Since I didnt found any off topic setion, I consider discussion to be the most appropriate.

For years I wanted to collect WWII German militaria, but I never made a move to make it happen. The problem is, I dont know where to start. At first glance, everything looks so simple. Here you have a e.g., Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen. At second glance, its not an Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen. Its an Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen, 00/25/50/75/100, then its even worse, when you find out there were many makers of these, and that each Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen is different. At third glance, you came to realized, that you just "researched" 1 badge, just 1, and there are plenty more items ahead of you.

It makes me want to cry, when I look at all these German militaria. Im am so confused. I have been looking for some reference books, but they are either in German, and if not, they still cost a fortune. I found 2 volumes on Kriegsmarine, 1 volume on Das Einserne Kreutz 2. Klasse, 1 volume on Das Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse, 1 volume on The Flak Badges… I guess it could go on. An entire book, about 1 want thing, and how many items are there? Hundreds. I thought there is some kind of "all in one", just the most important stuff, for people like me, or just a list of what was made, somewhere.

Is collecting German militaria, that demanding?