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.

Bruce Hermann – age 12 in his self-collected antique military gear.

Bruce Hermann

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.