Der Stahlhelm! Bund der Frontsoldaten!

[wilhelm Saris]

The Bund was not disbanded in 1960, but existed anyway later then the 1980's. I do have participation documents from meetings from 1983 and 1988 from Ortsgruppe Ingolstadt.

[bolewts58]

Originally Posted by wilhelm Saris

The Bund was not disbanded in 1960, but existed anyway later then the 1980's. I do have participation documents from meetings from 1983 and 1988 from Ortsgruppe Ingolstadt.

As a national organization, it was disbanded in 1960. Although, it is true that regional groups continued to exist after that, but only unofficially.

[Sergeant 08]

Originally Posted by bolewts58

As a national organization, it was disbanded in 1960. Although, it is true that regional groups continued to exist after that, but only unofficially.

In #137 I posted a few event tinnies from the time after 1945.

1968, 1972 etc. Bundestreffen, Bundestagung etc.

Were those pieces only made for a few "unofficially" groups????

[wilhelm Saris]

No, the disbanding for the national organization took place in the early 1990's.

I was invited for the national meeting (Bundestagung) at Gemünd in Oktober 1988 for the celebrations of 70 years of Stahlhelm,
a two days meeting where many members attended. The photographs I do show in volume 2 for "Headgear of Hitler's Germany", pages 204, 254, 255
were handed over to me by old (in age) Stahlhelm-members and Heinrich Apkes.

[bolewts58]

Originally Posted by wilhelm Saris

No, the disbanding for the national organization took place in the early 1990's.

I was invited for the national meeting (Bundestagung) at Gemünd in Oktober 1988 for the celebrations of 70 years of Stahlhelm,
a two days meeting where many members attended. The photographs I do show in volume 2 for "Headgear of Hitler's Germany", pages 204, 254, 255
were handed over to me by old (in age) Stahlhelm-members and Heinrich Apkes.

Well, I guess the information online is wrong, then.

[wilhelm Saris]

as there is much wrong online!

I do own a Stahlhelm-pass (nr. 2963) for the "Kampfbund für Europa, Der Stahlhelm e.V.", so the new organization, which has an entry for the two-days meeting, which is officially stamped. The payment seals for the pass are from 1983 through the end of 1988.
The owner of the pass became a member on March 1, 1983 and belonged to the Landesverband Südbayern. I do know him personally! As there were problems with right-winged members, the pass-owner quite the Bund!

[chris clark]

do you have any pics of the meeting and in your view was it becoming a right wing organisation ???

[wilhelm Saris]

I had one or two photographs from the meeting, but by moving from another house, I have lost then. Anyway I can't find them. One photograph was taken during the flag-parade.
In my opinion it was becoming right-winged, due to the foreigners that had joined the Bund. This mainly were French and Belgium members, which practically all were from the Waffen-SS.

[chris clark]

that is so rarr as you may of held the last pics of a post shb meeting ever. can you tell if any old vets were there at all and maybe they may have some pics as very interested in the shb history line and has it actually finished ??

any info from anyone that attended this meet i hope comes forward

[wilhelm Saris]

The photographs of that meeting were for me of no interest at all and still don't interest me, as I considered the sphere at this meeting as not pretty. I don't like people with a right winged mind and was very annoyed by the expressions of many of them. I don't like people shouting "Sieg H" and "Sieg AH". I got it on the nerves. As mentioned this all were former Waffen-SS members and foreigners! The real German Stahlhelm-members did not have this attitude and attended the meeting in honor and dignity!

Yes, I did meet old members, as my good Stahlhelm-friend had taken care for that, so I could meet them (mainly from the Jungstahlhelm). Some extra brought photographs with them. A few are shown in "Headgear of Hitler's Germany" volume 2 (pages 204, 229, 230 below, 232, 234 upper, 244 below, 254, 255 and 256, as for example naval Stahlhelm and Stahlhem-females. One of the female photographs is shown somewhere by Sergeant08 in a thread, but I don't remember where! A few are shown in my newest book "Ringkragen und Brustschilder im Dritten Reich", as quite a chapter (55 pages) deals with gorgets of the Bund and its wearing.
I have no intention to show other Stahlhelm-photographs at forums, as they are "in stock" for eventual to write articles about that subject for the US-magazin "Military Advisor"!

During the meeting I was handed over a complete photo-album, loaded with photographs, with on its cover the old and original cuffband "Gau Süd-West-Afrika". It was given to me by an 80 year old Stahlhelm-member who had lived there and was returned for his old age to Germany. I instantly handed over the album to the archivist of the Bund. For them the album was of interest, more to them then for me!

Mail me in private your home-address and I will send you one of the pictures I just found: at the back is written "zur freundlichen Erinnerung an den 1.10.1988 in Gemünd/Eifel". The photograph shows vague flags
and persons attending, standing in honor for the flags. It is just a small view of all of those that were there. But as said: I am not interested in it!

[Sergeant 08]

Today in the mail.

[trompiche]

Hello sargent 08.

beautiful piece, my congratulations.
Regards.

[Sergeant 08]

Originally Posted by trompiche

Hello sargent 08.

beautiful piece, my congratulations.
Regards.

I really like it, because on the back it has the engraved name of a Stahlhelm Ortsgruppe.

[chris clark]

nice find

what is the Ortsgruppe if i may ask

wish i had a book end like it as looks awsum very nice thanks for showing

and with the reminants of gold on it aswell

[Sergeant 08]

Originally Posted by chris clark

nice find

what is the Ortsgruppe if i may ask

wish i had a book end like it as looks awsum very nice thanks for showing

and with the reminants of gold on it aswell

It is from the Ortsgruppe Sielow in Brandenburg. I think I will put it in my collection next to this piece.

Then they are together again: Stahlhelm and Wehrwolf! Side by side like in the early years, than both organizations fought together for a new Germany.