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Everything posted by Chip
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Thomas, Thanks for the additional photo with the straight pins. I think that is very telling. It could be possible that the studio provided that "prop", as it was, as you have indicated, taking photos of this unit on a regular basis and the Dunkelblau uniforms being brought to the studio more than likely would not have had a gray patch sewn on. That might account for the odd shape of the skull that does not conform to the normal issue skull. Pure conjecture of course. I am now aware of three original skull patches in the States and they all are dead ringers for the "issue" pattern patch. I have a copy of the 1977 Klietmann article around here somewhere. There is a photo of an officer's helmet with the skull that supposedly was a "Probe" piece, or at least came out of the collection of the Zeughaus in Berlin. There were such things as officer's "Probestücke", so it could be a legitimate piece, but I don't recall seeing the actual tag. According to Kraus again, the skull was authorized by a Vfg., not an AKO. But he also refers to Klietmann's article as the source of this information. Chip
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You can definitely see that the uniforms in the studio photos are Dunkelblau, when you see the second shot. The contrast is better. It appears to me that the patches were just loosely applied for the photos, as the shadows indicate that neither was sewn down around the edges. I would not have thought that this gray patch was authorized for wear on the old uniform. At least, I have never heard of any regulations. Do you know any more about this Thomas? Another thing I was wondering about is that Klietmann discussed a "Flammenwerfer Pickelhaube" with a skull and bones on the Gardestern. Neither of these photos exhibit this. According to Kraus, the Pickelhaube skull was authorized in June 1916, one month before the sleeve patch. Chip
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Thomas, Yes, what a shame to lose this photo! I think everyone has had this happen. The same thing happened to me with a lot of rare shoulder straps. They made it to the States and then disappeared. Is this patch being worn on the old Dunkelblau uniform or the M15 Friedensuniform? It is difficult to tell, but given the pre-war style overcoat, it may be an early uniform as well. I have never seen this insignia being worn on the old Bunterock. Chip
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Being an uniform and gear guy, what I find very interesting is the special MG shovel and carrier. About 3/4 the size of the regular infantry spade, it sported a handle only about 3 inches long. The leather carrier was similar to the carrier for the infantry shovel, only with a sewn-on loop for the bayonet to be pushed through. I have never seen it in a photo anywhere near this late date and had assumed that it had be dropped about the time that the special M01 single clip MG cartridge pouches were discontinued (1916). Thanks for showing this photo Hardy! Chip
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With the exception is the second cockade, everything else, including the crown on the boards, appears to be normal. The second cockade may be a personal preference or have something to do with his Reserve/Landsturm status. This may have made more sense than having a "Landwehr" cross on a national cockade! This same outfit (less the second cockade) is shown in "Das Deutsche Heer", Band III, plate 170a. Chip
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EK 1914 Iron Cross - EK I, or What?
Chip replied to Ulan's topic in Germany: All Eras: The Iron Cross
Sometimes you just gotta wonder. :banger: -
Not an sleeve insignia, but has anyone seen this skull before? It is in form similar to a stickpin. The cap is marked inside, "St.B.XIV" for a unit marking and also has a Bekleidungs-Amt stamp of "B.A.XIII 1916". The cap was only lightly worn, so I am guessing the insignia is a postwar addition. The cap was brought back to the U.S. with this skull already on it. Chip
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Micha, That depends on what you want to accomplish. If you want everything, you have a long row to hoe. My suggestion would be to stick to tunic straps, as they are more representative of the normal soldier. When the blue/black overcoats were replaced with the gray patterns before the war, the overcoat straps became just like the tunic straps except for the backing material. Chip
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Micha, That would have been correct for the tunic, but that is not what you have. You won't see these old pattern overcoat boards in most references. There was an equivalent overcoat example for each tunic pattern strap, only with a blue/black body and piping in the color of the Waffenrock strap. Besides, you don't need any books, you have us! Chip
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Litzen
Chip replied to Chris Boonzaier's topic in Germany: Imperial Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Personal Equipment
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Litzen
Chip replied to Chris Boonzaier's topic in Germany: Imperial Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Personal Equipment
Chris, With the September 1915 regulations all pioneer officers wore the Doppel Kappelenlitzen. Generally, there were only three Litzen styles. There was the double Litzen (as you have shown) with the two colors of cord, there was the "old Prussian" pattern that was worn by some of the Garde infantry units (also with gold or silver cord), the "old Prussian" pattern with gray cord (Füsilier Rgt.80 only), and the Einfache Kappelenlitze(single)that was worn by some Grenadiers and Flieger troops. -
Litzen
Chip replied to Chris Boonzaier's topic in Germany: Imperial Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Personal Equipment
Chris, You are correct. These are rather generic M15 officer's Litzen. This type had either matt-gold or matt-silver cord in the place of the Spiegel. The color of the cord corresponded to the color of the Litzen on the previous pattern officer's Waffenrock. Chip -
Litzen
Chip replied to Chris Boonzaier's topic in Germany: Imperial Uniforms, Headwear, Insignia & Personal Equipment
Kraftfahrtruppen, Telegraphentruppen (three battalions only), Feldgendarmerie, Leibgendarmerie and Veterinary officers. Chip