Privately-made embroidered versions of the German Cross in Gold - "the Fuhrer's Fried Egg" - are relatively familiar.  Less familiar (to me at any rate) are privately-made embroidered of the Iron Cross, First Class.  In the case of the EK1 at any rate, it was not permitted to wear an embroidered version but, clearly, this rule was ignored in some cases.  This example was recovered from a dead German near Carentan, Normandy, and is now in a private collection in the USA.  Best regards, JR.

Unusual souvenir.

A today’s picture of Villa Feltrinelli, at Gargnano, on the Brescia’s shore of Lake Garda, Benito Mussolini’s residence during the Fascist Italian Social Republic. Built during XIX Century for the rich Feltrinelli Family, the Villa was commandeered on Autumn 1943 by the German High Command in Italy as Mussolini’s residence, in reality a sort of forced residence under the strict German’s control. Having returned to the Feltrinelli family after the war, the Villa was acquired in the 1990s by the hotelier Bob Burns, restored and transformed in a luxury and exclusive hotel. Victor Sierra

From Mussolini’s residence to luxury hotel

Heavily decorated WW2 veteran on Victory Day, Moscow, 2010.  Best regards, JR.