Patch-Update #1
Hello everyone,
As announced in my first Blog-Post, starting today, you'll get regular updates about my newest acquisitions and trade results.
UPR - Groupe Motards (Escortes)
The newest addition from Luxembourg comes from the traffic police UPR, more specifically from the Motorcycle Escort Unit. This unit primarily accompanies VIP's and ensures their safety while they are being escorted from A to B. Whilst being on duty, they use BMW R1250 RT bikes so that they can quickly respond to their missions, even through thick traffic. I've already had a similar patch from this unit, the main difference from it being the different color scheme (red/white/blue vs. orange/black)
Berlin Police - Operations and Traffic Division/Challenge Coin
Let's stay within the subject of traffic police. Thanks to a fellow collector, I've been able to trade this coin from the Berlin Police Operations and Traffic Division. On the front, you'll find 7 police bikes in front of the Brandenburg Gate, one of the most known buildings in Germany. The back depicts the area covered by the Berlin Police together with their coat of arms. This coin has marked the start of my Berlin Police coin collection.
The same collector has also given me a second coin coming from the Berlin Police. This coin once again depicts the jurisdiction of the Berlin Police along with the Brandenburg Gate. This coin is not issued by any specific department, but represents the Berlin Police as a whole. Both coins are deeply appreciated and are more than welcome in my collection!
Bundeswehr - Tag der Bundeswehr 2025/2026
The next 2 patches have been freshly sent from Hamburg. They both have their origins in the german "Bundeswehr", the German Army. Once a year, several military camps open their doors to the public. This day, known as the "Tag der Bundeswehr", attracts thousands of visitors that want to explore the different branches of the Bundeswehr. The left patch comes from this year's edition held in Nordholz where visitors could visit the Naval Air Station. The patch on the right comes from the 51st Air Force Wing in Jagel.
THW - FÜLEX 2025
To celebrate their 75th anniversary, the German Agency for Technical Relief (THW, Technisches Hilfswerk) held an exercise in North Rhine-Westphalia. Over multiple weekends, more than 4.000 personnel from almost all of the 127 regional THW-offices have trained a multitude of scenarios, e.g. a big flooding scenario or collapse rescue. At the end of the exercise, THW-president Sabine Lackner said: "I'm overwhelmed! I was deeply impressed by what the volunteers accomplished in the various scenarios. And I'd like to thank everyone who played a part in making it possible to hold an exercise of this scale."
Interschutz 2026 x Feuerwehr Magazin
The last addition of today comes from the Interschutz Fire and Rescue convention, held in Hanover from June 1st to June 6th 2026. In collaboration with the "Feuerwehr Magazine", a well-known magazine made for firefighters, a patch was published for collectors. This patch was limited to 1000 pieces, and initially I was not able to get one on my own. But thanks to the help of a fellow collector from Hamburg, this possibility has opened up to me. I was finally able to get patch #753, a patch that is more than holy to me!
Thanks to all of my fellow collectors and vendors that have helped me grow my collection. The patches and coins will soon be added to their respective category.
Joé Kalmes