Chip

Hello Alec, It is possible it could be of WWI manufacture, even though I don't think the issue version was made past 1914. I think it is much more likely that it would have been made before the war. Chip

Do you feel comfortable with that? Chip

Thanks Robin, but wouldn't you think that such a thing would have legitimate imperial markings on it? Chip

Andreas, Those buttons are, I believe, Austrian. I think they were just souvenirs that were added to the shoulder straps. They have no meaning as far as the identification of the straps. Chip

Being a Landsturm unit, it would also explain why the straps are blank. They are the blue Gurtband type for Landsturm infantry. Chip

I think this color is for Apotheker. With the Klappkragen, it can't be a Dragoner. I also think the boards are OK with the tunic. The color variation is probably due to the newer pattern M15 boards being added to a M07/10 tunic. Just the Wappen are missing, as Jens mentioned. Chip

Robin, Would like to get your opinion on a skull cavalry (Husar) pennant being shown on the WAF. Here is the address of the page. http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4916061&posted=1#post4916061 Chip

Even though the J.G.Batterie Nr.2 was nominally Bavarian, it was certainly a mixed unit. The proof came a year or two ago when a lot of inisignia from the unit came up for sale. In the lot were two M15 shoulder straps. One had the bursting bomb with JG2 and the other no bomb with just the JG2. Notice the placement of the letters and number. The strap without the bomb was never meant to have one. Chip

So then, does anyone know the state origins of these Infanterie Geschütz Batterien? Chip

Irish Gunner, Of course, I cannot tell the colors from a black and white photo. My assumption comes from seeing a trench helmet in a collection back in the 1980s which had these colors on this type of shield. I've never seen anything else that resembles this shield on any other steel helmet. So, while I can't be positive, I can say that the only shield that I have seen that resembles this one was in the Baden colors. If you want to call the colors blue and white, I have no argument with that. Regards, Chip

Well, I never said that it was a Baden shield, only that it was in the Baden colors. What the colors mean, I couldn't say for sure. There have been instances, such as in the 3.Jäger Rgt. where a "Prussian" battalion was from Baden and the Baden colors were included in the various representations of the states within the regiment. Even the unit commander, Ralph von Rango, wore the Baden colored "darts" (Faden) in the cords of his regimental shoulder boards (red and yellow). Chip

Chris, You might want to fix this page you linked to. You have the same two paragraphs before and after the first photo and then again at the end of the page. Also, asses is spelled assess. Regards, Chip

This shield is in the Baden colors (gold shield with red cross stripe). I know of an original example in a collection. Infanterie Geschütz Batterie Nr.2 was associated with Sturmbataillon Nr.1 and is included in the Sturmbataillon history. There are a number of photos from the J.G.B.2 in the book, but none from this late in the war (late summer - fall 1918). The image that Thomas has shown is from a series of photos of this unit that are in the collection of the Imperial War Museum. Chip

So let's see some! Chip

Yes. He is a Feldgendarm. There should be a corps number below the arabic number on the gorget. Regards, Chip

Chris, You don't see that very often. 99% of the time, the backing is in the same material as the tunic or coat. But since they are private purchase examples, it is of no concern. Chip

Chris, What material is on the reverse? Chip

I don't think it was me. I'd remember that. I may have a period picture showing at least the top level of the contents of either the light MW or the Granatenwerfer spare parts box. If I can find it, I'll post. Chip

Jever beer! I actually drank some of that while in Jever. For me, it didn't compare to south German beer. Very bitter I thought. I guess it's an acquired taste. My wife's family is from Ostfriesland, not too far from Jever. Chip

Chris, That photo of the inside of the box is the only one I took when I had it. The rectangular stick in the back there is a bubble level. It came with the box I had, but I could never quite figure out where it went. There was also a small box that held the spare firing pins, and various sizes of springs. One of the vacant spots you see there on the left was for an oil can. You can just barely see the pull handle and cord at the bottom. I wish now that I had taken more photos of the inside bottom of the box, instead of concentrating on the outside and the markings in the lid. Chip

Chris, I saw this on the French forum and did not know it was your posting! Chip

Here is the 1916 Probestück for the (Fl.P.) Armee-Flugparks sleeve patch. The Versuchs-und Übungsflugpark patch was authorized at the same time. The shoulder strap with the "V" on it is for technical troops of the Versuchs-Abteilung des Militär-Verkehrswesens and the Pionier-Versuchs-Komp.. (Probe piece from the collection of the Bavarian Army Museum, Ingolstadt)

Christophe, I am looking for the wartime enlisted man's version with either the "FJ" or the "K". If you find one of those, we can do some trading! Chip

Chris, I posted it on the Pickelhaubes site and also the German and French forums. Chip

I'm not making any judgements, just offering some information. This field of study can be a confusing one. Chip