Frank M

A storage compartment was created in the butt stock to house the oiler, and contain the operator's manual, etc. This compartment was sealed by having a steel latch held in place by a heavy spring action that prevents the contents from falling out.

Riflemen who used this weapons system were issued with a special pouch made from rough leather, fabric, and very late in the war, even a sort of paper, that held two clips.

Here is a photograph of some of these items.

Frank

From the opposite angle.

Frank

In this first photograph I have attempted to show the differences between the two with the sniper variation obviously above the standard configuration.

Although I am uncertain as to the history of where the sniper rifle was used, the standard issue G43 had been issued to a German unit serving in Italy. It was taken as war booty by an American G.I. who brought it home and stored it in a barn for a number of years, having forgotten about it. The stock was a little dry, but surprisingly, the steel was not damaged at all from moisture, etc., and with three coats of one hundred per cent natural linseed oil, the stock came back fairly well.

There is some battle damage to this same said rifle's stock, around the front grip which I shall elude to in more detail in a moment.

Frank

Laurence has a nice example of a G//K 43 with bakelite front grip. In his postings he mentions that this weapons system was used a sniper rifle. I happen to own a G43 that is set up for that purpose along with a secondary G43 in its standard configuration. I thought I might post these pics of my own two rifles for others here to review for comparison purposes against my own, as well as Laurence's rifle.

Frank

So Jim -

Modelled after the panzerfaust, eh?

Frank

I have currently in my collection, a Luftwaffe double decal M35 steel pot, with a first pattern eagle, drop tail styling with the "fat" swastika. About as early an example as can be found.

I can't shoot it today, but if there is interest in seeing it, once I am able, I would be most pleased to do so for the membership to review.

Frank

Okay, here's another one of the General himself, Adolf Galland. He was the first Luftwaffe RK recipient that I ever had the pleasure to be able to correspond with, and this is the photograph that he sent me as a memento.

Gerhart Schoepfel. ( General Galland's wingman during the Battle Of Britain ).

Herbert Ihlefeld.

Okay, here's but a trio of some of those whom I have had the good fortune to be able to correspond with over the years.

My own black and white of Guenther Rall.

Rick -

Although not as extensive as Bill's EK II collection, of my own 32 representative pieces of the same, none of mine are double struck either.

Frank

I find this sort of thread to be rather entertaining in just how the original photograph and the modern shot are super imposed over each other to show the differences, and yet their similarities as well. I've seen a couple of these done in this manner here, and really enjoy seeing them. If you, or any others Simon, happen to have more of these "then and now" snapshots, I for one, would enjoy seeing more.

Thank you for sharing.

Respectfully,

Frank

A photograph of the inside liner. Although the leather is rather dark, it can be just discerned that there manufacturer's ink stampings are just legible above the two rows of vent holes of the liner in the upper half of the picture.

Respectfully,

Frank

From the front.

Opposite side.

Here's my Fallschirmjaeger lid.

Very nice examples of World War II armor Ralph. I too used to dabble a bit in building diorama's many years ago, and can appreciate the attention required to detail. Never thought of using some of the materials that you have described here for effect though, such as drywall mud for zimmermit, or the use of real rust in order to create the same effect.

Frank

I have an example of an engraved 1939 EK I of my own, but only the one. It has a simple, but nice engraving of the recipients name, and the date of its having been awarded. I will post a pic of it once my probationary status falls to the way side, allowing me to post the larger sized format of it.

I always enjoy seeing the examples of others and just what sorts of engraved Iron Crosses they have come across. These examples posted here truly show some history of their time. Thank you for sharing these examples here.

Respectfully,

Frank

Brian -

Thank you for sharing this DLV Dirk with us. This is a first too, seeing an example out of one's own collection, for my own self, having but seen these displayed in wear from period photographs of the time. Very nice!

Respectfully,

Frank

Bill -

Thank you for sharing the photographs of your uniform grouping. As a fellow Luftwaffe history enthusiast, I have often attempted over the years to pick up such a grouping as yours, with out luck. It is indeed one of the branches of the Luftwaffe that is seemingly more difficult to obtain uniform material from. A few years ago, I noticed a uniform grouping from this arena complete with peaked cap, boots, and gloves, but missed out on the set by literally minutes in becoming its new owner. Oh well, such is the route of being a historian.

Again, thank you for sharing this with us. As stated previously, it indeed be interesting to see more from your collection.

Repsectfully,

Frank

I have but a couple of medal bars with awards related to Luftwaffe service, this one being the larger of the two. What I genuinely enjoy about this medal bar is that the recipient not only was awarded the 1914 EK II, but that it also has the accompanying 1939 EK II Spange attatched to its related Iron Cross, plus the individual saw service in the east, and in North Africa.