Militaria, WW1 WW2

[spoilsofwar01]

In addition to Watches I'm interested in Militaria, and Antiques some items I keep and others I sell to finance Watches, anyone else interested in WW1 WW2 collecting?

NB; not looking to get into discussions that relate to edged weapons or firearms, ..........only interested in Uniforms, Flags, Badges, Medals and ephemera.

[colpol]

I've a small collection of German ww2 badges

Close combat clasp, wound badges, etc

Unfortunately watches & motorbikes take up too much of my money

It's a fascinating area to get into but a mine field of fakes - can see why some people would build up great collections

[Art 1]

While I don't collect or have any items I am fascinated by war items from those eras. A buddy has a nurses uniform, military uniforms and helmets, very interesting. He was able to trace back a German helmet to the family in Germany who's ancestor wore the helmet in WW2. Cool stuff.

[andromeda160]

I have a few Dr. Fritz todt medals and an SS 25yr I'd like to believe was taken off a dead Nazi. Other than that, im mainly into pre ww1 bayonets as they're nastier than sin and make me cringe every time I imagine them in use.

[offrdmania]

I dont collect, but I have the complete uniforms of both my grandfathers from WWII, both captains. One in the Army signal corps and the other in the Army Air Corps.
I also have my uncles dress As from Vietnam. He was an Engineer.

[SearChart]

My colleague has a ww2 matching numbers German officer's watch.
I'd like to buy a ww2 omega RAF watch some day, and collect things that do pew pew for on the wall.

[pickettt]

I have a handful of Philippine Pesos printed by the Japanese government during their occupation. My grandfather, a former Filipino POW, gave them to me.

[GSDLover]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

I dont collect, but I have the complete uniforms of both my grandfathers from WWII, both captains. One in the Army signal corps and the other in the Army Air Corps.
I also have my uncles dress As from Vietnam. He was an Engineer.

How cool. My grandfather was a Captain in the 9th Army Aircops in Europe during WWII. I have his uniforms, medals, diary and personal sidearm (Colt 1911). Plus a lot of other stuff he "liberated" from surrendering troops. Some horrific stories he had.

[Sporkmaker]

I have a modest collection of wartime gendaito but as it seems to be against forum guidelines I won't elaborate. I do need to find less pricey collecting interests.

[milov]

My father was an officer in the Yugoslav partisans. I have a bunch of his medals.

[pah5153]

I'm also a military collector. Have several military watches including Luftwaffe Hanhart chronograph, and a b-uhr.

[vakman]

I also collect have a fee german medals a helmet and Some rare propaganda magazines

[Keadog]

My paternal grandfather was career Army, Dental Corps. He served in WWI and WWII. During WWII, he collected/traded for a large amount of group insignias ("patches"). When he was retired as Lt. Col. after the war with the elimination of a lot of the officer ranks moving into peacetime, he went into private dental practice. He had all these patches hanging from clothespins in his office. Any child patient got to pick one as a "prize" after he treated them. I ended up with the rest. We framed a bunch for our son's room when he was young and still have those, as well as all the rest in folios.

[GSDLover]

WOW. My paternal grandfather was a dentist while serving with the Army Aircorp during WWII. He was a Captain and fought in France and Belgium. He returned to civilian practice after the war.

[BLACKHORSE 6]

Not a collector, but always enjoy going to military museums. One of the best in the states is at my alma mater, West Point. The Imperial War Musuem in London was great, as was the Musée de l'Armée in Paris.

[TheVTCGuy]

Here is my collection. The round dogtag was my father’s from WW II.

[colpol]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Here is my collection. The round dogtag was my father’s from WW II.

Looks great - is that wall mounted ?

[GED]

I used to collect WWII era U.S. army and AAF uniforms(all sold off in 2016).

Some of my favorites from that collection:

(a set "pinks and greens")






"Silver Wings, Pinks and Greens": Aces Dominic Salvatore "Don" Gentile(left) and Duane Willard Beeson:



I've read a lot about the USAAF, esp. the 8th. Now reading about James Stewart's time in the ETO-who flew 20 combat missions in a B-24 Liberator.



And while not strictly "militaria" I also had a nice collection of Britains Ltd. lead soldiers-most of it sold off in 2009(cover of auction catalog featuring
the "pride" of my collection-a 25 piece set of the Bahamas Police Band(with original box):

[goin camping]

I used too. Only stuff left besides a few historic firearms are:

WWII field typewriter. Actually a great small sized type writer for traveling. I like to use a typewriter for my hobby.

WWII De exposived land mine I found in the desert.

WWII 25lb inert wing bombs found in the desert.

WWII Army Air Corp. great coat. Warm as can be.

WWII Coleman lantern.

WWII Wrist compass.

WWII RAF pilots wings.

WWII U.S. Army Pith helmet.

WWI American pilots goggles w/case and spare tinted lenses.

Used to have closets full of uniforms with belts, hats, helmets etc. to go with the various countries arms I collected But they and the vast majority historic of firearms went on the block a decade or so ago.

Also auctioned off the vehicles.

1942 willys Marine Corp. jeep.
1954 Dodge Air force ambulance.
1962 REO Army Deuce and a half.
1967 Jeep Army four body ambulance.

Really would like one of those WWII pocket watches though.

[vakman]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Here is my collection. The round dogtag was my father’s from WW II.

Looking good.

[breitlings]

Not a collector per se but have my grandfathers wwii 10th mountain division officer uniform and my Dad has his Dad’s purple heart. Some Japanese items picked up after a mountain based sniper attack on an airbase after surrender. My grandfather led two groups to find the riflemen.