WW1 / WW2 / 20th Century

Soviet, USSR (CCCP) WW2 1945, Liberation Of Warsaw Medal "ЗА ОСВОБОЖДЕНИЕ ВАРШАВЫ" (For the Liberation of Warsaw)

Awarded to Soviet military personnel and partisans who directly participated in the capture and liberation of Warsaw between January 14 and January 17, 1945.

Made of brass, featuring the inscription "ЗА ОСВОБОЖДЕНИЕ ВАРШАВЫ" (For the Liberation of Warsaw) encircling a radiating starburst and laurel wreath at the bottom.

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets and post war, Cold War period Soviet medals we were delighted to acquire.

A blue silk moiré ribbon with a wide red stripe down the centre, flanked by narrow yellow edge stripes

Vistula–Oder Breakthrough: Marking Warsaw’s Liberation, January 1945
Instituted in the first weeks after victory in Europe, the Medal for the Liberation of Warsaw honoured Red Army, Navy, Air Force, NKVD, and Polish People’s Army personnel who took part in the operation that freed Poland’s capital on 17 January 1945.

Fought as part of the Vistula–Oder Offensive, the campaign combined river crossings, armor thrusts, and urban clearance. For collectors, this liberation medal pairs classic late-war Soviet design with substantial documentation potential and award numbers that sit between the largest victory issues and the scarcer city medals.

The Red Army liberated Warsaw on January 17, 1945, during the Soviet Vistula–Oder Strategic Offensive.
However, there is an important and vital historical backstory.
On August 1, 1944, the Polish underground Home Army (Armia Krajowa) launched the Warsaw Uprising to liberate the city from Nazi occupation before Soviet forces arrived.

The Warsaw Uprising triggered another stage of destruction. The Germans introduced artillery (including rocket artillery) and aviation into the fight. The insurgents did not have the strength to counteract these attacks. In turn, the German forces aimed to demolish as many houses as possible in order to destroy the insurgent resistance points. The Wehrmacht organized special units whose task was to set fire to Warsaw tenement houses.

After the uprising was suppressed, the Germans began systematic demolition of the remained buildings. Valuable home furnishings were transported inside Germany. It is estimated that the Germans used about 45,000 train wagons to move the goods stolen in Warsaw.

The Soviet Red Army halted its advance on the eastern bank of the Vistula River (in the Praga suburb) and remained idle for months while German forces brutally crushed the 63-day uprising, literally within view of the USSR armed forces

After the Polish resistance surrendered on October 2, 1944, German forces systematically razed and destroyed most of Warsaw

The losses caused by the uprising were not prevented in any way by the Red Army although its artillery and air force were stationed at hand. Stalin, for purely political reasons, allowed the destruction of the Poland’s capital city. According to propaganda messages, the Soviet forces did not have the necessary strength to counteract from the left-bank of Vistula. But meanwhile the Soviets found time and resources to create a terror apparatus to capture Polish soldiers from the Home Army who were tortured in the NKVD headquarters in Strzelecka or Władysław IV streets.

On January 12–14, 1945, Soviet and Polish allied forces resumed a massive offensive Troops from the 1st Belorussian Front and the 1st Polish Army entered the ruined city and took full control within three days on January 17, 1945 Years of occupation and final demolition reduced Warsaw's population from roughly 1.3 million before the war to a mere 150,000–162,000 survivors.
The capture, after the Germans were left undisturbed in order to destroy much of Warsaw, which allowed the Soviet Union to install a pro-communist Polish administration rather than restore the London-based Polish government-in-exile, leading to decades of communist rule.

Warsaw was ruined in 84% when the Red Army troops entered on 17 January 1945. The destruction was also a result of the Soviet’s indifference. Throughout the years of the People's Republic of Poland, this information was carefully censored. After the World War II, Warsaw had to put its homes on the altar of the Polish-Soviet friendship. In order to build the Stalin’s Palace of Culture and Science, 170 tenement houses were further demolished, and their inhabitants were relocated to the district of Muranów.  read more

Code: 26397

Original Soviet USSR Medal For The Capture of Berlin 1945. Original Ribbon {Wear Faded} & Brass Suspension Plate With Original Order of Glory Moiré Ribbon

The image shows a Soviet World War II Medal "For the Capture of Berlin" (Медаль «За взятие Берлина») attached to a standard pentagonal suspension ribbon• Inscription: The front features a five-pointed star at the top and the Russian text «ЗА ВЗЯТИЕ БЕРЛИНА» ("For the Capture of Berlin"), framed by an oak wreath at the bottom.
It is mounted on a pentagonal brass suspension ring wrapped in the red and black striped Order of Glory (St. George) ribbon.

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets and post war, Cold War period Soviet medals we were delighted to acquire.

Established by the Soviet Union on June 9, 1945, this campaign medal was awarded to soldiers of the Red Army, Navy, and NKVD who directly participated in the assault and capture of Berlin between April 22 and May 2, 1945.

Final Assault on the Reich: Commemorating the Fall of Berlin, May 1945
Created in the first weeks after victory in Europe, the Medal for the Capture of Berlin honored Red Army, Navy, Air Force, and NKVD personnel who directly participated in the city’s storming and surrender in April–May 1945. As the signature commemorative of the final offensive on the Eastern Front, it carries powerful historical resonance. For collectors, it offers classic late-war Soviet design, strong documentation potential, and award numbers that, while large, are far lower than the ubiquitous Victory medal.

A circular brass campaign medal on the standard pentagonal suspension, the Berlin medal combines a bold text obverse with a historically precise reverse date—marking the city’s capitulation. Period pieces exhibit clean lettering and even, well-struck fields.
Soviet pentagonal mount with moiré ribbon.

Obverse Details
Legend “ЗА ВЗЯТИЕ БЕРЛИНА” (“For the Capture of Berlin”).
Star and laurel elements framing the inscription; “2 МАЯ 1945” (2 May 1945), marking the city’s fall.

Commemorates the climactic operation of April–May 1945 culminating in the capitulation of Berlin and the end of the war in Europe.
Issued to a broad spectrum of combat and support arms—assault infantry, armour, artillery, sappers, medics, signals, and aviation units tied to the operation.

The military defence of the German capital took place between 16 April and 2 May 1945, serving as the final cataclysmic chapter of World War II in Europe. An overwhelming Soviet force of 2.5 million troops, 6,250 tanks, and over 41,000 artillery pieces advanced on the city. Facing them was a depleted, ad-hoc German force consisting of exhausted regular soldiers, elderly Volkssturm militia, and heavily indoctrinated Hitler Youth children.General Gotthard Heinrici attempted to stop the Soviets 90 kilometres east of the city at the Seelow Heights. Using clever tactical retreats to evade the opening Soviet bombardment, German forces delayed Marshal Georgy Zhukov's forces for four days before being entirely bypassed and encircled.Once the Red Army broke into the city, General Helmuth Weidling divided Berlin into eight defensive zones. Fighting became brutally claustrophobic; Germans hid in apartment basements using Panzerfaust anti-tank rockets to ambush Soviet armor, while the Soviets adapted by using heavy anti-aircraft guns to level upper floors street by street.The defence collapsed rapidly following Adolf Hitler's suicide in the Führerbunker on 30 April. General Weidling officially surrendered the city garrison to the Soviets on 2 May 1945  read more

Code: 26398

Fascinating German WW2 Public Notice Poster Regarding Two Luftwaffe Flyers. Public Metaphorical Crucifixion of Former Luftwaffe Fighting Aces. Blamed For The Loss of The Battleship Tirpitz

Der flieger flyer Stefan Egidy hat sich vorsatzlich auf wache einen schuss in den oberschenkel beigebracht, um seine zeitweise versetzung in das helmatgeblet zu erreichen .er hat dabel einen ueberfall seitens franzosen vorgetauscht durch urtell des feldkriegsgerichts ist er wegen zerstzung der wehrkraft durch selbstverstummelung und wegen wachvergehen zu 5 jahren zucthaus und verlust der wehrwurdigkeit verurteilt worden. Roughly it translates that Flyer Stefan Egidy was court martialled for a self inflicted wounding and sentence to 5 years and loss of privileges. Also Flieger flyer Niklaus Nels was similar court-martialled and sentenced to 3 years 6 months. German pilots were occasionally court-martialled for all manner of reasons, another one at the time was Born in Oberbalbach, Heinrich Ehrler, he grew up in the Weimar Republic and Third Reich as one of 12 children. He joined the military service in the Wehrmacht in 1935, initially service with the artillery and anti-aircraft artillery. He participated in the Spanish Civil War and following the outbreak of World War II transferred to the Jagdwaffe (fighter force). Following flight training, he was posted to the 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77?77th Fighter Wing), which was later redesignated to 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5?5th Fighter Wing).

Scapegoated for the loss of the German battleship Tirpitz, Ehrler - who had been nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords prior to the disaster - was court-martialled, stripped of his command and sentenced to three years and two months Festungshaft (honorable imprisonment). Ehrler's sentence was later commuted and his loss of rank rescinded, and in February 1945 he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 7. According to his fellow pilots, Ehrler thereafter flew in the increasingly desperate air battles without the purpose and dedication that had made him one of the Luftwaffe's most successful aces. On 4 April 1945, he shot down two Allied bombers for his final two victories, before destroying a third by ramming with his damaged aircraft after having run out of ammunition. His last recorded statement was "Theo, I have run out of ammunition. I'm going to ram this one. Good bye. We'll see each other in Valhalla." - Heinrich Ehrler's last transmission over the Squadron Radio Network before he rammed the B-24 bomber "Trouble in Mind," piloted by Captain John Ray, destroying both aircraft and killing himself. Central tear through middle can't be seen in photo

Intriguing ephemera from the 3rd Reich would look very fine if framed, obviously not in good condition but as direct examples of WW2 aeronautical history absolutely fascinating. Remarkable to survive and probably unique examples.  read more

Code: 19675

British WW2 Anti Hitler Propaganda Pamphlet "Ein Peinliches Versprechen" An Embarrassing Promise

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets we were delighted to acquire.

"ein peinliches versprechen". An air dropped propaganda leaflet pointing out that Hitler prophesied a German victory in 1941, as the Year of Final Victory. Undermining the Fuhrer Myth through Black Propaganda and clandestine means became the stated objective of the OSS.

Leaflets for propaganda, could be dropped by balloons and planes over enemy territory, or, distributed by hand when in occupied or allied territory. They was used heavily in both world wars by all sides. In World War II, special bombs were developed to disperse airborne leaflets. Used as a form of psychological warfare, these leaflets were dropped in enemy-controlled territory to incite fear, coerce surrender, or turn the populace against their leadership. This tactic proved to be largely ineffective, except when morale among troops was extremely low. Leaflet bombs are still used today in military warfare, as well as by radical political and ideological groups.

Toward the end of World War II, Germany dropped millions of propaganda leaflets on enemy lines to encourage troops to surrender. Some of these leaflets were tailored to African American soldiers and suggested they would be treated better as German prisoners of war than as citizens in their own country.

Nazi Germany was not known for its fair treatment of people of African descent, or any persons who weren’t Aryan. Black people were frequently vilified and deemed uncivilised in Nazi propaganda. Yet, Germany was willing to use any tactics necessary to avoid defeat, including highlighting American racism, to exploit existing tensions within the U.S. military..

Although these pamphlets were made in their tens of thousands almost all were destroyed either immediately or at the wars cessation, so few survive and mostly survive today in national archives or museums.

8.25 inches x 5.25 inches  read more

Code: 24498

Most Interesting & Historical Nazi Propaganda Leaflet Written by Notorious British Nazi and Traitor, John Amery, Who Was Executed At the Wars End. He Was The Son Of Churchill's Secretary of State & Journalist Leo Amery, Anti-Appeasement, & Churchill Ally

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets we were delighted to acquire.
An anti-Semitic propaganda leaflet printed in English, by infamous traitor John Amery, the Amery family's black sheep fascist, and the son of Churchill's Secretary of state for India. It was intended for distribution to British soldiers and civilians, a double-sided propaganda leaflet, entitled "Why Die for Stalin? Why die for the Jews?" and authored by British fascist and propagandist JOHN AMERY (1912-1945), who was tried and executed for treason postwar. The leaflet features the usual conspiratorial pabulum explaining that British soldiers are dying fruitlessly for Jewish and communist interests in Italy, Burma and on the Atlantic, while attempting to explain the fruitlessness of hostilities between England and Germany.

Leo Amery, his father, was an anti appeasement politician and fought hard for the downfall of Chamberlain in order the install Churchill, by far the best man to oppose Hitler in the war, he was proved to be absolutely correct in his judgement, in direct and thoroughly equal incorrect judgement, of his traitorous son, regarding Herr Hitler.

Leaflets for propaganda, could be dropped by balloons and planes over enemy territory, or, distributed by hand when in occupied or allied territory. They was used heavily in both world wars by all sides. In World War II, special bombs were developed to disperse airborne leaflets. Used as a form of psychological warfare, these leaflets were dropped in enemy-controlled territory to incite fear, coerce surrender, or turn the populace against their leadership. This tactic proved to be largely ineffective, except when morale among troops was extremely low. Leaflet bombs are still used today in military warfare, as well as by radical political and ideological groups.

Toward the end of World War II, Germany dropped millions of propaganda leaflets on enemy lines to encourage troops to surrender. Some of these leaflets were tailored to African American soldiers and suggested they would be treated better as German prisoners of war than as citizens in their own country.

Nazi Germany was not known for its fair treatment of people of African descent, or any persons who weren’t Aryan. People of colour were frequently vilified and deemed uncivilised in Nazi propaganda. Yet, Germany was willing to use any tactics necessary to avoid defeat, including highlighting American racism, to exploit existing tensions within the U.S. military. And by the wars end they even encouraged foreign Muslims to join the dedicated Muslim waffen SS regiments, which in the 1930's would be unthinkable.

Although these pamphlets were made in their tens of thousands almost all were destroyed, either immediately on landing or at the wars cessation, so very few indeed survive and mostly survive today in national archives or museums.

On 22 June, the Second Armistice at Compiègne was signed between France and Germany. Amery resided in the territory belonging to the collaborationist Vichy government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain. However, his personality soon antagonised the Vichy Regime so he made several attempts to leave but was not allowed. The head of the German Armistice Commission offered Amery a chance to live in Germany to work in the political arena but he was unable to get Amery out of occupied France.

In September 1942, Hauptmann Werner Plack gained Amery the French travel permit he needed, and in October Plack and Amery travelled to Berlin to speak to the German English Committee. It was at this time that Amery suggested that the Germans consider forming a British anti-Bolshevik legion. Adolf Hitler was impressed by Amery and allowed him to remain in Germany as a guest. During this period, Amery made a series of pro-German propaganda radio broadcasts, attempting to appeal to the British people to join the war on communism.

British Free Corps
The idea of a British force to fight the communists languished until Amery encountered Jacques Doriot during a visit to France in January 1943. Doriot was part of the LVF (Légion des Volontaires Français), a French volunteer force fighting alongside the Germans on the eastern front.

Amery rekindled his idea of a British unit and aimed to recruit 50 to 100 men for propaganda purposes and to establish a core of men with which to attract additional members from British prisoners of war. He also suggested that such a unit could provide more recruits for the other military units made up of foreign nationals.
Amery's first recruiting drive for what was initially to be called the British Legion of St George took him to the Saint-Denis POW camp outside Paris. Amery addressed between 40 and 50 inmates from British Commonwealth countries and handed out recruiting material. This first effort at recruitment was a complete failure, but he persisted.

Amery's drive for recruits found two men, of whom only one, Kenneth Berry, joined what was later called the BFC. Amery's link to the unit ended in October 1943, when the Waffen SS decided his services were no longer needed, and it was officially renamed the British Free Corps.

Arrest
Amery continued to broadcast and write propaganda in Berlin until late 1944 when he travelled to Northern Italy to lend support to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's Salò Republic. On 25 April 1945, Amery was captured along with his French mistress Michelle Thomas by Italian partisans from the Garibaldi Brigade near Como. Amery and Thomas were initially to be executed, but both of them were eventually sent to Milan, where they were handed over to Allied authorities. Amery was wearing the uniform of the "Muti Legion", a fascist paramilitary organisation. The British army officer who took him into custody was Captain Alan Whicker, later known as a broadcaster.

Trial and execution
Amery was tried for treason in London. In a preliminary hearing, he argued that he had never attacked Britain and was an anti-Communist, not a Nazi. At the same time, his brother Julian attempted to show that John had become a Spanish citizen, and therefore would legally be incapable of committing treason against the United Kingdom.

His counsel, Gerald Osborne Slade KC, meanwhile, tried to show that the accused was mentally ill. Amery's sanity was questioned by his own father, Leo, but all efforts to have the court consider his mental state were unsuccessful. Further attempts at a defence were suddenly abandoned on the first day of his trial, 28 November 1945, when to general astonishment, Amery pleaded guilty to eight charges of treason, and was sentenced to death. The trial lasted just eight minutes.

Before accepting Amery's guilty plea, the judge, Mr Justice Humphreys, made certain that Amery realised the only permissible penalty would be death by hanging. After satisfying himself that Amery fully understood the consequences of pleading guilty, the judge announced this verdict:

John Amery ... I am satisfied that you knew what you did and that you did it intentionally and deliberately after you had received warning from ... your fellow countrymen that the course you were pursuing amounted to high treason. They called you a traitor and you heard them; but in spite of that you continued in that course. You now stand a self-confessed traitor to your King and country, and you have forfeited your right to live.

Amery was hanged in Wandsworth Prison on 19 December 1945 by executioner Albert Pierrepoint, who in his autobiography described Amery as "the bravest person I'd ever hanged", and buried in the prison cemetery. Amery actually quipped as he was led to the scaffold, "I've always wanted to meet you, Mr Pierrepoint, though not of course under these circumstances!" In 1996, Julian Amery had his brother's remains exhumed and cremated, scattering his ashes in France.

5 1/2" x 8"  read more

Code: 24493

Mightier Yet! Every Day More Planes Every Day More Pilots Original WW2

Propaganda poster for the British wartime RAF and the mighty Hurricane. Printed for HM Stationary Office by J. Weiner Ltd London WC1. A propaganda information and recruitment poster. The size as were used in the underground trains advertising panels, or the back of black cabs. Britain re-created the World War I Ministry of Information for the duration of World War II to generate propaganda to influence the population towards support for the war effort. A wide range of media was employed aimed at local and overseas audiences. Traditional forms such as newspapers and posters were joined by new media including cinema (film), newsreels and radio. A wide range of themes were addressed, fostering hostility to the enemy, support for allies, and specific pro war projects such as conserving metal and growing vegetables. In 1940 in particular, Winston Churchill made many calls for the British to fight on, and for British units to fight until they died rather than submit. His calls for fight to victory inspired a hardening of public opinion. Determination raised the numbers of the Home Guard and inspired a willingness to fight to the last ditch, in a manner rather similar to Japanese determination, and the slogan "You can always take one with you" was used in the grimmest times of the war. British victories were announced to the public for morale purposes, and broadcast to Germany for purposes of undermining morale.

Even during Dunkirk, an optimistic spin was put on how the soldiers were eager to return.

When the U-boat commander Gunther Prien vanished with his submarine U-47, Churchill personally informed the House of Commons, and radio broadcasts to Germany asked, "Where is Prien?" until Germany was forced to acknowledge his loss.

The turn of the war made BBC's war commentaries much more stirring.

We never normally comment on the investment potential of any collectable, but the potential for all underpriced WW1 and WW2 posters must be incredible, for example the more famed poster, 'Keep Calm and Carry On' can now sell for over £20,000.
Good condition 10 inches x 15 inches  read more

Code: 20863

A Superb Condition and Very Rare Third Reich Publication,WW2 1943 Published Nazi & Vichy-French Propaganda Leaflet, Titled INTUITION With Swastikas and Portrait Photo of Adolf Hitler. Four Pages, Folded

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets we were delighted to acquire.

With photographs and propaganda quotes from such as Hitler, Goering, and Mussolini, showing the fallacy of their statements

For example; "Le mot dordre de la luftwaffe pour 1940 est; victoire"

translation "The Luftwaffe watchword for 1940 is; victory"
Goering 31st December 1939

"l'amitie entre italiens et allemands deviant tous les jours profinde"

translation "the friendship between Italians and Germans becoming deep every day"
Mussolini 2 December 1942

Leaflets for propaganda, could be dropped by balloons and planes over enemy territory, or, distributed by hand when in occupied or allied territory. They was used heavily in both world wars by all sides. In World War II, special bombs were developed to disperse airborne leaflets. Used as a form of psychological warfare, these leaflets were dropped in enemy-controlled territory to incite fear, coerce surrender, or turn the populace against their leadership. This tactic proved to be largely ineffective, except when morale among troops was extremely low. Leaflet bombs are still used today in military warfare, as well as by radical political and ideological groups.

Toward the end of World War II, Germany dropped millions of propaganda leaflets on enemy lines to encourage troops to surrender. Some of these leaflets were tailored to African American soldiers and suggested they would be treated better as German prisoners of war than as citizens in their own country.

Nazi Germany was not known for its fair treatment of people of African descent, or any persons who weren’t Aryan. Black people were frequently vilified and deemed uncivilised in Nazi propaganda. Yet, Germany was willing to use any tactics necessary to avoid defeat, including highlighting American racism, to exploit existing tensions within the U.S. military..

Although these pamphlets were made in their tens of thousands almost all were destroyed either immediately or at the wars cessation, so very few survive and mostly survive today in national archives or museums.

This one is particularly rare, in fact we haven't seen a surviving example before, certainly not in the past 50 years.

This is also a large size some could be only a few inches in size.
16.25 inches x 10.5 inches un-folded open. Overall in nice condition with one or two fold tears.  read more

Code: 24491

Fabulous and Rare Aeronautical Set. Germany 1912 Gordon Bennett Zeppelin Airship Flight, 12 Poster Vignette Cinderella Stamps

Original, period vignette for 1912 Gordon Bennett air show with pioneering German Zeppelin before WWI. Size 1.5 x 2 inches Gum: MH {Mint Hinged} Photographed against a card background, but all the stamps are gummed and separate.

Very rare to get large number sets. Two sets of x 12, we have 24 but we have split them for sale into 2 sets of 12.

The 1914 Cazin and Rochas catalog claims they were printed in nine colours of ink on nine different papers

The Gordon Bennett Cup (or Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett) is the world's oldest gas balloon race, and is "regarded as the premier event of world balloon racing" according to the Los Angeles Times. Referred to as the "Blue Ribbon" of aeronautics, the first race started from Paris, France, on September 30, 1906. The event was sponsored by James Gordon Bennett Jr., the millionaire sportsman and owner of the New York Herald newspaper. According to the organizers, the aim of the contest "is simple: to fly the furthest distance from the launch site." The contest ran from 1906 to 1938, interrupted by World War I and in 1931, but was suspended in 1939 when the hosts, Poland, were invaded at the start of World War II. The event was not resurrected until 1979, when American Tom Heinsheimer, an atmospheric physicist, gained permission from the holders to host the trophy.  read more

Code: 25112

Fabulous and Rare Aeronautical Set. Germany 1912 Gordon Bennett Zeppelin Airship Flight, 12 Poster Vignette Cinderella Stamps

Original, period vignette for 1912 Gordon Bennett air show with pioneering German Zeppelin before WWI. Size 1.5 x 2 inches Gum: MH {Mint Hinged} Photographed against a card background, but all the stamps are gummed and separate.

Very rare to get large number sets. Two sets of x 12, we have 24 but we have split them for sale into 2 sets of 12.

The 1914 Cazin and Rochas catalog claims they were printed in nine colours of ink on nine different papers

The Gordon Bennett Cup (or Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett) is the world's oldest gas balloon race, and is "regarded as the premier event of world balloon racing" according to the Los Angeles Times. Referred to as the "Blue Ribbon" of aeronautics, the first race started from Paris, France, on September 30, 1906. The event was sponsored by James Gordon Bennett Jr., the millionaire sportsman and owner of the New York Herald newspaper. According to the organizers, the aim of the contest "is simple: to fly the furthest distance from the launch site." The contest ran from 1906 to 1938, interrupted by World War I and in 1931, but was suspended in 1939 when the hosts, Poland, were invaded at the start of World War II. The event was not resurrected until 1979, when American Tom Heinsheimer, an atmospheric physicist, gained permission from the holders to host the trophy.

With its extraordinary fineness and silky matt surface, bisque porcelain exudes an unmistakable charm. Sculptural qualities, modelling skills and decorations such as reliefs are shown to full effect and are further accentuated by the material’s fascinating tactile quality. Developed in the 18th century by the French painter Jean-Jacques, the fine material rose to prominence as a substitute for ivory, alabaster and marble in the manufacture of the Château Vincennes. To this day, bisque porcelain is often compared to marble because of its unique way of diffusing light rather than reflecting it. At MEISSEN, this effect and material quality is achieved by polishing the unglazed surface of fired porcelain pieces in painstaking detail, resulting in the bisque's characteristic velvety soft surfaces.

Porcelain in its purest form. Contrary to popular belief, bisque porcelain has the same properties as its glazed counterparts in terms of density, hardness, strength and resistance. By omitting the glaze, details, such as sculptural swerves, elaborate embossing work and decorations, such as reliefs, are highlighted and given a unique tactile quality, showing off the skills of Meissen artisans in a particularly compelling way  read more

Code: 25113

A Scarce Original WW2 British '37 Pattern Commando Officer's 9mm Browning Hi-power Holster, Ammunition Pouch & Waistbelt 1942/3 in Excellent Plus Condition

This 3 commando holster set was acquired with a German Luftwaffe officers PPK holster but sold seperately. After WW2 the officer kept his Browning and the Walther PPK as souvenirs, but surrendered his Browning and the Walther to the police in the 1960's. We acquired both holsters from his grandson

The 9mm automatic holster was easily identifiable by its level top edge almost all revolver holsters being angled upwards. With top hooks to connect underneath an ammunition pouch as an option. The neat ammunition pouch could accommodate two 12 round packets, a fabric strip went over the brace adaptor and a fabric loop fitted at the bottom accepted the top hook of a holster. dated 42/43.

No. 3 Commando was a battalion-sized Commando unit raised by the British Army during the Second World War. Formed in July 1940 from volunteers for special service, it was the first such unit to carry the title of "Commando". Shortly afterwards the unit was involved in a largely unsuccessful raid upon the German-occupied Channel Island of Guernsey.

In 1941 they were involved in successful raids on the Lofoten Islands and Vaagso, in Norway, before taking part in the costly Dieppe raid in August 1942, where the unit was tasked with knocking out a German coastal artillery battery on the eastern flank of the main landings, although due to a chance encounter in the Channel with a German convoy, a large majority of the unit failed to make it ashore.

In early 1943, the unit was sent to Gibraltar before moving to North Africa in April from where they were involved in the Allied invasion of Sicily and operations in Italy prior to being withdrawn to Britain to prepare for Operation Overlord. On D-Day they went ashore on 6 June 1944 as part of the 1st Special Service Brigade tasked with linking up with the 6th Airborne Division on the eastern flank of Sword before being withdrawn. Later they took part in the Allied counterattack during the Ardennes Offensive in early 1945 before taking part in the advance into Germany as part of Operation Plunder.

Following the end of the war, No. 3 Commando carried out occupation duties in Germany before it was disbanded on 4 January 1946.  read more

Code: 25143