No worries about the photos, I'm very much looking forward to delving into it deeper when time allows.
As for the validation, optimal would be a photo of an original feldgrau strap. I have photos of an Officer strap, and the pre-war enlisted strap as well (shown below), but none of the wartime versions. Also the photos aren't my own, just saved for reference.
From the text though, it sounds as though the crest was similar to the pre-war versions.
Particularly, I'm looking to have a couple sets of the wartime straps reproduced for a replica tunic display.