WWII WW2 German Trench Dug Army Relics-Near Kiev Ukraine 1941-45 In a Rikers Box

  
Photos are taken with the glass top on and off for easy viewing. I have numerous WWII items that I will be listing ranging from Army Relics to Aircraft Pieces. Some will be paired up will with professionally built models to make absolutely wonderful museum quality pieces for you to display in your home or museum... If you happen to have one! This will be my first entry.

One Museum Quality WWII Trench Dug German Relics-A lighter, 14 Authentic German Army Uniform Buttons and a small pair of wings. All of these pieces are displayed in a very authentic, genuine, very vintage Rikers Mount that is backed with a section of a WWII German Newspaper.

I have an excellant source that guarantees me that these items came from specific areas and a specific time period. I pass the guarantee along to you with my rock solid L. That is good for the original purchaser for life. All of the details can be read in the L.

There are no tricks or gimmicks. I just don't throw together a bunch of junk to sell, I carefully research as much as I can on each item and pass what I know onto you. You can choose to read this long and boring listing or you can skim through it. Read on if you dare. German Operation Barbarossa, began on June 22, 1941, where they invaded Russia and the Ukraine.

The Germans demise came early in 1943 at the hands of the Russians and they started a slow retreat mid 1943, leaving a behind trail of destruction. In 1943, The Battle of Kiev brought the end of Nazi Terror to the Ukrainians by recapturing the capitol.

The Germans lost enormous amounts of tanks and mechanized vehicles along with over 6,000 men. As time passed, the trenches that many of these men died in were covered with dirt and left there for up to 70 plus years depending on when they when dug back up.

Since the recent Russian invasion of the Ukraine, soldiers started to dig their own trenches and started to discover these trench tombs. Everything from hundreds of bodies to weapons have been discovered including many smaller items like this lighter and the buttons. Identifying them takes a bit more research.

The lighter would be harder to identify due to its condition and the fact that many Germans carried American made lighters like those made by Zippo add to its mystery, however, the buttons are different. They are easily identified by their pebbled pattern and either called coat or tunic buttons. They are reproduced today for collectors and for uniforms in reenactment battles. Also included in this collection is a set of very small "silvered" wings. The left side has a small part that is broken off.

The wings have two small pins in the back that look like they could have been used with butterfly clutch backings to hold them through shirts and jackets though I cannot identify them. If anyone knows any information on those tiny wings, please let me know. The insignia (copies) in the Riker's Box is from the German 6th Army. The 6th Army was in the Ukraine towards the end of the war. This is included for decoration purposes only. Lets talk about the box itself.

The rumors are he made one for his son's butterfly collection and then decided to patent it in both the United States and Great Britain. A Rikers Box is made from high quality cardboard, wrapped in a matte finished black paper and topped with a cardboard box top fitted with a real piece of glass.

The inside of the box is filled with cotton/polyester ticking where the display items are placed and then covered with the see through top. It is it held in place by several pins inserted into the tops sides and directly into the base.

Its a very simply design and works perfectly. Rikers Boxes all but long lost their original name, The Riker Specimen Mount. They were used by everyday collectors and museums alike. They are perfect for storing and displaying your collectables. They are easily viewed without having to open the box.

The original Rikers Mounts had a small white label from the factory which was adhered to the backside which said "The Rikers Specimen Mount" at the labels top and then room for a description. It is unknown when they stopped manufacturing these but my best guess is anywhere from the 1950's-1960's based on my research and my own genuine supply. The supply of these mounts have almost dried up with nice ones in their factory boxes going for a pretty penny.

You will be hard pressed to find museum quality ones like the originals. This collection is mounted in a beautiful example and it's back is decorated with a genuine WWII Berlin German newspaper article. This Rikers Mount is 12" X 8". This Rikers Mount is guaranteed to be at least 50 years old. Put all this together and you have the perfect combination of keeping your collectables safe and they can be easily viewed.

They can be hung on a wall or displayed on a shelf. I pass these savings onto you. Paper goods and photos are sent completely surrounded by acid free archival quality papers and/or acid free PVC free Polypropylene bags and covers. I also use a variety of recycled and new packaging including boxes and mailers.

I take my time when packing anything anyone buys. I don't rush it, but at the same time, I don't overdue it. What is the best thing about my packaging? It will be easy to open!

How many times have you received a package only to spend ten minutes trying to open it without destroying the contents!!! No extra tape, glue, staples, or my worst fear, items shoved between two pieces of cardboard with tape on every edge requiring a surgeon's scalpel to open it!!! I can't stand that but sellers keep doing it thinking that their packing skills are fantastic. Please contact me first with any issues.