* Manion's Collecting News * Militaria and Collectible Updates from Manion's

Premier Auction - Closing tonight October 15th!

2012-10-15T07:25:00.001-06:00

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As always - the line up looks good with well over 100 fresh items closing Monday Night, October 15 8:30 cst

Here are a few highlights:

ARMY/WAFFEN-SS #25 GENERAL ASSAULT BADGE `RK`
U.S. ARMY AVIATOR`S DRESS BLUE UNIFORM - NAMED
3rd REICH ARMY 1ST MODEL INSIGNIA INF./OFFICER VISOR CAP
NORTH VIETNAMESE FLAG
SA DER NSDAP/REITERSTURM 5/3 PORCELAIN SIGN
U.S. ENGINEER AMPHIBIAN UNITS OFFICER`S UNIFORM, WWII
LW EM/FLIGHT BLOUSE TUNIC
BRITISH WWII RAF OFFICER VISOR CAP
LUFTWAFFE PILOT BADGE `B&NL`
M1942 ENAMEL CANTEEN, WWII, USMC MARKED - BATTLE DAMAGED
NSDAP POLITICAL ORTSGRUPPE VISOR CAP W/RZM TAG
FRENCH WWI OFFICER`S KEPI
NSV `NS SCHWESTERNSCHAFT` 800 SILVER BROOCH #`L2966`
JAPANESE YOSEGAKI FLAG, WWII
1st CAVALRY DIVISION "BOONIE HAT", VIETNAM-MADE
IMPERIAL RUSSIAN ARMY SOLDIER VISOR CAP

AND MORE FROM MANY COUNTRIES AND CONFLICTS!

NEXT PREMIER AUCTION CLOSING OCTOBER 29 AND IT'S GETTING SPPOKY WITH WELL OVER 100 NEW ITEMS!

WE ARE ALWASY BUILDING UP PREMIER AUCTIONS!

THIS FEATURE AUCTIONS ARE ADVANTAGOUS FOR BOTH BUYERS AND SELLERS.

CONSIGNMENORS - ACT NOW FOR THE BEST RESULTS OF THE YEAR.

MANY THANKS TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS PAST AND PRESENT!

Premier Auction - Ending October 15th - Check out all the great military collectibles!

2012-10-03T11:11:00.001-06:00

Premier Auction Ending October 15th www.manions.com

Many great military collectible items - don't miss out!

Some Uniform Guidelines to Starting a U.S. Military Uniform Collection

2012-10-01T12:05:00.003-06:00

Some Uniform Guidelines to Starting a U.S. Military Uniform Collection
by Ken Hatfield (09/24/12).

On the surface, this Korean War era nurse’s uniform looks OK. But a closer look reveals that the uniform has been “enhanced” by the owner.

We recently received a large shipment of consignment items from one of our German customers. Among the items of note in the batch were several Second World War U.S. nurse’s uniforms and Women’s Army Corps (WAC) uniforms from the Korean War.

However, on closer examination, we noticed that many of the uniforms had been “enhanced” by the owner, meaning that all of the patches and medals accompanying the uniforms were not of the right era or simply could not belong where they were displayed. Some of the dress and service coats had 8th Army patches sewn to the sleeves. But instead of the “cut edge” patches made during World War II, they instead had the “merrow edge” patches that weren’t developed until the 1960s.

The uniforms had been enhanced in other ways. A suspiciously large number had similar 6- and 8-place ribbon groups that included high-prominence medals, such as the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart.

A quick check of the history books found that four nurses serving at a field hospital at the Anzio beachhead in February of 1944 were the first female recipients of the Silver Star—this country’s third-highest military decoration. Those women remained the sole recipients of the medal until Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry during an ambush of a convoy in Iraq in 2005. Obviously, the ribbon bars weren’t original to the uniforms.

The fact that many of the uniforms also had Combat Medical Badges was a give-away as well. CMBs are given only to medical personnel who accompany soldiers into combat, almost always combat medics. Since the U.S. had no female combat medics until the modern wars in the Middle East, the badges were another obvious enhancement.

Those enhanced uniforms are one of the pitfalls in what can otherwise be a highly rewarding, fun, informative and even profitable collecting niche: U.S. military uniforms. This story will attempt to give an overview of the hobby and discuss some of the ways to ensure you get what you pay for.

As we all know, collectors specialize. Since they can’t collect everything, they focus on certain areas of special interest. When it comes to U.S. military uniforms, that often means focusing on a particular war or era.

Included in this impressive ribbon group is the Silver Star, Bronze Star with oakleaf, Purple Heart and Korean Service with battle star. The owner of this nurse’s uniform apparently didn’t realize that only four women had received the Silver Star prior to 2005.

This World War II-era HBT jacket has a 1960s-era merrow-edge patch sewn to the left sleeve. The correct patch for this era uniform is a “cut edge” patch with “snowing” on the back. The “merrow edge” patches that weren’t developed until the 1960s.

World War II remains the most popular—and lucrative—military collecting niche and that includes U.S. uniforms. That’s partly due to the fact that more men and women served in World War II than any other war in U.S. history; roughly 16 million, all told, in all the armed and support services. That translates to a lot of uniforms, a surprising number of which have survived, in varying condition, the intervening 70-plus years.

By comparison, only about 720,000 American men served in World War I, and since we’re nearing the centennial of that war, it’s not surprising that far fewer World War I uniforms still exist in any condition. But since I brought up the subject, what sort of World War I uniforms are available on the collector market?

First World War U.S. Uniforms

This WWI Model 1912 wool tunic comes with all period insignia including branch collar devices, overseas stripes, unit patch, honorable discharge stripe and WWI Victory medal.

Insignia on this WWI tunic includes an Air Service patch worn by Army Air Corps personnel. Below it is the WWI honorable discharge stripe.

Typically, medal ribbons, rather than the full-sized medals, are worn on military uniforms. However, this WWI Victory medal may have been worn for a parade or some other military activity.”

Probably the signature uniform item of the U.S. doughboy is the Model 1917 helmet. Based on the British Mark I design, the shallow-domed, brimmed helmet has a distinctive liner system of oilcloth and netting and features a leather chinstrap. Many of the helmets survived the war and in fact remained in usage through much of the interwar period, keeping the collector cost reasonably low. Typically, the most valuable M17 helmets have unit insignia painted to the sides, which, depending on the condition, can double or triple its value.

Other World War I headgear of note includes the wool garrison cap, slightly different than the World War II style, and always more valuable if it comes with unit or rank insignia attached; additionally, you may find a wool visor cap, which can be pricey if in good condition and a larger size.

When it comes to U.S. uniforms, two things are of utmost importance: condition and insignia. In most cases, the two must exist together to warrant high prices. So, a World War I pattern wool field shirt in good condition and even a large size, usually won’t be prohibitively expensive. But put a divisional patch on the sleeve and you’ve got a valuable collectible. Just be sure it’s an authentic World War I patch that shows the same age as the shirt. Be suspicious of patches that where sewn on by hand, as they may have been added later.

Another fairly common World War I uniform item is the M1912 wool or cotton tunic. Both have the distinctive standing collar and come with matching breeches-style trousers, lace-up for enlisted men and button-up for officers. Again, the most sought-after coats have original period insignia, including unit patches, chevrons, overseas stripes and service ribbons.

Second World War U.S. Uniforms

An example of a WWII-vintage U.S. M1917A1 helmet. It sold for $105.95 on eBay in 2011.

The lining and webbing of the WWII Vintage U.S. M1917A1 helmet.

In 1936, the M17 helmet began to be refitted. The rechristened M1917A1 helmet had a new simplified padded leather liner and web chinstrap. However, it was only used for about five years, when it was replaced by the new M1 helmet. Hence, fewer were made, making it more valuable than even some World War I examples.

Its replacement, the famous M1, comes in three basic series: Series 1—Identified by the distinctive fixed chinstrap bales and front welding seam on the helmet’s lip; Series 2—Retains the front seam, but the chinstrap bales now swivel; and Series 3—Swivel bales and rear seam. All M1s used in World War II and Korea also had web chinstraps that were sewn onto the bales.

The M1s came with their own removable liner, which had a built in web suspension. The first pattern liner was made of a composite fiber material and was produced by Hawley Products Co. A first series M1 with a Hawley liner is one of the most sought-after helmets on the collector market. Expect to spend your children’s inheritance for a nice one.

A M1943 cotton sateen field jacket, in size 36R. Marred by just a couple field repairs, two broken buttons and partially detached label, it sold for $36 at Manion’s International Auction House in 2011.

The label inside the M1943 field jacket explaining about how it is windproof and how it is made to fit over the regular uniform jacket.

World War II garrison caps, also called overseas caps, are often very affordable. The most sought-after are large sizes—7¼ and bigger—with either officer or unit piping, which is a type of braid, sewn on the edges. The color determines what branch the soldier belonged to—blue and orange for the Army Air Force, yellow for Cavalry, orange and white for the Signal Corps, orange and black for the Tank Destroyers. Black and gold piping signified an officer.

It was during World War II that the government began using quartermaster labels on a regular basis in U.S. uniforms. Not only did the labels identify the uniform item, it also usually noted when it was made. Hence, a legible and dated QM label in a uniform will often increase its value.

The Ike-style field jackets—the waist-length wool jacket made famous by Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower—were popular all through World War II and remain fairly common and affordable today. The QM labels are almost always in the inside pocket.

An Ike-style field jacket, dated April 1945 with Army Ground Forces patch and T-4 chevrons.

This jacket sold for $36 at Manion’s International Auction House in 2011

Less common (hence more valuable) are the M1941 and M1943 field jackets. The earlier M41 came in two patterns, the first with a button front with two flapped and button pockets, and the second with open “slash” pockets and a button front flap that concealed a full-length zipper. The M43 was considered the finest combat coat of any country in World War II and featured wind-proof cotton sateen material, four large pockets, hidden buttons and a removable button-on hood. Both are extremely rare to find in large sizes with legible QM labels.

The Korean ConflictWars always trigger uniform improvements and the Korean War was no different. U.S. troops arriving in Korea in the summer and fall of 1950 wore the same World War II surplus uniforms as their older brothers did in Europe and the Pacific only five years before. That was fine until the onset of the Korean winter, when they quickly found out the World War II-era uniforms were inadequate to protect them from the harsh arctic-like winds and elements roaring out of Siberia to the north. That first winter, 1950-51, was particularly bad, with frostbite causing almost as many casualties as actual combat.

An M1951 field jacket.

An M1951 field trousers.

One of the new innovations was the M1951 field uniform, which included an improved field jacket and trouser shell. Like the M43 field jacket, the M51 was made of water-repellent and wind-resistant cotton sateen and had a removable button-on hood. However, it was made to fit looser, so that clothing could more easily be layered underneath. Also, unlike the M43, it had a removable button-in liner, one side of which was rough mohair wool that provided much needed warmth and protection. Unfortunately, the new liners did not become widely available until the spring of 1953, only a few months before the end of the war.

The M1951 field trouser shells were another welcome improvement of the war. Made of the same wind- and water-resistant cotton as the field jacket, they included extra-large cargo pockets and were made large to layer over the olive drab wool field trousers. The M51 trouser shells also came with a button-in liner, but they too were in short supply throughout the conflict.

Korean War military collectors make up a comparatively small group compared to other U.S. wars. The war was never popular—to some extent even less so than Vietnam—so uniforms from the era tend to be very reasonably priced, including large sizes in pristine condition. For those interested in starting a uniform collection, the Korean War might be a good place to start.

Vietnam WarVietnam was basically a jungle war, so most of the uniform innovations involved hot weather clothing. The tropical combat uniform, or jungle fatigues, was the primary field uniform worn after 1963.

The loose-fitting, bush-style cotton combat coat had two slanted chest pockets and two lower cargo pockets for carrying extra ammo and gear. It came in three patterns: 1) Wind-resistant olive green poplin with exposed buttons and shoulder straps; 2) Identical to first pattern but with buttons concealed beneath flaps to prevent snagging; and 3) Identical to second pattern but in a “rip-stop” cotton fabric with no shoulder straps.

A U.S. ERDL pattern camouflage jacket, circa 1969, which sold for $31.

A “tiger stripe” camouflage flight suit from the Vietnam War ear, sold for $676.

For collectors, the earlier patterns are more sought after, especially if they include theater-made insignia. Combat coats are often well-marked with size and date QM labels, which improves their value. Repeated washings can leave the labels faded and illegible, but I’m always suspicious if the label has been removed. Although we still had troops in Vietnam until 1975, our combat presence was basically over by 1972, so the value of uniforms dated after that drops sharply.

Combat coats also came in a camouflage pattern called ERDL for Experimental Research Development Laboratories. While there were other camouflage patterns worn in Vietnam, it’s an area new collectors need to approach with caution. The most highly prized uniforms are the early “duck hunter” and “tiger stripe” camo uniforms worn by U.S. military advisors, Special Forces troops and South Vietnamese rangers. Most of the real ones were made in Vietnam by the Vietnamese, but due to their desirability, have been reproduced for many years. Collectors should look for iron-clad provenance before shelling out big money for camo uniforms.

The good thing about starting a U.S. military uniform collection in this down economy is that there are still reasonably priced items in nearly every era. For all but the high-end items, it remains a buyer’s market. Most of the time, supply outstrips demand, keeping prices for low and mid-range items at near rock bottom.

And as for the high-end items that never seem to lose their value or go down in price? Well, there’s always your children’s inheritance.

Ken Hatfield, a former newspaper journalist for more than 20 years with a lifelong interest in military history, is the author of “Heartland Heroes: Remembering WWII,”published by the University of Missouri Press in 2003. He has worked for Manion’s International Auction House for nine years, specializing in American Militaria.

Hunt Ends for a Nazi Now Believed to Be Dead

2012-09-27T09:49:00.002-06:00

Hunt Ends for a Nazi Now Believed to Be Dead

By NICHOLAS KULISH

Published: September 21, 2012

BERLIN — The hunt for Aribert Ferdinand Heim, a Nazi fugitive and concentration camp doctor, has officially come to a close, the German authorities said Friday, after they determined that the man known as Dr. Death for his unnecessary operations had died in Egypt in 1992.

A regional court in Baden-Baden, Dr. Heim’s last known residence inGermany, said it had suspended the criminal investigation because “no doubts remained” that the fugitive who eluded the authorities for decades had died of cancer in Cairo in 1992.

The New York Times and the German television station ZDF reported in 2009 that Dr. Heim had escaped justice by hiding in North Africa. An old, dusty briefcase full of letters, handwritten notes about the case against him and medical records corroborated the accounts of Egyptians who knew him there.

Investigators established that the documents were real and had belonged to Dr. Heim but could not prove conclusively that he was dead. Witnesses said he had died after a long struggle with rectal cancer. At the same time, they said he had been buried in a common grave, meaning that nearly 20 years on, neither DNA nor dental records could be used to confirm his death.

“The only way that could have been proven conclusively was with forensics,” Efraim Zuroff, the chief Nazi hunter for the Simon Wiesenthal Centerin New York, said in a telephone interview. “I’m not ruling it out conclusively, but I, in good conscience, could not rule out the case without some forensic proof of a dead person who is Aribert Heim.”

The Egyptian authorities produced a death certificate in the name of Tarek Hussein Farid, which witnesses said was the name Dr. Heim took after becoming a Muslim. There was insufficient evidence in 2009 proving that Dr. Heim and Mr. Farid were the same person, the court said, and the case remained open.

This year, however, Dr. Heim’s lawyer presented the court with additional papers, including an Egyptian driver’s license with a photograph of Dr. Heim under the name Tarek Hussein Farid and most significantly a certificate confirming his conversion to Islam and name change.

“Tests by the state police confirmed the authenticity of this certificate,” the Baden-Baden court said in its statement. The court also questioned Dr. Heim’s son Rüdiger Heim, who said he was in Cairo when his father died.

In a telephone interview on Friday, Mr. Heim said: “I am relieved that I could be helpful to German justice in drawing the logical conclusions from the revelations in recent years. I hope that this brings an end to the many rumors that have circulated without foundation in fact.”

Austrian by birth, Dr. Heim was a member of Hitler’s elite Waffen-SS and worked at the Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen and Mauthausen concentration camps. He was held as a prisoner of war by the American authorities after the war and detained for more than two years, but he escaped prosecution.

Dr. Heim married, had two sons and had a gynecology practice in the spa town of Baden-Baden, in southwest Germany, where the family lived in a stately white villa. His time at Mauthausen came back to haunt him after former inmates told the police that he had killed healthy prisoners in senseless operations and murdered others with lethal injections to the heart.

He fled Baden-Baden in 1962 with investigators at his heels. After a shorter stay in Morocco, he moved to Egypt in 1963, slowly integrating into the local culture. He learned to speak Arabic and lived in a modest hotel away from other expatriates in a middle-class area of Cairo.

The search for Dr. Heim, named the most-wanted Nazi war criminal in the world by the Simon Wiesenthal Center in 2008, rekindled interest in the fates of Nazi fugitives more than half a century after the end of World War II. Like a character out of a James Bond film, Dr. Heim, a tall, athletic, former professional ice hockey player, wore a tuxedo in one of the photographs circulated by investigators, which only added to his mystique.

“People’s fantasies elevated him to the status of a myth,” his son said.

Military Collectibles – Now www.manions.com items are on Auctionzip.com

2012-09-26T10:28:00.000-06:00

Please check out link below for a viewing of just a few items that are currently up for auction. Premier auction ends October 15, 2012.

http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/photopanel.cgi?listingid=1565501&category=0&zip=&kwd=

http://www.manions.com/catpages/itemsspecial1.aspx~cattype~6~var1~a10~var2~z99~pageon~1

Last Oklahoma Guard Vietnam Veteran to Retire

2012-09-25T10:42:00.002-06:00

Last Okla. Guard Vietnam veteran to retire

The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Sep 23, 2012 16:39:46 EDT

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma National Guard’s last Vietnam veteran is retiring this month after more than four decades dedicated to the Army.

The Oklahoman reports Sunday that 61-year-old Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ronald Petty is slated to retire after having served in active duty, reserves and the National Guard.

Brig. Gen. Robbie Asher says Petty has always been a positive and professional soldier.

Petty joined the military in 1969 at age 18. He spent 16 months mostly in Cambodia working alongside South Vietnamese counterparts.

After his tour, Petty went to college but stayed in the Army Reserves. He joined the Guard in 1975.

Petty’s son died in action in Iraq in 2004 and his grandson also has joined the National Guard.

Interesting artcle - Goebbels' early letters show controlling behavior

2012-09-24T10:44:00.002-06:00

Check out this interesting article.

http://news.yahoo.com/goebbels-early-letters-show-controlling-behavior-151925215.html

Entry-Level Civil War Collectibles: They’re Out There if You Know What to Look For

2012-09-20T08:47:00.003-06:00

Entry-Level Civil War Collectibles: They’re Out There if You Know What to Look For
by Ken Hatfield (08/27/12).

This blue wool 1861 forage cap, with leather visor, chin strap and eagle buttons, sold for $5.287.50 in 2010, despite missing a small piece of leather and some moth holes. (Photo courtesy of Cowan’s Auction)

There used to exist in the collecting industry a phenomenon known as the Golden Age. That is, a period of time, usually years after the items were first introduced, when they were still plentiful, reasonably priced and few thought of them as having any intrinsic value.

For comic book collectors, their Golden Age was the mid to late 1950s, when comics were still considered disposable entertainment and mothers, cleaning out their sons’ bedrooms, were throwing them out by the box load. For World War II militaria, it was the 1960s and ’70s, when Baby Boomers, fueled by popular culture, became interested in the Second World War and began collecting memorabilia in the spirit of patriotism and family heritage.

The collecting of Civil War relics began a bit earlier. The first collectors were the veterans themselves who, after the war, put away their uniforms and weapons to be kept as remembrances and passed down through the generations as family heirlooms. Starting in the 1870s, Francis Bannerman published a surplus uniform and equipment catalog, offering Civil War surplus to collectors. That began the true Golden Age for Civil War collecting, when you could buy a Confederate musket for $10 or a Union shell jacket for as little as a dollar and a half.

The 100-year anniversary of the Civil War sparked a second Golden Age for Civil War memorabilia collectors. Again, it was the Baby Boomers, many of whom still had relatives living who knew personally and told vivid stories about ancestors who fought in the Civil War. Although the prices those budding Civil War collectors paid for relics was considerably more than Francis Bannerman’s catalog customers, they were still ridiculously low compared to today.

Those days are long gone. Today, many Civil War collectibles are among the most sought after in the collecting industry. And depending on what they are, they’re also some of the most expensive.

That’s not to say a person with limited resources can’t start a Civil War collection. This article will try to give you some pointers on how to do that.

Firearms are some of the most expensive of Civil War collectibles. This Colt Army .44 caliber revolver came with a document that states: “Indianapolis, Ind. Sept. 20, 1865. This is to certify that William Rider Sergt. Co. D 6th Ind. Cav. retain one Colt Army revolver valued at $8.00 under G.O. 101 War Dept 1865 E. N. Elliott Capt. Co D 6th Ind Cav.” It sold for $2,070 in 2006. . (Photo courtesy of Cowan’s Auction)

High-End Collectibles

We don’t see a lot of Civil War memorabilia at the auction house anymore. Every once in a while we will get a large firearm, sword or uniform collection from a deceased owner’s estate and when we do, it always sells well. But since our customers include many wealthy collectors and museum curators, the prices are often beyond what “normal” people can afford.

That’s especially true with Civil War era firearms. Firearms of practically any era, if kept in good condition, will almost always command the highest prices. Civil War revolvers, rifles and carbines generally will range from several hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on their condition and scarcity.

Edged weapons are another high-end Civil War collectible. Like firearms, their value is determined by condition and how rare they are, with special emphasis on maker marks and engravings. Also like firearms, they are an excellent investment with virtually no risk that their value will do anything but increase in the years to come.

But perhaps the rarest of all Civil War collectibles are uniforms. Think about it. How many items of clothing do you have that have survived 10, 15, 20 years, let alone 150? Basically, the only uniforms and headgear that survived were put away and somehow protected from insects and moisture and heat and cold and light and all the other things that conspire to destroy cloth.

The good thing about uniforms, and in fact much of Civil War collecting, is that they often come with provenance, which is documented history attached to an item. To be able to put a name or unit or even a state with an item of clothing, brings it to life … and increases its value exponentially.

Civil War-era swords, like firearms, are among the most expensive collectibles in today’s market. This sword, presented to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant by the citizens of Kentucky in 1864, comes with its own scabbard and case and is valued at a cool two million plus.

This Civil War frock coat, an uncommon late-war version with a fold-down collar, comes with provenance linking it to Lt. Colonel Horace Kellogg of the 123rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. It sold for $7,800 in 2008. (Photo courtesy of Cowan’s Auction)

One of the bad things about uniforms is that people have been reenacting the Civil War for 50 years and it’s sometimes difficult to tell a 50-year-old frock coat from one that is 150 years old. The size is often a giveaway. Modern reenactors tend to be larger than your average Civil War participant, so chances are, if the frock coat is a size 40 or larger, it likely isn’t real.

Perhaps the most commonly reproduced Civil War item is the Model 1858/61 forage cap, sometimes called a kepi. The early patterns had a tall crown that fell flat against the head and unit insignia was worn on the top of the cap. When the crown height was reduced, the bullion and metal insignia was worn on the front.

A good thing about reenactor uniforms is that they’re made for reenactors—they’re not made to fool collectors. A good reproduction forage cap will have a wool body with leather visor and chinstrap. However, modern leather almost always has a smell, while 150-year-old leather, not so much. If the leather has a strong leather odor, it’s probably a reproduction. And like uniforms, the larger the size, the less likely it is real.

What we have run into at the auction house, however, are kepis that are purported to be Civil War era but actually were worn much later, perhaps even into the early 20th century, by a state militia or fraternal organization. That’s where provenance comes in handy. Usually we won’t call a kepi a Civil War-era item unless the consigner has provenance to prove it.

Affordable Civil War Collectibles

So, we’ve determined that if you have the money, you can collect all the Civil War firearms, edged weapons and uniforms your heart desires. But what about the rest of us?

Well, not all Civil War collectibles are prohibitively expensive. Let’s look at some on the low end of the price scale:

Field Gear: Because they were made in large numbers, some of which were never actually issued or used, and because they were usually made of more resilient materials, Civil War field gear remains an affordable collecting niche. One of the most common pieces out there is the Model 1858 bulls-eye canteen. A steel canteen with cork stopper, three sling loops and the characteristic bulls-eye body design, it came with a sewn-on wool cover. A canteen in good condition with all components intact will still fetch several hundred dollars, but we’ve sold many non-pristine examples for much less.

This Civil War cartridge box, with U.S. plate and stamped “E. Gaylord Chicopee, Mass.” on the interior flap and with the original tin liner, can be had for about $200, despite the a broken shoulder strap. (Photo courtesy of Cowan’s Auction)

A Civil War bulls-eye canteen, with butternut-hue wool covering and shoulder strap is missing its cork stopper. It sold for $690 in 2007. (Photo courtesy of Cowan’s Auction)

Field glasses can some of the most inexpensive Civil War items out there. One of these field glasses is stamped U.S.N. No. 88 Day Glass on the frame of the eyepiece, while the other is unmarked. The pair sold for $108 in 2008. (Photo courtesy of Cowan’s Auction)

Civil War cartridge boxes are another collectible that can be very expensive or very affordable. As usual, provenance will usually send prices through the roof, with special attention given to maker’s marks and condition of the leather.

Oddly, one of the most inexpensive Civil War field gear items are field glasses. Most were made in Europe, usually Paris, and depending on the condition, many examples can be found under a hundred dollars.

Belt Plates: Civil War belt plates are a collecting niche to be wary of—they have been restruck, reproduced and faked for years. Due to reenactor demand, even common buckles have been reproduced. Stamped brass Model 1839 U.S. belt plates are fairly common, but high-grade examples will still cost you several hundred bucks. Same goes for the Model 1851 sword belt plate.

At the auction house, we automatically assume that any plate with CS or CSA is a reproduction—guilty until proven innocent. Real Confederate States plates can run in the thousands of dollars.

This is probably a good place to answer a question we’ve been asked many times: Why is confederate equipment and uniforms so rare and expensive? The answer is simple: There was never very much of it in the first place. Unlike the North, which had the full weight of the country’s industrial might at its back, the mostly agrarian South had limited manufacturing capability. That’s why many Southern units didn’t have official uniforms—they went to war wearing their everyday clothes, carrying their own rifles and knives. After the war, Johnny Reb’s butternut uniform wasn’t welcome outside the South, so it was often purposely destroyed or worn until it fell to pieces.

Civil War belt plates are a collecting niche to be wary of because they have been restruck, reproduced and faked for years. Confederate plates are the rarest of the rare. This authentic Virginia plate on the original leather belt has an estimated value of almost $20,000.

Original (excavated) Union Civil War bullets include dive dropped .58 caliber minie balls and five “fired” bullets. They were all recovered (legally) at various sites in Central Virginia.

Minie Balls and Bullets: Finally, an inexpensive Civil War relic. Rifle bullets, revolver bullets, musket balls and Minie balls are so common they’re often sold by the bagful, including those excavated at battle sites.

CSA Currency: Moderately common and priced accordingly, CSA currency is valued by its condition and scarcity. Collectors look especially for unusual variations and printing errors, but most examples are not expensive.

Medical Instruments: While the Civil War saw advances in medicine, it was still a very dangerous time to receive a life threatening wound. Medical instruments, especially those used for field surgeries, survived in large numbers, probably partly because they were owned by well-to-do doctors and surgeons. Although complete cased sets can be expensive, individual instruments such as bone saws, trepanning trephines (for boring holes in the skull) and amputation knives can often be found at very reasonable prices.

[To learn more about Civil War amputation kits, read: Civil War Amputation Sets 101]

Civil War Campaign Medals: Although not actually issued until well after the Civil War—1907 to be exact—these are still among the earliest official medals issued by the U.S. government. But beware: The medals continued to be issued well into modern times and in fact can still be legally made today.

The best way to tell an old medal is if it is engraved with a rim number. The other way to tell is by the type of brooch used to attach to the uniform. The first models had what is called a “split brooch,” in which the suspension ribbon was wrapped around the brooch, whose back side has two rounded ends and a gap or split in the back. Those were used until about 1920, when they went to a “wrap brooch,” just like the previous model but without the split. Since those style medals were still being issued to living Civil War veterans, either can be considered a Civil War collectible.

So, while we may have missed the Golden Age of Civil War collecting, there are still lots of affordable Civil War relics and memorabilia out there for the enterprising collector. All you need is a little patience. And a little luck doesn’t hurt, either.

Military Collectibles - Stitching Together a Second World War Military Patch

2012-09-19T09:38:00.002-06:00

Stitching Together a Second World War Military Patch Collection
by Ken Hatfield (08/06/12).

When I went to work for the auction house almost 10 years ago, I already had an extensive comic book collection and wasn’t looking for something new to bring home. But you know how that goes. We get to see all kinds of interesting stuff consigned to our auction and, eventually, some of it peaks our interest.

That’s how it was with me and U.S. military patches. I guess at first what attracted me were the designs of patches themselves: A panther chomping down on a tank; a flaming sword on a black field surmounted by a rainbow; a cowboy firing his six-guns at an airplane.

Despite my longtime interest in military history, I hadn’t paid much attention to the patches soldiers, marines and sailors wore on their sleeves. Obviously, it was a source of pride to many of them. As part of my job, I learned to recognize the various armies, corps, divisions and commands. I also noticed how the patches were made, which helps determine the era from which they originate. I learned which patches were rarer by how often they were consigned to us and the high prices the rarest patches brought.

So why did patches from the Second World War interest me? Well, as a kid I grew up watching movieslike “The Longest Day,” “Von Ryan’s Express,” “The Great Escape” and the “Dirty Dozen.” Also, my dad was a Marine corporal during World War Two, which got me interested in the War in the Pacific. By adulthood, I’d read enough books to become something of a student of WWII.

But what interested me most was what the patches represented. For instance, the First Infantry Division—the Big Red One—took part in the invasions of North Africa and Sicily, and assaulted Omaha Beach on D-Day. The Third Army was commanded by Gen. George S. Patton, whose fleet of tanks and tank destroyers surged across France and were the first units to relieve the beleaguered U.S. forces holding the key crossroads at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. I could imagine those patches being worn into combat on the sleeves of soldiers’ field jackets and on their Ike jackets while on liberty in London or recently liberated Paris.

The only problem is there are literally hundreds of WWII patches. There are more than 100 infantry divisions alone. If you displayed them all in 12-inch by 16-inch riker mounts—heavy cardboard andglass display cases—you’re talking a significant space investment.

I couldn’t collect them all, even if I had the money, so I did what all collectors do: I specialized. I decided I would only collect patches I knew were made during WWII. It didn’t matter if the patch represented a WWII unit. It had to be made during that period.

I also decided to concentrate on collecting patches with colored backs, which among patch collectors is a very specific field. More on that later.

As a rookie patch collector, my first challenge was to determine which patches were made during Second World War. I say World War two, but I actually mean WWII through the Korean War. Many of the insignia worn in Korea were WWII surplus and the patches made in the U.S. in the late ’40s and early ’50s are virtually identical to those made during WWII.

There are three primary ways to determine whether a patch is WWII era: bobbin “snow” on the back; the black light test; and basic construction.

Three examples of bobbin “snow” on the backs of WWII era patches. They include (from left): SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces), 27th Infantry Division and 10th Mountain Division

“Snow” refers to the usually white (but sometimes colored) backs. Heavy white snow to the back of a patch is usually an indication that it is of WWII era. Modern patches have little or no snow on the backs. My attitude is the more snow the better. If there’s no snow, it isn’t WWII.

The black light refers to an ultraviolet lamp, which I call the Military Authenticator’s Friend. Nowadays, almost all cloth is made with synthetic materials, which react like neon under a UV light. They didn’t use synthetic materials during WWII, so if your patch glows under a black light, it isn’t WWII era.

The third way to tell if a patch is from WWII is by how it’s made. Most WWII patches were embroidered on a base fabric and the excess was then trimmed, giving it what is known as a “cut edge.” During the 1960s, patch manufacturers came up with a process by which the edge was stitched to prevent fraying. Those so-called “merrow edge” patches usually have a “tail” of thread attached to the edge, which is often held down by a tiny piece of tape or some other adhesive. So, if the patch has a stitched merrow edge with a tail, it isn’t from WWII.

As I said earlier, I decided to concentrate on collecting patches with colored snow backs. Not only are they rarer than the white snow, they also come with an iron clad guarantee: They only made colored-back patches during WWII. So, if the patch has a colored back, it is without a doubt from WWII. During my almost 10 years in the auction business, I’ve seen snow in only three colors: green, black and blue. Greenbacks are by far the most common.

Patches worn by the 49th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade (left) and the Manhattan Project. Due to its top secret nature, the Manhattan Project patch was not authorized to be worn until after the Japanese surrender.

When it came to actually starting my collection, I began looking for patches with heavy snow. Some, like the Army Air Force patches, are very common and easy to find. I also took into account whether the unit served in combat, so while I collected the First, Second, Third and Fourth Air Force patches, they were all stateside training and defense units, so I didn’t put as high of a value on them.

Some patches are rarer and can go for ridiculous prices. For example, the 5307th Composite Unit, if the patch is real, will often create a bidding “feeding frenzy” on the auction. Better known as Merrill’s Marauders or the Mars Task Force, the men of the 5307th served in long-range combat patrols in Northern Burma and assisted in clearing Japanese troops from the path planned for the Ledo Road, which helped supply Chinese troops fighting the Japanese. Few members of the unit survived, so real patches can command stratospheric prices. For that reason, it’s also one of the more commonly reproduced patches.

Arguably the rarest patch of all from the Second World War is the 6860th HQ Detachment, or T-Force. Composed of only 160 men, it was responsible for gathering intelligence in preparation for the invasion of Southern France and was disbanded shortly after the invasion. In nine years I’ve only seen one example of the patch and it went for more than a thousand dollars on the auction.

Perhaps not surprisingly, patch prices can be influenced by popular movies and books. After the film “Saving Private Ryan” came out 15 years ago, the price of the 29th Infantry Division patch suddenly went up, despite the fact that it is a fairly common patch. Today, the price is back to more reasonable levels.

Two variations of the Tank Destroyer patch. The patch on the left is the more valuable because it features the original 8-wheel design.

Like most collecting, part of the fun is finding deals. One patch I wanted from the beginning was the Manhattan Project, which was worn by military personnel assigned to building the atomic bomb. Due to the project’s top-secret nature, the patch was not actually authorized to be worn until after the war was over. Occasionally, the patch would show up on the auction for $20 or more, which was more than I was willing to spend for a single patch. Eventually, however, I found one in a large group of WWII patches that were selling for the same price. With some nice snow on the back, it remains one of my favorite patches.

Another of my favorites is the Tank Destroyer patch, which features a black panther crushing a tank in its mouth. I actually have two: the original version, with an eight-wheel tank in its teeth, and the later version with a four-wheel version. Although the WWII patch is not super valuable, a pre-WWII design with Camp Hood embroidered on it—that’s where the tank destroyer units trained before going into combat—recently sold on the auction for more than $100.

WWII patches don’t show up on the auction as often as they used to, which means their value is going up. Last year I sold a large portion of my collection and was able to make back several times what I originally spent.

But I still have all my favorite patches. And I’m still looking for that great deal on a T-Force patch.

New Weekly Military Newsletter - Sign up to check out new finds!

2012-09-18T09:08:00.001-06:00

There is a new weekly military newsletter sent out every Monday with a lot of different items and where they are currently being offered. Great information for the avid collector!

Please check out www.santeeswapper.com for more information.

The link to subscribe to newsletter is Sign up for Our Email Newsletter

Manion’’s Holds Rare Hitler Art Auction Through April 20

2012-03-23T11:12:00.003-06:00

Manion’s Holds Rare Hitler Art Auction Through April 20

Online Event Features Five Pre‐1920s Original Artworks, Including Three Watercolors and Two Oils

Kansas City, Kansas, March 22, 2012 – Manion’s International Auction House announced today it is conducting an unusual online auction of rare original artworks by Adolf Hitler from now through April 20. The five works being offered all are dated prior to 1920, long before Hitler rose to power in post‐ WWI Germany.

“It’s extraordinary to be able to offer this many pieces at one time, since Hitler’s work has been scattered in private collections for decades,” said Jody Tucker, Manion’s president. “The provenance for each of these works is well documented.

“Although we have sold numerous oils, watercolors and sketches by Adolf Hitler in our online auctions in the past, this current set of offerings is different quite simply because it’s rare to find these items in the U.S. and to be able to offer this many at one time. Most such sales are held in Europe,” Tucker noted. “We have sold a dozen of his pieces in the last 10 years.“

The current auction items may be viewed at www.manions.com/hitler‐art‐auction‐manions.htm.

About Manion’s

Founded in 1970 in Kansas City, Kansas, Manion’s International Auction House, Inc., provides one of the world’s leading venues for collectors and dealers of militaria. The firm’s auction web site has approximately 20,000 items up for bid at any given time, in online auctions running 365 days a year. The company offers thousands of military collectibles from the U.S., Germany, Japan and many other countries – representing eras from the U.S. Civil War to WWI, WWII, Vietnam, modern day military and more. Manion's also deals in other areas of antiques and collectibles such as vinyl records, comic books, entertainment memorabilia, autographs, fraternal collectibles, Boy Scout memorabilia, Americana, vintage clothing, sports memorabilia, jewelry, stamps, tools, and the list goes on. For more information please visit http://www.manions.com.

Manion’s International Auction House understands some of the artifacts listed for auction may be deemed sensitive by some. Manion’s neither supports nor glorifies Nazism, fascism or any other dictatorial regime or destructive ideology. We present all artifacts in their original historical context to historians, private collectors, museums, archives, and re‐enactors.

Editors, for additional information, please contact:

Mr. Jody Tucker, President (866) 626‐4661 jody@manions.com

Frank Buckles laid to rest

2011-03-16T13:14:00.002-06:00

Frank Buckles was buried Tuesday with the pomp and ceremony befitting the man who outlived 4.7 million other Americans who served in World War I.

His flag-draped casket was carried to his gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery on a caisson led by seven horses. A seven-man firing party fired three rifle volleys and a bugler played "Taps" as hundreds of onlookers saluted or held their hands to their hearts.

At the end of the graveside service, soldiers from the Army's vaunted "Old Guard" folded the flag as an Army band played "America the Beautiful." Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli presented it to Buckles' daughter, Susannah Flanagan.

"To our comrade in arms, Frank Woodruff Buckles, our nation bestows military honors," said Lt. Col. Keith N. Croom, an Army chaplain. "In life, he honored the flag. Now, the flag honors him."

Buckles lied about his age to enlist at 16. He died last month at his Charles Town, W.Va., home, at age 110.

Before the burial, his body lay in honor inside Arlington's Memorial Amphitheater Chapel, guarded by an Old Guard soldier in full dress uniform. Hundreds of visitors filed by silently to pay their respects and snap pictures.

Around 3 p.m., after the public viewing was over, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden arrived by motorcade to pay their respects. They spent about 10 minutes inside the chapel and offered their condolences to Flanagan.

Flanagan had wanted her father to lie in repose in the U.S. Capitol, but Congress failed to approve that plan as politicians clashed over how best to honor Buckles and other WWI veterans. The last person to lie in the Capitol rotunda was President Gerald Ford.

Flanagan and other invited guests at the burial did not speak to reporters.

Buckles' grave is on the side of a hill ringed by cedar trees with views of the Washington Monument, Capitol dome and Jefferson Memorial to the north. At the crest of the hill, 50 yards away, sits the grave of Gen. John Pershing, under whose command Buckles served, along with a plaque commemorating the 116,516 Americans who died in World War I.

A few hundred people attended the burial, including dozens of veterans from the Patriot Guard Riders and Rolling Thunder who rode through the cemetery on rumbling motorcycles. Six Native American veterans, in uniform and full headdresses, stood at attention and held flags at the gravesite.

Dignitaries in attendance included Army Secretary John McHugh, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and Sens. John J. Rockefeller and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

Buckles had devoted the last years of his life to campaigning for greater recognition for his former comrades, prodding politicians to support a national memorial in Washington.

Only two known WWI veterans remain worldwide: 110-year-old survivors Florence Green in Britain and Claude Choules in Australia.

Born in Missouri in 1901 and raised in Oklahoma, Buckles visited a string of military recruiters and was repeatedly rejected before convincing an Army captain he was 18. He served as an ambulance driver in England and France, and after Armistice Day, he helped return prisoners of war back to Germany. He returned to the United States in 1920 as a corporal.

During World War II, he was working as a civilian for a shipping company in the Philippines when he was captured as a prisoner of war. He spent more than three years in Japanese prison camps in Santo Tomas and Los Banos.

Among those who filed by Buckles' casket was Dale E. Smith, 88, a retired fighter pilot who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.

"I've been through three wars," Smith said. "They were easy compared to what he went through."

From sfgate.com

State of the Militaria Hobby from the JAG File

2011-03-14T12:59:00.001-06:00

From the JAG File Blog by John Adams-Graf of Military Trader Magazine

Having just returned from the Show of Shows (SOS), I have fielded several questions about the health of hobby. The economic doldrums, the instability of Mideast, rising unemployment only outpaced by rising fuel costs and a general sense of apprehension have many asking, “What’s the health of the hobby?”

I certainly don’t have any special view, but I guess my position does afford me the opportunity to overhear a lot of conversations and to observe several patterns. Before drawing any conclusions, however, I have to ensure that I don’t let my own collecting successes and failures color my observations.

The first thing I will report about the SOS is that it remains the largest all-militaria show in the United States. With more than 1,600 tables, the show is sold out months ahead of the late February date and there is a long waiting list of collectors and dealers who want tables. Public attendance is generally in the 5,000-6,000 range over three days. This year was no different.

I had four tables covered with what I considered “Wal-mart” collectibles. Not great stuff, just general WWI and WWII items priced very low. This seems to be a formula that works for me: Quantity, solid quality (that is, no fakes, questionable items clearly indicated on labels), low prices marked on the items (nothing drives me away from a table faster than not seeing prices on items!), and having bins and tubs of small items to search through. I rarely had a chance to sit down from Wednesday night setup through Sunday afternoon teardown. Folks love bargains and the thrill of possibly discovering something the guy standing behind the table didn’t recognize.

I didn’t get away from tables except for bathroom breaks so any observations were made on the fly. What I did observe, though, was that many tables had exceptional, high-quality items. When I did stop to take a closer look, I experienced a high degree of “sticker shock.” Items that should have cost $1,000 or $1,500 were marked $4,000 or $5,000. The same was truer for smaller items… if an item normally sold for $100, it was marked $400 or $500. What was going on? Was the world economy impacting our tight little fraternity?

I discussed this with several veteran collectors who stopped at my table to chat. The general consensus was this: As many collectors drift away from selling on eBay, they have dug into their collections to select and price items with the attitude, “if someone is stupid enough to pay this, I will sell it.” It was like a real-time “Buy it Now” price like we see on eBay… way beyond normal retail, but if someone really wants it…

The “big” buyers, that is, dealers buying for resale, generally reported that the show was really off. A couple saying, “Worst buying SOS in a long time.” Conversely, the same dealers did report, “Best selling SOS.” It seems buyers were there ready with cash. Quality items sold fast. “Wal-mart militaria” (like what I had on my tables) sold equally fast, but you have to sell a whole lot of buttons and Ike jackets to pay the expenses! What I did notice, however, was middle-of-the-road militaria, if priced at last year’s retail, sat on the tables unsold for the entire weekend.

In my observation, I would venture that non-U.S. attendance was down this year. Stands to reason, the Euro, Pound and Yen are just as weak as the dollar these days.

Curiously, I had several conversations about Internet collector forums. It would seem more and more veteran collectors are leaving forums or simply don’t make the time for them anymore. Several did discuss that they use Facebook to connect with small, tight communities of “their own kind” (be they helmet collectors, WWI nuts, Civil War image traders or reenactors”). It is far too early to predict the demise of forums, but there is a very obvious shift occurring.

Finally, one trend that has existed in the hobby from the beginning is changing. In the past, one might walk up to a dealer’s table full of unpriced items and select an object with the question, “How much?”, only to receive an answer that began with, “Well, I’ve got X dollars in it….” I have railed on this before: As I collector, I don’t care one bit what someone has in a particular object. Starting the negotiating with telling me how much a person has spent on an object usually implies to me that they think it somehow justifies the price they paid, whether it was too much or not. At this year’s SOS, I heard the same statement uttered many times, but it really seem to be restricted to the older, veteran dealers and collectors. The younger set seem to accept the fact that people paid way too much for stuff in the 1990s and 2000s and that the potential buyer is not responsible for those poor purchase decisions. Coincidentally, this is the same trend happening out in “the real world.” In my humble opinion, it is great to see the militaria hobby developing the same tolerances and expectations as the rest of the business world.

The SOS can set the tone for the entire show season, and it remains to be seen if this is true for 2011. If it is, we will continue to see great items emerge to market, at first for way too much money but then, slowly descend to realistic prices allowing new, significant collections to form. We are on the cusp of a new collecting age. The next couple of years will reveal if the hobby leaps forward or falls flat.

Be wise, be patient and prepared to buy when that great piece appears,

John A-G
Editor, Military Trader & Military Vehicles Magazine

Matterhorn Book Review

2011-03-09T12:56:00.000-06:00

When "Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War" arrived in my mail for review from the Leatherneck editorial office in Quantico, a brief note was included. Publisher/Executive Editor Colonel Walt Ford, USMC (Ret) wrote: "We usually don't review novels in the magazine, but I thought this one was exceptional. Frankly, I was riveted from page one because it took me right back. The only things that the author changed or altered were the actual units and a few of the locations. Rarely has war fiction impressed me so much."

After reading the first few pages, any rough-and-ready who has experienced bullets whistling by and shells bursting all around will certainly agree.

Writing in the vivid, gritty tradition of Norman Mailer ("The Naked and the Dead"), James Jones ("The Thin Red Line"), and Mark Bowden ("Black Hawk Down"), Navy Cross Marine First Lieutenant Karl Marlantes immediately introduces us to young Marine Lieutenant Waino Mellas (obviously himself fictionalized) and his company as they maneuver into the mountain jungles of 1969 Vietnam.

Advancing as best they can in torrential monsoon rains and knee-deep mud, plucking off leeches and avoiding man-eating tigers along the way, the Marines find themselves surrounded and outnumbered by a North Vietnamese regiment. At that point, autobiography fuses with fiction to make for a stunning "let-me-put-you-there" 600-page read.

In reality, during the first five days of March 1969, Marlantes, serving as executive officer of Company C, 1st Battalion, Fourth Marine Regiment, Third Marine Division (Reinforced) of the Fleet Marine Force, faced the same kind of highly trained, solidly equipped unit just north of the infamous Rockpile, south of the DMZ and east of the Laotian border.

Sustaining numerous casualties from mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, small-arms and automatic-weapons fire, the company was near obliteration. Marlantes combined and reorganized the remaining members of the platoons and led an assault up a mountain infested with fortified bunkers, manned by highly skilled, well-armed enemy soldiers.

Under withering fire from surprised North Vietnamese troops, he ran across the fire-swept hilltop to wipe out four enemy bunkers in succession. Although seriously wounded by now, Marlantes refused medical attention until the perimeter defense was established and the other wounded evacuated. His Navy Cross citation notes: "His heroic actions and resolute determination inspired all who observed him and were instrumental in a decisive rout with minimal casualties. By his courage, aggressive fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger, First Lieutenant Marlantes upheld the highest tradition of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

Such is the stuff "Matterhorn's" plot, characters and hero, Waino Mellas, are made of, to say nothing of how the terror and agony of fierce and vicious fighting matures each fictionalized personality. Note that any astute Marine who served during those months in “Bravo” Company's area of operation, and who knew the chain of command there, will place an easy fix on the actual names and locations.

Author Marlantes, who in addition to the Navy Cross was awarded the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valor, two Purple Hearts and 10 air medals, needed more than 30 years to complete "Matterhorn," originally a 1,600-page novel. No publisher or literary agent bothered to read it until recently when the unwieldy manuscript was reduced to its present size. The 31-page glossary of weapons, technical terms, slang and jargon alone is worth the price of the book.

It would be easy to hyperbolize "Matterhorn" with any number of glow-words from the reviewer's convenient arsenal of adjectives. But the high praise always remains the same: "Just go buy and read the classic-to-be for yourself."

From mca-marines.com

Japanese apologize to Australian veterans

2011-03-07T12:51:00.000-06:00

Transcript from Lateline

TONY JONES, PRESENTER: It's taken 60 years, but Japan today finally apologised to Australian soldiers for the brutal treatment they received as POWs during World War II.

A group of five diggers, now aged between 85 and 94, was invited to Japan by the country's foreign ministry.

And today they met the minister, Seiji Maehara, who offered them an apology for their suffering.

Some say it's too late and too little and that the current generation of Japanese shouldn't be held accountable for the sins of their forefathers.

North Asia correspondent Mark Willacy reports from Tokyo.

MARK WILLACY, REPORTER: From Japanese prisoners of war more than 60 years ago to honoured guests of the foreign minister today in Tokyo. As men the Imperial Army failed to break, these old diggers came here on a mission and with a message, delivered by 94-year-old Rowley Richards.

ROWLEY RICHARDS, FORMER JAPANESE POW: The important thing to our members - there are many of them, as you know, are looking for an official apology.

MARK WILLACY: These men survived the worst of Japanese barbarity. From the horror of Singapore's Changi Prison to the hell of the Thai Burma railway.

But for some of these former prisoners, an apology is too little too late.

HAROLD RAMSEY, FORMER JAPANESE POW: This apology would be worthless. And if they got some bloke who would apologise now, it's not worth a pinch of effort, so ...

MARK WILLACY: But today, 66 years after Japan's surrender, the country's foreign minister, Seiji Maehara, uttered the words many former POWs have long waited to hear.

NORM ANDERTON, FORMER JAPANESE POW: It was deep and expressed great remorse for the suffering that was inflicted on us and it was a very moving experience. He said to consider it a formal apology from the government.

MARK WILLACY: Even those who'd expressed some scepticism about an apology were moved by the minister's remorse.

FORMER JAPANESE POW IV: We've waited a long time, but it was sincere and at much better time than I've seen before, in 1944, when they dropped the two bombs. So, this is really good.

MARK WILLACY: By inviting these former POWs to Japan and apologising for their brutal treatment, the centre-left government here in Tokyo is showing that it is willing to confront the terrible sins of Japan's war-time past. And for their part, these old men have also shown a remarkable capacity for forgiveness.

FORMER JAPANESE POW V: I believe very firmly if any individual holds bitterness, there's only one person who suffers. That's the person who is being bitter.

YUKIHISA FJITA, JAPANESE GOVERNMENT MP: I think in order to have better future, it's very important to put right what was wrong in the past.

MARK WILLACY: The Japanese government says it's now planning to invite more former Australian prisoners to visit, acknowledging that with each passing year, fewer of these remarkable men remain.

Modern Day Lybia and WWII Africa - Tank Terrain

2011-03-07T12:38:00.000-06:00

The whipping sandstorms, low visibility, and stray camels make the five-hour car ride from Benghazi to the oil refinery town of Ras Lanuf a tense one even in normal times. But these days there is nothing normal going on in Ras Lanuf, which lies on the front lines of the clashes between Libya's volunteer rebel army and forces loyal to the country's dictator, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. On Saturday when TIME visited, the gates of Ras Lanuf were guarded by a platoon of opposition irregulars with anti-aircraft guns and recoilless rifles mounted onto the backs of pickup trucks.

But calling this a front-line may overstate the level of organization and planning behind the rebel advance. Though opposition forces have been slowly moving west from their stronghold in Benghazi along the about 700-mile coastal highway to Tripoli, the country's capital and the center of Gaddafi's power, Ras Lanuf has changed hands several times. As has Bin Jawad, the next town west down the coastal highway. And looking at the leaderless bands of pick-up trucks gathering at checkpoints to make fresh sorties on government positions with weapons newly acquired from raided government arsenals that they barely know how to use, it's hard to think of this as anything like a conventional army. But what's clear is Libya's desert geography — and Muammar Gaddafi's attempt to violently suppress what was once a peaceful movement — has transformed the country's pro-democracy uprising into the first military campaign of the Arab Spring. And it's also clear the desert is an arena in which people power plays at a disadvantage.

For a dictatorship that's been in power for 42 years, the Libyan government collapsed with remarkable speed in the eastern part of the country — a handful of days around February 17th. Besides the fact that Benghazi has long been a hotbed of dissent to rule from Tripoli, the terrain of the east — hills, forests, and a daisy chain of relatively dense urban centers along the coast — is also more sympathetic to a revolution. But west of Benghazi, the land flattens out, with the white sand of the Mediterranean shoreline giving way quickly to juniper and sage scrub and a seemingly endless expanse of dirt and discarded plastic bags. Towns along the way are small, easy to garrison, spread far apart, and located at highway intersections, or clustered around oil facilities.

If eastern Libya is guerrilla country, central Libya is tank terrain. Some of the great battles of World War Two were fought by legendary Axis and Allied tank commanders over the course of several years in a back-and-forth war along the north African coast between Tunisia and Egypt. Of course, nothing like the scale of those battles is going to occur in the Libyan civil war. Only the forces that remain loyal to the Gaddaffi regime have anything resembling a modern army. But therein lies the problem for the opposition. Though much of the Libyan military — already under-funded by a suspicious Gaddafi, who lavished money and materiel on his personal security forces instead — defected to the opposition camp, it has been unable to impose any authority or organization on the rebellion's volunteers who have been doing most of the fighting. And without air support and armor, speeding down straight desert highways with no cover is almost suicide.

Indeed, given their lack of discipline and training it's incredible there aren't more self-inflicted casualties. Besides the usual bouts of idiotic celebratory gunfire, among the many nerve wracking scenes of boys playing with dangerous toys that TIME witnessed near Ras Lanuf included a youngster sitting on top of a huge heap of ammunition boxes at a highway checkpoint and nearly knocking over an open artillery shell crate just so he could get more comfortable. And though the opposition claims an explosion at an ammunition depot near Benghazi that killed more than 20 people on Friday was the work of government saboteurs, it could just as likely have been the result of an accident. Meanwhile, though the Libyan government forces fled Benghazi in disarray, they appear to have regained a measure of composure, and according to reports, have dug into Bin Jawad with sniper positions backed by artillery, helicopters, and fighter jets. Fighting will get even tougher if the rebels move closer to Sert, Gaddaff's hometown, located about midway between Benghazi and Tripoli.

Just how long Free Libya's desert campaign will last is anyone's guess. During the North African campaign in WWII, supply lines proved crucial. When the Allied air and sea power cut fuel deliveries to German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel's Arfika Corps, its Panzer tanks ran out of gas in a region where, ironically, some of the world's largest oil fields were later discovered. Nowadays the rebel government says it has enough cash to pay salaries for the next two months. It's asking foreign countries to begin recognizing it as Libya's legitimate authority, a prelude to formally asking oil companies to begin paying them rather than the government in Tripoli. The Benghazi government also says at least one national oil company, the Sert Oil Company located in Ras Lanuf, has broken with Tripoli and sided with the rebels, and the refineries at Ras Lunuf were refueling opposition vehicles free of charge. The rebels are also getting foreign donations of food and medicine delivered to Benghazi's port. "This isn't Darfur, there's not going to be a humanitarian crisis here," said one rebel government spokesman in Benghazi . "But let's not kid ourselves. This is a revolution by amateurs. We can't keep doing this forever."

Morale may end up playing the decisive factor in this conflict — though it can't be too high on the Gaddafi side as they shoot on their own people, amid rumors that many soldiers are ordered to fight by their officers at gunpoint. But the regime and its supporters are fighting for their survival. Swift sanctions, asset freezes and threats from international bodies to investigate the regime for crimes against humanity have given the government little incentive to surrender peacefully.

The rebellion too is fighting for its life. Though the Arab League has offered to help broker negotiations, the opposition says there is nothing to discuss and fears that any return by the regime will be the beginning of a massacre. But fear is in short supply among the rebel volunteers, many of whom believe that their miraculous against-the-odds successes are a sign that God is on their side. After an attack helicopter appeared and began rocketing the vicinity, TIME beat a hasty retreat from Ras Lanuf back to Benghazi. But car after car of young men with guns and flags of the old Libyan monarchy, which has become the new emblem of Free Libya, kept speeding down the other side of the highway to fill the breach. One truck was also flying the skull and cross-bones of a Jolly Roger pirate flag, which perhaps better captured the wild spirit of the rebel campaign, which may yet tilt in their favor. As one veteran of north African desert battles, American General George Patton, said: "Nobody ever defended anything successfully. There is only attack and attack, and attack some more."

From Time Magazine Online

Nazi Chic or Sinister Outburst?

2011-03-03T12:42:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time, two young men named Mick Jones and Tony James were attempting to form a rock band called London SS. Their prospective manager, one Bernard Rhodes, summoned them to a meeting in a pub, and then dumped a bagful of Nazi memorabilia and militaria – badges, knives, caps and the like – over the table. "If you keep that name," he told them, "you'll be spending the rest of your lives having to discuss and justify stuff like this."

They got the message. The name "London SS" was formally buried, and the pool of musicians upon which it was based later ended up in The Clash, The Damned, Generation X and The Pretenders, with swastikas and "Nazi chic" being left to the likes of Sid Vicious. Dr Hunter S Thompson once remarked that if the Hells Angels had really wanted to freak out Middle America, they'd have worn the hammer-and-sickle rather than the swastika, and by sporting red stars and a Brigade Rosse T-shirt, the late Joe Strummer took the good doctor at his word.

That instantly infamous clip of a drunken John Galliano letting his inner bigot out for a stroll has more in common with Eric Clapton's notorious Powellite rant (delivered from a Birmingham stage in 1976 and directly stimulating the founding of Rock Against Racism) than it does with any pseudo-decadent dabbling in Weimar chic induced by one too many viewings of Cabaret. Both disturb because they suggested that, tongues unlocked and inhibitions dissolved by alcohol, Galliano and Clapton were revealing their true feelings about certain groupings of their fellow humans: the sneering, hateful racist lurking beneath the veneer of civilised urbane sophistication.

In direct contrast, nobody could seriously suggest that Lemmy, an obsessive collector of precisely the sort of bits and pieces with which Rhodes had confronted Jones and James, has any truck with rightwing politics. "I'd collect Belgian army stuff if the Belgians had had the best gear", he says.

For those who grew up in the shadow of the second world war, or with endless reruns of Dad's Army, there is an element of kitsch – demystifying and defanging the monster by subverting its symbolism – and a simple impulse towards transgression, shocking parents (or the parent culture) by pretending to cuddle up to the stuff of nightmare.

Essentially, we're dealing with two very different phenomena. On the one hand, a fascination with the camp aesthetics of the Nazi era and a fondness for Weimar Cabaret stylings and its associated iconography (let me make a clean Brecht of it: I'm a sucker for a nice long black leather trenchcoat) can be intensely misleading. Kurt Weill was by no means vile: he and Brecht were committed leftists.

On the other hand, there are actual pro-fascist sympathies. No modern fascist wants anything to do with the imagery of the Third Reich – a recent news story reported a poll revealing that a worrying number of people in the UK, by no means all of whom are white, would support an anti-immigration party provided it carried no overt associations with the downmarket bootboy neo-Nazism of the BNP.

The latter is genuinely worrying, while the former is perhaps merely foolish. As for John Galliano: his employers' decision to immediately dropkick him into the middle distance shows just how much they wanted to avoid inadvertently founding "Rock Against Dior".

From guardian.co.uk

GREAT Show of Shows

2011-02-27T11:28:00.004-06:00

Our guys had a GREAT experience at the Show of Shows and are bringing back a TON of consignment - be sure to check www.manions.com next week as items begin to make it on the site and open for bidding. Here's a few more pics from our "Manion in the field" (and my buddy Ben) - thanks for reading!

Show of Shows 2011 - pics from our man on the scene!

2011-02-24T13:50:00.006-06:00

Hey everyone.

Guy Manion is our "man in the field" this year at the S.O.S. militaria show in Louisville, Kentucky. He's sent a couple of photos of the Thursday happenings and plans to send on some more of individual people, items and happenings - if he's not too busy packing up military collectibles for consignment with Manion's Auction. Here's the first few - check back
throughout the weekend for more.

Himmler death photo surfaces in England

2011-02-17T12:57:00.002-06:00

The mustache is gone but the familiar round glasses are still there in this chilling photograph of Heinrich Himmler seconds after he killed himself.

This is the first time this picture has been seen of the architect of the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of six million Jews, just after he crunched a cyanide capsule in his mouth.

The photograph, which is due to be auctioned, was taken by British intelligence officer Guy Adderleyin in May 1945.

Disheveled Himmler, who had been arrested by the British, was due to be interrogated by intelligence chiefs over his war crimes the following day.

Moments after death: This photograph of Nazi death camp overlord Heinrich Himmler was taken just minutes after he committed suicide by biting into a cyanide pill in 1945

A poison vial found on Himmler's body in a search of his clothing before he committed suicide. For this he crunched a cyanide capsule in his mouth.

After his death, Army chiefs released propaganda photographs of the monster's corpse slumped on the floor and a makeshift bed.

But Lance Corporal Adderley kept the stark, grainy close-up taken at a British safe house in Luneburg amongst his own wartime mementoes. His official statement at the time read: 'This photograph was taken while he was still warm.'

Now Adderley's family plan to sell the photograph at auctioneer Dreweatt's militaria sale in Bristol on March 29.

It has a pre-sale estimate of £2,000 to £3,000, but fierce bidding is expected to push it higher.
Auctioneer and militaria expert Malcolm Claridge said: 'This is a very important and historic collection.

'Himmler was Hitler's Reichsfuhrer, the second most powerful man in Nazi Germany.
'He oversaw the Gestapo and the concentration camps and is regarded as the architect of the Holocaust which resulted in the deaths of six million Jews and an estimated four million Poles.'
Heinrich Himmler was born in 1905 in Munich to a middle-class family. He began training as an officer during World War I but the conflict had ended before he could be sent to the front. He went on to study agriculture and for a short while was a chicken farmer.

He joined Hitler's fledgling Nazi party and soon became a trusted aide and even towards the end of the war the German leader referred to him as 'der treue Heinrich' (the loyal Heinrich).

Leading members of the Nazi Party two years before the outbreak of World War II. From left, Heinrich Himmler, Viktor Lutze, Adolf Hitler, Rudolf Hess, and Julius Streicher

Mr Claridge said: 'Adderley's collection takes us right to the heart of Himmler's arrest and right into the very room in the British safe house in Luneburg where he bit into the cyanide capsule he had concealed in his mouth.

'Guy Adderley was one of the team that arrested Himmler, he took the photographs of his body and there are two photographs showing senior British and Russian officers in the safe house with Adderley in the background.

'We also have Adderley's military identity card with his photograph confirming he was a lance-corporal and stating "The bearer of this card is a member of the Intelligence Corps (Field Security Wing) and is authorized to wear civilian clothes.

"He should be granted every assistance in the performance of his duties."

'The identity card bears an official purple stamp 'Security Officer - No2 Protected Area Orkney & Shetland.'

'We've already had enormous interest in this collection from Third Reich collectors and we are expecting especially strong interest from collectors in Germany.'

Secret agent Guy Adderley was one of the undercover team who arrested Himmler and his two Waffen SS bodyguards at Bremervoerde, Germany, in May 1945.

Initially the British were unaware who they had captured. Himmler was among a group of German soldiers captured after the Nazi surrender - disguised in a sergeant's uniform with a patch over one eye.

But his ruse was blown by the soldiers who told their British captors of his presence.

After his death, and under the cover of darkness, Himmler was buried in an unmarked grave on Luneburg Heath, in northern Germany. Those who buried him were made to sign the Official Secrets Act and told never to speak of the matter again.

The episode has been classified by the Ministry of Defense until 2045 - 100 years after the event.

Adderley, who died in his late 80s, was the photographer detailed to take the official pictures of Himmler's body after he took his own life.

The mystery surrounding Himmler's death on May 23, 1945, has been compounded by the covert way in which four British soldiers took his body from the Luneburg safe house, bundled it into an Army truck and secretly buried it in an unmarked grave on windswept Luneburg Heath. It has never been found.

In 1945 disillusioned Himmler believed victory had slipped from Germany's grasp and secretly attempted to start peace negotiations with Eisenhower in a bid to escape a war crimes trial.
But Eisenhower refused to have anything to do with Himmler. A furious Hitler declared Himmler a traitor, stripped him of his powers and the SS chief went on the run.

When Himmler was arrested by the British at Bremervoerde on May 22, 1945, he had disguised himself by shaving off his moustache, wearing an eye patch over his left eye and he was carrying false identity papers.

Lance Cpl Adderley's collection includes a photocopied statement describing how Himmler was handed over to British intelligence chief Major Michael Murphy who had him driven to the safe house at Luneburg for interrogation.

Adderley's statement reads: 'Presented by Cpl Adderley. For the record. 'Himmler was captured by and remained in the care of Guy Adderley, who handled him correctly and so was quite composed at that stage.

'The trick was to keep the prisoner so until the poison pill secreted between his teeth could be removed.

'A senior staff officer took control of the situation from Guy Adderley, with much noise and ceremony.

'Himmler became alarmed, crunched the poison pill, and that was the end of the story.
'This photograph was taken while he was still warm.'

From Mail Online

Huge Militiaria Heist in Calgary

2011-02-15T12:53:00.001-06:00

While some Calgary antique dealers are keeping an eye out for items stolen from The Military Museums, others said they had yet to be informed of the theft spree.

As first reported by Metro, roughly 100 display items — including sets of medals, badges and belts — were taken from the institution between August and December of last year.

Dan Thomson, a 25-year military veteran and owner of Inglewood Antiques & Florist, said he was shocked authorities had not contacted him be-cause typically it is “very easy” to sell military memorabilia at local shops and online.

“This is a major heist ... generally we are the first ones that are alerted,” he said.

Tom Doucette, executive director of The Military Museums, said his organization wanted to gather as much information as possible before notifying the public.

Reid Moseley, owner of Shoulder to Shoulder Militaria & Collectibles, said investigators did stop by to check his inventory two weeks ago, but he figures the stolen items are likely being sold outside the city.

“I wouldn’t spend too much time looking in Calgary,” he said.

From Metro Calgary

Vis 35 used in shootout with police

2011-02-13T16:48:00.000-06:00

Carmody, who died Wednesday afternoon after three days on life support, was armed with a German-made Vis 35 9mm semi-automatic handgun, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said.

The Vis 35 was originally made in Poland and was a staple of the Polish Army. The Germans took over the factory when they invaded in 1939 and forced Polish workers to continue to build the gun for the German army and police. The weapon was built between 1935 and 1945.

Wartime versions of the guns can sell for more than $500, while pre-war models can fetch more than $2,000.

Authorities have not yet said where Carmody got the weapon.

From Ridgewood Patch

Georgia Vets Get Legion of Honor

2011-02-12T12:42:00.000-06:00

Thirteen World War II veterans from Alabama and Georgia received France's highest honor on Thursday for their role in the liberation of that country in 1944 and 1945.

Before a crowd that included families, friends and members of the military, the veterans were awarded the Legion of Honor by France's consul general in Atlanta, Pascal Le Deunff.

"We will never be able to give enough praise for the heroism of those who fought for the liberation of France and Europe," Le Deunff said. "You are, all of you, true heroes. You were there in France when hope began to disappear, but you never lost hope."

Le Deunff addressed each veteran individually, detailing his service during the war and listing the other honors he'd received. The consul general then pinned a medal on the chest of each veteran.

George Weitner of Snellville, Ga., was among the troops who stormed Omaha Beach in Normandy on D-Day, but it's not a memory he treasures: "I try to forget about it."

He has fonder memories from his next visit to France 50 years later for an anniversary celebration.

"I had a great time," he said. "The French people were wonderful to us, very respectful, very thankful."

Joseph Thornton of Hampton, Ga., parachuted into Normandy on June 6, 1944, about four hours before the beach invasion began. He said he was humbled to be honored by France.

"It feels great," he said. "I very much appreciate it."

But after spending six weeks there, he said he's never had a desire to go back: "Once was enough."

The National Order of the Legion of Honor was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. It recognizes eminent service to France. Recipients are approved by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

To receive the honor, recipients - or often their friends or family - fill out an application and go through a vetting process. Le Deunff - who represents France in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississipi, North Carolina and South Carolina - tries to hold ceremonies to award the medal as often as possible. He said he's trying to accelerate the application vetting process to be able to honor as many veterans as possible while they're still alive.

The veterans who received the medal Thursday were:

- Colonel L Gene Sidwell, of Smyrna, Ga.

- Captain Harold Hicks, of Townsend, Ga.

- Sergeant Fred Thomason, of Duluth, Ga.

- Staff Sergeant Robert Wann, of Decatur, Ga.

- Technical Sergeant Axel Thomsen, of Marietta, Ga.

- Staff Sergeant Robert Ricks, of Snellville, Ga.

- Private First Class Philip Alterizio, Madison, Ala.

- Private First Class John Garett, of Mableton, Ga.

- Private First Class Orbie Harris, of Fairburn, Ga.

- Private First Class Pizzolato, of Marietta, Ga.

- Seaman First Class Walter Robertson, of Atlanta.

- Private Joseph Thornton Jr., of Hampton, Ga.

- Private First Class George Weitner, of Snellville, Ga.

Paris exhibit honors AP Vietnam War photographer

2011-02-09T12:36:00.001-06:00

PARIS (AP) — A U.S. Army medic peers through dirty bandages on his own head while caring for a wounded comrade. A helicopter winches up the lifeless body of an American soldier, silhouetted against a bare white sky.

Such images from the Vietnam War feature in a new museum exhibit in Paris focusing on Associated Press photographer Henri Huet, who was killed 40 years ago when a helicopter he was riding in was shot down over Laos.

Co-curated by the AP, "Henri Huet: Vietnam" focuses on about 70 photos that he took during the war. The show starts Tuesday and runs through April 3 at the Maison Europeenne de la Photographie in Paris' Marais district.

Huet, who was half-French and half-Vietnamese, and three foreign photographers died Feb. 10, 1971 when the South Vietnamese helicopter they were on was shot down while they covered a cross-border invasion.

Huet, Larry Burrows of Life magazine, Kent Potter of United Press International, and Keizaburo Shimamoto of Newsweek were on board with U.S.-backed Vietnamese forces, killed in the flash of an anti-aircraft gun. Huet was 43.

The exhibit aims to bring to light the impact of Huet on the public's understanding of Vietnam and as a reference for today's generation of photojournalists — in terms of style, shot selection and emotional impact.

Huet captured the pain, fatigue, frustration, grittiness and a gamut of emotions with his black and white photos that made newspaper and magazine covers worldwide throughout the conflict.

He had "a sense of artistry, because he was a painter, he showed his sense of feeling for the Vietnamese," said former AP reporter Richard Pyle, who served as Saigon bureau chief during the war.

"People in Vietnam won prizes, and won accolades, for their work as photographers and the irony of this was that Henri — who was probably the finest combat photographer of his time, maybe in any war ... never got the attention nor the credit that he deserved," Pyle said.

In days long before satellite transmission, the Internet, digital photos and laptop computers, Huet would trek off for days with the U.S. military, and return with a trove of photos shipped to AP headquarters in New York.

Sometimes, a single picture captured the essence of the war.

"You had one Henri Huet picture on the front page of the New York Times, and that was it — that was the battle of Vietnam," said Horst Faas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning AP photographer who worked with Huet in Vietnam.

"There was mud in there, there was frustration in there, a bit of loneliness in there — all these things that a soldier went through in the circumstances, or a civilian, or anyone else," Faas said.

Faas, Pyle and other colleagues have come to Paris for the exhibit, and remembered Huet's compassion, respect for both Vietnamese civilians and U.S. soldiers, and tendency to stay to himself once the work day was done.

"If I had to pick the three finest people that I ever met in my life ... Henri Huet would be one of those three, maybe even No. 1," said Pyle at a news conference Monday.

Lemmy

2011-02-07T10:13:00.005-06:00

One of our more famous (or infamous) customers mentioned us recently in a Chicago newspaper interview. While we keep our customer information confidential, something tells me Lemmy won't be bothered by this blog post mentioning the article and letting his fellow collectors know his documentary is currently playing in theaters around the United States and will air on VH1 Feb. 11. Check out the official site: http://www.lemmymovie.com/

Here's a teaser trailer below - if you are easily offended in any way you had better not watch . . .