Odulf

Oberfeldmeister und Abteilungsführer Böhme Born: ? Died: ? Leader of RAD Abteilung 8/315, Arbeitsgau XXXI (Emsland) Image: Award document of the RAD Emsland cuffband, dated 23-10-1937.

Gauarbeitsführer (NSAD) Dr. Ing. Hermann Wagner Born: 25-09-1896, Hildesheim Died: 15-04-1970, Freiburg Generalarbeitsfühter der Arbeitsgau XVIII, Niedersachsen-Ost. and Leiter der RADwJ (Female Labour Service). Highest rank reached: Generaloberstarbeitsführer (28-03-1945) He was the highest ranking general in the RAD and designated to replace Hierl RK KVKmS: 22-03-1944. Image: In a book, given as a Prize of Honour

Most interesting topic you've rattled here Stuart. To my understanding, until about ww2, Dress Regulations followed practice. In practice the Colonels (Battallion COs) decided what was tolerated. In general I can sat, that Dutch troops at Waterloo wore a soft foldable "cap" with black leather vizor for undress. As long time uniform historian I have not been able to find the source, but the geneal opinion here is that it had it's roots in either Germany or Russia. Many Dutch soldiers fought as conscripts in the Napoleontic army, others were employed as garrison or occupant troops in Germany. These men were not professionals, but civilians in uniform pressed into a foreign uniform and thus reluctant to French fashion. When the French were driven out of the Netherlands and, with great difficulty, a national Army was established the commission tasked with inventing a national uniform followed custom. The army was firstly composed of local units, loyal to a local duke of master, and there was little money for expensive cloth and garnment; as long as it was functional. At Waterloo Dutch and British were allies, and thus the fashion was seen (and appreciated) by other soldiers. Further, I would like to include some photos from my Scots Guards collection, showing NCOs in the 1880s waring the peaked hat. For the sake of understanding: would it be interesting to compile a posting or document, showing the development of the peaked or forage cap, with all it's various names, because I'm a bit dazzled by all these different nomenclatures for the various head dress?

Nice photo, obviously a Gebirgsjäger.

Generalmajor der Luftwaffe Friedrich von Arnauld de la Periére Born: 17-06-1888 Died: 12-10-1969 Started his career as a Naval officer in 1906, until retired from the Navy as Fregattenkapitän in 1930. Reactivated as suplementary officer in 1934 and directed to the RLM (Air Ministery). Promoted Generalmajor (01-02-1939). Placed on the reserve list (21-08-43 / 30-08-44) Retired: 30-04-44 Highest rank reached: Generalleutnant (01-01-1941) Image: award document Sudentenmedaille 1. Oktober 1938 [original signature]

Oberstleutnant Dipl. Ing. Eduard Riesch Born: 14-01-1893 Died: 17-02-1945, KIA near Niesky in Schlesien Highest rank reached: Generalmajor (01-11-1941) Leiter Technischen Schule Jüterbog Kdr I/KG 155 Kdt Fliegerhorst Giebelstadt Kdr I/KG 158 Kdt Fliegerhorst Wiener-Neustadt Instructor at Heeres Waffenmeisterschule Flughafenbereichs-Kdt St.-Omer and Kdt Fl.H.Kdtr. St.-Omer Kdt Koflug 2/VI Kdr Flieger-Rgt 11 Flughafenbereichs-Kdt 4/III Flughafenbereichs-Kdt 2/VIII Kdt Koflug Görlitz

Generalmajor Helmuth Förster Born: 19-04-1889 Died: 07-04-1965 Highest rank reached: General der Flieger (01-07-1941) Gen.Maj. u. Kdt. Lw-Lehr-Div. (01-07-1938 / 30-09-1939) Gen.d.Fl. u. Kom.Gen. d. I. Flg.Korps Gen.d.Fl. u. RLM / Chef der Luftwehr RK: 22-02-1942 as Gen.d.Fl. u. Kom.Gen. d. I. Flg.Korps Image: award document Sudentenmedaille 1. Oktober 1938 [facsimile signature]

Oberst Dr. Robert Knauss Born: 14-06-1892 Died: 14-02-1955 Highest rank reached: General der Flieger (01-03-1944) Kommodore Lehrgeschwader 1 i/d Lw-Lehr-Division (01-11-38 / 09-04-40) Kdr. d. Luftkriegsakademie from 19-01-44 Fhr.Res. discharged 31-01-45 from 01-02-45 z.V. der Lw. und zum Lg.Kdo. V einberufen image: award document Sudentenmedaille 1. Oktober 1938 [stamped signature]

Generalmajor der Luftwaffe Hans Korte Born: 16 December, 1899 Died: 8 April, 1990 As Oberstleutnant (01-02-39): Gruppen-Kdr. im Kampfgeschwader 225 bzw. 51 (01-11-38 / 21-12-39) Abteilungschef im OKL/RLM (21-12-39 / 22-05-40) Gruppen-Kdr. im Kampfgeschwader 55 (23-05-40 / 15-08-40) Kommodore des Kampfgeschwaders 55 (16-08-40 / 31-01-41) As Oberst (01-03-41): Kdr. 13. Lw. Feld-Div., 01-12-42 / 01-10-43. Kdr. 17. Lw. Feld-Div., 30-10-43 / 05-11-43. As Gen.Maj. (01-07-43, ohne RDA): Kdr. der 1. Fallschirm Division m.d.W.d.G.b. (04-01-44 / 21-02-44) Kdr. der 2. Flieger Div. (22-02-44 / 10-09-44) Kommandierender General der Lw. in Griechenland (11-09-44 / 02-10-44) Fùhrerreserve OKL (03-10-44 / 09-03-45) Kommandierender General Lw-Auffangstab West und des Feldjàgerkommandos West (1945) later, from the Fhr.Res. posted to Greece again as Kommandierender General der Lw. in Griechenland m.d.V.d.G.b Highest rank reached: Generalmajor der Luftwaffe (Patent, 1 January 1944) RK: 30-09-44, als Kdr. 2. (Torpedo) Flieger-Division DKiG: 01-01-45, als Kdr. 2. Flieger-Division Image: KVK2mS award document [original signature]

Generalleutnant der Luftwaffe Dr. phil. Eugen Weissmann Born: 11 November, 1892 Died: 26 november, 1951 Kommandierender General und Befehlshaber im Luftgau Westfrankreich Kommandierender General und Befehlshaber im Luftgau Nordfrankreich Highest rank reached: General der Flakartillerie, 1 June, 1942 On 30 June, 1944 into the Reserve Discharged, 30 April 1945 DKiS: 20 March, 1944. Image: KVK2mS award document [original signature]

Major der Luftwaffe Heinrich Minner Born: ? Died: ? Kdr. Küsten-Fliegergruppe 506, April 40 / Aug. 40 Image: Award dcoument for Sudeten Medaille 1. Oktober 1938 [original signature]

Generalmajor der Lw. Hermann Bruch Born: 28 May, 1893 Died: 15 June 1976 Führer der (Luftwaffe) Seestreitkräfte (Chief of the Air Force Naval Aviation Forces) Kdr. Fieger-Ersatz-Division Braunschweig Highest rank: Generalleutnant, 1 Nov. 40 Image: Award dcoument for Sudeten Medaille 1. Oktober 1938 [original signature]

Generalarbeitsführer Hans Baumann Born: ? Died: ? Generalarbeitsführer der Arbeitsgau XXX, Bayern-Hochland Image: Award document for the Traditionsabzeichen der AG XXX [Facsimile signature]

Generalleutnant René Franz Eberle Born: 8 November, 1891 in Linz (Austria) Died: 21 March 1945, Western Front (Air attack) Highest rank: Generalleutnant (Pioniere), 1 September, 1943 Stab H.Pi.Offz.f.d.Landesbefestg.Ost Chef Gen.St.Höh.Kdo.zbV XXXIV Kdr Ob.Baustab 17 Führerreserve OKH Fest.Pi.Kdr I Führerreserve Fest.Pi.Schule Inspekteur der Landesbefestigung West DKiS: 10 March 1944 Image: KVK2mS award document [Original signature]

Generalmajor der Waffen-SS und Polizei Erik von Heimburg Born: 6 January, 1892 in Karlsruhe Missing, believed killed: 5 May, 1945 in Berlin Highest rank: Generalmajor d. W-SS u Pol. (1 June, 42) Kdt. W-SS DIv. Wiking, 16 August 41 / Dec. 41 Kdt.d.Orpo Charkow, Dec. 41 / 28 April 42 Kdt.d.Orpo Minsk, 28 April 42 / 27 July 42 Kdt.d.Schupo Hamburg, 24 July, 42 / 10 August 43 B.d.Orpo Kopenhagen, 1 October 43 / 10 August 44 Kdt.d.Schupo Berlin, 10 August 44 / April 45 Image: Promotion document Police officer in Hamburg [Original signature - Kdt.d.Orpo Hamburg]

Reichsarbeitsfüher, Reichsleiter, Reichsminister Konstantin Hierl Born: 24 February, 1875, Parsberg Died: 23 September, 1955, Heidelberg Reichsarbeitsführer (Reich Labour Leader) from 1935 Reichsleiter in the NSDAP from 1936 Reichsminister from 1943 Image: Promotion document to subaltern in the Reichsarbeitsdienst [Original signature]

I would not put to much trust in these numbers. I remember a discussion in the Orders and Medals Research Society long ago about the subject of numbering the badges of this Order. It seems that the badges of all grades which were returned, later were re-issued. Thus, a badge with a low number can be re-issued half a century later.

The Dutch Flag upside down is used by the German State Schlesvig-Holstein. Are you sure it is blue and not bleeched black? A number of Dutchmen volunteered to fight for the Boers. Even a few Army officers resigned their Royal Commission to join, and in some Dutch towns money was collected to buy supplies for the Boers. In a magazine from around 1899 I saw photos of field guns (lock, stock and barrel) inclusive horses, volunteers in their uniforms ready to be shipped overseas. If they wore a Dutch Flag uside down as a badge, I cannot confirm, but it stretches the limits of imagination.

OK Karsten, I see your point. I said Colonial Medal but I meant the SW Africa Medal, but this latter has two significant black vertical stripes which are not (clearly) visible in the ribbon bar of the lieutenant. That leaves me with the question, what ribbon do we see?

Would he be wearing an Austrian war decoration before the two (?) blue ribbons of the Dienstauszeichnung?

A damaged and blurry photo of General der Flieger Alexander Löhe (RK 30-09-1939; 705. EL 20-01-1945).

Left: Generaloberst der Luftwaffe Otto Dessloch with Oak Leaves (10-05-1944)) and Major Dr.jur. Maximilian Otte with Oak Leaves (24-03-1944), when the general was visiting the Immelmann Geschwader on 21-04-1944, shortly before Otte was shot down by Russian AA-Art. on 20-05-1944.

All right, here is uncle August Bause, wearing the field uniform of a lieutenant of an Infantry Regiment, with the Colonial Badge (1936) and the Wounded Badge in Black. The 3rd ribbon in the bar, after the EK2 and Hindenburg Cross, is the Colonial Medal.

Generalarbeitsführer Karl Simon, Arbeitsgau XIV. Obviously his only decoration is the Gold Party Badge.

This is NOT qualification badge (such as a pilot's wing). It is worn by all Royal Air Force NCOs and below on the upper sleeve.