Odulf

The yellow embroidered badge on the SB had nothing to do with rank, it sigified only the branch (MAA, Flugmelde, SStA, Kraftfahr, etc.). The SB were never in black but in dark green, or from 1939 in uniform colour and material.

I wonder what SAS stands for, Schiffsartillerieschule?

Gents, again I need your help with the identification of a signature from a document dated 20-06-1940. Thanks in advance

Excellent! Thanks for sharing

The Deutsches Reiter-Abzeichen is not a rare badge, between 1933 and 1942 the numbers issued (according to Dr. Klietmann) are: Gold (class I) 210, Silver (class II) 6182, Bronze (class III) 61710. It was not instituted by the State, nor by the Military, but an award instituted in 1930 by the Reichsverband für Zucht und Prüfung deutscher Warmbluts e.V. So, any one riding a horse to some standard (civil or soldier) could apply for this badge. Therefore I see no connection with Artillery nor Cavalry. Here is a photo of a Kriegsmarine officer on horse back, probably the commandant of a landbased unit stationed in or near Kiel, unfortunately his left chest is not visible.

Nice Morten. It is significant, that we see the 1918 U-Bootsabzeichen more often in the post 1935 pictures, than in the older photos. This is perhaps, because the badge was introduced so late in the 1st World War, and many men who had qualified applied for it after 1918, when the war was over and the limitations of Versailles strongly reduced the German Forces. Also in Reichsmarine photos, the badge is not often seen. This guy is wearing the singe chevron with one pip, for Stabsgefreiter, a typical rate for "old hands" (volunteers/reservists). The ribbon bar he is wearing, is probably for the Hindenburg Cross.

That is also a scene we doe not see very ofter, the wearing of the Naval sabre with the fieldgrey uniform, excellent Morten! This confirms my opinion, that some of the smallest photos sometimes contain the most interesting facts.

Nice photo Morten. He is wearing the Wendejacke (reversable) white/grey, actualy not on the Navy clothing list, but probably from the Army slops. These came also with reversable trousers and gloves. Here is another clear photo of the winter Wendejacke used by KM.

Nice stuff Larry! The Captain (pitty we doe not see his face) is not of the Coatal Artillery but of the Fleet, so probably a harbour connandant of one of the larger harbours, by the look of the buildings i suggest La Rochelle, Calais, or another larger harbour.

Thanks Larry, could be a thin chain, indeed, for a whistle, whach or stop-watch. In general the whistle is tuched away in the breast pocket. This is fastened to the button in such a manner that the pocketflap cannot be opened without removing the ring of the chain/cord, so I presueme it is for a temporary purpose.

Here is one from my collection, 5. Marine-Artillerie-Abteilung, the cord of blue wool is inter woven with aluminium or gold bullion for higher grades but unfortunatelty the device at the end, shaped as an acorn (for rifle & machinegun), a shell (for artillery gunners), or a torpedo (for torpedo gunners) is just not visible.

Hi Morten, a very nice portrait! Could jou please post a close up of the shoulderboard? On the left lower cuff visible, the double yellow/gold tapes of a Ober-/Hauptfeldwebel acting as Kompanieoberfeldwebel (Spiess) [Company Sergeant-Major / Warrant Oficer Class II). The Kriegsmarine-Schiessauszeichnung (Marksman cord) is of blue wool, acorns in black,silver, gold to indicate class, not often seen on the feldgrau Naval tunic.

Nice one Larry ( with 2 KM Abzeichen!), is he wearing canvas anklets, and is that a little chain dissapearing into his left lower pocket? So that's a bit of a puzzle still. Thanks for your reply!

Thats great, thanks a ton! The Division stamp reads 168 (but it could also be read as 268, 269, 169, 168), so it is defenitely 168, the signature is verified by the signed portrait from internet (enclosed).

A contemporary colorised portrait of a Funker-Obergefreiter (Leading Signaller), with the Sonderlaufbahnabzeichen (Specialty bafdge) for Entfenungsmesser mit Unteroffizierlehrgang (Range Taker - Candidate NCO). The applied "lipstick" and "Kardesian style" eyebrows makes it in our modern eyes look rather bizzare.

Interesting photo Larry, do you have more info about what we see (location, unit, year)?

Scene photo of Kriegsmarine guys in a brawl or mugging - their smiling faces say enough. Interesting to see what is moslty hidden by the tunics; the cut of the trousers, suspenders, shirts and jersey.

Gents, I need your much appreciated help with this Generalmajor's signature. The EK2 document is to the 245 Inf.Rgt. but that, with my reference books, leads not to an identification.

Thanks Morten, the Destroyer War Badge [Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen] was established 4 June 1940, but the shoulderstraps with crossed anchors and Roman numerals (as here for Marineartillerieabteilung 5) became obsolete in March 1939 (replaced by the general MAA crest of the flaming granade on the anchor). Another example that the 'old' stype shoulderstraps were continued in wear for a long period.

Nice one Morten. Interesting to see that he wears a brand new belt, the threads of the stitching are not yet blackened with polish and the buckle is untouched, in greyish green. He has a new uniform, probably recently transfered from the fleet. Can you see what badge is on his shoulderstraps?

Such a book has been produced "DIE MÜTZENBÄNDER DER DEUTSCHEN MARINE / 1815-1918 / Königlich Preussische Marine - Norddeutsche Bundesmarine - Kaiserliche Marine", by Bernd Wedeking & Markus Bodeux; Publishers: VDM Verlag in Zweibrücken, 2005; ISBN 3-86619-000-X. In German language. To me this book is the Gospel about this subject, and unfortunately there has not (yet) been a follow-up for the period 1919-1945 or to 2019. It has been gigantic labour to collect all the information from archives, the original tallies and variations, and photos of all the tallies in wear in crystal clear pictures. The authors worked 25 years on this volume, with the help and support of many collectors, students and researchers of renown! In the wide range of militaria, however, the interest in cap tallies is subordinate. A publisher takes a great risk in taking on such a book, usual printed in small numbers, and that explains the price. Many (young) collectors rely on the internet for information instead of investing in well written and researched monographies, but as the seasoned collecors/researchers know, there is a lot of nonsense spread, and who can tell fiction from fact? As I see it, to take on the task of producing a book soly about German tallies is a labour of love and endurance, but to much for a single person, also because only few of the experts in this field can read and understand German. In the mean time, the serious collectors have to plod on and build their own reference files and rely on a circle of trusted fellow collectors to help out.

A NCO wearing the dress for shore based units, but with two remarkable features: On the pleat of the left breast pocket, he is wearing the Baltenkreuz, a decoration not often seen on the navy uniform. The Baltenkreuz was instituted 1919 for volunteers who fought the Bolsheviks in the Baltic area (NW Russia). About 22.000 of these crosses were issued. He is wearing the regular Wehrmacht boots, but with a strap over the foot. This addition was called Marschriemen, (marching straps) and these were privately obtained. The idea was that the boot would fit better on the foot while marching.

At ease - sailors of the Marine Signalstelle (M.S.S.) Wangerooge. Their cap tallys read "Marinenachrichtenstelle Cuxhaven". The photo is dated 10. Mai 1939. The Wangerooge Isle is situated on the North Sea cost, at the mouth of the Jade Bight, leading to Wilhelmshaven (West) and Bremerhaven (East). The place is of great military importance, and in ww2 the island was an important Naval stronghold, crammed with both Coastal and Anti-Aircraft Artillery batteries and even a small airstrip.

Very nice Morten! Interesting to note that the band are wearing the Feldbluse with Schwalbenneste and fingergloves, but the troops coming after them are comfortably wearing the Mantel. I can imagine the bansdsmen are not pleased...

Very nice Larry and thanks for sharing, these yellow/red Laufbahn- und Sonderausbildungsabzeichen on fieldgrey material patches are hard to find. On photos they are even harder to find, thank you for bringing this under our attention. However,, I have some remarks: - The fieldgrey patches, as issued on blue for POs (Unterführer ohne Portepee) and lower ranks, we have/see are mainly as worn by the Artilley branch; - In the Reichsmarine the patches were allowed, but in the Kriegsmarine, the wearing of these insignia was strictly forbidden; which could indicate that they are Reichsmarine. However some of the insignia used date from the KM period. - The Sonderausbildungsabzeichen (red on fieldgrey) have been on the market for long. the Laufbahnabzeichen (yellow on fieldgrey) appear to be around for shorter time (after my asking around amongst very long time collectors). Without expressing opinions about the originality (I have to do more research into an unresearched field) I am only stating that this field is yet another field for research, the only sources I have are are Schlicht & Zienert, and ancient men now vanished. So, a matter worth researching together...