Fantastic Group of Coburg Badge as a Set

 
This is a fantastic group that was sold only recently in March 2016 shows that sets such as these can sometimes surface from time to time. Thank you for the colleague who informed me about this set as we can see the documents that accompanied the Coburg Badge. Sets such as this mean solid provenance for such a badge and an extremely rare encounter. You can see from the pin set up that the holder clearly treasured the badge and had these repaired to be worn again. Replaced pin plates are common in the Coburg Badges that you may encounter and do not detract the historical value of these artefacts.

Commemorative Plaque for the Battle of Coburg

Another contribution from fellow collector E.S., this plaque commemorates the Battle of Coburg. Another example was offered by a German dealer some years ago but it had a hair line crack and I passed on it. These were fragile and not many survive today. This particular piece is in a very nice condition.

Christmas Card from the Kreisleiter of Coburg

A Christmas Card sent by the Kreisleiter of Coburg. Very seldom seen and a one of a kind piece. These documents are difficult to locate because they are usually discarded. This piece belongs to fellow collector E.S. who is recognised as one of the leading figures of political militaria. Thank you for the contribution. 

Example of a First Pattern Coburg Badge

 
A first pattern Coburg Badge from private Dutch collector, Martin V. Lovely pin set up, original as it can ever be.

How much was the Coburg Badge sold at its time?

A second pattern Coburg Badge with a crisp RZM mark on the reverse with a solid pin set up. This was offered by a German dealer and has since been sold to a private collector. What is interesting is that there is a faint marking on the reverse in ink, indicating 3,60RM or 3.60 Reichsmarks. The Reichsmark was the currency in Germany from 1924 until 20 June 1948 and in Austria from 1938 to 1945. The Reichsmark was subdivided into 100 Reichspfennig. The Mark is an ancient Germanic weight measure, traditionally a half pound, later used for several coins. From 1871 to 1918 Germany was called the Kaiserreich or the Deutsches Reich. Although Germany became a republic in 1919, the term "Reich" remained part of the country's official name. We can fairly say that it is highly likely that the second pattern was sold for 3.60 Reichsmarks at that time from this badge.

Hitler's Coburg Badge? Proven provenance or not?

It is believed that this particular Coburg Badge came from Anny Brunner-Winter who was Hitler's housekeeper in his Munich flat at Prinzregentenplatz 16 from 1929 to 1945, stating that the badge originated from Hitler's personal possessions. The written statement and the badge was sold at a past auction house for 7,200 euros. Collectors should be aware that while water-tight and solid provenance provides added historical significance, at times loose documents should be taken with a pinch of salt. It is the author's belief that although the needle system for this badge is intact, it is actually a replacement as these were extremely fragile.

First Pattern Attributed to Ludwig Schmied

 
A first pattern Coburg Badge attributed to Ludwig Schmied, offered by an auction house which was sold for 7800 euros plus commission fees. The starting bid was 2,500 euros. These badges have seen prices increase steadily as the collector market recognises the importance of these first pattern pieces as only 436 were ever issued. Only a very small number are known to survive today. This particular badge comes with a post-war collector's box labelled with Ludwig Schmied which is recognised as one of the original recepients of this coveted badge. The pin set up in this piece is original and particularly fragile.

History of the NSDAP in Northern Bavaria

The history of the NSDAP in Northern Bavaria is closely related to "March to Coburg" in October 1922. As Gauleiter of the Deutsch-Völkische Schutzbund Hans Dietrich had invited the NSDAP to attend the "German Day" in Coburg under the condition that Hitler appeared in person. Coburg subsequently became a bastion of National Socialism: it was the first German city in which the NSDAP won absolute majority in the city council elections in 1929 and which granted Hitler honorary citizenship in 1932. In commemoration of the "March to Coburg" Hitler introduced the Coburg badge of honour in 1932, one of the highest distinctions awarded to party members.

First Pattern Attributed to Karl Ostberg

Born 4 March, 1890 in Buchloe, the future SS-Standartenführer Karl Ostberg was Hitler's first companion and adherent (NSDAP admittance 1 March 1920, old number 1035). He and Hitler together were despatch runners in 1. Kompanie, Royal Bavarian 16th Reserve Infantry Regiment "List", and he received the Iron Cross as well as the Military Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. As a former police constable, he was also one of the forces behind the formation of the Schutzstaffel (SS number 1315, admittance 9 February 1929) in Munich. Following his death on 29 May 1935, Hitler attended his funeral at the Munich Westfriedhof. An historically important group of decorations including the Blood Order (no. 1408), Golden Party Badge (no. 10166) and other parteitags from the early period of the NSDAP offered in an auction and sold for 15,000 euros in 2013.

First Pattern Coburg Badge Set

A first pattern Coburg Badge and the set sold for 11,500 euros, believed to come from the estate of Fritz Seidel. According to a colleague, Friedrich ("Fritz") Seidel was an Old Fighter who joint the newly found party in April 1925 with a 3 digit party number. The Alten Garde (or Old Guards) badge (Tag) for the district of Spandau (as above) is particularly beautiful.

A Souval Reproduction

This is an attempt to reproduce the Coburg Badge and although unverified, it is believed to be made by Souval. Take note that the outer areas of the Swastika were filled in this reproduction and the ovalish perimeter has been badly encircled, being not a perfect oval. On the reverse, the pin system is incorrect and the back is wrong. The firm of Rudolf Souval of Vienna made medals and badges during the Third Reich,but after the war continued to produce their products and ceased trading in the mid Seventies. The original Coburg Badges were made by the firm Deschler and Sohn. Image courtesy of Bob Hunter, GMIC.

Example of a Second Pattern Coburg Badge

An example of a Second Pattern Coburg Badge that was recently offered on the market by a German dealer. Note the RZM marking on the reverse and a thicker pin system. There are many fakes out there and worth studying the details of the badge. This is a nice second pattern although the strike has less crisp details than those encountered on first patterns. It is believed that this would be manufactured in later runs although it is not certain who really produced them. These second patterns are still far more common than the first pattern pieces which are very rare.

Commemorative Stained Glass

A one of a kind commemorative stained glass was sold at an American auction house for US$6,750.00 plus consignment fees a few years ago in 2013 and now believed to be in a private collection. I had the opportunity to purchase this piece but unfortunate its size would have meant the requirement for a large display area. Beneath the painted inscription reads "PRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL MAYOR OF THE CITY OF COBURG 15.X.1940". A very carefully constructed piece, believed to be from the estate of FRITZ WACHTLER (1891-1945), Gauleiter of Bayreuth and an SS-Gruppenfuhrer.

Holders of the Golden Party Badge, the Blood Order and the Coburg Badge

Forum member, J Temple West produced a documented list of recepients who were members of the SS that held the Golden Party Badge, Blood Order and Coburg Badge. Scouring through 432 pages of the 1938/39 edition of the Dienstaltersliste der Schutzstaffel der NSDAP list (DAL), only a handful were holders of the top three badges. Extremely low numbers when there are approximately 14000 members of the SS mentioned in this particular edition of the DAL list. There are only 450 known Coburg badge recepients and only 18 had all three badges. The image above shows members of SS Div Wiking, one of which is wearing the CB.

Name..................Party Number / SS Number
Buch, Walter............... 7733 / 81353
Amann, Max................. 3 / 53143
Graf, Ulrich............... 8 / 26
Maurice, Emil.............. 39 / 2
Füss, Simon................ 72008 / 1700
Eggerdinger, Max........... 14463 / 280332
Grimminger, Jakob.......... 759 / 135
Hirschberg, Paul........... 907 / 99829
Kellner, Karl.............. 45052 / 2636
Göbel, Paul................ 14302 / 712
Remmel, Karl............... 14254 / 289218
Six, Franz................. 49241 / 1676
Von Sperl, Theodor......... 3536 / 89142
Steinbeisser, Otto......... 10041 / 2854
Wittmann, Karl............. 89036 / 8479
Larché, Erich.............. 260 / 3031
Bäumer, Johann............. 11554 / 5632
Pertl, Josef............... 25015 / 55332

Following the above list, a colleague, Br. J. contacted me to provide further information. According to his list, the following persons held all three of the major awards. There is still the question of whether Hermann Esser received the Coburg Badge, although he certainly received the Golden Party Badge and the Blood Order. There may have been other recipients of all three awards who are not on the list below and some of the people below are also SS members as the above list from J Temple West.

Schwarz, Franz Xaver
Weber, Christian
Hess, Rudolf
Streicher, Julius
Rosenberg, Alfred
Eggers, Karl
Baur, Wilhelm
Schreck, Julius
Singer, Johann
Schaub, Julius
Danner, Franz
Eberhart, Adolf
Staudhammer, Karl
Neff, Oskar
Fuchs, Franz Xaver
Zöberlein, Hans
Röhrl, Hans
Bennecke, Dr. Heinrich
Berger, Emil
Ostberg, Karl
Schuster, josef
Lenz, Hans
Huber, Josef
Stahl, Fritz
Hofmann, Arthur
Balthasar, Josef
Lahr, Oskar
Klein, Emil
Müller, Alfred
Eitel, Fritz
Walter, Karl
Schneider, Heinrich