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with this Japanese sword my interest in militaria started in 1969, so now over 40 years ago.
It was the first item. It was given to me by my friend's father, who had brought it from the Dutch colony Ned.Indië,
where he had served as a soldier.
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in 1970 I started with some Third Reich "nicknacks", but daggers was what I liked the most at that moment. The
photograph is from early 1972.
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In about 1973 my interest was soon attracted to the HJ, it's uniforms and insignia. The uniforms came first, then came some
insignia and some headgear: the
Oberbann colors yellow and black. The red piped cap was said to be from a driver. I had no
real knowledge in those days. But my interest in regulations had started in the same year, due to a good friend, a Dutch judge,
who is my friend and mentor since about then.
Shown is the extremely rare cuffband "Germanische Jugend", an item that was introduced during the war when the Dutch
(HJ and Jeugdstorm) became guests from the HJ-organization in Germany.
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I still had not decided what to collect as my favorite. The SS tunic is in fact a field-grey navy tunic with SS insignia. I got it
from an SS member, living in my city. He owned some more items. The tunic he took when his old tunic was into pieces
during pulling back from the eastern front. It was field-grey like and that was what he had worn earlier. He knew how to
manage to take some items back home. Where it was hidden. Then he was sent to prison. A camouflage helmet was hand-
painted by himself (first photograph at left on the ground). It was stolen from me, possibly by a visitor, during a sort of
exhibition/lecture of WWII items. I have never seen it offered (the name of the SS-member was painted on the inside).