bob wirtz

Here is a tunic from the Adolf Hitler Division that was heavily engaged during the Normandy landing and subsequent campaign. This is an SS-Rottenführer of Signals tunic with the LAH embroidered shoulder straps and 'blitz' sleeve diamond. The string on the overseas cap holds two former Soviet museum property tags. Bob

Well not ALL of these are named, just a couple. As far as a musical instrument I would love to pick up an original snare drum and strap and hook to display it on the mannequin with the Panzer Bandsman Waffenrock. That would be the ultimate. I've found the hooks for a Luftwaffe drummer but not an Army one. A tank would be nice. I can make one out of rubber and inflate it with air and then put the mannequin on the top of it. Otherwise, pretty impractical. Willi is doing fine... getting old like the rest of us, but he's still collecting and exhibiting his collection, as well as helping authors with their publications when he can. He believes in sharing his 'toys' with others. For the last 3 years he's put up some super exhibits at the Dulles Expo Center (Chantilly Show) and in Richmond (North-South Trader Civil War - National WWI-WWII Show). He doesn't go to the MAX or SOS or shows that are far from Virginia. I'll pass along your greetings and salutations next I see him. Bob

Thank you Scott and Chris. I have more but need to dress up a mannequin and take more pictures. I'll have the opportunity soon as Willi and I are putting together another exhibit on 3-4 October. I'll be taking pictures of the Luftwaffe Obergefreiter and a new Kriegsmarine enlisted tunic and cap. The black panzer will be making another appearance and Willi will put up one of his Waffen-SS tunics and caps. Bob

This doesn't belong to me but it has been exhibited with two tunics of mine, which belonged to Knight's Cross holders. This is Willi Schumacher's Knight's Cross that belonged to Korvettenkapitan Klaus Feldt. Here it is with a color photo of Herr Feldt. Bob

Here is the Luftwaffe enlisted service cap that I bought from Bill Shea to go with the above Obergefreiter of Flight tunic. It is tailor made and named to the original owner. Bill Shea photo. Bob

This is my Luftwaffe Obergefreiter of Flight Tunic. This will be exhibited at the 2009 Brentsville WWII Living History Weekend, 2-3 October, in Brentsville, Virginia (NOVA). Willi Schumacher and I will be collaborating on an exhibit themed: Enlisted Uniforms of the German Wehrmacht. This photo is Bill Shea's, whom I purchased it from. Bob

This is my Oberfeldwebel of Panzer Bandsman Waffenrock and Service Cap. This is one sharp parade dress tunic with the pink piped swallows tails. Bob

This is my Luftwaffe Oberleutnant of Flight dress jacket and officer service cap. This jacket belonged to Klaus Bretschneider, JG-300 who shot down 34 aircraft, including 17 B-17s/24s (3 in a single sortie), and 14 RAF bombers in 20 night sorties. He also had several Allied fighters to his credit. He was shot down and killed on 24 December 1944. The Knight's Cross pictured belongs to a friend and was awarded to Korvettenkapitan Klaus Feldt in Motor Torpedo Boats (Oakleaves winner). The German Cross in Gold also belongs to a friend and was awarded to Oberleutnant Haedge, a Fallschirmjager. Bob

Here is my Kriegsmarine Kapitan zur See mess dress jacket and service cap. This belonged to Vizeadmiral Kurt von dem Borne, recipient of the German Cross in Silver on 31 July 1944. He was a Berlin bureaucrat in the Navy Department (Wirtschafts) and retired shortly after his award of the German Cross. He was captured in Berlin and died in Soviet captivity (some retirement!). He was awarded the War Merit Cross with Swords First and Second Class (you can see the ribbon for the second class award on his lapel). Bob

This is my Oberfeldwebel black panzer jacket and M38 overseas cap. The cap has the pink soutache and the cockade is on a dark-green backing. I also have the trousers to this grouping. This has the EK1 and Panzer Assault Badge - 25. The throatmics are mint and were never issued; the cords are still tied with the original string. The headset is also pretty minty. Bob

Here is my Luftwaffe Oberleutnant of Flak Tunic and Luftwaffe Officer Service Cap. Bob

Here is some of my Wehrmacht uniform and headgear collection. I've been collecting a long time but am just starting to kick it into gear. This is Korvettenkapitan Rudolf Heynsen's reefer jacket. He was awarded the Knight's Cross on 20 April 1945 and was in Minesweepers. The Knight's Cross belongs to a friend of mine and belonged to Korvettenkapitan Klaus Feldt, Knight's Cross and Oakleaves in E-Boats. He was one of 8 recipients of the E-Boat Badge in Diamonds. The cap is not named. Enjoy. Bob

Helen, Which other forum did you put this on? Bob

This is actually the Totenkopf Division style as used by the Waffen-SS Division. The SS-Totenkopfverbande (SS-TV) style was upright with the skull facing off to the left. I know there are slight variations and all but I don't like this particular piece when I compare it to a friend's, which is on a tunic. The background black material doesn't look right and there are particular parts of the skull and bones that I find disconcerting. I'm not an expert on SS-RZM tags so I cannot address that except to the experts: were these Totenkopf Division collar tabs RZM controlled? I know the SS-TV ones were because they came out early, but these came out towards the end of 1940 at the earliest. Let's have some more collectors chime in on this piece. Here is the one that is in my friend's collection. You can see some very fundamental differences in style, materials and workmanship. Notice the ends of the crossed bones how the threads are not even. Bob

I think that many of the legitimate Waffen-SS officer tunics that are around today were, for the most part, walk out dress, which were left in closets back home and were found by GIs and taken as war booty. Unless the family started cutting off insignia later on, then these were probably in their 100% original condition. I've seen some with other waffenfarben as well. Bob

No I haven't black lighted it. For the most part, I am not concerned with these ribbon bars being authentic or not. I just buy them to put on tunics. It seems that real ribbon bars are pretty difficult to acquire. Rick, I'll check out that other one. I thought this was the one that you viewed and liked. Bob

The enlisted overseas cap (photo by Bill Shea)

I just picked up two nice Kriegsmarine caps: one for a Korvettenkapitan through Kapitan zur See (unnamed) and an enlisted overseas cap. Bob

Here is a scan of the backs of them. The ribbon bar is not finished on the back. Bob

Bought this from a friend several years ago who told me that it belonged to a Fallschirmjager Paul Schmidt. Anybody know anything about him? Nice when you get matching medal and ribbon bars. Bob

Here I am standing alongside of my friends SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer of Veterinarian tunic from the Deutschland Regiment. It is in marvelous condition and 100% authentic... no missing or replaced insignia. Bob

Thank you for your kind words. Nesredep, this is it, as far as panzer is concerned. I collect Wehrmacht uniforms and headgear and so far I only have two Heer outfits. The other is an Oberfeldwebel of Panzer Bandsman Waffenrock, which doesn't fit the parameters that I've established on this thread. It's panzer but not a wrapper. I have pictures of my friends Waffen-SS panzer, camo panzer and StuG jackets. His officer black panzer jacket and two StuG jackets each have a Das Reich cuffband. His camouflaged panzer uniform is pictured in many publications, including Mike Beaver's camouflaged book, Bender's LSSAH and Armes Militaria #99 from 1993. Bob

Thank you for that information. Guess this guy fought mostly on the Eastern Front in WWI. Here is the back. I noticed gray-green thread on the back, which I assume is good. I've seen many of the new-made ribbon bars and they have this really sh1tty green thread on the backs. Hopefully this one passes muster. Bob

Can a knowledgeable person tell me what the Imperial German Awards are. I collect Third Reich and am not familiar with the Imperial awards. Thank you. Bob

Anybody have nice Army or Waffen-SS black panzer jackets and headgear, or for that matter assault gun (StuG) jackets for show? Here is mine. This is an Oberfeldwebel black panzer jacket with M38 overseas cap. It has the pink soutache and the cockade is on dark-green backing. Inside is the safety pin to keep the top closed up. Bob