WW1 / WW2 / 20th Century

A Very Attractive Imperial German Bullion and Gilt Officers Brocade Belt

With royal crown and crest of Kaiser Willhelm II. Superb gilded buckle with silver bullion belt bears two horizontal stripes. Some of the cloth inner lining to belt has worn away  read more

Code: 20338

How About This Beauty For Christmas! The Spectacular, Elizabeth Taylor, 'Million Dollar' Gold, Diamond & Ruby Rolex 'Mystery' Watch & Belt & Buckle Bracelet. Described As, Probably, The Most Spectacular, Beautiful & Unique Rolex Watch in the World

What an incredible idea for a very, special, Christmas present
A unique, bespoke, Rolex ‘mystery’ watch, probably one of the most spectacular ‘statement watches’ ever to be seen anywhere in the world today, that once belonged to one of the greatest movie legends of them all, Elizabeth Taylor.

The concealed Rolex watch movement is hidden within the spectacular, gold diamond and ruby set 'belt and buckle' bracelet, and when worn, the watch movement is entirely concealed, and hidden, and can be viewed by simply lifting the end of the belt tab.
The current cost of a 1970's Bulgari Serpenti 'Mystery' Watch, available on the market today, is anything up to £170,000. But the fabulous Bulgari mystery watches hold not a candle to this simply unique and exquisite piece..

This extraordinary watch is as close to a Million Pound watch as you can get. Its provenance is as follows;

In the middle of October 1970, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton arrived in Brighton for the location filming of Burton's latest film, ‘Villain’.

During the filming they toured The Lanes in Brighton and visited our shop in Prince Albert St, in order to discuss with David Hawkins snr, the purchase of a mansion David had recently bought in Hove. During their hour long visit to our store some extraordinary business was transacted, between Elizabeth and Camilla Hawkins, Mark and David's mother, and wife of their father David snr. Camilla bought from Elizabeth, this most spectacular custom made, Rolex movement, gold and diamond bracelet 'mystery' watch that Richard had somewhat recently bought for Elizabeth.

It was the culmination of a conversation that Elizabeth had with David and Camilla concerning the purchase of a Hove mansion, that David and Camilla owned in Hove, that Michael Wilding {a very famous British actor, and another former husband of Elizabeth Taylor} was attempting to buy from David Hawkins snr, for Michael Wilding's 'other' ex wife, Susan Wilding. Elizabeth had been asked by Michael to intercede on his behalf, and convince David to sell the Hove mansion to Michael, that, so far, he had thus refused to do.

That most curious conversation, and negotiation, obliquely developed into an entirely disconnected heated discussion between Elizabeth and Richard, concerning a ring that Elizabeth had seen in a neighbouring jewellers in the Brighton Lanes that very day, and that Elizabeth was determined to buy for herself. However, Richard had ‘forbade’ her from buying it. He strongly protested, and loudly argued, that he was the only one allowed to buy her Jewellery, and Elizabeth, took great exception to this affront to her status and independence. Bearing in mind, Elizabeth had, and always was, paid far more for her performances than Richard was for his. Richard’s talent and fame was world renown, but Elizabeth’s fame and status was positively stratospheric. This was the uncomfortable element to their relationship, that Richard never truly overcame.

In high dudgeon, to his unwanted rebuke, Elizabeth removed this fabulous Rolex watch from her wrist, and immediately offered it for sale, and duly sold it, to Camilla, most likely, simply in order to frustrate, anger and annoy Richard, and very possibly to also demonstrate her indifference of his opinions and wishes. which it certainly did. So, the upshot was, Camilla gained this magnificent watch that October, from Elizabeth, and subsequently, just a few years later, gave it to Mark her son as a wedding present, in May 1978.

Mark { the elder partner of The Lanes Armoury} was in fact present in the shop when the entire argument between Elizabeth and Richard took place, and thus personally witnessed exactly how the watch was offered and purchased from Elizabeth, within the shop, on that grey but significantly eventful October day in 1970.
It was, he says,
"certainly one of the most curious, momentous and unforgettable days I had ever experienced in the shop during the past 50 plus years".
It is certainly not every day one is personally witness to two of the most famous and talented movie stars in the world, having a full blown, somewhat high decibel, hour long marital discourse, within just a few feet.

Bearing in mind Elizabeth and Richard were true, original ‘superstars’ in the truest sense of the word. No celebrities today could even touch the fame that those two fabulous actors enjoyed in their day.

Dame Elizabeth Taylor had another, very similar quality diamond and gold 'Mystery' watch, and she was indeed photographed wearing it on the set of Cleopatra in 1962 {see the gallery photos}. It was a serpent 'mystery' watch with a very similar watch movement encased and hidden within the head of a diamond and gold coiled snake, acting as its bracelet, made by Bulgari. That watch was sold in December 2011 for over $974,500, however it did have the benefit of a photograph of Elizabeth wearing it, and so far we have never found a photograph of Elizabeth wearing our far superior example.
It is said that to custom hand-make and replicate this unique, finest quality gold, diamond and ruby bracelet watch, with the manual 'fold-out' movement by Rolex, would likely cost over a million dollars today.
Over the past near 40 years we have combed the world of photographs of Elizabeth Taylor to find her wearing it, sadly without success, and when she created her magnificent book on her world famous jewel collection, as it was thirty years after this magnificent Rolex had been sold to Camilla.

A photo in the gallery is of Richard and Elizabeth arriving at Brighton Station on the 16th October 1970, and she may well have been wearing it then, but her arms are obscured by her jaguar print pant suit. We also show views from her famous jewel collection book,' Elizabeth Taylor, My Love Affair With Jewellery' published in 2002, that we also include with the watch. The watch is being sold in part to benefit Mark and Judy's {Mark's beloved late wife} favourite charities, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and The Guide Dogs for The Blind Association.
10.5 inches long x 1.4 inches wide at the buckle, 130.8 grams. Bears Swiss .750 hallmark, set with 24 diamonds and 40 rubies. There was once a small personal calling card with it from Elizabeth that doubled as it's receipt, but sadly it was lost many decades ago.

After meeting on the set of Cleopatra in the early '60s, actress Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011) and actor Richard Burton (1925-1984) began one of the most publicized and turbulent love stories of all time, captivating millions with their on-again, off-again relationship. Despite the drama, they shared a love that was deep and fierce, the kind of love that can often be as destructive as it is beautiful. According to TIME, Burton admitted he was making movies due to his desire for money, not a love for the art. However, he thought quite highly of his talented wife. He once wrote, "You are probably the best actress in the world, which, combined with your extraordinary beauty, makes you unique. When, as an actress, you want to be funny, you are funnier than W.C. Fields; when, as an actress, you are meant to be tragic, you are, tragic."
We recommend this watch is professionally serviced before wearing, which we can undertake if required. Over the decades we have sold many watches, of course, mostly of a military nature, but we have never seen another watch so beautiful as this. A true work of the finest object d'art, as well as a piece of useful and functional jewellery. It will be accompanied with a signed statement from Mark Hawkins detailing its full story, but sadly there is no longer any surviving paperwork from Elizabeth Taylor.
However, if one wished for Rolex to create such a fabulous bespoke watch today it would very likely cost up to a million pounds.
We offer it set within a fine Cartier watch box .

Another photo in the gallery is of Elizabeth's other 'Mystery Watch' by Bulgari, which she was photographed wearing on the set of Cleopatra. It sold in 2011 for $974,500.

The bespoke watch case and bracelet of our watch was likely originally custom made for Elizabeth by an exclusive, finest Parisian or Swiss jeweller, such as, for example, Van Cleef & Arpels or Boucheron, and was then fitted with its fold-out ‘hidden’ Rolex movement.

The watch is an amazing 10.5 inches long x 1.4 inches wide at the buckle, and it weighs over 4 ounces {130.8 grams}. It bears a Swiss .750 18ct hallmark and contains 24 diamonds and 40 rubies.

Every single item from The Lanes Armoury is accompanied by our unique Certificate of Authenticity. Part of our continued dedication to maintain the standards forged by us over the past 100 years of our family’s trading  read more

Code: 22793

A Good German Third Reich Issue Karabinier Kurz Mauser K98k Seitengewehr 84/98. German Kar98k Rifle Bayonet. Fully Blued Finish

Early bakelite gripped, serial numbered blade by 'bym' maker code for Genossenschafts Machinenhaus der Buchsenmacher Ferlach/Karten. Dated 1943.

Waffenamt inspector markings to the pommel, Bayonet blade blued as is the scabbard and hilt. The bayonet fits and extracts perfectly, with perfect functioning rifle button catch.

A bayonet for the standard Mauser arm used by the Heer Army, Kriegsmarine Navy, used before and during the allied liberation of France, and subsequently the whole of the enslaved Western Europe, until, finally, the capture of Berlin by the Red Army. The Karabiner 98 kurz (German; "carbine 98 short", often abbreviated Kar98k or K98k and often incorrectly referred to as a "K98" (which was a Polish Carbine), is a bolt-action rifle chambered for the 7.92 ×57mm Mauser cartridge that was adopted on 21 June 1935 as the standard service rifle by the German Wehrmacht. It was one of the final developments in the long line of Mauser military rifles. Although supplemented by semi- and fully automatic rifles during World War II, it remained the primary German service rifle until the end of the war in 1945.

Overall the bayonet is in very sound and clean condition with a good scabbard. Signs of combat use as usual, but nicely cared for.  read more

Code: 25992

A Rare and Very Fine WW1 German Sniper's Scharfschutzengewehr Optical Scope. Some Of The Best & Most Desirable Sniper Scopes Are 20th Century Fine German Examples Such As This

WW1 German Sniper Optical Scope, steel body scope with bracket fittings to the lower section. Top focusing mount is maker marked “Rudiger & Bischoff Braunschweig”. Remains of the blued finish. Optics remain clear. Photo in the gallery of German snipers in WW1 and a cabinet of original snipers kit, including the rifle and sniper site, in the Imperial War Museum. During World War I, snipers appeared as deadly sharpshooters in the trenches. At the start of the war, only Imperial Germany had troops that were issued scoped sniper rifles. Although sharpshooters existed on all sides, the Germans specially equipped some of their soldiers with scoped rifles that could pick off enemy soldiers showing their heads out of their trench. At first the French and British believed such hits to be coincidental hits, until the German scoped rifles were discovered. During World War I, the German army received a reputation for the deadliness and efficiency of its snipers, partly because of the high-quality lenses that German industry could manufacture.

During the First World War, the static movement of trench warfare and a need for protection from snipers created a requirement for loopholes both for discharging firearms and for observation. Often a steel plate was used with a "key hole", which had a rotating piece to cover the loophole when not in use.Imperial German Scharfschutzengewehr (Sharpshooters rifle in German) Model 1898 sniper rifle in 7.92x57 or more commonly known as 8mm Mauser. At the beginning of World War 1 no country had a "sniper program" as we know it today. Germany in 1915 outfitted the most experienced marksmen (typically pre-war game wardens and poachers) with specially selected factory rifles and equiped them with optical hunting sights. These early telescopic sights usually consisted of 2.5x, 3x and 4x power, produced by manufactures like Görtz, Gérard, Oige, Zeiss, Hensoldt, Voigtländer Rudiger & Bischoff and various civilian models from manufacturers like Bock, Busch and Füss. These rifles were standard 1898 Military Model which held exceptionaly high accuracy at the factory. They were fitted with a Model 1898AZ carbine bolt and optic and issued to an individual Soldier (Soldat) instead of a unit. Due to the very high usage of steel armor piercing ammunition the barrels were rapidly erroded and the life span for accuracy was between 1000-2500 rounds, often less, before having to be replaced. Soon the British army began to train their own snipers in specialized sniper schools. Major Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard was given formal permission to begin sniper training in 1915, and founded the First Army School of Sniping, Observation, and Scouting at Linghem in France in 1916. Starting with a first class of only six, in time he was able to lecture to large numbers of soldiers from different Allied nations, proudly proclaiming in a letter that his school was turning out snipers at three times the rate of any such other school in the world.

He also devised a metal-armoured double loophole that would protect the sniper observer from enemy fire. The front loophole was fixed, but the rear was housed in a metal shutter sliding in grooves. Only when the two loopholes were lined up—a one-to-twenty chance—could an enemy shoot between them. Another innovation was the use of a dummy head to find the location of an enemy sniper. The papier-mâché figures were painted to resemble soldiers to draw sniper fire. Some were equipped with rubber surgical tubing so the dummy could "smoke" a cigarette and thus appear realistic. Holes punched in the dummy by enemy sniper bullets then could be used for triangulation purposes to determine the position of the enemy sniper, who could then be attacked with artillery fire. He developed many of the modern techniques in sniping, including the use of spotting scopes and working in pairs, and using Kim's Game to train observational skills. An original complete Imperial German Scharfschutzengewehr (Sharpshooters rifle in German) Model 1898 GEW98 rifle, with its scope, just as this one, can now fetch over $11,000.  read more

Code: 23342

A Very Good, WW1 & WW2 Original Horseguards, Life Guards and Blues And Royals, Other Ranks Pattern Helmet Plate, Order of the Garter Badge Star. For The Mounted Bodyguard of The King

Ideal for a collector that has a helmet lacking its badge. This badge could add a thousand pounds of value to a helmet missing its original badge.

Original, early King's Crown type. This fabulous quality WW1 and WW2 other ranks badge, was in use since 1901, used by a trooper or NCO of the Blues and Royals or the Life Guards, that combined, make up the Royal Horseguards, until the pattern was changed with the queen's crown in 1953. The Albert helmet is the current ceremonial headgear of the British Army's Household Cavalry, the Life guards regiment and the Blues and Royals regiment. It was introduced by Prince Albert in 1842 and adopted by the Household Cavalry the following year. In 1847 the helmet was introduced to all heavy cavalry regiments. It remains in use as the full dress headgear of the two remaining Household Cavalry regiments, the Blues and Royals and the Life Guards. The magnificent helmet remains in use with the two current Household Cavalry regiments, the Blues and Royals with red plume and the Life Guards with white plume. These regiments are amalgamations of the four earlier regiments. The Life Guards retain the white plume and the onion from the 2nd Regiment, the Blues and Royals retain the red plume of the Royal Horse Guards. Blues and Royals officers wear a yak hair plume. Farriers in both regiments wear different plumes, the Life Guards farrier wear black and Blues and Royals farrier red.

The regiments also differ in how they wear the helmet's chin strap. The Blues and Royals wear it under the chin while the Life Guards wear it under the lower lip. The helmet is now in white metal for all ranks and the same helmet plate is worn by both regiments (they were different historically).

The Albert helmet is only worn in full dress review order, guard order and front yard order by other ranks and in full dress, levee dress and ceremonial rehearsal dress by officers. Medical and veterinary officers do not wear the helmet, instead wearing a cocked hat.

The other ranks of the Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry wear the helmet in full dress (with the plumes of their parent regiments), except when parading in the presence of the royal family, when they wear state dress with jockey caps. Band officers wear Albert helmets on both occasions.
one threaded affixing bolt remaining and one fold out helmet affixing stem  read more

Code: 24072

Original, 1939 Pattern WW2 Free Polish Forces (Army In Exile) Beret Side Cap Badge. Cast With Threaded Stem Mount

The Polish Army in France, which began to be organized soon after fall of Poland in 1939, was composed of about 85,000 men. Four Polish divisions (First Grenadier Division, Second Infantry Fusiliers Division, 3rd and 4th Infantry Division), a Polish motorized brigade (10th Brigade of Armoured Cavalry, 10me Brigade de cavalerie blinde) and infantry brigade (Polish Independent Highland Brigade) were organized in mainland France. Polish Independent Highland Brigade took part in the Battles of Narvik in early 1940; after the German invasion of France, all Polish units were pressed into formation although, due to inefficient French logistics and policies, all Polish units were missing much equipment and supplies particularly the 3rd and 4th divisions, which were still in the middle of organization. A Polish Independent Carpathian Brigade was formed in French-mandated Syria, to which many Polish troops had escaped from Romania and would later fight in the Middle East. After the fall of France (during which about 6,000 Polish soldiers died fighting), about 13,000 of Polish personnel had been interned in Switzerland. Nevertheless, Polish Commander-in-Chief and Prime Minister General Wladyslaw Sikorski was able to evacuate many Polish troops to the United Kingdom (estimates range from 20,0002 to 35,0004). The Polish I Corps was formed from these soldiers. It comprised the Polish 1st Armoured Division (which later became attached to the First Canadian Army) and the Polish Independent Parachute Brigade, and other formations, such as the 4th Infantry Division, and the 16th Independent Armoured Brigade. It was commanded by Gen. Stanislaw Maczek and Marian Kukiel.

Despite its name, it never reached corps strength and was not used as a tactical unit until after the war, when it took part in the occupation of Germany as part of the Allied forces stationed around the port of Wilhelmshaven. Prior to that date its two main units fought separately and were grouped together mostly for logistical reasons. In 1941, following an agreement between the Polish government in exile and Joseph Stalin, the Soviets released Polish citizens, from whom a 75,000-strong army was formed in the Soviet Union under General Wladyslaw Anders (Anders’ Army). This army, successively gathered in Bouzoulouk, Samarkand, was later ferried from Krasnovodsk to the Middle East (Iran) through the Caspian Sea (in March and August 1942). The Polish units later formed the Polish II Corps. It was composed of Polish 3rd Carpathian Infantry Division, Polish 5th Kresowa Infantry Division, Polish 2nd Armoured Brigade and other units.

Zbigniew Mieczkowski at the unveiling of a statue of General Stanisław Maczek (commander of the famous 1st Polish Armoured Division) in Edinburgh, November 2018 Credit: Barbara Eva Photography  read more

Code: 25959

Germany - Third Reich: Italo-German African Campaign Medal in Zinc Italo-German Operations in North Africa 1942 1943 by De Marchis & Lorioli

The Italo-German African Campaign medal was a World War II medal introduced by Italy in 1942 to commemorate the Axis forces' involvement in North Africa. The bronze medal features an obverse with two knights and a crocodile, and a reverse with an archway showing an Italian fasces and a swastika. Its ribbon has stripes of green, white, red, white, and black, representing the Italian colours, with black added for the German involvement.

Purpose: Commemorated the actions of the German Africa Corps (DAK) and other Italian and German forces in the North African campaign.
Timeline: Awarded for service between 1940 and 1943.
Obverse design: Two armoured knights standing on the forelegs of a crocodile.
Reverse design: An archway with an Italian fasces on one side and a swastika on the other, surrounded by the inscription "GERMAN-ITALIAN CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA" in both German and Italian.
Ribbon: Features stripes of green, white, red, white, and black.
Awarded to: German and Italian personnel who served in the campaign.

Italy was among the first and most famous Axis countries to join the Germany's cause. Its flamboyant dictator, Benito Mussolini, provided a political example on the seizure of power, which Hitler followed. With many goals in common, they would become Allies and friends.

Italy entered the War in July of 1940 as the French Campaign was drawing to a close. The Italian Army, though unprepared for war, crossed the border in an attempt to reap the spoils. It would be a long road for the Italian soldier, who fought the length of the war often with courage but almost always with inferior equipment. Along with France came Africa, where Italian interests were severally compromised after a series British of attacks. The legendary Afrika Korps, lead by Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, arrived to help in 1941 and wreaked havoc in the dessert during the next two years. The Italian Army went on to fight on many fronts, from the Balkans to Russia.

On July 25, 1943 with the war turning against Italy and the Allies landing in Sicily, Benito Mussolini was deposed and arrested. In September of the same year, Badoglio announced an armistice with the Allies before fleeing along with the King into their custody. Germany, aware of this development in advance, quickly invaded and disarmed the Italian Army. The problem facing them was that Mussolini was being held at an undisclosed location, and any hope of restoring order hinged around him. After a frantic search, he was located, and German Parachutists under the direction of Otto Skorzeny staged a daring rescue mission. El Duce was brought back safely, and on September 23rd, 1943, the "Repubblica Sociale Italiana" (RSI) was founded. Italy, or at least part of it, continued on the Axis camp.

Many experienced units (some veterans of the Eastern front) of the former Italian Army were absorbed into the “Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano” and continued to fight until the end. Because of mistrust on the part of the OKW, they were not extensively used in combat roles but did well when they were called upon. The end of the war found the RSI in existence. In the chaos that reigned in the days prior to the surrender, Mussolini, and many members of the Esercito Nazionale Repubblicano, were butchered by newly formed “partisans” units.

Once Italy capitulated to the allies Hitler forbad it to be worn on the uniform.  read more

Code: 25949

A Fabulous 1953 Pattern Original Headdress Badge For Officers of "The Life Guards", In Gilt with St. Edward's (Queen's) Crown Surmounting a Garter With Blue Enamel Over Red Enamel. Nr Mint Condition

The badges for the 'Household' cavalry regiments (Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards) originated in 1913. In that year's manoeuvres the Regiments wore khaki for the first time, and thus could not, as previously, be distinguished by their uniforms. King George V noted that his Household troops, of all the Army, had no cap badge and offered to supply the deficiency if they so wished. As Household troops the badge was inevitably going to be closely associated with the sovereign. The first design was for the Service Dress cap, showing the Royal Cypher surrounded by a circlet bearing the name of the Regiment, surmounted by a Royal crown. This design was first issued on the outbreak of war in 1914. A second design, with the circlet replaced by a Garter with motto and including no Regimental title, was common to all three regiments of the time (1 & 2 Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards). This was for the Forage cap, which was re-introduced in 1919.

Identical as worn by His Royal Highness, Prince William, The Prince of Wales

Photo of His Majesty's loyal son and his wonderful bride HRH Princess Catherine, The Princess of Wales

Made by Gaunt of London  read more

Code: 25958

A1930's Third Reich, Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei Air Ship Silver Knife & Fork, From The Hindenberg Dining Room, Allegedly Recovered After The Crash By a Lakehurst Based Military Officer. Made by Gebr.Hepp {the Hepp Brothers}

The Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei (the German Zeppelin Transport Company, or DZR) was established on March 22, 1935, to operate German passenger airships.

On May 6, 1937. The world reknowned Nazi airship Hindenberg, upon landing at Lakehurst USA, exploded into a ball of fire. One of the very first international disasters that was captured live on film.

If one looks at the live disaster explosion photos in the gallery it seems remarkable that most of the passengers and crew survived. There were about 97 people onboard just 36 of them perished. During an attempt to land at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, the Hindenburg airship caught fire and disintegrated into a raging ball of fire near-instantaneously, in a display of rapid combustion unlike any other. Despite its enduring legacy as a horrific disaster, less than half of the people on board the Hindenburg actually died. 62 passengers and crew escaped with their lives.

A simple yet powerful memorial marks the site of the crash. A cement outline in the shape of the Hindenburg stretches across the airfield in the spot where the airship crash-landed in flames.

The site was declared a Registered National Historic Landmark in 1961.

Prior to the establishment of the DZR, passenger zeppelins were built by the Luftshiffbau Zeppelin (the Zeppelin Airship Construction Company, known as the “LZ”) and operated by DELAG (Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-Aktiengesellschaft, or German Airship Transportation Corporation Ltd), which was established in 1909 as an offshoot of the LZ and dominated by Hugo Eckener. With the establishment of the DZR, airship activities were divided between the LZ, which would continue to build the airships, and the DZR, which would operate them. Consistent with Nazi ideology, the airship was expected to be more than just a private commercial venture; it was to be a public symbol of the new German nation. In a speech marking the founding of the DZR, Göring commented: “I hope that the new ship will also fulfill its duty in furthering the cause of Germany… The airship does not have the exclusive purpose of flying across the Atlantic, but also has a responsibility to act as the nation’s representative.”

The establishment of the DZR may have also been partly inspired by the bureaucratic rivalry between Air Minister Göring and Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, and Goering’s commitment of 9 million marks to the zeppelin project, on condition of the creation of the DZR, came shortly after Goebbels offered the Zeppelin Company 2 million marks toward the completion of LZ-129 in the summer of 1934.

In March 1935, the South Atlantic flights became the responsibility of the Nazi controlled Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei, after this company had been set up jointly by Luftschiffbau Zeppelin, the German Air Ministry and Deutsche Lufthansa. The DZR was created at the instigation of Air Minister Hermann Goring as a way to increase Nazi control over zeppelin operations, and can be see as part of the larger policy of Gleichschaltung, or coordination, which affected all aspects of German life in the years following Hitler’s assumption of power.

Consistent with Nazi ideology, the airship was expected to be more than just a private commercial venture; it was to be a public symbol of the new German nation.

In a speech marking the founding of the DZR, Goring commented:

“I hope that the new ship will also fulfil its duty in furthering the cause of Germany
The airship does not have the exclusive purpose of flying across the Atlantic, but also has a responsibility to act as the nation’s representative.”

The even larger airship, the LZ 129 'Hindenburg' joined the 'Graf Zeppelin' in 1936, and, in addition to South Atlantic flights with its partner, inaugurated a service over the North Atlantic, between Frankfurt and Lakehurst in New Jersey, in the summer. Also in 1936 the South American route was extended to Rio de Janeiro. Deutsche Zeppelin-Reederei ceased operations as the commercial use of airships came to an abrupt end on 6 May 1937, when the 'Hindenburg' exploded at Lakehurst.
We also have a silver tray from the same flights, and was the product of the same silver company that made the Third Reich military cutlery and other silver objects for the Third Reich hierarchy - Gbr. Hepp. {Hepp Brothers}

His company, alongside his rival, Wellner, was a maker of much of the Fuhrer's formal dinnerware, and the Reich chancellery dinnerware pieces. Many items by were used in several of Hitler's residences, the Hotel Der Deutscher Hof personally used by Hitler, and numerous state offices. The Zeppelin Corps became one of the shortest-lived German service branches of World War II. After the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the Luftwaffe ordered the last two Zeppelin airships moved to a large Zeppelin hangar in Frankfurt. In March of 1940, Goring ordered their destruction and the aluminium fed into the Nazi war industry. In May, a fire broke out in the Zeppelin facility which destroyed most of the remaining parts. The rest of the parts and materials were soon scrapped with almost no trace of the German "Giants of the Air" remaining by the end of the year.

Although the dining-room cutlery was the same for both the Hindenberg and the Graf Zeppelin, by family repute this cutlery pair came from the Hindenberg, recovered after the fatal crash. They were blackened with soot but were polished up beautifully, and fully intact. The family originally had a military officer stationed at the base at Lakehurst, New Jersey, at the time, and he witnessed the explosion and helped directing the clear-up over the following few days. the last photo in the gallery is the crash site with the clean-up crew to the top left of the photo, the officer that found this knife and fork is apparently one of those men.

Another fork from the Hindenburg was featured on an episode of the show Antiques Roadshow {US} in the "Vintage Tampa" episode, which aired as Season 18, Episode 20.
Mon, Jun 23, 2014  read more

Code: 25947

A Rare Original Handwritten German Picture Postcard From Hitler's Titanic, One of The Most Famous Ships of WW2. German Ship Sunk By Soviet Submarine with the Loss of up to 11,000 Lives Making It The Greatest Loss in Worldwide Maritime History

It is most rare to find an original, dated, addressed and handwritten postcard from the Willhelm Gustloff.

MV Wilhelm Gustloff was a German military transport ship which was sunk on 30 January 1945 by Soviet submarine S-13 in the Baltic Sea while evacuating civilian evacuees from East Prussia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Estonia and German military personnel from Gotenhafen (Gdynia) as the Red Army advanced. By one estimate, 9,400 people died, making it the largest loss of life in a single ship sinking in history.

Originally constructed as a cruise ship for the Nazi Strength Through Joy (Kraft durch Freude) organization in 1937, Wilhelm Gustloff had been requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine (German navy) in 1939. She served as a hospital ship in 1939 and 1940. She was then assigned as a floating barracks for naval personnel in Gotenhafen before being fitted with anti-aircraft guns and put into service to transport evacuees in 1945.

Headline from a German newspaper recording the disaster, translation;

​"Wilhelm Gustloff" - Disaster
​Party stormed with inquiries

​​ ​The offices of the Party and the Navy in all parts of the Reich were yesterday stormed by anxious persons, who suspect that their relatives were perhaps onboard the "Wilhelm Gustloff", which was torpedoed by a Russian submarine on January 30th at 9:00 pm in the Danzig Bay and sunk within 15 minutes. The number of victims of the "Wilhelm Gustloff" disaster is still not certain, since no office of the Party or of the Kriegsmarine can accurately say, how many Eastern refugees and members of the Wehrmacht were on board, when the ship left Gotenhafen.

​​932 saved
​ On the basis of the latest research, it must be assumed that not 8,000, as we reported yesterday, but 10 to 11,000 passengers were on board. Only 932 were saved. ​Of which 658 were members of the Kriegsmarine. Serious accusations are now being raised against the Danzig Party offices, who insisted that the "Wilhelm Gustloff" should depart on January 30th, even though the head of the Security Baltic Sea had pointed out that the necessary number of security units could not be placed before February 4.
​
​The "Wilhelm Gustloff" departed nevertheless on the 30th of January in the evening with the completely inadequate securing from an outpost boat and two R-boats. All the decks of the "Wilhelm Gustloff" were so crowded that no one could move. At the embarkation it was said, the journey takes however only a few hours.When the ship was hit by the Russian torpedo at exactly 9 o'clock pm, just an hour after the departure, hardly anybody could escape from the lower decks. Many passengers were thrown into the sea at the time the ship capsized, frozen in the icy water before they could be helped.
​
​Survivors report the horror scene, which took place after the explosion onboard the ship. All lights on board are extinguished at a stroke. In wild panic, the passengers tried to find a way to the deck despite the darkness. Hundreds of women and children were trampled to death on the stairs and corridors.
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​Women and children
​ In the fierce battle that took place around the few rescue boats, women and children were ruthlessly pushed overboard. After just ten minutes, the 25,000 - ton ship listed hard. Five minutes later, the "Wilhelm Gustloff" capsized and took many thousands with her into the depth. Others, who had fallen from the deck or hurled into the sea, fell into the wake of the sinking ship and disappeared into the flood. The "Wilhelm Gustloff" was finished in 1937 as a KdF ship and was taken over by the Kriegsmarine in 1940 first as a hospital ship. Since March 1941 she was the home of the submarine teaching division in Gotenhafen.

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