Gordon Craig

Chris, There are some guys in blue who wear the swat badge. The guys in the back in green are riot police. I only used that picture to indicate that Riot squads in Germany have moved from green to blue uniforms.

Riot police from the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The green uniforms have been replaced by blue uniforms recently. You can see the mix of the blue and green uniforms worn in one picture. The green protective gear has also been replaced by a newer type. Each German state maintains their own riot police. There are 16 states. There is a Federal office that coordinates riot police activities, uniforms etc. Regards, Gordon

Paul C, What you can not see in this picture could be a problem. Have a look at this link and compare it with the picture that you posted. Regards, Gordon http://www.soviet-uniforms.com/items/_110/110.html

Paul, Thanks. Regards, Gordon

Paul, I was able to identify the foreing wings on the chap in the centre of the picture. They are U.S. military HALO wings. The black breast badge on the man standing on his right still baffles me. Regards, Gordon

Paul, Thanks for the response. I expanded it and printed it out and under a magnifying glass I can make out the pin on the lapel. The other two badges are more visible this way and with some research I might be able to identify them as well. Regards, Gordon

Paul R, A very nice addition to a BW collection. Would really like to have something like this myself. The chap in the centre really has some interesting badges on his uniform. Can you tell from the photo what foreign para wings he is wearing under his BW wings? Also, what is the small pin he is wearing on his right lapel? The man to his right has a small black badge on his right breast pocket. Is it possible to identify it for us from the photo? Regards Gordon

Igor, This badge was worn in the military for approximately two years after the fall of the Communist regime in Hungary. Circa 1990/92. It continued to be worn after that date but as an embroidered badge instead of metal one.

Chris, Thanks for the additional info. When I lived in France my landlord was a member of the Gendarme Mobile. They lived in a Caserne about an hours drive from Metz. Regards, Gordon

Chris, Interesting patches to collect even under such conditions. I'd like to hear more about the Gendarmerie as well. Regards, Gordon

Jock, Interesting photo. I don't recognize the chap in the middle but a well decorated WWII vet. Thanks for posting the picture. Regards, Gordon

Brian, Thanks for the kind comments. I've enjoyed owning this weapon. More interesting stuff to come. Regards, Gordon

I haven't posted to this forum before so it is time before I get rid of the last of my firearms. First of all, do not confuse the Berman MP34 with the Styre Solothurn MP 34. They are completely different firearms. The BMP 34 was designed by Theodor Emil Bergman. Son and heir to the Theodor Bergman Industiewerke. The first of this guns was the BMP 32 which was purchase by Denmark. The BMP 34 was a modification of the BMP 32 that relocated the safety among other small changes in design. There are numerous statements on the web as to who built what for who as far as the BMP was concerned and I have not been able to confirm any of them. Period pictures prove that the SS and the Italian Army used the BMP 34. Here are pictures of the BMP 34 from my collection plus a couple of photos of it in war time use by the SS and the Italian Army. The BMP 34 has an interesting trigger arrangement. There two triggers. Pulling the first one allows for single shots to be fired. Pulling further, which engages the second trigger allows for automatic fire. They can be found with the magazine feeding from either side. At first, there was 9 mm mag designed for this gun. I am told that eventually they were modified to use the MP 18 magazines but I have no proof of that. My guns magazine housing is on the shooters right. Regards, Gordon

Dan, Sorry for not replying to your thread before now. I wasn't able to until today. I have checked my book on DDR flags and there were no car flags listed so that wasn't of much help. I was in a museum just outside Berlin a few years ago and they had a parade car on display. I know it had flags but don't remember what they looked like. I'll have to check on my other computer. I took lots of pictures but they are not on this computer. Wish me luck! Regards, Gordon

Luftmensch, The two stars indicate that the War Merit Medal was awarded twice. Regards, Gordon

Gentlemen, An auction that I was recently out bid on contained two interesting items. One appears to be a KGB Anniversary Shield that I am unfamiliar with. All of the Anniversary Shields that I have seen have some colour on the front. This one does not. Can someone identify it for me please? I might get a better answer on another sub forum but because this award seems to have been presented to a member of the MfS I am going to start here. The other unusual item is a removable cuff band for the Wach-Rgt. FD. It has been realized for some time that cuff bands of this type were issued to be worn on specific occasion, parades etc. and then removed after the event. But I had never seen one until the auction. I'll post all of the pictures that were included in the auction for your enjoyment. Regards, Gordon

Jock, Thanks for posting the lot. Regards, Gordon

Jock, I can only echo the words of those above. Always interesting to see the paperwork of a mans career. Regards, Gordon

Jock, Yes the East Germans did keep the twisted cap cord and as I said above, so did the civilian organs of the BRD. Here is a cap belonging to a senior BRD Feuerwehr officer with a twisted cap cord similar to that worn by Wehrmacht general officers. Plus a DDR Landstreitskraft oficers cap with a silver cap cord similar to the ones worn in the Wehrmacht.

Jock, That is the correct chinstrap for the BW officer. Cap cords similar to those worn by the Wehrmacht were not worn in the BW. Woven cap cords were used on civilian visor caps though. Regards, Gordon

Iver, Interesting with the button hole miniature. Regards, Gordon

Jock, BGS leather equipment was brown at first and then changed to black. The brown leather equipment is rare. The black colour is the most one most commonly found. Regards, Gordon

sadion, There is not really a "rank chart" for Wasserwirtschaft. They operate on a position basis so each level could fill a number of different positions within the organization. Regards, Gordon

Erik, Interesting what a local "artisan" can do. Regards, Gordon

I didn't see this post until after the deletion by You tube but in case it wasn't mentioned, the refurbished weather station is on display at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Regards, Gordon