bob wirtz

Rick,

By the way, here is a scan of that ribbon bar you were excited about.

Bob

And since the Waffen-SS was wearing a lot of camouflage during the Normandy Campaign, this might have been there too. Well, actually one like it. This one was in a depot and that is where it was captured; never issued... still has sizing in the material. You cannot get too much more MINT than this piece. Also has matching trousers and factory paperwork with all matching size stencils.

SS-Oberscharfuhrer of Panzerjager Assault Gun (StuG) Jacket from SS-Panzerjager-Abteilung 2, SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"

SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer of Aufklarungs Assault Gun (StuG) Jacket from SS-Panzer-Aufklarungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"

I'll bet these guys were probably there at Normandy: These tunics belong to friend Willi Schumacher (Bob Wirtz Photographs - I have Willi's permission to post these).

SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer black panzer jacket and field cap from SS-Panzer-Regiment 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"

Bob

Here is another view of the exhibit... from the other side.

Bob

Thank you, Rick. Actually you were in Virginia, the Capital of the Confederacy!

Here are photos of the exhibit that Willi Schumacher and I put up last weekend in Richmond.

Theme: UNIFORMS OF THE GERMAN WEHRMACHT

Kriegsmarine: Korvettenkapitan reefer jacket belonging to Knight's Cross holder Rudolf Heynsen, Minesweepers. And Korvettenkapitan though Kapitan zur See service cap.

Luftwaffe: Oberleutnant of Flak from Luftwaffe Flak-Regiment 5

Heer: Oberfeldwebel black panzer jacket and M38 overseas cap with pink soutache and cockade on dark-green backing.

Waffen-SS: SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer from the Germania Regiment with gilt metal "G" shoulder board ciphers in Latin, German Cross in Gold in cloth, GERMANIA cuffband in aluminum flat wire in Latin plus aluminum wire borders.

The Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe and Heer tunics are mine and the Waffen-SS tunic belonged to Willi, as well as the Display Shield.

Enjoy.

Bob

Just for future reference, here is an authentic Berolina stencil. You will notice differences in the font.

Bob

I have an EK document signed by him. Wasn't he hung after the war for something?

Bob

Seb,

Are you still shopping that moth-eaten cap around? You need to get one without all of the holes!!!

Bob

This is a pair of SS-Gruppenfuhrer collar tabs. These and the SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Karl Demelhuber collar tabs are the post April 1942 (effective June 1942) style.

Bob

This is what authentic SS Generals collar tabs look like. Study and see the differences and characteristics. This is SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Karl Demelhuber's collar tabs from my friend's collection.

Bob

Tress was bad, and mixed (Army/Waffen-SS and Luftwaffe) and badly applied. Auction junk.

Bob

That is a great photograph. I would love to see an original tunic with period applied veterinary insignia!

I've put photos of my friends SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer of Veterinar tunic from the Deutschland Regiment. Funny thing is that it has an EK2 in the buttonhole but no badge loops. It has ARMY shoulder boards with the gilt metal pip and snake cipher. This was probably a walk out dress tunic and sitting in the closet back home waiting for his return on furlough. Obviously with the EK2, he did something combat-related. Otherwise he would have received the War Merit Cross with Swords. Wearing StuG jackets --- probably just available at the time.

Bob

Picture is worth a THOUSAND words. There are hundreds of 'fantasy' pieces out there, particularly rings, having to do with the SS. Chances are you found one of them.

Bob

Unfortunately all three of these are reproductions. Sorry.

Bob

Orange in the Waffen-SS was Recruiting, Feldgendarmerie and Technical Services. This was after the reorganization of April 1942 (effective June 1942). I'm thinking though that orange was the same before and after the reorganization.

Bob

Here is the view from the left side.

The Kriegsmarine mess dress jacket belonged to Vizeadmiral Kurt von dem Borne. He was a Berlin bureaucrat, Wirtschafts, and was awarded the German Cross in Silver on 31 July 1944. He retired shortly after that. After the Battle of Berlin, he was captured and died in Soviet Captivity (some retirement!).

The Luftwaffe Oberleutnant of Flight dress jacket belonged to fighter ace and Knight's Cross holder Klaus Bretschneider, JG-300, 34 victories. He had 14 night victories in 20 night sorties flying his FW-190 in support of "Wilde Sau". He was KIA on 24 December 1944.

The Heer tunic is that of an Oberfeldwebel of Panzer and a bandsman in a Panzer Regiment Band.

Finally is the SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer of Veterinar from the Deutschland Regiment.

Enjoy.

Bob

This is a collaboration between me and my friend and mentor, Willi Schumacher. We put up this exhibit this year (24-26 July) at the Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly. The Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe and Heer tunics and headgear are mine. The SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer of Veterinarian from the Deutschland Regiment and the Display Shield belong to Willi.

Bob

I highly doubt the authenticity of this cap. The Berolina stencil isn't correct --- wrong font for starters. I have no confidence in it. Sorry.

Bob

Good eyes there Paul. These are fakes. With the piping I would say that somebody was trying to pass them off as SS-Totenkopf collar tabs. If they were trying to impersonate Army panzer collar tabs they would have pink piping, not this.

Bob

Did you buy the SS General's collar tabs from Snyder's Treasures? He sells these all the time and they're absolute crap.

Bob