Gordon Williamson

The orangey shade of the Soutache isn't the faded red (Hochrot) of Artillery, but the orange red (Orangerot) of Feldgendarmerie (or Recruiting of course). Check out the colour compared with an Artillery shoulder strap

This one arrived today. It was sold as an Artillery Officers Field Cap. Something about the shade of colour of the soutache made me take a chance on it, and thankfully, it turned out I was correct. The cap isn't in fact for an Artillery Officer, but much, much rarer - for a Feldgendarmerie Officer.

How common were they. Very. Every U-Boat crewman was issued one. How common are they now. Not at all. Not many seem to have survived. I suppose being rather utilitarian, they were used up after the war as civilian dress. (National insignia was generally pin-on type so the garment was very easily "de-nazified") Surviving stocks were also re-issued to postwar Bundesmarine Submarine crews. Mind you, some vets obviously kept hold of them as several have been donated to the U-Boot Archiv by next-of-kin when the vets have passed away.

Superb ! With that attribution, it has certainly found the right home !

Mine was a gift from French, so he probably got his own pre-publication copies direct from Schiffer. Even if you don't get it in time for Xmas, it'll be worth the wait I can assure you. It's superb.

Check this one out. An absolute "Must". http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=41122&st=0&gopid=380213&

Hi Martin EK2 Cross of Honour Silesian Eagle 2 x Long Service Sudeten medal Memel Medal Saxon Zivilverdienstorden or Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Life Saving Medal ??? Feuerwehr Ehrenzeichen Not sure exactly what the Saxon one is , but exactly the same ribbon was used for the Saxon Fluthelferorden given to those who performed rescue work during the floods of 2002 Best ask on the Imperial Forums for confirmation of the one in Saxon colours.

Stuart, I resized the images from the hosting site and added them here in place of your links. If you are using Windows, you can use the "Paint" function in your accessories folder to resize photos. Just open the image with Paint, then go to the "Image" menu and select "Stretch/Skew" and reduce the horizontal and vertical values until you have the size you need. Be sure to save as JPEG format. Regarding the badge, I am afraid that it isn't an original wartime piece and the marking isn't a genuine WW2 period maker mark. The top part of the mark looks like a crown, but certainly not a mark you'd find on Kriegsmarine awards in WW2.

I have a feeling that this could be a good one, but from the photographs offered it is impossible to be 100% sure. There is an innaccuracy in the shape of the letter "K" in the common fakes that doesn't appear to be seen here, so if it is a fake it's a better than average one. Not worth the risk on these images though.

Not just coastal artillery. Every sailor had to undergo what was basically a common military training syllabus, the skills that every service person needed to have because whatever their intended role, i.e. every serviceman had to be able to fight if necessary. (Think of the Destroyer crews at Narvik who went on shore to support the Gebirgsjäger after their ships had been sunk) So, every sailor underwent basic infantry training and wore field grey during this period, before going on to their specific branch and -in most cases- changing from field grey to blue. Whether they retained a field grey uniform, or handed them back in when moving to a sea-service role, I don't know, but certainly just about every sailor would at some point have worn field grey.

Super photo Martin. Very interesting to see a torpedomans metal insignia worn on the shoulder strap of the grey uniform. Most unusual. The inscription is along the lines of - "For my dearest darling, sweet little wife, in boundless love and eternal loyalty, from your dear Husband".

It indicates "Waffenoffizier", so he was most likely a gunnery officer. You can see from the photo that although her main duty was mine laying and acting as a depot ship, she did have gun turrets too. Basically the award would have been presented to him aboard ship, but not necessarily personally by the authorising officer whose signature is on the document, but rather by the ship's Captain.

Ostmark, under the command of Korvettenkapitän Karl Friedrich Barthel was one of four Minenschiffe allocated,along with Roland, Cobra and Skagerrak as part of Minengruppe West. In early 1942 she was based in Nantes with the Staff of the Führer der Minenschiffe West whilst still undergoing some conversion work. By mid 1942 she was operating in Norwegian waters. Unfortunately, during the period the EK1 document was issued, Ostmark was in dock in Stettin undergoing an engine overhaul. She went into dock on 20 July and remained there for the rest of the year. However, she was mentioned in a comminique from Generaladmiral Carls, in that she, along with Brummer had been responsible for the successful completion of the "Westwall", (This refers to a mine barrage, not the on-land fortifications), so I would guess that the award of the EK1 was probably made to several of the ships officers as reward for this series of successful mine laying operations. Here is a photo of her.

Don't worry, it is quite normal to find little knocks and "dings" on the surface of Tombak badges. My example does not have the knock to the tip of the swastika but I am quite sure that you have a very nice original example there.

No, not as a rule. Only emblems I have seen on Fg straps have been unit cyphers like GD etc. Very unusual looking strap.

Finally got around to adding an armband to my set of cuffbands. These were primarily worn by members of the Motorisierte Gendarmerie whilst serving with the Wehrmacht as temporary Military Police (i.e. during the Anschluss, the occupation of the Sudetenland etc). Shown here with a set of appropriate insignia for a senior NCO of the Motorisierte Gendarmerie.

The manufacturers (Amati of Italy) did a great job on the decks, accurately printed on wafer thin wood. You might just be able to make out the pin holes along the edge of the deck which will take the stanchions for the ships railings The final parts are due to arrive in the next week or so. No major componenta just the myriad of tiny pieces, deck fittings etc etc which need to be added before the major sub-assemblies can be added. Assembly should be completed I hope before Xmas, but the rigging will probably be added later as this will no doubt be complex and time consuming.

The main deck has also been added. The huge swastika flag type recognition symbols on her fore deck and aft deck were painted over in dark grey before she left on her final voyage. Not so colourful, but a more accurate representation of her when she went into action.

Had to do a correction. The dark grey areas at the bow and stern were also painted over before she left on her final voyage, so only the false bow waves were left. ( I suppose in a way the hull of the model is now more accurate in having had the camo first applied, then overpainted just like the real ship )

Yes, that's correct.

And here in full naval uniform with two MKP colleagues who are still in mixed WSP/Naval dress. Note the SS runes on the guy at left ! INteresting also that the two other guys are wearing Kriegsmarine NCO caps with Police insignia, NOT WSP caps. (large floppy brims, KM leather chinstraps etc)

Next, same NCO , now in KM uniform with one of his officers. Note the correct MKP shoulder device of an unfouled anchor.

Second, a nice set, all from the same guy, which came from Helmut Weitze. Firstly, dated 1940 in Rotterdam, as a member of the MKP but still wearing his WSP uniform. You can just see the sleeve eagle.

Some more rare MKP shots arrived today. Firstly, this guy though incorrectly captioned as Wasserschutzpolizei by the seller, is actually an MKP NCO. Interesting mixed uniform. The sleeve ring is NOT for a naval officer but for a Wasserschutzpolizei NCO. The original WSP uniform has been militarised by the addition of the Kriegsmarine breast eagle, and the addition of the Kriegsmarine NCO visor cap. Exceptionally rare shot, picked up very cheap on EBay.

ThanksRick. You da Man! Knew you'd have them all ID'd in a nano-second or two. Sadly no ID on the guy, only thing on the reverse is a date 6 April 1943. This guiy certainly put in more than his fair share of "time". Also noticed thanks to our good friend Epson a rather unusual two coloured twist cord slip around the base of his shoulder strap.