A Conversation with Bruce Hermann of Grenadier Military Antique Auctions

Militaria collecting is a hands-on form of historical preservation. Each piece has a story to tell, a connection to a specific time and place, and a link to the individuals who played a role in history—whether known or unknown. Collecting military antiques can be quite rewarding. It can help you develop a deeper appreciation for world history and the sacrifices made by those who served. Collecting is made easier because of those experts in the field who have made militaria their life’s passion.

Bruce Hermann is an internationally renowned specialist in Western European and American military history as well as a recognized authority on military artifacts of all types. He is the man behind Grenadier Military Antiques Auctions. Having become dissatisfied with corporate America, he founded his online memorabilia store site, Grenadier Military Antiques. The auction site, which went live in 2015, was a natural progression. A seasoned dealer, longtime collector, and former Antiques Roadshow appraiser (11 years—2000 to 2011), his love of militaria began at a very young age—eight years old, to be exact.

While perusing the results of one of his company’s recent auctions, I ended up on the “About Us” page of the Grenadier website. A longtime “Antiques Roadshow” enthusiast, I was immediately intrigued—the depth of knowledge required to become a niche appraiser for AR is substantially beyond that of your average collector, and it occurred to me that any information I gleaned from the website for this article would be oh-so-much-more-interesting if I were to speak with Mr. Hermann himself.

Several emails and a couple of phone calls later, I had quizzed this very busy man about the beginning of his fascination with militaria, the current state of the hobby, his favorite sold items from the most recent auction in December, and more.

I read your biography on the PBS website, and I see that you’ve been collecting militaria since the age of 10. How did you get into military history?

Bruce Hermann: In the summer of 1967, my grandfather took me to a drive-in movie (I was 8 years old) to see the newly released WWI aviation movie The Blue Max. The movie had a resounding effect on me, and the very next day, I wanted to learn as much as I could about WWI, which then segued into military history in general. From that point, I started to build a library about military history. My family encouraged me by taking me to antique shops and helping me locate original items, which were far more plentiful and easy to acquire for very little money than today. My grandfather’s stories of his grandfather, who served in the Franco-Prussian war, also stirred my imagination.

Was there a particular era you collected when you were young?

Bruce Hermann: From an early age, I was fascinated with German pickelhauben (spiked helmets), and I went on a quest to find an original example. In 1968, my grandmother got out the Yellow Pages and started calling antique shops until she found one that had these helmets for sale. On a rainy morning in February 1969, when I was 10 years old, my grandfather drove me to this shop, and I bought my very first helmet. Starting at 13, I took odd jobs to help fund my collecting, which was in full blossom at this point.

How about now? What is your main focus?

Bruce Hermann: Early examples of German military headgear ranging from the Napoleonic Wars through the 1850s, specializing in helmets from Prussia, Hanover, and Braunschweig. Those are my favorites.

What is your favorite era of military history?

Bruce Hermann: That’s a tough one because I have several. Eighteenth-century Europe, especially the wars between Prussia and Austria, the Napoleonic wars, especially the Battle of Waterloo, and lastly, the wars of German unification 1864-1871.

How did you get into the appraising business?

Bruce Hermann: I started out as a dealer and then I was offered an opportunity to take part as an on-air appraiser on the Antiques Roadshow from 2000-2011. The Roadshow was a great and rewarding experience, but now I own a successful auction business (grenadierauctions.com) that takes all my time.

Could you tell me a little about your time with Antiques Roadshow and share something you appraised that stands out to you still?

Bruce Hermann: There was always something interesting and new to see, and I made a lot of good business contacts. It’s a long-running popular show that I am honored to have been a part of. Two memorable items were a sword with provenance to George Washington and an 1858 New York militia uniform.

What is your take on the current and future of the military collecting hobby?

Bruce Hermann: The military collecting hobby is as healthy now as it ever has been. We are seeing record prices generated in many areas, as well as a new generation collecting, and the current economic concerns do not really seem to have hurt people’s ability to invest in the items that they want. All indications currently point to a positive future in the hobby.

Any trends that you’ve noticed lately? What’s hot/what’s not these days?

Bruce Hermann: As always, WWII German items tend to be the leader in value and appreciation. German helmets, awards, and edged weapons seem to have really jumped in value and are holding steady and, in many cases, appreciating greatly in a short amount of time. There is also a trend in American WWII memorabilia, namely airborne and paratrooper-related items, which are likewise gaining popularity and increased value within the collector community.

In hobbies like the old car hobby, we see more and more high rollers who are getting into the market as investors rather than as enthusiasts. Do you see the same thing?

Bruce Hermann: To a degree. Although not a new phenomenon (high rollers have been buying military items for many years), we have been seeing collectors with deep pockets buying more historic and high-priced personality items, such as something that belonged to a well-known historical figure that has provenance and documented history, for long-term investment.

Militaria can range from antique to more contemporary. The genre is as broad as the countless wars that have shaped human history. It boasts a sizable and active collecting community of enthusiastic history devotees. The most recent Grenadier auction featured some amazing pieces of military memorabilia. Mr. Hermann shared a few of his favorites with me.

Lot 1 – A WWII Imperial German Sea Battalion Officer’s Shako—leather body, covered in black wool felt, complete with its original front plate, officer’s field badge, and chin scales. Realized price: $3,100.

Lot 2 – An outstanding USAAF Type A-2 Flight Jacket with the maker’s name “Poughkeepsie Leather Coat Co. Inc.” It is made of brown horse hide and features a painted rendition of a B-24 USAAF bomber with the name of the plane “IT AIN’T EASY.” Below the plane are the painted names of 27 bombing missions. On the front of the jacket is a hand-painted leather squadron insignia on the left breast. Realized price: $3,300.

Lot 7 – A WWII German Luftwaffe Splinter Pattern Fallschirmjager Jump Smock featuring its original factory-applied camouflage Luftwaffe breast eagle. Realized price: $17,000.

Lot 8 – Cased Luftwaffe Honor Goblet is made of die-struck, three-piece, silver-plated, nickel silver and features the cup, stem, and base. The cup is decorated with fighting eagles, and an image of a 1939 EK I. Realized price: $7,895.

Lot 13 – a fine example of an Oldenburg 91st Regt. pickelhaube as used by an officer of this regiment. It is made with a leather body and visors, and its original components, including the correct front plate with an extremely large Oldenburg wappen. It is housed in its original box. Realized price: $4,600.

Lot 17 – Large WWII US 8th Air Force Navigator A-2 Grouping belonging to one Stanton H. Small. The lot is highlighted by Small’s engraved Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal, his stunning painted A-2 leather jacket with squadron insignia painted on the left breast, as well as a B-24 and B-17 with 30 mission markings on the back. Also included is his London-made Ike jacket with all original insignia, sterling navigator wings, and ribbon bars. His complete summer service coat and trousers with all English-made patches and insignia present, two Army officer “crusher” caps are also included, one winter service and one summer. Four included photo albums are a historical treasure trove of a view into squadron life and missions over Hitler’s Germany. Realized price: $5,750.

Lot 29 – This M-33 SS dagger is a nice example. The blade features the maker mark of “Robert Klaas.” The blade looks clean throughout, and the motto is still crisp and retains some of its dark burnished finish. Realized price: $4,500.

Lot 38 – These WWII German binoculars are marked “D F 10 X 56” and are painted in a tropical tan finish. They are complete with all their original components, including leather neck straps and eyepieces. The optics are very clean and clear, with sharp focus. The binoculars are housed in their original black-grained leather case, which is complete with its original canvas strap and closure components. Realized price: $825.

Lot 206 – Inert M24 Stielhandgranate stick hand grenade maintains most of its original paint on its head and screw cap. Both show some very mild patina, and the wood handle has some bumps, dents, and a small chip by the end screw cap. Underneath the screw cap, the grenade maintains its pull string device. The grenade head is waffentampted on its top in yellow paint and it is dated on its body in black paint “11/1941.” Realized price: $1,500.

Lot 414 – This WWII M-1 Helmet with Captain’s Insignia is a front seam split, fixed bale example. It retains approximately 90% of its original olive-green finish, with a pair of captain’s bars painted on the front. The shell also retains its original canvas chinstrap. Realized price: $1,250.

Lot 454 – This M17 Camo helmet has the camo configuration of the Imperial German style with black-lined geometric shapes filled in with green, dark tan, and reddish-brown paint. Brush strokes are still visible in some areas of the paint, and there are some missing chips and wear where you would usually see it on a combat helmet. Realized price: $1,400.

Lot 619 – This German Fire Officials Short Sword “Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie AG” dagger is a nice example. The blade shows oxidation throughout and has a serrated side. The etching on both sides is crisp. The blade features the maker mark for “Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie AG.” Realized price: $1,550.

While browsing through these auction results, I realized that, unlike some collecting hobbies, it is actually quite possible to accumulate some very interesting pieces for a reasonable amount of money. My father served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater, so I find myself partial to all things U.S. Navy-related. This beautiful sterling and enamel WWII US Navy Seabees Pin is a perfect example of an affordable addition to a collection, and it’s where I’d start if I weren’t already being pushed out of my living space by my Tiki mug and MCM glass obsession.

To view more auction results, visit the Grenadier Military Antiques Auction past auction page. Interested collectors can sign up to be notified of future auction events, including the upcoming spring auction in March 2024.

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