Chip

Well, perhaps I was a bit hasty, but I think a post-war connection makes more sense. The construction doesn't look bad. Maybe a black light once-over will settle the question as to its age. I am sure Robin has such a light! Chip

With the recent exposure of the fronts and backs of two original Flammenwerfer patches on a well-known German dealer's website, the number of attempts at faking these rare patches will markedly rise in my opinion. This one is blatantly wrong, as far as in comparison to known originals. In my estimation, another fantasy piece. Any connection with the Minenwerfer battalion boards would be purely coincidental even if it was original. Chip

Chris, I think your first impression was right, this last number is a "2". Nice investigative work on the photo! Chip

Guys, It's not an award as such. More of a wartime commemorative badge. This is in the same genre as the wartime bavarian divisional "tinnies". It was worn on the lower left chest by the men of the division. It came out during the war and was unofficial as far as the state was concerned. I have only seen one photo of it being worn and that was a studio photo. Rick is correct in that every one I have ever seen is made from "Kriegsmetall". Here's my example. Unfortunately, the attachment devices on the back have been removed. Chip

Looks like a good one Charles. :love:

Is anyone getting all of this? :Cat-Scratch:

Helllo, It does look like a Dragoner tunic in the second photo. The light colored Schirmm?tze band could very well indicate the "Olga" Dragoons. The shoulder insignia would clinch it. Any details when it is enlarged? Chip

John, You are correct and perhaps I should have said, "to the rear of the assaulting infantry troops". Of course, light Minenwerfer were included in the assault as support to the infantry. In Bruce Gudmundsson's book, "Stormtroop Tactics", he states that "Immediately behind the line infantry, the organic trench mortars and grenade launchers of the Assault Battalion would move forward to positions from which they could support the further prosecution of the attack". My comment was that it made sense to me that an artillery Luger would be issued to a Minenwerfer unit, as such a weapon was not normally issued to assault infantry. Chip

John, How are you translating M.W.A.? I am assuming it is the Minenwerfer Abteilung of the regiment. This type of unit makes more sense for an artillery Luger, as they normally would have been to the rear and not assault troops. I would think an artillery Luger would not be the weapon of choice for assault troops, as it would have been a bit unwieldy for close combat. Standard Lugers, KAR98a's and grenades would have been the norm for the first waves. Chip

Saschaw, OK, thanks for the clarification. Now, what do the references to the Kaiser mean? And are you saying that your ribbon bar is made up from old stock? Sorry, I'm trying, but I'm not following this too well. Chip

Would someone please explain Saschaw's bar to the great unwashed masses? I am assuming that it is one of those multi-medal, overlapping, one-piece ribbons? Chip

Chris, Is the photo dated? It's also interesting that they are using the wooden ammo boxes. They are less common to see than the metal examples. Chip

Super document Chris! It would be interesting to know what he got it for. Chip

Rod, There was no yellow thread until long after the war. Imperial navy metallic threads were either gold or silver colored wire. There was also a red thread (Schiffsjungen). Chip

Beau, Your M08 Ulan boards are most likely of prewar manufacture due to them being private purchase examples. Kraftfahr straps would not be numbered, so I think this would be an example from a Starkstrom unit, which wore numbered Kraftfahrkorps straps for a short time. See J. Kraus's two volume set of books for a further explanation. Very nice straps, by-the-way! Chip

Rod, Not sure what your reference to holes in the tally could mean. These were put on the cap and held in place by the channel that they lay in and the tension from the rear of the cap where the tally was threaded through some retaining loops. I have this same tally and it might have been worn on a blue or a white cap as well, but like Rick says, most likely it would have been seen on a gray cotton navy cap. Chip

Here is a small picture of my IR.79 tunic.

Those two horizontal rank stripes were made from a medium blue cloth. The insignia for the Lehr Inf.Rgt. was only used during the war and those strips were shorter in length than these blue ones and I believe they were white. Chip

It looks like the Oberst's name is von Bram. I am intrigued by the description Jnft. Akt. I assume the abbreviations means Infanterist Aktiv, but I have never seen it expressed that way. Has anyone seen this before? Chip

Hardy, Great photo, but I think (looking at the shoulder strap) your "Grenadier" is a Kraftfahrer. Chip

Here's a naval infantryman with one. Chip

Chris, You should learn! It is a fascinating hobby! Your man is from the Saxon 104.IR Chip

Armee=Kabeltrommel. Normally for telephone wire. Could be used in conjucntion with several devices (Aufspuler, Abspuler, Kurbel, etc.) for meting out or winding in wire. Chip

Thanks Hardy. I never would have thought of that.

Hmmm. Wonder why his whole right side had been painted in? His coat and right arm are totally added. Chip