26th February 2019
Third Reich militaria may not be to everyone’s tastes, but there are still a number of collectors who specialise in accumulating such items.
Medals, badges, uniforms, rank insignia, daggers and deactivated weapons remain the most popular items.
But statues and other kind of Third Reich collectables are also synonymous with the historic Nazi era from 1933 to 1945.
If you do own or collect such items, it is important to be aware that there is now an increasing supply of copy and reproduction material on to the market.
To safeguard original items for historical posterity, we recommend only obtaining advice from valuers like us, who are registered members of a recognised trade body.
Over the years, we have had a wide range of Third Reich memorabilia for sale, both collections and single items, usually on behalf of bereaved families.
Typically, these items were collected during conflict or brought back after the war as souvenirs by fathers, grandfathers and other relatives.
Popular Third Reich collectables include:
THIRD REICH DAGGERS
Ceremonial daggers were prized possessions among the souvenir-hunting Allied troops and the Third Reich produced a wide range of different styles.
These were produced not only for their armed forces, but a range of civilian organisations such as the Fire Brigade, Hitler Youth, Customs, Government Officials, Forestry etc.
The most commonly seen in our auctions are the paramilitary Hitler Youth daggers and SA (Sturmabtelung), often referred to as Brown Shirts, and the three main branches of the Armed Forces, the Heer (Army), Luftwaffe and Kreigsmarine, with daggers given to the SS being highly sought after.
Most weapons are un-named but this unusual SA dagger, named to a Heinz Biermann, sold for £420 in our auction on 20th June 2018.
Hitler Youth daggers had the legend Blut und Ehre (Blood and honour) etched into the blade and this dagger made by Carl Heidelberg of Solingen sold for £200 in our auction.
Herr daggers or Army daggers are more plentiful than the other services and this example by Eickhorn of Solingen, along with correct hangers sold for £310 in our 20th June 2018 sale.
Kreigsmarine daggers have featured in a number of our auctions and this example by Clemen & Jung of Solingen sold for £340 in our 20th June 2018 sale.
The Luftwaffe produced two types of dagger. This first and scarcer type, by Tiger of Solingen, sold for £550 in our 20th June 2018 sale.
DE-ACTIVATED GERMAN WEAPONS
In August 2015, we sold a small range of German de-activated weapons that attracted significant interest.
A rare MG34 machine gun and an MG42 both sold for £1,150 each. The sale also contained a 1943 MP40 sub-machine gun with folding stock and this went for £925.
THIRD REICH BADGES
The Third Reich were prolific producers of badges to recognize service, trade and combat within their armed forces.
Below are a few small examples we’ve sold in recent auctions.
This Kreigsmarine Submarine War Badge with the maker’s mark GWL sold in our 21st June 2017 auction for £170.
A Third Reich Luftwaffe Flak Badge by Brehmer Markneu-Kirchen and a Luftwaffe Pilot’s Badge without a maker’s mark sold in our 17th August 2016 auctioned for £170 and £130 respectively.
NAZI HELMETS AND UNIFORM
Nazi helmets and Third Reich uniforms are very collectable. If they come with any provenance as to their history, it often helps to raise the price.
This Kriesmarine M40 helmet with decals on both sides was found with 30 others in a German bunker on Jersey when builders were developing a site. This suggests that it belonged to a German coastal artillery site and it sold in our 21st June 2017 auction for £360.
Anything associated to the Waffen SS is very collectable and this M42 helmet with single SS decal to the right side sold for £1400 in our 19th August 2015 auction.
A German Army M43 HBT jacket and trousers sold in our 14th December 2016 auction for £150 and a 1937 Army overseas side cap made of green wool sold in the same sale for £150 as well.
THIRD REICH MEMORABILIA
Other items of Third Reich memorabilia that sold in recent auctions include this bronze desk eagle fitted to a marble base standing 15.5cm tall. The swastika had been removed at some stage and it sold for £200 in our August 2017 auction.
A Third Reich Luftwaffe General’s car pennant, which had been brought back as a souvenir after the war, surprised the vendor when selling for £900 in our 9th December 2015 auction.
In the same sale another wartime souvenir was this pair of Karl Zeiss 7x50 U-Boat binoculars which sold for £320.
One of the rarest Third Reich memorabilia items we have ever sold was a Kriegsmarine Admiral’s Banner Flag, measuring 47cm x 47cm and in exceptionally good condition. It sold for £2,900 in our 19th August 2015 auction.
As time goes by and more Second World War veterans pass away, it is not uncommon for their families to inherit unique items of Third Reich militaria.
If you’ve acquired something special, we can help you determine what it’s worth by providing a FREE valuation. Getting a militaria valuation is a great way to find out the backstory of a treasured item and there’s no obligation to sell.
If you have any Third Reich memorabilia for sale, email paul.murray@warwickandwarwick.com or call 01926 499031 for an informal discussion.
Disclaimer: Please note these items are sold as part of military history and are not in any way supporting the ideology or actions of the Third Reich.