Gilles

Isn't he wearing the same pattern (or a very similar?) as a tiepin? Look at his collar. If he happened to wear twice Olbernhau's coat of arms, this could maybe identify him as a civil servant? Have you got a date on the back of the picture, any emboss or stamping of the photograph?

Wouldn't silver have a mark?

We wish you good luck in this very interesting but, as already said, very tricky collecting topic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-305

"Small is beautiful"...

Brian, I agree with the black backing for the FK and provisional RW but I would have thought that the badge was just private purchased. A very nice picture of a member of the III. Abteilung!

I have a ring of the officers pattern but as it doesn't have LIR in it, I wasn't quite sure. Does yours have the marking? Regards

Yes, it's the Austrian tinnie of the 21st. Korps 1916

Could be Freikorps, compare with the badge of the "Freie Nachrichten-Truppen" shown in Ingo Haarcke's reference book #621.1 page 106

An astonishing flag that would be a reason to move to an "Altbau Wohnung" with high ceilings! I agree with Don, as a matter of luck, many a summit is being fortunately hidden... by a lower summit!

Of all the pictures with the patch shown in this long thread, only the posts #1780 and #1785 do show the sleeve badge being just pinned or maybe lain on the sleeve (for the time of the picture?). Both have in common that they were shot in a studio, not in the field. Maybe they just show two pioneers that have been given the badge and were eager to show off and went to the photographs's, before having it properly sewn on. Regards G.

Thomas, a seldom view indeed! The picture is from the Revolution time, when soldiers started to take liberties with uniform regulations. If they were only given one example, maybe they were given the possibility to buy another one? Regards

Ok, I first thought it was yours

It could be the sleeve insignia of the Freikorps Elisabeth. A German dealer offers it: http://www.ebay.de/itm/Freikorps-Totenkopf-Armelabzeichen-Berlin-1919-Original-/201278855199?pt=Militaria&hash=item2edd27981f What surprises me is that both your insignias show the very same conditions and stains (check several places) Did he just use your pictures? Regards Gilles

Chris I'd say IR 90 (Mecklenburg) Does the belt buckle confirm this? Regards Gilles

I'd be very surprised, when you consider the density of the collectors & dealers in this very city that no information on a specific Hamburg distinction ever trickled to one of them (Weitze, Patzwall, Niemann, Hüsken, Blass & many others) and then to the net. To my opinion, this document of this arm award that has the form of a breast award is not trustworthy. G.