UPA Relic With Backstory

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Kollektor
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Joined: 28 Oct 2016, 18:31
Location: New York

UPA Relic With Backstory

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Post by Kollektor » 29 Oct 2016, 19:51

Hi all, I am new here and thought I would share some history.

How often have you held an historic item and wondered who held it in the past, where has it been or where did it even come from?

Below is a German Glider Pilot's dagger. It was used by my stepfather, who was in the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (known to us as the UPA) during WWII. I can only assume how the pilot ended up in his area of operation, and won't even guess what happened to the poor soul. My stepdad was too young to fight, so he volunteered as a runner - an extremely dangerous job, given the penalties for being a "spy". He was not issued a firearm, but judging by the condition of the dagger and sheath, I'm sure the he kept it very close at all times and used it for everything.

You can see the disdain he had for the Nazis by the way he ground off the Swastika(s?) without regard for historic preservation.

Thought you might enjoy this relic and actual backstory!

Thanks
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