Here is my latest enamel pin,,comments welcome,,Thanks in advance....DAVE H

Reverse

Nice,I like it.

A friendship group between Aachen and Cologne (Koln) ?

Dave

Very nice Dave H.

For those interested it's a badge for the N.S. Gemeinschaft Kraft durch Freude (KdF) "strength through joy". They were the leisure arm of the DAF. Some books list this as a tinnie, but I personally think it's more likely a membership badge for a particular area, Köln & Aachen are quite close (see map below) & it's likely that they shared a group.

They organised holidays, excursions etc & the famous beetle car made by Volkswagen was intended to be bought through the KdF using saving stamps.

Here's a map showing the proximity of the two towns.

Cheers
Don

So far all of these badges I've seen are made by the same manufacturer, Hoffstätter, Bonn (just down the road to Köln & Aachen).

I have two of these at the moment, I just had one come in with a couple of other bits & needs a new home. Here's a pic of one of them.

Cheers
Don

If anyone has one with a different maker, I'd love to see it.

Cheers
Don

I have "unfortunatelly" only this badge with Hoffstätter Bonn.
This badge was given; to people who worked unpaid most times ("Ehrenamtlich") for this KDF Köln Aachen and to those richer people who spended money for the poor to use the KDF facillities. Perhaps you cuold buy this well made badge.
Region Köln-Aachen is a Gau ( one of the Administative Naziprovinces,with very few independent power to the Reich).
Here the backside of a Köln Aachen KDF magazine.
If you enlarge the picture you can even see all the KDF adresses.
Cheers,
Benten

Excellent information Benton, thanks for sharing it with us

Do you have any other publications from this Gaus KdF activity? More magazines etc? Are there any good pictures in it worth seeing? And finally, is there any period written information that you know of that mentions this badge? (sorry for all the questions)

Cheers
Don

Don, I only have this magazine. About the badge I 've no futher info; I wish I had.
I just take some pages..... pictures of KDF travels.

The Magazine starts with a poem about TRAVELING. On the other badge are "good words" of the subsitute(?)Gau leiter and KDF commissionar, both of the Gau Köln Aachen.
Sorry; more kb would give a sharper picture, but here you get an impression.

Just like today's travel magazines each travel starts with some poetry about that part of the country, where the hardworking man can enjoy his earned holyday.

For the rich people a better travel....to Madera Italy and Norway.Italy left Venice and below Napoli with the Visuvio.
The book has a flyer inwich mentioned that people have!! to buy next edition for practicle reasons like changes in the scedule. The magazine ends with traveller's rules: no sick people with catching disease or to old or too handycapt people are allowed,if you are sich you need an certificate of an arian doctor, you have to take a goods insurance ect.

Hope you like the pictures,
Benten

Very interesting, thanks.

Cheers
Don

I agree, that was very interesting.
Thanks for sharing.

--dj--Joe

It 's always a pleasure to share!!

Great information,there is usually some info on an item,and thanks to people on GDC that they are willing to share this info....DAVE H

Maybe a little off track, but definately KdF.
Here is a 4mm Training Rifle marked to the KdF.
Sorry for the flash reflection - inscription says "Kraft durch Freude". The receiver ring bears the KdF sunwheel Swastika and "Property of the Sports Office".

Excellent thread on a little known organization. Thank you, Benten and Don, I have yet to acquire one of these little gems. Regards, Duane

Denny...That is one sweet, unusual, marked rifle.

Denny, it's a pleasure to see this KDF rifle with insciptions.

A little vacation get away to a rifle range or camp? Interesting concept.
A very nice and interest provoking item that rifle! Thanks so much for showing it.

Regards, --dj--Joe

This informative thread deserves another look-see.

--dj--Joe

I’m proud to show you this badge. Never expected to find one like this; for me it looks more like a jewel.
I know there are several Gustloff badges all with little differences, specialy around the swastica and the flag. If you have one, please post it.

If someone has more info I would appreciate it .

Cheers,
Benten