Here are seven large KM gilt reefer/greatcoat buttons (24mm diameter), together with six tunic buttons (20mm diameter). The design dates back to 1925, when they were introduced in the period of the Weimar republic. The old imperial buttons had a crown on top of the anchor. The maker of some is Assmann, a famous German insignia maker.

These rare tunic buttons (21mm diameter) are of two piece construction with a blue grey enamel finish. The Stahlhelm organisation was a massive nationwide veterans' outfit on the right wing of Weimar politics, natural allies of both the NSDAP and the various Freikorps in the common struggle against the Reds.

These were worn on either side of an open-necked dark green tunic collar. The oak leaf and acorn were traditional symbols of German forestry. Every landed estate would have had its foresters responsible for keeping the woodland in trim and the livestock herds therein in good condition, ie culling them when need be.

This is for the Bahnschutzpolizei ORs tunic. The BSP came under Reichsbahn control for their regular service duties. For specialist service, eg concentration camp deliveries, they were under Himmler's hand.

The Landwehr were the first line of the reserve, the second line being the Landsturm. The concept of the Landwehr cockade dates back to the Napoleonic Wars and was always in the form of a Maltese cross. These cockades would have been worn on the front of the cap, under the national cockade in black, white and red.

This is the lowest grade of this prestigious order, Russia's principle gallantry award from the time of the Napoleonic Wars until the 1917 revolution. It shows the image of Nicholas II on the face and on the reverse 'For gallantry' is inscribed in Cyrillic, together with the class of the medal below the serial number.

This die-struck gilding metal badge is obviously intended to be worn on a cap, or possibly a lapel, because of its small size (3.5cm high). I am working in the dark, but I am guessing it is for a postman because of the motif of the hunting horns with the electrical arrows (telegraph).

This gem is inscribed 'High Wood Aug. 1916' on the hessian backing of the reverse. No doubt a Thomas Atkins souvenir, picked up perhaps in an abandoned dug-out, or even removed from a corpse! High Wood was perhaps one of the best known locations in that eventful summer, with a fearsome reputation on both sides.

This is an oberleutnant's example (one star). The silver bullion with black silk thread denotes a Prussian unit. The light blue underlay denotes the arm of service, in this case the Military Train (transport corps). The button is of gilding metal,with a gilt rank star.

These are two different examples of Schutzpolizei collar tabs, introduced in the uniform changes of 1936. The Schupo were a truly national force, as opposed to the Gendarmerie/Landespolizei (countryside) and Gemeindepolizei (town police). They, like the Ordnungspolizei, lived in barracks, a little bit like the Guardia Civil of Franco's Spain.