Obsession…

For the last several months, I’ve decided that I would like to collect a part of WWII history. But what?? The what alluded me to the point of insanity.

With no real direction other than “I’ll know it when I see it…” I scoured eBay for the “perfect” artifact. I know what I “Really” wanted… I “Really” wanted a Military watch. But… that’s what everyone wants and it’s a hefty price tag… a whopping $500.00 a piece for a watch that had no guarantee of actually working and not the real watch band. So… do I really want to get a watch that may/may not be a part of WWII (as there isn’t proof) and is stoopid expensive?

No.

So, I’m wandering around eBay and I find it. The one thing that has started an obsession… I must have many now… What are they?

Dog Tags. I know. Yes. They do. More than a few people. I’m not sure if it’s weird or cool.

They are the 100% assurance that they were in WWII. They are not going to fall apart.

Well, the early Russian one’s were little tubes with a piece of paper rolled up in them, but they didn’t work out so well so they switched to a more traditional dog tag.

The first one I found was a German Dog Tag from Stalingrad. Now, I’m highly fascinated with Stalingrad. Right now I’m reading a book on Stalingrad and how the Germans screwed it up… So, I ordered it.

Then, I found a private collector in the UK and ordered a rare German RAD battalion (Motorcycle Battalion) and ordered that one.. AND then, I found a Russian Dog Tag and got that one…

So now that I’m obsessed, I’ve set rules. If I want a Dog Tag, and they run about $50.00, I can only purchase one a pay period.

Now, I can do my thing and have a good time doing it. I can afford to have more than just one and I can have a “collection”.  I’m starting to learn about Patina and how to determine if it’s been underground… The metal Russian directly above has been underground… the rust gives it away…

Anyway… now you KNOW I’m goofy…

Fizz

© ‘Fizz’ 2009