for each level, Bronze for 20, Silver for 45 and Gold for 75. An example, having to jump from a balloon and parachute is 10 Pts. Only one bestowed that is known and that is in Bronze on 12 Dec., 1944 to Oberwachtmeister Sellner of 3rd Co., 12th Motorized Observation Btn. There are no photographs of the award being worn of any grade. No records of manufacture exists. [1] and my thanks to E-Bay member ponchokid for bringing it to my attention for addition.

The Sniper Badge - Approved 20 Aug., 1944. A cloth badge to be worn on the right cuff above any cuff titles. Came in 3 grades, 20 kills for 3rd Grade, 40 kills for 2nd Grade and 60 kills for 1st Grade. Any after that it was the German Cross in Gold and then the Knights Cross. Periods of leave came with the award (which I am sure to agree with my reference were more welcome than the award during that period). There are many soldbuch and award certificates that show the award being given, there are no photos of any being awarded and there are no surviving examples of an original anywhere to be found. It is not known if they were manufactured at all. So, because of this, it falls into my fantasy award category. [1]

The Luftwaffe Close Combat Clasp in Bronze, Silver and Gold - Approved on 3 November, 1944 and none manufactured, never issued, No award documents were given out but some on a small piece of paper with Goring's and unit commander's signiture. [1] The Heer Close Assault was given out instead as it was prior to approval of the Luftwaffe version. [1] [2]

The Numbered Luftwaffe Ground Assault - Approved on 10 November, 1944, prototypes made but never manufactured due to being too late in the war. No award documents existed or were issued, not even a piece of signed paper. [1] [2]

The Luftwaffe Tank Badge in silver and black (all)- Approved on 3 November, 1944 but never issued or manufactured. [1] [2] [4] There were presentations made on paper, the first in Feb. 1945, and no award document was used, a small note signed by by Goring and his commander is all that is known. [1] [2]

The Numbered Luftwaffe Tank Badge - Never approved or manufactured. No proposals, no documentation,  no designs and no rumors exist. [2] [4]

The Luftwaffe Fallschirmjaeger Combat Clasp - Never approved or manufactured. No proposals, no documentation,  no designs and no rumors exist. [2]

The Luftwaffe Sea Battle Badge - Prototype created on 27th November, 1944.  Projected - award approved for later issue and never manufactured.[1] [2] No award documents, but some were presented on paper and only two of those are proven, one was awarded to Oberfeldwebel (Master Sargeant) Bruno Frienstein and is dated 9 May, 1945 and the other to Oberstkapitan (Senior Colonel)Eberhard Kuenzel on 19 March, 1945. [1]

The Kriegsmarine Frogman Badge - Projected - award approved on 13 November, 1944 for later issue. It was never manufactured. No citatations, award documents or even soldbuch entries exist. [1] [2]

The Kriegsmarine Frogman Clasp - Projected - award approved on 13 November, 1944 for later issue and never manufactured.  No citatations, award documents or even soldbuch entries exist. [1] [2]

The Kriegsmarine Combat Clasp - Projected - award approved on 19 November, 1944 for later issue it was never manufactured.  No award documents but some rough versions are rumored to be made on the Reiher and other ships in early May, 1945 [1]. Awards were made on paper on 14 and 15 May, 1945 by two Naval Commanders and presented to a few Navy personnel. No evidence to support that any of the medals were made. [1] [2]

The Kriegsmarine Wound Badge (Black, Silver and Gold) - Never approved or manufactured. Never proposed and no citatations, award documents or even soldbuch entries exist. The regular wound badge was used for all the Wehrmacht till the end of war. The Kriegsmarine, the Waffen SS, the Luftwaffe and the Heer were all part of the Wehrmacht. [2]

All or most of these awards may have been produced and issued (with the exception of the Stalingrad and Memel shields) if Germany had not lost when they did. But many were NEVER issued and and only a few are documented to be made for the recipients And for some, only a few were given out on paper. So, if you see these, then they are fakes. There are some good ones out there mind you. I picked up a Warsaw Shield when I was in Germany 3 years ago from an antique shop, he kept it in the back, I had to show him my passport before he showed it to me so, I bought it for 2 Euros and even then I knew it was a fake, but I wanted one to show my collecting friends a fantasy piece I found in Germany. It is shoddy in workmanship the mounting is a cut piece of woolen blanket that glows in the dark and the woolen is not even of the Heer color. It was superclued to the blanket material and the detail on the shield was not there, barely ledgible, and German's made good stuff even to the end.  I also owned an excellent example of the German order Breast Cross without swords that I sold as a fantasy piece. I have even seen fantasy awards on reenactors uniforms and I, being a senior officer on the German side, have stopped them and told them to remove these out of uniform items. I usually get a "I will tell my unit commander" I tell them, "I am an Officer of the Heer, you must obey now, complain later. And go to your commander, I wish to explain to him how farby his unit is." Now if we were doing a fantasy battle I would let it slide, but, not in an historical event.

I started collecting fantasy pieces for just that, fantasy pieces, they fascinate me, but enough is enough, just stop trying to pass them off as original or even that they really existed and I will be happy. The new collector is the one who suffers and the ones who do not know the history of German Awards. They may buy an obvious fake as a "filler" to what they think is a period collection of German Awards. The ones passing them off as real WW2 issue or that they say really existed even if they say reproduction and not adding fantasy show that all they are interested in is getting our money. Not the spirit of collecting. It is dealers like them that will turn people away from the hobby of collecting entirely over time. That will render all collections worthless and will make what should be remembered forgotten. For if we forget what occured in WW2, we remove the tolkiens of memory, then we may forget the lessons. The world does not need another genocide, it is collectors who help keep the memory of it alive. We should never forget those that died to end the 3rd Reich and never forget those that suffered under its wrath.

Seems I am always updating this, I recently purchased a book number [3] on my references that speaks of these fantasy medals, not so much of the specifics as I have brought forth but how it has affected the market and how they came to be. This book is available from Collector's Bookstore here on E-Bay. Buy it! it is worth the little money you spend. And now [4] which is by the same author as book [1].

Another update and many thanks to E-Bay member aktaris373 who sent me some nice pics of his Breast Star to the Social Welfare Medal.  Please if any of you have encountered other fantasy awards, let me know and send me the pics, as you see, I do give credit to those who write me. If this keeps up I may end up writing a book :) and even if I do publish I will be sure to list my contributers in my credits.

Sources:

[1] "Medals and Decorations of Hitler's Germany" by Robin Lumsden, copyright 2001

[2] "Medals and Decorations of the Third Reich"  by J.Rex Reddick, William E. Hamelman, F. Patt Anthony and Steve Johnson. copyright 1995

[3] "The Phenomenon of Third Reich Badge Collecting" By Richard J. Kimmel  Copyright 1997

[4] "DETECTING THE FAKES A Collectors guide to Third Reich Militaria" By Robin Lumsden Copyright 1989 last updated 2005

I hope you found this interesting and helpful. Please vote if it is or not.

"In Combat, the survivor is the one with a round remaining in his magazine" Erwin Rommel.

Thanks,

Ranuff