bob wirtz

I'm sure the next time I go up to visit him I can take that kind of photo for you. Do you want the gorget, belt & buckle and traffic stick too? Or just the tunic alone? I can also turn it to the left slightly so that you can see the cuffband better. That's a long cuffband and it wraps around the sleeve. I'll take a bunch of shots and send them and you can just pick and choose. Bob

Gordon, If you intend on including Waffen-SS in your Feldgendarmerie book, my friend has a really nice SS-Sturmann of Feldgendarmerie tunic from the Totenkopf Division. He is very active in helping authors whenever they need photographic support. He has many items published in Mike Beaver's, Bender's and Armes Militaria. Here is a photo of it from his 2007 Chantilly Show exhibit. This is an M43 tunic with the "SS-Feldgendarmerie" cuffband. It is Ravensbruck-marked. Bob Willi Schumacher Collection/Bob Wirtz Photo

Very nice piece, Gordon. That is the condition that I like to collect. It shows some wear but not beat all to Hell. Do you have a tunic to go with it? Bob

Here is the Oberfeldwebel of Panzer bandsman waffenrock. This picture was taken at the 2009 Chantilly Show where Willi and I put up an exhibit called DRESS UNIFORMS OF THE GERMAN WEHRMACHT. Bob

The Collectors Guild had a nice Senior NCO/Officer Candidate Medical Reefer Jacket, seen here: http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Kriegsmarine/photos/K003661.html That's the only Kriegsmarine medical garment I've seen in awhile. Bob

PK, These came off of Bill Shea's website --- this badge is currently for sale. I would ask his permission. I have his permission to use pictures off of his website for my own uses; however, I would ask him for yourself. I'm sure that he would agree --- especially in the name of educating the collectors. Bob

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How does this one match up? This was awarded to Objager Wigstein Stabs II F.J.R.1. Bob

That is a very nice cap. I don't have that one yet. I did get the one for the Korvettenkapitan to Kapitan zur See. Mine isn't named but it's a very nice piece. I love the way that the gold bullion insignia ages. I've also managed to pick up two enlisted overseas caps, one with the device for U-391, a Model 1943 cap (the very one pictured in Bender's 3-volume set of books on the Kriegsmarine), and a Schloffelmutze with the cap band Marinenachrichtenschule (Navy Signal School). Bob

Christophe

Could it be a walkout dress uniform? I know that there were NCOs in panzer units that went out and acquired black panzer uniforms for walk out dress occasions. Bob

General Rall was the first Luftwaffe ace that I had ever met through Virginia Bader's Symposium in Washington many years ago. Since then I've met the General many times, including several Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot Association Reunions. I send my deepest sympathies to his family. The old guard is fast disappearing. Bob

Here is my contribution to the Luftwaffe Flak Thread. This is an Oberleutnant of Flak from Luftwaffe Flak-Regiment 5. Bob

Thank you again, Gordon. Yes, many of the open collar style tunics would require some shirt and maybe tie, etc. On that dress photo, is he wearing a white vest, which is common for those kinds of dress jackets? Or is he wearing the white version of the navy jumper? Does it depend on what time of year? In the U.S. Navy we would wear whites (dress with jumper and necktie; undress with tropical short-sleeved shirt) and then blues (dress with white trim on back flap and necktie; undress with blue jumper without white trim and necktie). Of course regardless of the time of year, when transferring and reporting to new duty station, the dress blues were worn. So did the German Kriegsmarine change with the seasons? In the KM books it appears that the KM only wore whites when in foriegn ports. It's too bad that the KM books didn't show a lot of color photos of uniforms from collectors on mannequins. A picture like that would have answered dozens of questions by themselves. Thanks, Bob

Thanks Gordon. I'm learning about the Kriegsmarine. I bought the 3-volume Bender set but it wasn't clear what was worn under the pea jacket. So is this what would have been worn underneith: http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Kriegsmarine/photos/K007061.html? I put the jacket on the mannequin, as it will be displayed this coming weekend at an event, and you can hardly see far down the neck. So even if I had the shirt with dickie and tie, it probably wouldn't be seen on the mannequin. I bought a couple of black ties to be worn by some of my mannequins; however, the high collars on most mean that you don't see them or the undershirt. And many times the addition of the shirt just adds size to it and sometimes makes fastening buttons difficult. Nothing like popping a button! I hate when that happens! Thanks again Gordon. I'll put up photos of the exhibit that Willi and I are doing this weekend. And on 24-25 October we are doing it again for the last time in 2009. I don't yet have an Army StuG jacket so we cannot put up Army and Waffen-SS panzer and assault gun jackets... so this is going to be a "Willi Show" as he will put up three tunics and I will provide just the one Army black panzer uniform. Hopefully some day I'll get a nice Army StuG jacket and we can then properly exhibit that theme. Bob

I picked up a Kriegsmarine Schloffelmutze with the cap tally: Marine Nachrichten Schule. I also just picked up a radioman's pea jacket and trousers so that all goes well together. Anybody know what they wore under their pea jackets, what kind of shirt? Bob (Photo by Bill Shea, The Ruptured Duck)

Thank you. I just picked up a Kriegsmarine sailor outfit so my friend Willi and I will be putting on an exhibit next weekend in Brentsville (Virginia) at their first WW2 Living History Weekend. We will be putting up Enlisted Uniforms of the German Wehrmacht. I will be putting up the new KM enlisted tunic and overseas cap, the Luftwaffe Obergefreiter tunic and service cap pictured above, the Army black panzer uniform (pictured above). Willi will be putting up his SS-Rottenfuhrer from the Latvian Legion tunic with most of the field equipment. He bought it from the late Mike Beaver and it is pictured in his books. Should be another great exhibit. Bob

The belt is in fine condition... worn but still supple. It is a tight fit on the mannequin but manageable. I think I already posted a picture of my panzer bandsman waffenrock somewhere on here... probably under my Wehrmacht Collection thread. Bob

I heard that too and there was a guy on one of these forums that has contact with him but wouldn't give out his address. I'd like to find out if he still has his Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and his E-Boat Badge in Diamonds, plus award documents. Bob

Close up of the insignia. Bob

Just picked up a Kriegsmarine enlisted overseas cap, size 59, in unissued condition. Bob

Nice tunic. Have the shoulder boards been replaced? I ask because they're on the wrong sides. But I've seen tailored pieces before with the boards on the wrong side. Just wondering. Bob

I just didn't understand the question... I knew that somebody wouldn't put something out there that was obvious, so I was looking for trick. Missed it... duh! Bob

Gordon, Not sure what your looking for. The "SS-Feldgendarmerie" cuffband is for the SS and the brown one is German Army. The SS cuffband is a bevo-like style, one of those rare types that had little company. Bob