..For the TOLERANCE he taught Me..

I deliberated long and hard as to whether I should upload this image or not.. It is certainly not meant to cause any offence or disrespect to anybody.

These three medals are all examples of the War merit Cross Second Class. They were introduced by the Third Reich in 1941...

I bought these locally from a man I know who does house clearances when people die.. He knows I collect militaria and old photographs, transparencies and cameras. He tells me nobody wants to keep the Nazi medals, they are still ashamed.

The two with Swords recognized those military men whose acts of courage were above the call of duty, yet did not meet the criteria for the Iron Cross. These acts could either be in the form of bravery not under direct enemy fire or the planning/leading of combat operations. All members of the military were eligible without distinction to rank, and non-Germans Allies were equally eligible.

The greyish Cross without swords in the middle of the frame was awarded for general meritorious actions. Military personnel who qualified for the War Merit Cross in an administrative, medical, or other service away from the front line received this award, as did civilians whose contributions were of significant importance to the war effort. Civilians were awarded the distinction without regard to age or social class, from Diplomats to factory floor workers. You can see how this medal has turned greyish. This is because it is a later example and as the war progressed the materials to make the medals was cheaper and less bronze was used. This was originally covered in a bronze wash which has deteriorated with age.

The medal on your righthandside is very interesting as the swastika emblem has been filed away with great care.. My assumption is that this was done after the war by a soldier who was disgusted with the Nazis but perhaps still proud of his service in the war.. Many Germans threw their medals away on discovering what Nazism really meant.

My Grandfather was so angry with Mosley and his Fascists when they visited the North of England that in a rage he threw his cigarette tin at him, unfortunately he had forgotten that his weekly wage was secured inside the projectile..

Later he went on to fight Nazism during World War Two across the globe. He watched his friends die behind enemy lines in Sicily and Norway.. He suffered the hardships of the campaign in Africa and in pursuit of the retreating Nazis he was shot in France along with his friend and they both lay injured and bleeding in a field for three days. He had been shot in the backside and couldn't move. (Tom used to laugh with us when he told us this story when we were teenagers as my brother and I would always say, he was running away.. we were joking of course..) As they waited to be rescued they tried to keep their spirits up by singing to eachother. After two days Tom's friend stopped singing, my grandfather didn't know whether his friend had died or not.. A group of battle weary retreating Wehrmacht(Regular German Army) soldiers found them.. Tom was sure they were about to kill him. But they didn't. Instead they gave him the water cannister from the dead British Green Howard soldier that lay nearby and informed him that his 'Brother in Arms' had passed..Then without another word they carried on their retreat. The Battle of Britain continued to rage in the sky above him and as he waited for evac shrapnel from a falling plane landed on his back..injuring him further and making him pass out.. He showed me the horrendous scarring and claimed while smiling that some of the metal was still in there and over the years had moved around his body.

My Grandfather taught me that it was always right to fight and oppose injustice. He used to say he hated the SS but the German people were in the main okay, just victims like the rest of the world.. I silently thank him as I remember him today for the tolerance he has taught me..

And I dedicate this blip to him and as he would, to all those who have died in battle.