Naxos

I don't know anything about US WWI items - this seems very reasonable, no? Compared to German items it is a tenth of the price - is there something wrong with it or are US items that cheap? http://cgi.ebay.com/WWI-IDED-26TH-DIVISION...1QQcmdZViewItem

I don't like it

Paul, it is West German

Can anyone post a photo of an Austrian Horseman's proficiency badge (Reiterabzeichen) in wear? When was it instituted? Austrian Reiterabzeichen in bronze Hardy

Scott, I'm glad you made it over here - and yes, Rick is the man when it comes to ribbons. Most everything I know (lot's still to learn) I learned from him. Regards, Hardy

I can read: Wehrmeldeamt Eschwege Looks like a Condolence note from the local Army office

You are most welcome :cheers:

Bob, Flowerpower was all about bad acid - I remember (some of it)

Colin, a very unique and historically important field of collecting you chose. Hardy

Most of your questions will be answered in here: Handbook on German Military Forces, U.S. War Department Technical Manual TM-E 30-451 published in March 1945. http://www.lonesentry.com/manuals/tme30/index.html

During peacetime there was a minimum time for promotion -

You can be a Gefreiter forever and never advance - The Stabsgefreiter rank is to honor an exceptional soldier that for whatever reason (most likely lack of education) can not advance to become an NCO

I don't think so - since Stabsfeldwebel like Stabsgefreiter is a dead end rank

He has to take a company commander training course

Depending on the officer candidate's education - a young recrut with Abitur (higher education) can be promoted after basic training to Gefreiter and then be accepted to officer training as a Fahnenjunker-Gefreiter. The entire training was about two years (sped up during the war) A NCO depending on his rank - when accepted to officer training will add the Fahnenjunker stripes to his NCO straps. He will keep his existing rank. If he is already an Oberfeldwebel the officer training is less.

The tresse does matter - WH Heer : doppel Tresse for Offiziersanw?rter and einfache (single) Tresse for Unteroffiziersanw?rter. Luftwaffe: silver cord for Offiziersanw?rter

Sorry, I'm starting to confuse myself - Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier is simply referred to as a Fahnenjunker

2.) After an Oberf?hnrich has successfully completed his Officer exams - he will remove the extra tressen on his shoulder straps and wear the officers collar tabs, belt and hat with his Oberfeldwebel straps until he is promoted to Leutnant

no difference often an Oberf?hnrich is refferred to as Fahnenjunker-Oberfeldwebel and a F?hnrich as Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel, in both the Heer and the Luftwaffe. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=33734&hl=

Incroyable!

Is the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen bronze or silver?

Colin, perhaps you can match the picture Hans Czermak 1918

Johann (Hans) Czermak served during WWI with in a Bavarian squadron last rank was Lt. d R.

I believe the boards are from a civilian Sch?tzen Uniform perhaps Weimar era. Here you can see the Sch?tzen shoulder boards still availabe today: http://bekleidungshaus-wessendorf.de/index...rt&Itemid=1 note some of them are very much like the ones above http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-1062-1235250565.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_02_2009/post-1062-1235250632.jpg