Look What I Found in the Museum.

The Christchurch Memorial Returned and Services Assn (RSA) had a club rooms near the center of the city. This also included a Museum, containing various items of memorabilia collected over the years. In 2011 the building was damaged beyond repair. With the fear of further damage from ongoing after shocks and lack of security the collection was hurriedly packed up and secured in a container at the RNZAF museum. The Air Force, with support from the National Museum have turned there new restoration workshop into a recovery center for many organisations the have lost the storage due to the earthquake.

Over the years the RSA has been lent and donated many items. The cataloging has been poor and this is the opportunity the to record, identify, and catalog each item. The condition varies, and some, especially documents are in poor condition. Fortunately we have archivists from the Air Force Museum to offer help and advise.

I have started to work through the collection, and am amazed at what I have found.I will post some of the interesting items, and my need help in Identifying them.

 

Thanks for sharing and I look forward to your posts. Elsie

 

German Prints.
This is probably my most interesting find to date. Stuffed into a box were 2 rolls of prints. The condition is poor, ripped edges, cellotape, and lack of care. There are 50 prints, showing various German solders. We believe they are prints from a German Magazine, possibly called "the Eagle" or similar. Any further information would be helpful.

 

Very interesting Craig. I am looking forward to seeing what else you turn up, particular any 23rd Battalion related memorabilia.
I am no expert but I believe the German's had a propaganda magazine called 'Signal' that could also be a source of those prints.

 

Those photos have a "Signal" look about them, but look interesting. I've never seen a picture of lads washing a Hanomag before!

 

I have never seen able looking soldiers and a nurse studying leaves of a thorny plant before ...in wartime .. for propaganda !??
"hhmm, ist das nun ein entartetete Pflanz ? ..och , sehen Sie wegen die tiefen grüne Farbe und zörnige Blätter, sollte es bestimmt ein 1000-järiges-ReichsPlanz sein..hmmm, bestimmt.."

 

Is the plant Aryan? Is it wounded?

 

I bet the flamethrower picture is not actual combat, but a training excercise.
(casual walking soldiers, photographer standing ) .
Do you agree ?

 

They do look awfully relaxed to be fair!

 

Hi Andy I just happen to have a copy of Signaal (German spelling I think) and have added a couple of scans, it will not all fit on my printer- to big, so they don't look like they are taken from that.
regards lofty

 

Gerard,

I seem to think that I have seen this photograph before, more than likely a photograph from the Wartime German Photographic Archives.

If it is the same one, the soldiers are cleaning off the winter whitewash Camouflage, as spring has arrived on the Russian Front.

Regards
Tom

 

Lofty
"Signaal" is Dutch spelling, "aflevering" (edition - 1st July, 1943) printed on the side, too. So this seems to be the version of the well known German propaganda magazine in Dutch language, aiming at the readers in the Netherlands and the Flemish part of Belgium. On the margin one can find most of the European currencies, interestingly not only those of the Axis supporters. Sweden and even Switzerland is listed.

 

Most of the prints have the posed look about them, no sign of an enemy. I plan to post more photos soon.

 

This plaque is made from a pewter type material.
The top plate reads, " Presented to the CHCH RSA By RON PLATT Reg No 11567"
The lower one "Souvenired KASSEL RAILWAY STATION GERMANY 1945"

 

Interesting scans Lofty.

Aixman, it never occurred to me that the magazine would be printed for an audience outside of Germany but it does make sense when I think about it!

 

Once the Germans invaded the Soviet Union and manpower began to become an issue, they scoured the occupied territories for volunteers to join the ranks of the Wehrmacht/SS. Magazines such as these would have been used as a useful propaganda tool in directing public opinion in Occupied Europe.

 

She looks more like a waitress to me.
Going by the coffee cups on the table.

 

This months visit was again interesting., opening many boxes containing news paper of the war years. The following are two items that were of interest tp me.



This is a letter sent to a next of kin, advising of there family member being wounded. dated 19-10-1915. This document was found in very poor condition.



This tapestry is common with souvenirs brought back by members of the NZEF in Egypt. According to the note with it, it was brought back by a member of the Maori Battalion, He was called Maaka,.

 

Brilliant finds ,keep them coming and thank you for sharing . Elsie

 

Refer post #3
I have done a bit of research on these images

"DAS HEER IM GROSSDEUTSCHEN FREIHEITSKAMPF"
THE ARMY IN GREAT GERMANY'S STRUGGLE FOR LIBERATION C 1941 – 1942

“The sets were subtitled "Kunstblätter für die deutsche Jugend" (Artwork For The German Youth), meaning that the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKW or High Command of the Army) published it to awake interest in warfare and becoming a German soldier among Hitler Youth boys. This probably explains why there are so very few complete sets still around. A full set consisted of 50 of these fantastic full color photographs, taken by German Kriegsberichter (War Correspondents), published 1942 for the OKW by Förster und Borries in Zwickau, Germany. Their huge size of 14-3/4 x 12-1/2 inches made them perfect items to hang on the wall and it is nearly impossible today to find a set that has not been broken upThe photos were taken in the Arctic regions (Norway, Finland), in the Balkan and in RussiaA variety of branches and vehicles of the German Wehrmacht are shown: Tiger Tank and other Panzers, Halftrack, Self-Propelled Gun, PAK and crew, AA-Gun, Heavy Gun at the Atlantic Coast, Cavalry, motorcycle-dispatchers, flame-thrower, Horse-Drawn Artillery, Gebirgsjäger (Mountain Troops) on skies, infantry on the march, Convoys headed East, motorcycle stuck in the Russian mud, Engineers repairing a bridge, supply convoy, infantry in the far North, at the spearhead of a tank column, artillery radiomen and much more.”