Naxos

Very nice tunic!

Here is a Luftschutz certificate of training to a female.

Here is a picture of some Baden Leib-Grenadiere of the 109 Regiment (note the litzen and the crown w/o the cypher)

Hi Robert, Beautiful details in the picture. I agree with Dante: Baden 110 Grenadiers (could not be the 7th Grenadier Rgt - they wore litzen on their collars) Regards, Hardy

Hi Paul, German Engineer Units: This arm includes the regular combat engineers, as well as fortress engineers, construction engineers and regional engineers. On the other hand, engineer arm does not include railway engineers. It should be noted that the personnel of engineer platoons in organic divisional units belong to the arm of the unit which they are serving and not to the engineer arm, although they are trained to perform minor engineer functions. Engineer units often form small detachments within their unit for special missions (such as flamethrower detachments and mine detection detachments. A Pionier-Bataillon is organic in every German Division, varying in strength and composition according to the type of Division. The Fallschirm-Pionier-Bataillon is organized similarly to the engineer battalion in a type 1944 Infantry Division. Bridge columns were, until 1943, an organic component of the engineer battalions in all types of Divisions. At the time of the major reorganization of the German divisions the bridge columns were withdrawn to corps from all but the armored divisions. The different types of bridge columns are designated by various capital letters, i.e. ?B?, ?J?, ?K?, and ?T?, each of which represents the type of bride-building equipment used. Of these the bridge column ?B? has sufficient material to build longer bridges then does column ?K?. However bridges build by ?B? are of wood, while those build by column ?K? are of steel. As the reorganization of the German Divisions of 1943/44 have greatly reduced the strength of most types of organic engineers battalions, the General Headquarters engineer units have gained considerably in their importance. Engineer bridging battalions consisting of four bridging companies and an engineer park company, with a total strength of about 900 men, may be allotted from the General Hq. Various types of bridging columns are usually allotted to corps. Various types of engineer battalions, sometimes controlled by regimental staff, may be employed in the support of the division engineers according to tactical requirements. The construction engineers belonged formerly to a separate arm of inferior status, known as Bautruppen . They were reclassified as engineers in the fall of 1943, and included in the designation of their regiments and various types of battalions their new arm as Pioniere. From: War department Technical Manual TM-E 30_451, 15 March 1945 Regards, Hardy

"Pioneer and bautruppen, is that two words for the same thing? " No, not really. In short: Pioniere (like Fallschirm-Pioniere) were combat troops used for attack of fortifications and clearing of mine fields. Baupioniere were Engineers that build and repaired structures like bridges. Both wore the black Waffenfarbe. Regards, Hardy

Beautiful RK Richard, I looked throught the Wochenschau of May 1944 and came across one small scene of a named Nashorn in action at Monte Cassino. Here is a still:

I have to say that I added the EK (like the other missing medals it just hooks in place) Also these items came with the bar, but I dont know if they belonged to the same person. Regards, Hardy

Sorry Christophe, here it is:

Thank you so much Christophe! I think this bar belonged to Melchior. I bought it from an Antic dealer in Germany - and the family name Melchior was mentioned in some related, but not military items. When I looked up the name Melchior in the 1928 Rangliste - to my surprise he was awarded exactly the medals that are on this bar. Now, I learned that this combination is not uncommon - so I asked about more info on Melchior - and Rick kindly responded. Interesting is that he was not in the Ranglisten after 1928. (What happened to him?) If he passed away (died), that would explain the no existing Hindenburg-cross. All this is pretty circumstantial, but an interesting lead in an otherwise anonymous Medal bar. Regards, Hardy

Das 5. Badische Infanterie-Regiment Nr.113 im Weltkriege 1914-18 by Udo v. Rundstedt does anyone have this book? If so I would very much appreciate if one would look up Oberleutnant Melchior. Any info is welcome. This is what I know so far of him (thank you Rick): http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=18272 Regards, Hardy

Thank you Rick, Hardy

I'm looking for any info on a Baden Oberleutnant Melchior - in 1923 promoted to Hauptmann in the 14. Infanterie-Regiment. Regards, Hardy

Check this out Tom Have a great weekend, Hardy

Tom, I didn't take you for a Deadhead - I thought of you more in the line of ZZ Top (wonder why?) Hardy

Thanks Robin, Regards, Hardy

Is this a period item (before 45)? - if so, is it Kavallerie or Panzer? Regards, Hardy

Now you pushing it

You da man Rick, excuse my feeble dabbling in your metier Hardy

Chip, any idea what the 737 stands for? Hardy

Yes Now the bar makes perfect sense Hardy

The last one looks like: Orden der aufgehenden Sonne, Japan Hardy

third last: Eisener Halbmond f?r Nichtk?mpfer? (but the Eichenlaub doesn't make sense)

second last: Lippe-Schaumburg Hausorden? Regards, Hardy

some kind of wimpel? Hardy