German SS Helmet

[mikeland]

You want to debate the morality of owning and profiteering from SS regalia??

You're right - i'm on the wrong thread as this won't end well

No I don't...

If you do go start a thread for it...

[Johnnie]

I would sell it. From a personal view I rather have 10K dollars than a helmet. BUT it sounds like a once in your lifetime trade.

But as Colonel White wrote:

I think you may need to just take a bit of time out before you come to a decission.

[Parus Ater]

To be clear, most helmets are bought to be part of a "set". The holy grail of helmet collecting in WWII is to have one of each type each with one of each paintjob. With a lot of collecting areas with the WWII thematic, TR is the narrowest so feasible. That's why.

My two bits the other way is that I wouldn't want the thing in the house but turnwise I collect German TR era stamps.

[Suetonius Paullinus]

Hang on...didn't Paul say he'd kill to get it???
Offer it to him in exchange for a life- long free supply of Warlord/ BA goodness
I know I'd try...

But seriously, take the cash (10k!!!!) and buy the WWI stuff you really want yourself.
Pecunia non olet, mate!

Cheers

SP

[grant]

Let's definitely NOT debate on anything but the poll. And again, I would recommend NOT opening a thread to do that - not only would not end well, it would end before it started. I think there are many, many wonderful places to debate the SS issue. I think bringing it here would sully the forum.
Now everybody, be cool.

[Invisible officer]

Ten thousand dollar for a mass product that is just 70 years old?

I would take the money and run. And waste it on my collection of British militaria.

Rare victorian cavalry helmets sell for a fraction, real beauties. Something you can show to women.

But everybody collects what he likes.

[Parus Ater]

Ten thousand dollar for a mass product that is just 70 years old?

I would take the money and run. And waste it on my collection of British militaria.

Rare victorian cavalry helmets sell for a fraction, real beauties. Something you can show to women.

But everybody collects what he likes.

As I said, cash it in and get a Dodge Ambulance.

[grant]

Crazy, isn't it? That I can agree on, as well as the beautiful nature of 19th century militaria. Everyone has their thing though!

(I have two pieces of Nazi era items - a rally token marked "Tag der Arbeit", 1936, with the eagle/swastika and interestingly a hammer/sickle, and the really common Winterschlact im Osten medal. The token my dad found when running near Lahr one day while he was posted there, and where I was born; the medal was given to him by a friend who's dad had been awarded it. I have both in my treasure chest along with other "stuff". )

[mikeland]

Take the 10k and get a state of the art mancave!

Funny thing I have never wanted to collect any memorabilia.

When i was younger my Dad borrowed some ww1 stuff from a friend who is a historian. A german helmet, she'll casing and other bits. I found them strangely sad and a little eerie... Never desired to own any myself since.

However BD's replica Roman Gladius on the other hand.

[Correus]

A lot of interesting comments....

As for value...I had no idea what the value would be - I don't collect WWII items, but I knew it could be worth up to around $500. I've been just as dumbfounded as everyone else as to the value. I know of one, right now, that's on old and it's 'sale' price is $13, 925. To each his own....

Keep this in mind as well, I have no idea who brought this thing to the auction house and the owner of the place doesn't disclose.

If a person blatantly takes advantage on someone that could be different - remember - I said 'could'. In this day and age of the internet ANYONE can get online and do their own research as to how much something might be worth - especially something unique. If they choose not to do this they are just being plain lazy.

I am SICK AND TIRED of people saying "oh poo poo so and so took advantage of someone by buying something of value from them cheaply". You know what - the person who owns the item should do a little work and figure what an item might be worth before just putting it on a table with out any thought of value. If they are THAT lazy - they deserve what they get.

Let me give you another example... We paid $81K for our house - at auction. The house was valued at over $160K. We offered the the Estate (the owner had died) $125K cash. We figured they would counter with another amount but they didn't. Instead they said "we think we can get more at auction". As I stated - we got it for $81K. The family bitched and threatened to sue. The auction house told them that we were the ones that made a fair offer to begin with AND they had the option to put a reserve on it and didn't. So, since they screwed up - twice - should we be penalized for their stupidity?

Now - since this IS MY THREAD - let me have the final say about the whole 'SS fanboy' thing. If it goes beyond this, and someone tries to start a flame war over, it I will ask the Admins to lock it down.

The helmet IS a part of history, a dark part, yet it is there and there is nothing that can be done about it. For all the sadistic, mean, nasty, horrid stuff the Nazis, and the SS, did - keep in mind there have been atrocities, like these, committed by every single 'civilized' country on the face of the earth. For those who idolize such things I have pity for them, for those who are shocked and outraged, and want to try to stamp those memories out and prevent such things from being remembered - I blame you for future atrocities because you are as complacent as those who do the dead. Remember, those that do not remember history are doomed to repeat them.

I was horrified to learn that there are schools in Belgium that do not teach about WWI and don't teach much about WWII. This bit of information came from a teacher in Brussels. When asked why they don't teach it he said they are afraid of offending people, among other things.

I have also learned, through this process, that the prices are being driven sky high due to Europe, especially Germany, and believe it or not - Japan. For some strange/odd reason, such things as this are hotly desired in those countries.

Now, since I've probably gotten those people's panties in a bunch, who are offended by such things, let me ask...is this not indeed the pot calling the kettle black?

Are we not, in a way, popularizing and making sport of war? After all, in 1668, the original sport of kings was war-making. War is horrid, war is sadistic, war is one of the worst things man can do. As it's been called - "man's inhumanity to man". And here we are - playing games that almost boarder on idolizing/glorifying. Now, before some of you come screaming out of the wood work yelling "but it's ONLY a game!!!" I say to you - "play chess or cards". Keep in mind - there are those who think people like us, wargamers, are sick for 'playing' wargames.

Humans are fascinated with war and all the trappings of war - it's been that way since the dawning of time - so get over it.

Let me ask, if one person likes to collect WWII helmets, and wants a WWII SS helmet to complete a collection, does that make him more 'evil' or 'perverse' than the person who collects WWI trench clubs? Or for that matter - does wanting to own an SS item make that person worse than ANYONE who collects ANYTHING dealing with war?

Lets face it - there is no answer and there is no valid reason to beat this dead horse. ANYONE who collects ANYTHING that has to do with war - either real militaria type items, toys, movies/films/books and yes - even miniature wargaming armies, will have someone who will look down their nose at them and say things like "the whole war/military Fanboy thing sticks in my throat" or "I wouldn't want those type of things in the house", or how about "you sick bastard". I even know of of a couple of instances when a person, or club, tried to organize a wargaming game-day, to garner interest in the hobby, and were told "sorry, you can't use our facility because we don't want to promote 'THAT' type of thing".

I have a rather large collection of WWI militaria - I've displayed it, several times, in the past. People have walk up to me, with tears in their eyes, thanking me for remembering and honoring those who fought, died and survived. Usually it is someone who's relative died in the war. I have also had some call me a sick bastard for glorifying war. The oddest one though is this....a few years ago our local High School started setting the Friday, before Veteran's Day, aside in order to honor our vets. There are speeches of thanks and of remembrance, the kids serve them a luncheon, and they end with a memorial service. I was asked to set up my display. When I contacted to school to talk to them about this they said "NO". Their reasoning - "we don't want to set that type of example".

I also have a direct family member, through marriage, who flat out warned me that if we (the wife and I) ever wanted to spend time around our nephews we could never, ever buy them a toy that even hinted at the military or war. She feels it's disgusting and perverted.

I have also been ostracized, ridiculed, made fun of and shunned for wearing my Army uniform on campus while in ROTC. I was called a "Nazi" and a "wanna-be baby killer" for wanting to serve in the military.

So, before ANYONE out there starts pointing a finger at ANYONE for wanting something like an SS item remember this little tidbit I was taught in grade-school - when you point your finger you are pointing four of them at yourself.

No matter how you feel about the whole SS "thing" - there is someone out there that feels the same about you and wargaming.

I will now get off my soap box.....