Nazi-German Artifacts and Memorabilia, 1933-1945 | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

This Record Group is comprised of various Nazi-German awards, medals, decorations, insignias and like worn by the servicemen and civilians during the Nazi era. This Collection also includes a number of sub-collection relate to the attributes of the parade German uniform, namely knifes, daggers, saber, epaulettes, and like. There is also the sub-collection of various state and army Nazi flags.

RG-36.01, German decorations, awards, medals, and insignias

RG-36.01.01, 1918 Black Wound Badge. The lowest version of the Wound Badge, it was awarded to soldiers who were once or twice wounded in the line of duty and those who suffered from frostbite on the field

RG-36.01.02, A ribbon, Squadron Boelcke. Black with gold text in Fraktur font. This ribbon likely belonged to a pilot serving under Oswald Boelcke (1891-1916), a German fighter ace during the First World War

RG-36.01.03, Badges and pin with swastika. Black, red, white. The larger of the two bears the inscription “National-Sozialistische D.A.P.” (D.A.P. is an acronym for the “Deutsche Arbeiterpartei” or German Worker’s Party)

RG-36.01.04, Close Combat Clasp in gold. This award was instituted in 1942 to commemorate soldiers who had fought in hand-to-hand combat in close quarters

RG-36.01.05, Crimean or Krim campaign shield. “Krimschild” Bronze. This medal was issued to wounded soldiers who had served in the German army’s operations in the Crimean peninsula from September 1941 to July 1942

RG-36.01.06, Driver proficiency award in silver. Medal issued to capable drivers in the German military in bronze, silver, and gold versions

RG-36.01.07, Early SA (Storm Troops) belt buckle. Pre-War. Worn by SA members, the curved swastika is indicative of manufacture before the mid-1930s

RG-36.01.08, German African Corps buckle (DAK – Deutsches Afrika Korp). Worn by German soldiers in northern Africa, this buckle displays the inscription “Gott Mit Uns” or “God is with us”

RG-36.01.09, German Field Gendarmerie Gorget. Decorated with a swastika and bearing the inscription “Arbeit adelt” – “Work ennobles”

RG-36.01.10, German Military Epaulette, Wehrmacht. A tag attached to one of the items includes the name of SS Obersturmfuehrer Josten of the concentration camp Auschwitz

RG-36.01.11, Helmet, A page from old catalogue

RG-36.01.12, Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend) buckle. An eagle with a swastika is accompanied by the inscription “Blut und Ehre” (Blood and Honor)

RG-36.01.13, Insignia for a German military hat. Eagle with outstretched wings clutching a swastika

RG-36.01.14, Iron Cross, Second Class, with ribbon. Dated 1939. An Iron Cross on a red, white, and black ribbon bearing the year 1939

RG-36.01.15, War merit cross, First Class with swords (Kriegsverdientskreuz). Awarded to soldiers during the war, these medals signified wartime bravery and service which, though above the call of duty, did not merit an Iron Cross

RG-36.01.16, Iron Cross, First Class, pin back. Dated 1939. This Iron Cross was awarded for service during the Polish campaign of 1939 and was pinned onto a uniform rather than hung around the neck

RG-36.01.17, Iron Cross, Second Class, with ribbon. Dated 1939. The Iron Cross medal was a progressive award, meaning the Second Class medal was a prerequisite to obtaining the first

RG-36.01.18, Iron Cross, Second Class, 1939 Campaign. Dated 1813. The Iron Cross medal was established by King Wilhelm I of Prussia following the Wars of Liberation against Napoleon.

RG-36.01.19, Nazi eagles sewn to uniform. Several designs of eagles clutching swastikas

RG-36.01.20, Nazi flagpole topper. Metal (likely steel). A shovel embossed with a swastika flanked by two stalks of wheat

RG-36.01.21, Non-commissioned officer's steel buckle. An eagle clutching a swastika is accompanied by the inscription “Gott Mit Uns” (God is with us)

RG-36.01.22, Painted NSDAP (Nazi Party) Pin. Red, white, and black. The Party name surrounds a black swastika on a white background

RG-36.01.23, Police officer's dress buckle. A swastika is present along with the inscription “Gott Mit Uns” (God is with us)

RG-36.01.24, Russian campaign medal with ribbon. On the front, an eagle clutching a swastika. On the reverse, there is the inscription “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42” (Winter Campaign in the East 1941/1942)

RG-36.01.25, Russian campaign medal, front and rear view, 1941-1942. On the front, an eagle clutching a swastika. On the reverse, there is the inscription “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42” (Winter Campaign in the East 1941/1942)

RG-36.01.26, S.A. badge. A single sword is placed on top of a swastika, entirely surrounded by a laurel

*RG-36.27, SA badge with the inscription, Eigentum der Obersten S.A. Fuehrung, for the highest S.A. officials

RG-36.01.27, Second Class Iron Cross, with ribbon. Dated 1939

RG-36.01.28, SS badge for the SS Gruppe West of Frankfurt am Main, inscription Deployment on Section XI. Accompanied by a skull, crossbones, and an eagle with a swastika

RG-36.01.29, Tank Assault Badge. A tank beneath an eagle clutching a swastika

RG-36.01.30, Two Wound Badges, black and gold. The lowest version of the Wound Badge, the black version was awarded to soldiers who were once or twice wounded in the line of duty and those who suffered from frostbite on the field. The gold was the highest version available and was awarded to soldiers who had suffered extensive injuries during their duties (such as loss of limbs, sensory functions, and brain damage)

*RG-36.32, War Merit Cross First Class with Swords

Awarded to soldiers during the war, these medals signified wartime bravery and service which, though above the call of duty, did not merit an Iron Cross.

RG-36.01.31, War Merit Cross, rear side, 1939. Awarded to soldiers during the war, these medals signified wartime bravery and service which, though above the call of duty, did not merit an Iron Cross

RG-36.01.32, Wound Badge in silver. The intermediate version of the wound badge was awarded to soldiers who had received fairly substantial wounds in battle

RG-36.01.33, Wound Badge in black. The lowest version of the Wound Badge, the black version was awarded to soldiers who were once or twice wounded in the line of duty and those who suffered from frostbite on the field

RG-36.01.34, NSFK insignia (National Sozialistische Fliegerkorp or National Socialist Flying Corps). A winged man stands behind a swastika. The National Socialist Flying Corps was a paramilitary organization which existed before the outbreak of World War II and was technically forbidden under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

RG-36.01.35, Nazi Pin. A black swastika is flanked by stylized wings and surrounded by a semi-reflective red circle

RG-36.01.36, Ich Hatt Einen Kameraden Medallion (I had a comrade). Iron. On the front side, there is a depiction of a German soldier with a cut branch. On the opposite side, the inscription “Am Schmuck der Ruhe Staetten Unserer Tapfern Half Wer Dieses Eisenzeichen Nahm”, meaning “Those people who have this medallion have helped those belonging to our soldiers”

RG-36.01.37, Nazi-era Medallion. Dated 1937. A child is standing on top of a swastika-bearing eagle. Wear has made it impossible to discern any other salient details

RG-36.01.38, Red Nazi armband with black stripes

RG-36.01.39, Triangular badge

RG-36.01.40, Red and white Nazi armband

RG-36.01.41, White cloth with eagle and swastika patch

RG-36.01.42, Black armband

RG-36.01.43, Red Nazi armband with sticker

RG-36.01.44, Red Nazi armband with pin

RG-36.01.45, Yellow Deutsche Wehrmacht armband

RG-36.01.46, Red and white diamond Nazi patch

RG-36.01.47, Yellow skull and crossbones handkerchief

RG-36.01.48, Blue National Socialist Party pin

RG-36.01.49, Personal black ammo pouch with state emblem

RG-36.01.50, Skull and bones pin

RG-36.01.51, Metal swastika with two irregular segments

RG-36.01.52, Cross inset with diamond (or ersatz gemstone)

RG-36.01.53, Nazi eagle brooch. An eagle with a swastika, likely placed on the front of an officer’s hat

RG-36.01.54, Belt buckle featuring an eagle clutching a swastika

RG-36.01.55, Einsatzsturm der NSDAP

RG 36.01.56, Red Nazi armband. Nazi armband with red cloth, white band all around middle of armband with black swastika on white diamond background. Dimensionns- 15 3/4” x 3 7/8”

RG-36.01.57, German Military Uniform Epaulet with one Eagle and four Buttons

A red epaulet with one gold, swastika-clutching eagle and four small silver-colored buttons, each depicting an eagle gripping a swastika

RG-36.01.58, Nazi Clasp

An ornate golden clasp featuring a swastika prominently displayed in the center.

RG-36.01.59, Ribbon

(From center) Black, White, Red

RG-36.01.60, Ring of Fabric (Possibly Armband)

A strip of white cloth with the letters “Ung. h.” and the number 46025.

RG-36.01.61, Small, black, leather-covered box

A sticker on the back has the words “Hauptmuenzamt Wien” (Official Mint of Vienna)

RG-36.01.62, Nazi Officer Hat

Unknown rank, though likely Wehrmacht

RG-36.01.63, Metal Nazi Medallion

A swastika is flanked by two stalks of wheat with possible relation to RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst) (German Labor Corps.)

RG-36.02, Daggers, sabers, and parade arms

RG-36.02.01, Third Reich Paratrooper Knife. Eickhorn stamped "Butterfly" knife. This type of knife was invented pre-WWII and there are early examples of this type available. However, these were not issued to German troops during the war. RZM marked with M7/66/34/SS and SS-Streifendienst

RG-36.02.02, HJ Hike/Camp Knife (Fahrtenmesser)

RG-36.02.03, Dagger produced by Eickhorn

RG-36.02.04, Similar to combat bayonet (Seitengewehr). The bayonet was first introduced by the Imperial German Army

RG-36.02.05, Schutzstaffel Unslotted Stag Grip, Dress Bayonet (Seitengewehr) 3

RG-36.02.06, Schutzstaffel Unslotted Stag Grip, Dress Bayonet (Seitengewehr) 1

RG-36.02.07, Schutzstaffel Unslotted Stag Grip, Dress Bayonet (Seitengewehr) 2

RG-36.02.08, Most likely pre-WWII made dagger

RG-36.02.09, Nazi Solingen Dagger

RG-36.02.10, SS dagger donated by Rosenthal. Marked with “SS,” state emblem, and motto, “Meine Ehre heiβt Treue”

RG-36.03, Nazi-German flags

RG-36.03.01, Small Nazi banner. Red Nazi banner with white circle in middle with a black swastika on circle. Dimensions: 13 1/2” x 9 1/2”

RG-36.03.02, Nazi triangle flag

RG-36.03.03, Large Nazi flag. Large red cloth flag with swastika on white circular background

RG-36.03.04, Red Nazi podium hanging banner 1. Red cloth with swastika on white circular background, bottom lined with white fringe

RG-36.03.05, Red Nazi podium hanging banner 2. Red cloth with swastika on white circular background, bottom lined with white fringe

RG-36.03.06, Nazi triangular flag, paper

RG 36.74, Hanging red triangle Nazi flag. Red triangle flag with white circle ad swastika in center of flag on both sides, hanging on a wood pole held by orange rope

Accession number- 85.62

Dimensions- flag- 11 1/8” x 22 1/4”, wood pole- 12 3/4 “long, rope- 26”

RG-36.80, Red Nazi Armband (possibly party member arm band)

RG-36.87, Luftwaffe belt buckle

RG-36.89, Nazi Flag

Donated by Mr. Paul Ceidow in June 2012.  Ceidow came to the United States from China at age sixteen.  He served in World War II as sergeant stationed near Karlsruhe, Germany after having landed at Normandy.  He does not recall the exact location where the flag was found.

RG-36.04, Nazi-German coins

RG-36.04.01, Reichspfennig Coin, dated 1932 (1)

RG-36.04.02, Reichspfennig Coin, dated 1932 (2)

RG-36.04.03, Two Reichspfennig Coins, Nazi Germany, dated 1937 and 1939

RG-36.04.04, Two Reichspfennig Coins. Nazi Germany. Dated 1939. Bronze-colored.

1.7 cm diameter

RG-36.05, Nazi-German paraphernalia

RG-36.05.01, Nazi paraphernalia, consolidated

RG-36.06, Lyle S. Bettger Collection

Provenance, Lyle R. Bettger, Atascadero, CA. June 26, 2012

Historic/Content Notes, The poster in this collection was torn from a storefront window in Munich, Germany on August 19, 1934 by Lyle S. Bettger.  The date of the incident is handwritten on the reverse side, “Torn off store window in Munich, Germany on August 19, 1934.”  Bettger and his band mates stopped off in Germany while providing entertainment on an Atlantic cruise from the U.S. to Europe.  After a run in with German police, Bettger tore down the poster “due to anger toward the police and general contempt for the regime.”  He then smuggled it from Germany.  In the 1950s Bettger returned to Munich while shooting the 1954 film, Carnival Story.  He returned to the same police station where his band mates had spent a night in jail during their 1934 trip.  The station still stood, although completely destroyed, rat infested, and abandoned.  Lyle noted the scene in the early 1950s stood in stark contrast to the intimidating environment of the 1930s.

Scope/Content Notes, This collection is comprised of a 22 x 31 inch poster of Adolf Hitler, as well as two photographs of Lyle Stathem Bettger and his son.

Organization, Photographs

RG-36.06.01, Adolf Hitler Poster (1). Torn from a store window in Munich, Germany by Lyle Stathem Bettger on August 19, 1934

RG-36.06.02, Adolf Hitler Poster (2). Torn from a store window in Munich, Germany by Lyle Stathem Bettger on August 19, 1934

RG-36.06.03, Photograph of Lyle S. Bettger, c. 1950

RG-36.06.04, Lyle S. Bettger and his son Lyle R. Bettger, c. 1995

RG-36.07, Oak Chest Poker Chips

RG-36.07.01, Photograph, Oak Chest of Poker Chips

RG-36.07.02, Photograph, Oak Chest of Poker Chips, Chips. Manufactured in Vichy France between 1940 and 1942. The poker chips are red, white, and blue and with swastikas and the French fleur-de-lys

RG-36.07.03, Photograph, Oak Chest of Poker Chips, Open

RG-36.08, Nazi-German rubber stamps

RG-36.92.01, General Government –

Two years anniversary of German power – Lublin – 26.10.1941.  General Government was part of the territories of Second republic of Poland under Nazi Occupation. Lublin is the capital of the correspondent voivodship in East Poland, in the Garman administrative division it was named District Lublin

RG-36.92.02, SS-Totenkopfstandarte –

Dead Head Unit was responsible for the three major camps Dachau, Sachsenhausen, and Buchenwald.  After the “Anschluss” a fourth Standarte (regiment) was established at the Mauthausen camp, which was called “Ostmark”

RG-36.92.03, Waffen SS –

SS combat army formation, generally in the form of a division

Waffen SS means military SS

RG-36.92.04, Administration of mail censorship - Gross-Rosen – R.L.

Gross-Rosen was a concentration camp in Lower Silesia, Germany. It became a province of Poland after 1945

RG-36.92.05, Police chairmanship in Danzig.

Danzig in pre-Second World War time was a Free City under the auspices of the League of Nations

RG-36.92.06, SA (Storm Detachments) of the N.S.D.A.P – 41 – location – Berlin. NSDAP is an abbreviation for Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei  (National Socialist German Workers’ Party)

RG-36.92.07, Criminal court – Breslau (Wroclaw after 1945) – 183/4

RG-36.92.08, SS Dirlewanger Brigade

SS Dirlewanger Brigade also known as SS Sturmbrigade “Dirlewanger” was an infamous military unit of the “Waffen SS”. This unit committed many war crimes. It consisted mainly of convicted poachers

RG-36.92.09, Waffen SS – Berlin

RG-36.92.10, Gren. Rat. 517

RG-36.09, Personal and official documents

RG-36.09.01, Soldbuch zugleich Personalausweis (SS ID booklet). Issued to Karl Meyer

RG-36.09.02, Urkunde booklet. Sports society membership booklet

RG-36.09.03, NSDAP membership booklet, Ludwig Hadler

RG-36.09.04, Certificate of Retention and Customs Declaration. Issued to John P. Jennings. Dated 5 November 1945.

RG-36.09.05, Addition to NSDAP membership booklet. Blank

RG-36.09.06, NSDAP membership booklet Karl Fritzsch

RG-36.10, Miscellaneous artifacts

RG-36.10.01, Red Star with hammer and sickle pin. A Red Star likely worn by a Russian soldier is embossed with a bronze hammer and sickle

RG-36.10. 02, Decorative belt buckle with the inscription “PALESTINE”

RG-36.11 Nazi-German Cutlery

RG-36.11.01, Fork and Knife Stamped with Nazi Insignia (Eagle and Swastika)