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    nesredep

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    Posts posted by nesredep

      Frontspange

      in Germany: Third Reich: Wehrmacht Medals, Decorations & Awards

      Posted

      I do not know the date of the photo, but this young man certainly was not photographed in 1957. My guess, since it seems to have a German photographer on the bottom right as you view the photo, is that it was taken either prior to mid-Jan 1946 while the ship was still in Wilhelmshaven and prior to sailing to the US, or, soon after this sailor returned to Germany. In either case, 1946. If the photograph was taken in the US for some reason and had a German sounding photographer, still 1946.

      The uniform, youth of the sailor, the wearing of the tally and the frontspange all indicate to me, without a doubt, that it was taken in 1946.

      I can only offer my opinion that the frontspange (not medal) was made aboard Prinz Eugen or in the yards at Wilhelmshaven in 1946.

      It does appear to match your man's frontspange and from that I can only conclude that yours too was made soon after the war ended. I can't explain the stamps on the reverse though. Highly unlikely the badge was made during Nov 1944 when instituted, but, it could be a later stamp pre-dated for the date of entitlement or award institution.

      Personally, I have no problem with your frontspange. If you like it too, that is all you need.

      John

      Hello

      John Robinson

      I like my Frontspange.

      Nesredep

      0

      Feldpost

      in Germany: Third Reich: Research, Documentation & Photographs

      Posted

      Hi

      Fp.dienstbrief from the fleet K.d.o. Wilhelmshaven 21.9.1939 to Schwerer Kre?zer Bl?cher.The letter has a red square

      Brief st.with " Frei Durch Abl?sung Reich and lined red Dienststelle Fp.Nr.02143=Flott. k.d.o. Wilhelmshaven.

      (Rear letter).

      Letters to Bl?cher are rear. The reason why is because most mail to the ship sank with it , 0904-1940.

      Regards

      Nesredep

      0

      Frontspange

      in Germany: Third Reich: Wehrmacht Medals, Decorations & Awards

      Posted

      This photo is obviously of a Prinz Eugen crewman. Note, the national insignia over the right breast is missing as is the national insignia on the cap. Only the marine frontspange on the tunic and the cap tally on the cap. Since the tally was issued on Jan 5, 1946 by the German Officer in Charge, the photo had to be after that. Note, the ship still had its partial German crew aboard when she arrived in San Diego, California on May 1, 1946 at which point the German crew was discharged.

      In addition, the German crew and US crew became very friendly during the transit as is the nature of sailors which resulted in exchanges of many personal items. The ship's stores were certainly "liberated" of their contents by both crews for this purpose of finding small gifts, etc---sleeve insignia, cap badges, tallies, the rest. Afterall, both crews knew Prinz Eugen was fated for an atomic bomb in the Pacific, no reason to let at the time only keepsake items go to the bottom.

      This is the only photo I have seen with the marine frontspange from Prinz Eugen.

      John

      Hello

      Some people think that my medal,identical to the one in the photo, is a 1957-medals. This photo is from the year 1946 ?????.

      Nesredep

      0
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