British Propaganda Children’s Parody Book

Posted in Propaganda Items with tags , , on June 4, 2014 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomHere’s a fun little item. This is a Daily Sketch parody of the well-known German children’s book, Struwwelpeter. Der Struwwelpeter is a German children’s book by Heinrich Hoffmann. It comprises ten illustrated and rhymed stories, mostly about children. Each has a clear moral that demonstrates the disastrous consequences of misbehaviour in an exaggerated way.

In this version, printed in 1941 or before judging from the content, the writers parody Hitler, Stalin and Germans in general. Struwwelhitler: A Nazi Story Book by Dr. Schrecklichkeit was written by Robert & Philip Spence to benefit the War Relief Fund of the Daily Sketch, a now-defunct conservative British tabloid.

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Fieldings Anti-Hitler Ashtray

Posted in Propaganda Items with tags , , , on June 3, 2014 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis is the rarest of the propaganda items put out by Fieldings of Staffordshire, England in 1940 to take advantage of the, then recent, “Violation of Poland” by Hitler’s armies. On the top it says “Caught In The Allies Web” while down below says “Drop Your Ashes On Old Nasty”. Inside is a cartoon image of Hitler, probably by David Low, a prominent political cartoonist of the period. The design is a tongue in cheek one executed by the outstanding designer Enoch Boulton. These items were viewed as being a little bad taste at the time, especially the faux chamber pots.

These ash trays are very hard to find in good condition. This one took me three years to find.

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Dunkirk Commemorative Medal 2nd Example

Posted in 1939-1945 Jubilee Medals, 1945 + Medals with tags , , , on June 3, 2014 by The Dude

Flag_of_FranceThis is a 1960 commemorative medal, issued through the Dunkirk Veterans Association (now disbanded) and subsequently managed by the French National Association of Veterans of the Fortified Sector of Flanders and of Dunkirk. This is my second example and I like it better because, surprisingly, I think the other one is an accursed fake! This one has much better quality characteristics.

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Propaganda Underpants

Posted in Propaganda Items with tags , , on June 3, 2014 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesI don’t know what to say here. Basically I think, in WW2 USA you could stick an anti Japanese or anti German statement on a turd and someone would say I’ll buy it. This pair is stamped U.S Navy and has the message “Shoot the Pants off the Japanazi”. So Kitsch.

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An Bonn Seirbhise Eigeandala Variant 2

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals with tags , on June 3, 2014 by The Dude

Flag_of_IrelandThis is the Emergency Service Medal 1939-1946 issued by the Republic of Ireland. For service with good conduct between 3 September 1939 and 31 March 1946 this medal came in eleven variations depending on the unit or branch of service. I have four of these, this one is for AN CAOMNAORI AITIULA : the Local Security Forces.

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A Birchall Lost in the Battle Over Berlin

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , , , on April 18, 2014 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis small group belongs to 1076673 Eric Birchall, Sergeant, RAFVR. Eric flew on Lancasters of 44 Squadron and was killed in action on December 24th 1943. Eric was a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. He trained in 1654 Heavy Conversion Unit and was posted to 44 Squadron on 12th August 1943. He flew 13 sorties including two to Berlin, two to Hannover and one to Munich. On his 14th sortie, again to Berlin, he was part of group of 379 aircraft, mainly Lancasters. They took off at 0034hrs on the 24th and had a troublefree outer leg due to bad weather. His aircraft was en route home to Dunholme Lodge when it was attacked by a night fighter at 0315 hours and set on fire. It was observed to crash 30 miles NE of Limburg. The entire crew was killed. Eric is buried in the Hannover War Cemetery along with the rest of his crew.

 

 

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Anti-Axis Propaganda Ashtray Set

Posted in Propaganda Items with tags , , on March 15, 2014 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesA little while ago I picked up the Hitler ashtray from this set. Then recently someone emailed me to say they had the full set with it’s cardboard box.

This is a set of three Anti-Axis ashtrays manufactured in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States by the Kemper Thomas company and aimed at Hirohito, Mussolini and of course Adolf. Still with it’s original box although that’s in a bit of shaggy condition.

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Winchester 45-70 Round

Posted in Ammunition & Fusing with tags , , , on February 13, 2014 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesI have always had an interest in the Indian Wars and especially the Custer Battlefield. This is a 45-70 Government round with a Winchester Repeating Arms headstamp.

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German Walther PPK Automatic Pistol

Posted in Firearms with tags , , , , , , on January 5, 2014 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svgThis is a Walther PPK 7.65mm automatic pistol, manufactured in Germany by Walther in 1943 and issued as a police sidearm. The holster is marked Otto Sindel, Berlin, 1943. The two magazines are original to the pistol with matching serial numbers. The receiver and frame are marked Eagle N which indicates acceptance by the Wehrmacht post 1940 and the left hand side of the frame is marked with the Eagle and a C following, indicating police issue. This pistol was reputedly acquired in Normandy by a Lieutenant Stagg, adjutant of the Oxford Rifles, from the body of a German SS officer he had just shot. Well at least that’s the tale that came with it. However upon researching I discover that the Oxford Rifles didn’t get shipped to Europe until January 1945. This is not to say that Stagg could not have been in France in July 1944, just not as adjutant of the Oxford Rifles. This will provoke some further investigation.

Further snooping reveals a Major Kenneth Stagg, P38758, in the Oxford Rifles in 1945. He was born in 1899 which makes him 45 in 1944.

Remember Kids! Buy the item, not the story!

 

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1917 Austria-Hungary Military Post Stamp Set

Posted in Stamps with tags , , on December 23, 2013 by The Dude

648px-Flag_of_Austria-Hungary_1869-1918The full set of three stamps in the memory of Archduke Ferdinand & Princess Sophie. These rare stamps issued 1917 during the period of Austro-Hungarian Empire (Austria-Hungary-Bosnia).On 28th of June 1914 (written in the stamps) Serb terrorists group assassinated Archduke Ferdinand (see his portrait in the stamps along with his Hungarian wife princess Sophie) while visiting the army in Sarajevo. First World War started directly after that assassination.

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A Birchall from the East Lancashire Regiment

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , on December 23, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomHere’s another very ordinary Birchall. In this case it’s Albert Birchall, Private, 38249. He served originally in the East Lancashire Regiment and later in the North Lancashire Regiment. His medal card shows an entry for the Silver Wound Badge.
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Zimbabwe 100 Trillion Dollar Note

Posted in Money with tags on December 23, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_ZimbabweThis is not militaria I know but one has to make some fun in the middle of hyper-inflation! This is the 100 Trillion Dollar bill, issued prior to 2009 when they basically gave up and stopped using their own money. Back then it would not have bought an egg or a bus ticket.

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A WW1 Single to a Birchall from the South Lancashire Regiment

Posted in 1914-1918 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , on December 1, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomHere’s a lonely single to Private Jonathan J. Birchall of the South Lancashire Regiment (No 39159). John Joseph Birchall was born in Salford in 1885 and appears in the 1911 census as single, living with his Mum Elizabeth and working as a general labourer. The census has their address as 16 Anderson St, Salford. This house and street no longer exist as they were flattened during the Blitz in WW2 and never rebuilt.

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Panzerfaust Instruction Leaflet (1944)

Posted in Paper, Parts & Accessories with tags , , , , on December 1, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svgThis little leaflet, interspersing rhymes about attacking tanks with a bloody Panzerfaust, was produced in 1944. Instructions fail to include bending over and kissings ones arschloch auf wiedersehn.

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Voting Ballot for the March 5th 1933 Reichstag Election

Posted in Paper with tags , , , on December 1, 2013 by The Dude


Flag_of_the_NSDAP_(1920–1945).svgThis is a voting ballot form for the March 5th Reichstag elelction, in this case for the Wahrkreis Hessen-Nassau district. Although the voter in this case chose the Social-Democrat candidate, the election was ultimately won by the Nazi Karl Weinrich (he later served 10 years in prison for crimes during the regime and died in 1973).rsz_voteballot

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Karl Weinrich, Gauleiter of Hesse-Nassau seen here at the Reichskreigstag June 1939. He sits beside Hitler. He was removed from office in 1943 following the disastrous air raid on Kassel.

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Kassel city center following the RAF bombing raid in October 1943

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Full Size British Propaganda Chamber Pot

Posted in Propaganda Items with tags , , , on October 27, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis is another one of a series of faux chamber pots put out by Fieldings of Staffordshire, England early in 1939 to take advantage of the, then recent, “Violation of Poland” by Hitler’s armies. This is the largest one I have seen, I include one of the more usual examples beside it to compare.

Inside is a cartoon image of Hitler, this one is by David Low, the cartoonist responsible for the Hitler caricatures on the other pots. The design is a tongue in cheek one executed by the outstanding designer Enoch Boulton. They got some stick for these pots as they were plainly chamber pots and they were accused of poor taste.

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Death Penny for a Birchall killed in the 1st Battle of Ypres

Posted in Family Groups & Singles, Plaques, Table Medals & Awards with tags , on September 12, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis memorial plaque (also called a Dead Man’s Penny) commemorates the death of Private Alfred William Burchell 8121. Alfred, born in Tottenham, London, was a member of 2nd Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and was killed on the 17th of November 1914 during the last stages of the 1st Battle for Ypres in Belgium. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the 47th panel of the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres. Also shown is the original wax cardboard sleeve these plaques were shipped in.

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Hang Hitler Propaganda Pinback

Posted in Propaganda Items with tags , on September 12, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesThis fun little pinback, manufactured in the US, originally had a piece of red cotton thread attached to the lever on Uncle Sam’s hip. When you pull it Hitler’s head was raised as though he was being hung from the tree. Just wonderful!

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Hitler Hate Club Badge #2

Posted in Propaganda Items with tags , on September 9, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis is the second of the badges of this type I have.  This badge, depicting a lion attacking a snake with Hitler’s head, obviously belongs to some obscure British jingoist “club”. A lot of Home Front propaganda items were produced in the first year of the war, partly to stir up pro-war fervour, mostly to generate a profit. The badge has the words “Protected Design” on the rear. Despite using my l33t googling skills I have not been able to discover an origin for the badge. This example is intended for women as it has the pinback attachment. There is a men’s buttonhole version as well.

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Large British Propaganda Ashtray

Posted in Propaganda Items with tags , , , on August 15, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis is another one of a series of faux chamber pots put out by imitators of Fieldings of Staffordshire, England. Made early in 1939 to take advantage of the, then recent, “Violation of Poland” by Hitler’s armies. It is much larger in size than the other examples I have here. On the back of the inside rim it says ‘What would you do chums?”.

Inside is a caricature image of Hitler, this one not by David Low, the cartoonist responsible for the Hitler images on the other pots. They got some stick for these pots as they were plainly mini-chamber pots and they were accused of poor taste. This one has Ash Tray stamped rather prominently on the front, I am guessing in an attempt at deniability.

 

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A Birchall on the Battleship Valiant in the Mediterranean

Posted in 1939-1945 Service Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , , , , , , on August 14, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis group belongs to Thomas William Burchell. They are unnamed except for the Naval LSGC which is impressed to D/J109394 Petty Officer T.W.Burchell, H.M.S. Valiant. The LSGC was issued on June 12th 1941. I have his papers up until 1929 and can see that when he was made P.O. in May 1941 he was on the Valiant. In this case he would have had an action packed war with convoy runs to Gibraltar, the defeat of the Italian Fleet at Cape Matapan and the Greek Campaign.

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A Palestine NGSM to a Birchall

Posted in 1945 + Medals, Family Groups & Singles with tags , , , on August 12, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis Naval General Service Medal, impressed to C/JX 155864 E.Burchell A/B R.N. has the 1945-1948 Palestine Bar. Most of the naval personnel involved in this brush fire war were offshore patrol craft crews attempting to interdict arms and illegal immigrant traffic into what was still the British Mandate territory of Palestine.

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1939 Daily Express War Map of Europe

Posted in Paper with tags , , , , on August 11, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis is the 1939 version of the Daily Express War Map of Europe. These maps were printed by the large dailies in the UK, the Daily Mail, the Daily Express and so on. Subscribers were expected to keep track of campaigns on these maps, the newspapers supplied flags to be stuck on pins. Of course the war was a little more fast moving than WW1 and in consequence these weren’t used for this purpose by many people.

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German Surrender Documents May 1945

Posted in Paper with tags , , , , , , on August 11, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_StatesThis is a fascimile of the surrender documents signed by Germany on the 8th May 1945. These copies were created by the US National Archives. I have a pdf copy available here if you want one, Germany Surrenders Facsimile.

General Alfred Jodl (1890 – 1946) Hitler’s military advisor, controller of German High Command and chief of the Operations Staff (centre), signs the document of surrender (German Capitulation) of the German armed forces at Reims in General Eisenhower’s headquarters. He is joined by Major Wilhelm Oxenius (left) and Hans Georg von Friedeburg, Admiral of the Fleet (right). Original Publication: People Disc – HF0475 (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

 

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Anti-Mussolini Propaganda Pot

Posted in Propaganda Items with tags , , , , on August 11, 2013 by The Dude

Flag_of_the_United_KingdomThis is the fourth one of a series of faux chamber pots put out by Fieldings of Staffordshire, England. On the front it says ‘Wop No. 1” and “Albania-Taranto-Bardia”. On the rear it says “We’ve got him on the run″. Inside is a cartoon image of Mussolini. The design is a tongue in cheek one executed by the outstanding designer Enoch Boulton. These pots were viewed as being a little bad taste at the time, especially the ultra-rare large one that rotated on a wooden base and played “Rule Britannia”. I truly wish I could find that one someday. The date of this piece is sometime between November and December 1940 since this is when Bardia fell to General Wavell and the Italian Fleet was torpedoed at Taranto. These Mussolini ones are much harder to find than the Hitler ones.

 

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