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I never was into orders and decorations, but the so-called Mussert-cross, which also was known as the Ostland-cross
intrigues me. Of course while it is a decoration from my country. I never was into orders and decorations and so this
subject is new too me!

Is this cross indeed a hoax. A short while ago I was told that possibly all existing crosses in collections were fakes.
Is this true and correct or is there more to know about this decoration? Maybe WRF-members do have information
available, which could shed light into this!

Myself I do have specific thoughts about this matter and am convinced about the fact some at least were original.
In my earliest days of collecting, and new in the collecting of WWII items (about 1972), a colleague at my office
handed over one such Mussert-cross (and other items), which he said he personally had taken from a desk at the
NSB headquarters at Utrecht, when the building there was occupied. My colleague had no reason whatsoever to
kid me, me knowing he was the most upright!

Do WRF-members have written documentation available about the introduction of this cross, as this surely must
have been a plan (see letter to Rauter, the Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer, in the Netherlands from October 30, 1942).
Even the smallest piece of information is welcomed. Thanks in advance!

It is obvious the Germans were not pleased at all with the Mussert-plan about the institution of the cross!

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Having discussions with a member here on "Shadowed" decals, thought we would share. What were they ?

They were printing "offsets". Common actually. All branches of service decals, mostly Police decals had printing errors, more so than the others.

This one you don’t see errors on normally due to the quality of the Pocher bird. But this one, looks like the eagle is set way too high, no gap between the talons & swaz. One might question authenticity on this, but it is a good one

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Interesting decal for sure. I picked this at a Max show about 10 years ago. Was applied on a CKL 64…lot # was 45XX. This was an anomaly for sure, looking with or without a loop, it looked fine. But a decaled M42 with that high lot # ?

We took it home & blew up some pics of it, thought maybe just a "misprint" the way the swaz has a "shadow". On closer inspection…a "checkerboard" pattern of printing on the outlines of wings & swaz. Which is indicative of post 1945 printing methods, so I was told by a printer:D. Soooo. got stuck with a fake ?. Question is, if this is a repro decal…why have we not seen more of them ? One would think they would be "Out there" & identified but 10 years later, we have not seen another show it’s face. Could it be real, maybe late war depot or field applied ?

Any opinions ? It sure looks convincing

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Can anybody help identifying the uniforms in this group photo? My great-uncle is man near the bottom with his arm outstretched - from what I remember he was in the Polish Army during WW2 and fought in the battle of Monte Cassino. I’ve added another photo of him with a more detailed uniform but unfortunately it’s a bit more faded.

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More…

by: RZM

Description: Original NSDAP membership booklet to an SA Obergefreiter named Arno Rausch. He was killed on 20 Nov. 1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad. The ribbon across the front is faded and unreadable. There are numerous payment stamps. Price is $400 shipped in the US.

War Relics Militaria sales

Had this flag a long while. I believe its an identification flag. Am I correct in thinking the bit of pinkish paint on it was from the desert colours that were used?
Thx Brian

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