Sprocket

Here is a close up of the silver bullion 'droop-tailed eagle' Bob

It has a tailor's label inside but no name tag. Bob

And the tailor/name label. I noticed that the sewing of the label is pretty poor, but I just checked out the jacket again. Notice that the name and information is typed, therefore the label was put in afterwards and it is sewn into an interior pocket, so you're not going to get a sewing machine in there. There is another tailor's label in the jacket from the same tailor. Bob

Here is a close up of his ribbon bar, which is sewn to the jacket. Anybody know for certain what the 2nd and 3rd ribbons are? Bob

This is my other Kriegsmarine uniform. It's the dress jacket with dark-blue vest. This is named to (then Kapitan zur See) Kurt von dem Borne. He retired sometime after July 1944 as Vizeadmiral. He was generally a Berlin bureaucrat that dealt with finance or something. He was awarded the German Cross in Silver on 31 July 1944. He lived in Berlin and was killed in early May 1945. In addition to the EK1 (1914), he was awarded the War Merit Cross with Swords First and Second Class. This tunic was his Captain's dress and therefore does not have loops for the DKiS or the WMC /swords 1st Class, but does have button for the 2nd Class. He also wears the cloth version of the Johanniterorden (Cross of Saint John). Bob

And here is some biographical information about Rudolf Heynsen... He won his Knight's Cross as Korvettenkapitan and Flotillachef 27. Minensuchflotilla. Bob

Here is a close up of the breast eagle. Bob

Here is the label inside with his name (dated January 1945) and the tailor name and city (Cuxhaven, which is north of Bremerhaven). Bob

Paul, I put a picture of my Luftwaffe Oberleutnant of Flak tunic on the thread you have under the Luftwaffe, and my KM reefer jacket under the KM section. Bob

Here is my latest Luftwaffe conquest! This is a Luftwaffe Flak Officer's tunic for an Oberleutnant from Luftwaffe Flak Regiment 5... it's III./ Battalion served in North Afrika. Bob

Hiya Fellas, I just wanted to show off my latest Kriegsmarine acquisition... this is a named Korvettenkapitan's reefer jacket belonging to Knight's Cross winner Heynsen in Minesweepers / Anti-submarine Warfare. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on Hitler's last birthday, 20 April 1945. He bought this jacket in January 1945 and his Knight's Cross portrait photo is taken with him wearing this jacket. All I need now is a really nice KM officer's overseas cap. Bob

Herr Woodeye, Glad that you are still around too. As collectors we refer to these "sleeve tapes" as "cuff bands" just for your information. Bob

Remember that the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine had dress tunics too, albeit not Waffenrocks like the Heeres. Here are a couple of nice examples with the white linen vest (LW) and the dark-blue vest (KM). Bob

Interesting however; it is against SS regulations to wear TWO "SS" long service ribbons on the ribbon (or medal) bar. The member could wear another long service ribbon denoting service in another branch of the Wehrmacht, or police or RAD, etc. but SS regulations prohibited the wearing of more than ONE "SS" long service ribbon or medal. Of course there are always exceptions. As for the question regarding the awarding of the 25-Year SS Long Service Medal, it never happened. At the beginning of the war, the SS long service medal awards were suspended until the end of the war, which for the Germans didn't work out too well. The 12-Year SS Long Service Medal (silver) was awarded and there are pictures (even in color) of Heinrich Himmler wearing one on his medal bar. Bob

Paul, I'm not an expert in SS stuff, but I have picked up a few pointers over the years from a very good friend, who is one of the premiere Waffen-SS collectors in the U.S. He has been a mentor to me in Third Reich militaria in general. I collect Wehrmacht, that is, Heer, Kriegsmarine, and Luftwaffe. Thus far I have three Luftwaffe, two Kriegsmarine and one Heer tunics. Not a big collection, but one of quality, as my mentor has taught me. I'm new to this forum and went back through the old threads and found one that was a bit old but not answered. People who ask questions and don't get answers are liable not to return with another question. Hopefully WOODEYE will come back, see the answer, take appropriate action, and come back again. Hope to help in the future. Bob And WOODEYE: You are correct about the borders having only 12 strands instead of 14; however, there were some early (1938-40) cuffbands that only had 12 strands, so that's not a primary reason for tossing it. If you find an original, compare the black band and you'll easily see the differences.

Okay, see you guys in a couple of weeks! Bob

Looks like you've been waiting a long time to get an answer. This forum thus far has not impressed me very much --- it's rather slow and I only check it a couple times a week and just this area. Anyway, the Adolf Hitler cuffband you have posted here is a reproduction. Just a glance at the black backing is enough to determine authenticity in this case. The six-strand borders reinforce this as well as the lettering embroidery. If you bought this, take it back and get a refund. Bob

Nice pictures... here is an interesting waffenrock tunic: A Feldwebel of Panzer Bandsman. This was on Bill Shea's website late last year. I should have moved faster but it went quick. Bob

I thought the clincher was the early SS-VT collar patches with the early SS cap skull and the Army panzer collar tab skulls on them. Then again, somebody will come along and think they are original and buy them. Bob