Chip

I thought the ones with the holes were WWII? Also, you could sew that on with a carpet needle (3/8ths circle) without ever going inside or through the stiffening of the band. Just saying.....

One of the more beautiful awards. I have two signed photos of Carl Degelow wearing this newly won award. He went on to be the last winner of the Pour le Merite.

I like the quality! Chip

Chris, Even though it is not obvious in this photo, I believe this is one of the cyphered regiments. The crown just sticks out because of the material it is made from. The darker Kurbelstickerei is just not showing up very well. I don't believe that there is any way that this could be a M07 Inf. Leib Rgt. strap with such a small crown in that particular location.

Interesting private purchase version of the M16 shoulder strap with small crown. Interesting in that it is simplified with no piping. Can't say I have ever seen that before. On the large crown simplified M07s, yes, but not on an M16. Chip

Just goes to show you what officer's could do in wartime. If I had seen this board without the numbers, I would have said it was Major of one of the technical branches with that light gray underlay. I have seen officer's boards from time to time with feldgrau underlay and it must have been just a matter of choice. There seems to be no consistent pattern as to the type of officer that wore their boards this way. Chip

Some miscellaneous regimental insignia. Two prewar type collars, one enlisted, one NCO and a pair of overcoat Kragenpatten. The second photo has a prewar type overcoat (removable) shoulder strap and a piece of collar with the simplified (shortened) M1907/15 Litzen.

Chris, Very nice portraits! In the first photo, the M1907 pattern shoulder straps are being worn. They were not sewn to the tunic at all, but rather were affixed to the tunic with a tongue and loop and the shoulder strap button. The second photo has the same pattern shoulder strap, only a private purchase version that is sewn directly into the shoulder seam. The NCO has either had the collar and straps replaced on an issue tunic or the entire tunic may be a private purchase piece.

Andy, I'm not saying this is not true, but do we have any proof either way on that? The only thing I have seen is the ID made by the museum at Sonthofen. They may well be wrong in attributing it to WWI, but I have seen no proof of postwar manufacture either.

That's right. After 1915 (Sept.21 regulations) the spit prong cockades were used for all enlisted and non-Portepee NCOs, especially on new Schirmmützen. Examples of newly issued Feldmützen with them are also known.

Catherine, There were many Jewish firms that had contracts with the German army in WWI, Gebrüder Israel comes to mind, but there were others, just as there were here in the U.S. All collectors here are very familiar with Gebrüder Bing from Nürnberg, who made so many items for the army. They made, among other things, flashlights, lanterns, backpacks, mess kits, cups, canteens...just about anything made from sheet metal.I have a number of Bing made items in my collection, as do most members of this forum. It was very interesting to read the brief history of your great uncle. Regards, Chip

Ha! I never noticed the ruler underneath!

Thanks Andy, I had not remembered that. It must be Ulanen Regt.17 then, as the Epauletten appear to be solid metal with no colored field.

It appears that his rank is Feldwebelleutnant or Offizierstellvertreter from the stiff shoulder boards he is wearing.

Chris, That Edelweiß device worn between the cockades in WWII would have been a really small one. You didn't mention the size on yours.

I see two units. the Garde Reiter Rgt. and an Ulanen regiment. Could they have switched caps? I don't know of an Ulanen unit that wore white caps. I'll leave that for others to sort out.

It looks like a zinc piece. Not sure if you can date it from that alone. The pin could be from the era, though I have not seen one pressed in place like this. The "2" on the back also makes me think of some sort of mass production, but who knows. Just some thoughts.....

I think this b.11.Div. badge is a fake and the latest thing out of Latvia or Poland. You knew once they started bringing a few bucks they would be copied. These guys are ruining the hobby. Sad.

Here's one where they are wearing their "Kriegsgarniture", that is, their tunics without the Litzen. You can see the crowns on the shoulder straps. In this one, the artist created a uniform that never existed, that is, a field gray tunic with prewar colored shoulder straps.The Bavarian 1916 Friedensuniform had white shoulder straps with a red crown.

What armband is he wearing?

Hello aussiesoldier, If your comments were in regard to my hat, I can tell you that the blackened badge is a lug back type, not a modern cast version with press-studs. I don't know what pugaree was being worn in 1928, so I can't really comment. I wish the cap had come with the WWI type issue felt band, but once again, I don't know if they were still being issued in 1928.

I was following that one too Chris. It was too much for me. If it had be Dollars, that probably would have been OK.

Three of this series were on ebay.de just in the last week or so. The picture with the Stahlhelm is one that is fairly familiar, but the other two were previously unknown to me.

I've always thought those were the coolest of the artillery sidearms. Here's a picture of one from an old set of uniform plates. I think it is being called a M91. Chip

Eric, I thought that cap was a postwar thing adopted by the early communists. I've never heard of it being worn during WWI. Chip