Knight's Cross Winner Rolf Muetzelburg

Since the Knight's Cross was not named, it is almost impossible to trace a man to a specific badge. Only through good luck could one and an intactestate where it was reasonable to assume that the badge belonged to the late owner. Such a find is extremely rare.

Rolf Christian Detlef Muetzelburg, a submarine commander in the North Atlantic in 1943-42, was born in Kiel on June 23, 1913. As with many of the boys bonn into this city, long associated With maritime commitments, Rolf had an early aquaintance with the sea and probably dreamed of a career in the navy.

On August 15, 1932, at the age of 19 he we inducted into the German navy and saw his first training with the First Ship Regular Division at Stralsund. There he learned the basics of infantry training. On Novenber 5, 1932, he was sent to the Naval School at Flensburg Muerwik for specific naval training.

Active service began almost immediately at the naval school. Rolf Muetzelburg found himself assigned first to a steamer, the Asta. Shortly after, he was sent to service on a light cruiser, the Koeln.

Muetzelburgs' service records show a keen mind. He was soon transferred to Coastal Artillery School, Submarine School, Navigation School and Torpedo School.

Promotions also came quickly - he is first listedted as a Cadet as of November 4, 1932; from there he became a "Gefreiter" then an officer with the rank of Leutnant zur See, then Overleutnant zur See and Kapitanleutnant zur See by January 1, 1940.

Lt.-Captain Muetzelburg was assigned command of the Submarine U-100 and made his first official submarine foray into the Atlantic from Dec. 2, 1940 - Jan. 1, 1941 as commander of the U-100. On June 5, 1941, he was made commander of the U-203 and would serve with her for eight voyages until his death on Sept; 11, 1942 at the age of 29.

During his war period, the U-203 would eventually sink 26 merchant and Allied ships.

Among those that fell victim to his toledos were two American vessels. The 6,161 ton Harry F. Sinclair, Jr., went to the bottom on April 11, 1942. Another American registered vessel, the 7,176 ton Sam Houston, sank on June 28, 1942.

Other ships from a variety of allied nations, including the Kinross, Kellwyn, Avoceta, Empire Gemsbuck, Octavian, North Gaspe, Empire Thrush, and even the British auxiliary warship, Rosemonde, met similar fates.

Captain Muetzelburg even designed an unofficial logo for his submarine - the arms of the city of Essen displayed on a square held above the enigmatic letters "M/IE/B/E", playing a game with the phonetic letters of his name.

Three diffident times the captain was written up for special distinction by the Naval Command office.

July 30, 1941 - for outstanding successes in the Atlantic War.

April 20 1941 - for outstanding success in bringing his u-boat or submarining to a fighting area right off the North American coast.

Sept. 15, 1942 - special announcement of his death while still at high sea, a most unusual security concession to honor his achievements.

What really makes all this material come alive is the large amount of supplementary material that has come to light about the captain. Official telegrams of congratulatory words and letters from relatives and Nazi Party leaders show the devotion to the popular u-boat commander.

Capt. Mustzelburg received the coveted Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross on November 17, 1941. On July 15, 1942 he was awarded and additional distinction to his Knight's Cross - the oak leaves. This would be added to the suspension loop of his Knight's Cross. He became the 104th recipient of the Oak Leaves.

In addition to the prestigious Knight's Cross, the submarine officer received the Iron Cross 2nd class and the First Class Iron Cross on July 1, 1941 - a rare distinction having both grades of the order bestowed on the same day. The Iron Cross was given out for brave and meritorious service. Capt. Muetzelburg received his Submarine War Badge on July 1, 1941 - again when he was given the two Iron Crosses. He had previously been awarded the Naval Service 4th class medal.

The Captain's last voyage began on August 27, 1942. Somewhere in the North Atlentic, on September 11, 1942, Captain Rolf Christian Detlef Meutzelburg accidentally fell from the coning tower during a storm. He broke his neck and crushed his skull. Despite the efforts of his crew, he died on September 12 and was buried at sea.

The U-203 did not survive the war either. On April 25, 1943, south east of Cape Farewell Greenland, she was sunk by a combination of British planes flying from the carrier Biter and a British destroyer called Pathfinder.

In reading the old letters and official documents, a complete portrait of Captain Muetzelburg becomes apparent. From his official photograph showing him with the Knight's Cross proudly worn around his neck to the personal handwritten letters sent to him, one can perceive his pride in himself, his submarine and in his men.

More than 39,000 German officers and men died in the submarine war as they were depth-bombed or sunk by destroyers, blimps, picket boats, aircraft or even other submarines. The Captain was one of those 39,000 but he has for the moment come alive again.

Eric Johansson, "World War II Knight's Cross: One of the men behind the honor", Military Trader, 1995

Hitler's Gold Party Badges

The most valuable Golden Party Badges in the world changed hands in April in Hamburger, Germany, for more than $15,000 They were a 23.5 mm badge and a 30.5 mm badge belonging to Adolf Hitler and numbered "7". Their appearance solved a mystery regarding the numbering of Hiter's badges.

Oh, but you say you had read that Hitler gave Magda Geobbels his personal Golden Party Badge in the bunker just before the fall of Berlin. He did. And that one was made of solid gold, and it disappeared, probably forever, in the flames covering her body in the bunker yard.

These two recently surfaced badges belonged in the collection of Elfriede and Leo Raubal, the children of Angela Hitler, a daughter of the marriage of Alois Hitler (Adolf's father) with Franziska Merlelsberger. She kept house for her half brother Adolf until 1936. Her second daughter, Angela (Geli) was Hitler's great love, who committed suicide.

Before attempting to clarify the differences between real and fake Golden party badges, there are some other discrepancies that need our attention, referring to the number on Hitler's badge and, indeed, his ranking in the Party.

First, on page 236 of Volume l of "Mein Kampf", Hitler states; So I enrolled myself as a member of the German working class party and received provisional membership card with number "7".

The golden party badges belonging to Elfriede and Leo bear the number "7", and have been thoroughly authenticated. They came into the market with a large horde of very personal items belonging to the family, including Geli's personal photo album, itself extremely rare and valuable.

The appearance of these badges solves some puzzles.

In his excellent reference book for Fuhrer and Fatherland, Political and Civil Awards of the Third Reich, Ltc. Angolia points out that party members up to number 100,000 (who had uninteripted service from February 27, 1925 toNovember 9, 1933) received the Golden Party badges on that November 9, the 10th anniversary of the Munich Beer Hall putsch.

Hitler received these two badges. They are numbered "7" and are bronze with fire-gilding and enamelled center. On the plate of the pins is the marking ''Deschler & Son, Munich 9. GES. GESCH.'' and, of course, the number "7".

According to Geil's mother, Hitler donated these badges to the Party several years later (presumably he or Treasurer Schwarz actually gave them to Geli's mother as a memento), and in exchange Hitler received two new Golden Party badges of solid gold. These were almost certainly renumbered "7", one of which he gave to Magda Goebbels during the Golterdmmerung; the other to Frau Hess under far different circumstances, at the peak of his career in the late 1930's. (Frau Hess has sworn Hitler did give her his Golden Party Badge at that time and that it was definitely numbered "1" and not "7".)

These badges had not surfaced for some 43 years and Author Angolia almost certainly did not know of them when he wrote that Hiter never held Party number 7.

(As an interesting aside, Hitler's personal Blood Order badge had no number. It was thought Number 1 belonged to Rohm and Number 2 to Hess, and Himmler had number 3. All according to Patzwail's "Der Blutorden der NSDAP".)

But back to the Golden Party Badges. While most collectors know that Party members up to number 100,000 (who had the uninterupted service) received golden Party Badges on November 9, 1933, and that many other honorary Golden Party Badges were later awarded, the enigma of "real" versus ''fake'' has always been a struggle for them. While the comments below are not meant to be a definite dissertation on Golden Party Badge fakes, perhaps some of the more obvious differences will help you distinguish the genuine from the replica. A well made fake, particularly when you do not have a original with which to compare it, looks very real.

In the photo are three badges. One is fake. Can you identify it? It's the large one at the bottom.

Look very closely and I'll point out some discrepancies (always compare apples to apples... the large badge to the large badge in this instance.)

First, look at the "O" in Solialislische. The real one (in the large badge) is a circle, in the fake it's an oval. Now look at the swastika.Thin in the fake; stubby and fat in the real badge. Also obvious, when you look closely , are problems with the oakleaves. The real badge featured double lobed leaves, with the topmost of one leaf virtually lying over the stem and lower lobe of the leaf underit . (There were two versions of oak leaf patterns, one with pointed leaves and one with rounded ones.) At any rate, look for that overlay, much like a ''spread'' of a deck of cards, one lying over the bottom third of the one below in. In the fake badge the leaves not only look different, they do not appear to be ''overlaid'' with one another. They also appear to have a vein pattern and in fact a ''ridge'' down the center. On the real badge they are smooth. Finally, the fake badge has a ridged ''border'' all the way around it. The real one does not.

A myth exists about the pins on the backs of the badges in that all real badges should have safety type pins. This is not true. The early badges all had horizontal "safety pin" type catches. But these broke easily and later badges had the vertical stronger pin, as does this fake. Most of the honorary badges as illustrated in Angola's book, have the vertical pins.

We do not have a small fake pin for comparison in this photo, but the one in the picture is real. Its leaves are more like darts and they lie on a ridded partern like a closely-tied railroad track.

Mickey Huffman, "THE MOST VALUABLE GOLDEN PARTY BADGES AND THE MYSTERY THEY SOLVED", Der Gauleiter, 1988

Note: The photos above were taken from this article in "Der Gauleiter". Unfortunatley, 1988 was before we had digital photography and reproducing photos was alway a problem in printing the magazine. I did the best I could with them. If you want to see more you can search the net and find pictures of both original and fake badges. Bob

Keeping the War Alive

I have always been quite disappointed in thelack of quality material found in the state adopted list of textbooks pertaining to World War 2. Therefore, several years ago, I wrote my own curriculum on this fantastic subject and I thought the readers of DG might enjoy hearing how one Hoosier school teacher makes World War2 come alive for his students.

Family involvement is a vital key to teaching World War 2. Back in my day It was ''Dad'' who served in the armed forces and shared those wonderful and often hair-raising stories with us kids. And these stories usually made it to the classroom not only during our World War 2 history lessons, but all year round! Today those stories are told by ''Grandpa'' and to a lesser degree still passed around the classroom. Naturally, with the passing of time, Grandpa is not always around to share his adventures with eager and wide-eyed grandchildren.

This is where my WW2 unit comes in handy. I issue a WW2 data sheet to each child, to be taken home and filled out as accurately if possible by someone who remembers the war. The questionnaire is so arranged that the child may interview either grandparent on his or her activities during this vital era in history.I send the form home with the kids several weeks in advance of the due date, since several students find it necessary to mail the form. Also, some students have to look to other family members or older friends of their parents to interview. On occasion, the child finds some reluctance, but almost always finds someone to share memories.

The results are very interesting. Students come back with sheets covered with precious memories - sheets that many former students tell me they have kept. Many fine war souvenirs also pass into my classroom this way (I am a collector) and I'm always pleasantly surprised at what these kids dig up. The most common items are personal effects such as ration books, ribbons, insignia and uniforms, but my kids have also brought in early SA daggers, engraved Heer office's swords, fine Japanese swords and various types of German headgear. In fact, one of my former students, whose grandfather had an eye for German militania, still brings in his collection each year.

I also have six WW2 vets who break from their busy schedules to come to class and discuss the war. They include my Father who is a D-Day vet; my uncles who served in the Pacific, a fellow collector, who served in the 8th Air Force; a Navy vet and a warrant officer in the ETO. Another vet, also in the ETO gave me his belongings which include a near-mint, enlisted Fallschinn-Division cufftitle. Their talks and interaction with my students is great. I'm planning on taping them this year.

Although I present the ''facts'' through the vets, the kids are getting real hands on experiences, hearing eye-witness accounts, and seeing actual artifacts from the greatest event in history, and they realize that their grandparents were part of it. And as a bonus, I get to have some fun showing off my collection and seeing some really neat items brought in by the students. On occasion, Ihave bought some items from the grandparents (and have been fair in doing so). Also gratifying is the fact that some students have actually become collectors in their own right after having been exposed to this great hobby in my classroom!

Matthew S. Huber, "Keeping the War Alive", Der Gauleiter,1990

Militaria Show Jargon

Planning on attending some militaria collector shows this spring? Well, you've got to be ready lo tackle the jargon, so you know what everyone else is talking about. You know, forewarned is forearmed? Yep. That's right. Even if you're an old hand in this hobby there's lots of new slang and catch phrases out there. You don't want to seem behind the times, do you? And if you're a beginning collector, well, you could very easily be lost and confused, This jargon was collected at various militaria collector shows around the US, so you know, after you master these phrases, you'll be right in step with everyone else.

To Buy or Not To Buy

I already saw that. Translation: Saw it; passed on it 'cause it was too expensive.

I passed on it. (Tone of vote implies it is not original.) Translation; If it's too expensive for my collection, so it's too expensive for yours.

It's not sexy enough. Translation: If it's not from a combat general who personally blew up 20 enemy tanks using egg grenades, pulling the pins with his bare teeth, during the Battle for Berlin, I'm not interested.

I'm only collecting; German Paratrooper items pre-1933. Translation: I'll be saving lots of $s. This stuff's so rare, I'll never find anything, but it makes me sound like an advanced collector anyway.

I might be interested. Translation: Only if you give it away.

I might be interested, but I don't want to pay the going rate. Translation: I'm super cheap and will buy it only if you give it away.

I pay more than anybody else. Translation: I want to pay less than everybody else.

It's not like the one I had. Translation: I don't think it's real.

It's not what I thought it would be. Translation: I krow I couldn't sell it for triple your price, so I'm not buying it.

It's not the condition I like. (of an ultra rare, rarely encountered piece). Translation: I'm broke.

I'll wait till a better one comes along. (also of an ultra rare, rarely encountered piece.)Translation: I'm still broke.

I know I'll find one in my price range someday. Translation: When l do, it won't be the best condition, but I'll have to be happy with it.

I'll be back. Translation: To see if you are ready to give it away at the end of the show.

I might be back. Translation: If I don't find one cheaper, either real or not, from someone else.

Would you take less ? Translation: Even if you say ''yes,'' I still have to think about it.

I'll have to think about it. Translation: It's sure fun to pretend to be interested, even if I have no intention of buying.

I don't need to get your list because I don't buy by mail order. Translation: I'm too cheap to pay a few bucks for your list. And besides, I hardly buy anything anyway.

There's a guy in the other row selling his for less. Translation: It's comparing apples & oranges, but I'm hopeful this ploy might work.

There 's a chip / scratch / dent / nick / moth nip / hole here. Translation: it's the best one I've ever seen, but I've got to get the price down.

Appraisal Service

I'm taking offers. Translation; I want a free appraisal and I have no intention of selling.

If you make a good offer... Translation; You'll never buy it; someone will always pay 5 cents more at the next show.

Well, I had a better offer. Translation: Someone paid 5 cents more.

I already have someone who is interested. Translation; But if you'll pay more, it's yours.

I brought it for a friend... to find out what it's worth. Translation: It belongs to this guy, but he's either too clever or too ashamed to admit it.

I'm just here to find out what it's worth for a friend. Translation: It's really mine and I'm hoping for a big hit.

Selling Jargon

I don't need the money. Translation: I don't need the money, so I'll charge twice what it's worth because I'm greedy.

Well I really need the money. Translation: I really need the money so I'll charge you twice what it's worth and pretend to give you a bargain.

Well, if you want a real one.. Translation: Be prepared to pay double the going price.

The last one sold for $$$ in auction 3 years ago. Translation: I want $$$ plus inflation coverage for those last 3 years.

I'll put it in auction, I'll get a lot more. Translation: l don't know what it is or what it's worth, but I'm hopeful.

I don't know exactly what it's worth, but I want X$. Translation: Knows down-to-the-penny the value.

I'll sell you this for half what I paid. Translation: Sells everything for half, but makes it up in volume.

I just want to get my money out of it. Translation: ...and make a huge profit.

All I want is what I have in it. Translation: If you believe that, I'll tell you another one.

I'm thinning out my collection. Translation #1: Because I want to fatten up my wallet at your expence. Translation #2: Maybe I can get some sucker to buy my mistakes.

Took it off a body myself. Translation: Never even been in the military. but it sounds good and sells a lot of worthless crap.

Had it made in a Saigon tailor shop back in .69. Translation: Wife made it yesterday on her Singer sewing machine and then dipped it in some oriental tea.

Brought it back myself from the ''Big One. Translation: Made it myself while serving two years on a morals charge in the state pen.

You can trust me. Translation: I'm the biggest crook in the show and I'll screw you out of your last penny.

Authentication

I don 't know What do you think? (Asked of 30 collectors at one show.) Translation: I wouldn't know a real one if it fell on me and besides, I've already made up my mind and just want you to verify I'm right.

Sure its real. Translation #1: It's as good as my word. Translation #2: You can see, touch, feel and smell it, so it has to be "real".

Nobody believes it. but I know it's real. Translation: Worst piece of crap you have ever seen.

I don 't think I've ever seen another one like that. Translation: Kiss of death. Once words gets around, real or not, you can't give that piece away.

I don't think I have ever seen a real one. Translation: And wouldn't know it if he had.

Well, it might be real... Translation #1: I want you to pass on it. so I can buy it. Translation #2: I want you to pass on that one, so I can sell you one of mine.

Gee. I'm not sure. Translation: I want you to pass on it, so I can buy it.

Would you look at this piece and tell me what you think? Translation #1 : I'd never spend a dime with you, but I highly value your free opinion. Translation #2: I'd never pay your slightly higher price for what appears to be the same item, when I might get what could be a real one cheaper from someone else and get your free opinion as well.

Justification Jargon

It's a great investment. Translation: In 5 years. you might get your money back... if you're lucky.

I save money on books so I can buy more for my collection. Translation: It gives me more money to spend on fakes.

I need it for my collection. Translation: I'll steal it if I have to.

I guarantee it. Translation: But you don't have my real name, telephone or address, so try finding me again!

I have a double your money back guarantee you're not satisfied with the piece. Translation: But you'll never see me again.

I traded for it. Translation: That was my mistake, now it can be your mistake.

I know a guy who'll pay more. Translation: You're my last straw and I'll do anything to make sure you buy it.

Name Dropping

___________said it's real. Translation: I'm asking your opinion for conversation's sake, but what you say really doesn't matter because I believe every thing __________ tells me.

I bought it from ___________. Translation: I'm proud to have paid too much.

I sold it to ______________. Translation: I'm proud to have given it away.

___________ has one in his collection. Translation: Wouldn't own it if you paid him.

_____________ has told it belonged to ____________. Translation: Made yesterday.

______________ says it's a fake. Translation: But I want it to be real, so please tell me it is.

__________________sells them for $X's. Translation: I want to get the same amount for this piece as he does for his.

I brought it to sell to _________________. Translation: But if you'll pay more, it's yours.

I bought it for _____________ and now he doesn't have the money. Translation: Knows nothing about it and wouldn't touch it if he did.

________________ only sells fakes. Translation: has great real pieces, but I'm jealous.

________________ only has real stuff. Translation: A true believer...

Let's show it to ______________ and see what he has to say. Translation: Hey, I can show it to ______________, get an authentication and free appraisal all in one shot.

Origins

It came from the family. Translation: Every faker has a family!

It came from a vet. Translation: It came from anybody who was never in the military.

My uncle/father/ grandfather/dog brought it back. Translation: I bought it, found out it's a fake and now want to push it off on you.

I have one just like it in my collection. Translation: Mine is real, this one's fake... but they do look somewhat alike.

Anonymous. Translation: I don't care to sign my name to this....

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Iron Cross Second Class Award Documents

The Iron Cross, (Eisernes Kreuz), is probably the mostly widely recognizedand well known award of Germany. It isalso the most commonly encountered award from WW2. No matter how much of a novice a collector is, he still knows that Germany awarded the Iron Cross in large numbers for bravery. And for that matter, the Iron Cross is usually one of the first medals a new collector acquires. The same is true for award documents. Iron Cross documents are probably in every document collection and are some of the most sought after. It was an award not merely for service but for bravery - a single brave act in combat. The Iron Cross First Class, or EKI, was usually awarded for multiple acts of bravery beyond the Second Class. All branches of service, including Red Cross nurses and Hitler Youth kids were eligible for these awards.

It is estimated that between 5 million (The Iron Cross - A History 1813-1957, by Williamson) and 2,300,000 (For Fuhrer & Fatherland, by Angolia, Auszeichenungen des Deutschen Reichs, by Kleitmnnn) EK2's were awarded. This lends itself not only to the actual medal but also to the award document. However, a soldier could have received more than one copy of a document for the same award. It was not unusual to receive a preliminary award document in the field; often done on a crude form with a field typewriter and at a later date receive an official printed award. The printed formal award was also sometimes mailed to the recipient's home for safe keeping.

The standard size for an Iron Cross award document is 14 cm by 20 cm and vertical in format.The paper varies with the particular award. It is heavier than a sheet of typing paper thought lighter than a postcard, and may be watermarked, but frequently not. Its smooth, almost slick to the touch but is neither a coated nor glossy stock. Documents were most commonly letter press printed although a few were lithographed, none were offset printed. A field made award can be done on almost anything.

All EKII awards included the recipient'srank and name typewritten onto the award. (somewere handwritten) and they usually contain his unit. It seems that the Kriegsmarine did not include a sailor's ship or unit. Also typewritten onto the document was the place and date the award was made. Note that this was not necessarily the place were the soldier earned the award and was basically never the date that he earned it. The paper work was usually months behind. Each award was signed by a commander including his rank and position. It was then rubber stamped in the lower left corner of the document. This stamp corresponds to the commander's position or unit, instead of the recipient's. The posthumous EK2 document is the exception to this. It was a unique award, done in its own style and presented to the recipient's survivors. These are rarely encountered.

The value of EKII award documents depend on several factors. A base price is about $35. That would be for a document to an ''unknown'' soldier, in a common unit, bestowed by a commander who was not a Knight's Cross holder, or famous. Price increases as the unit becomes more interesting. Any Waffen-SS recipient's award should sell for over $100. The same is true for Fallschirmjager. Should the award be to someone who later won the Knight'sCross, the price could be several hundred dollars. The signature of the bestowed can also greatly affect the price, such as an EKII document with Rommel's signature. Also of great interest and value is the posthumous EKII award document - a tough one to find. If you locate one, my advise is... buy it!

Emilie Caldwell Stewart, "Iron Cross Second Class Award Documents", Der Gauleiter, 1989

All About our Blog

In our Blog you will find a series of articles on the various aspects of Third Reich militaria collecting. These are intended to introduce the new collector to a particular area of our hobby and to provide the experienced collector with a refresher course, or perhaps some new info. They are not intended to replace reference books in one's library, but are here to "wet the appetite" of the collectors, and encourage them to aquire the books or magazines they were taken from. Many of these sources are currently available from book dealers, or the publisher, and some are long out of print. In the case of the later, it might take some hunting to aquire them. Militaria shows, other collectors and this web site might be good sources.

Most of this info was aquired by scanning pages and running them through an optical character recognition (OCR) program. While this is the most efficient way of aquiring the text, it is not fool-proof and errors are encountered. We have proof read all of these articles and made the corrections we found. However, don't be surprised if you find a mis-spelled word or other error here and there. We could only do so much.... In the case of the photos that accompany the articles, some are from the article itself, while others are photos I added from other sources as I thought appropriate.

This feature of germanmilitariacollecibles.com will be an ongoing project. I will add more material as often as it is available and I have time to do so. One thing you will notice is that when you open the link you will see several articles listed one after the other. These are not the only articles we have posted. Near the top of the page on the right you will see "Previous Posts". Look at the list and you will see the other articles available. Just click on them to view. Below "Previous Posts" you will see "Archives" listed by month. I suggest you look at all three places; the opening page list, the previous posts and the archives to see everything. Have fun!

We need material for this feature. If you are an author who has written something about German militaria collecting, and would like to share it with our readers, we would like to see it. You can email a copy to us. A photo copy or scan is also ok. If we use it, and we will try to, you will receive full credit. Be sure you tell us your name, the title, where or who published it (if it was) and the date published. Also, if you have something in your reference collection you think the other collectors would like to see, please let me know and we'll see if we can publish it. Older material from the 60s thru 80s would be especially welcome. Items that come from other that the standard reference books would be great. Again, if we can use it we will give you full credit for your contribution.

Finally, I would like to express my thanks to Roger Bender, of R. James Bender Publishing, for his interest and support of this project. Bob