Chris Boonzaier

Hi, A question... how does the Frank and Reif design part fit in? Thanks Chris

Gideon Scheepers was caught and executed. Best Chris

With Petain in there you can be sure it is between 1918 and 1939 and not something made for vets in the 50s or 70s.

It is Moi, who can thank you in this case :-) Another doc to follow in this chapter.

We all know the cast Iron Crosses with the German excesses of 1914 on them (Dinant, Louvain etc. etc.....) Here is a piece that belonged to one of the Actual commanders at the sacking of louvain.... Historically very important indeed as the 2nd batln RIR31 were, as far as I can see, the main unit involved.... http://www.kaiserscross.com/41815/77301.html

OK... this is a good un.... The Iron Cross document to one of the commanders of the German troops that sacked Louvain. This one is historically very interesting. best Chris http://www.kaiserscross.com/41815/77301.html

What was the German army "dead end" rank? The rank that officers reached after 20 years of uninspired service, the rank where mediocre careers go to die....

I think it is the way some of the more dramatically minded dealers used to guarantee things in the 1980s.... before digital cameras and all... "Break the seal and there is no returning it!!!"

Nice tunic, and great to have the accompanying research. Can you post the pics a bit bigger?

I was lucky enough to be able to purchase this from one of our forum stalwarts some time ago, a little history of the unit added to pep up the pic. Hope some of you will enjoy them as well... http://www.kaiserscross.com/40029/76401.html All the best Chris

How does one tell the year? More importantly, as the Russians are apparently making very good copies of Soviet stuff... is this not a veeeery dangerous area to spend money on? Thanks Chris

The Flamethrower troops http://www.kaiserscross.com/40029/76401.html

HI, I would not mind adding one to the collection, but have not seen one for sale. (The three here were also a first for me as to finding them for sale). Best Chris

These should be of interest as a sideline... the Edelweiss in WW1, before it became a tradition badge. http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=19064

Me to, but I have had little time for hobby posts of late. ALMOST as nice as a Bavarian one ;-)

I dont ??

This is a fantastic group indeed! It warms my heart to see things like this, especially as it seems so lonely out here as a document collector most of the time.

I imagine once the soldier got home each of the buttons would have been for "huns I got with the bayonet" or "got all of these at 3000 meters with my trench knife"... I would imagine in reality that the guys took buttons from POWs, dicarded jackets, Corpses, Wounded and sewing kits. Anythng to make a nice decoration for the belt. The stories behind it were probably polished up on the way home to make it more interesting.

I assume this phot is reversed and is for telephone troops? Thanks Chris

Can the bar be considered "Bavarian style"? I am not a bar guy, but I think of this style as standard style in the 30s and 40s. Best Chris

Here is the medal in question and a small write up .. http://www.kaiserscross.com/40312/42469.html

These are nice indeed. I am ashamed to say, i did not even know these existed.

I left out the note that he died many years later... it would have been a downer indeed!

What are they made of?

Here you go...