Maximum number of WWII Medals

No one person could receive more than 5 stars and the two medals. Also no one person was awarded more than one clasp to any one campaign star.

This maximum entitlement can be expressed as

• 1939-45 Star
• Atlantic Star (or Aircrew Europe or France and Germany)
• Africa Star
• Pacific Star (or Burma Star)
• Italy Star
• Defence Medal
• War Medal

Info from Stephen Stratford.co.uk, Image from WWII Medals Badges & Insignia

As mentioned before I stumbled upon a webstore that sold medals and badges from the Second World War. Usually I’d have beamed at the fact that such novelty items were available for purchase, but then it got me thinking how there can be a value to accomplishment medals? The prices on the store seem to depend on the physical state of the medals and there probably is a standard pricing for the different types (derived from what exactly?) but is it really right to be selling some of these? I’m sure many of the badges and insignias were either surplus or part of an overflowing ‘archive’, but what about the medals and ID Tags? Has memorabilia from WWII faded into the souvenir category already?

It might be interesting to look at the worth of medals, how does one go about obtaining one, what kind of story is behind it, and what relationship the wearer/giver might have with it…

More places that will steal my time & money.

http://www.collectors.demon.co.uk/badges-Home.html

http://www.usmedals.com/default.aspx?res=1680

One of my favourite scenes in Band of Brothers

“We salute the rank, not the man” Lieutenant Winters to Captain Sobel

Today was visit the National War Museum in Chelsea day. The weather was smashin’ – a little windy, but smashin’ nevertheless. I’d been to the Imperial War Museum before and had assumed that the National War Museum would be a more serious version, with a more academic approach. It was academic alright, for elementary school. A lot of the displays and interactions were for children, and the language was a little too dumbed down for my taste. Worst of all, photography is not allowed? Well since I’m such a badass rebel, I took advantage of my phone camera. That’s what its really for, isn’t it.

During the First World War trench warfare, the Allies would sometimes dig a tunnel under the trenches to the German side and plant explosives.

Formations Badges from the Pacific front

The formation badges and medals (ribbons & coins) caught my eye most, and got me thinking what determines the colour and shape of a medal…

Early in the war soldiers realized the need for local camouflage adaptation. Foliage was commonly held with various equipment straps and wire.

Left: Multiple Segment Tent; Right: Luftwaffe field division in training. The zeltbahn is being used as a rainproof poncho.

Though the veil is commonly miscontrued as sniper equiment, it was issued to all types of SS close combat ground forces.

Looking at the language of camouflage – the phenomenon of hiding from sight to gain sight.

Interesting to see that the differences in the German SS uniforms are dependant on season, weather and purpose. Also, I’m pretty sure the uniforms for the French, English, American, Japanese and all other nations are different in camouflage design. The French and the Germans would’ve fought in very similar geographic conditions, what had determined the differences in design? I’d love to find out more about how each nations’ camouflage pattern designer interpreted the colour of season differently.

What are current military camouflage based on? Who designs them?