Odulf

This is as good as they come. Blind stamped and dated: Etampes 14 . 2 . 43

Can any of you gents please help to identify the tinnie this Spielmann of the RAD Abteilung 85 is wearing, I cannot find it in the database. It's shield shaped, depichting an embossed bust of an SA (?) man facing left.

Thanks gents for your helpful input, please keep the little grey cells cracking.... Would this be a Franco-German officer or Great War? The photo was published in a series, so he must have been a celebrity of some renown.

Thanks for your observations Glenn. The photo is obviously one from a series (Porträt Gallerie) of German celebs, so that made me think that he would be a general but it can also be a famous Oberst. Which leads me to the question, if a general is an (honorary) regimental commander, would he be wearing the regimental crests on his generals' shoulder boards?

One of my recent buys is this Cabinet size photo of a so far unidentified German Genaral (help needed with identification). But the bright shining buttons mirror the interior of the potographer's workshop, and there we see the artist standing next to his large camera.

Not a Beamter a.K. but Sonderführer der Stellengruppe O (entsprechend Oberfeldwebel), bzw. Hilfsveterinär (auxiliary Vetrenarian)

Are you refering to his EK2 or EK1 Chris? As there has been some doubt about Hitler's EK1.

Thanx again Jef!

Thanks Jef!

Thank you for your explanation Deruelle :)

You'll never get rid of this, for obvious reasons...

Very nice indeed! Can any one explain when/why the Prussian Long Service Cross was replaced to the end of the row in the ribbon bar?

Gents, The enclosed photo came in today, an eBay purchase. But what a strange collection of badges... He is wearing (top down): - Laufbahnabzeichen für Matrose / Bootsmann (blau) [Career badge for Boatswain (blue)] - Abzeichen für Unteroffizierdiensttuer (blau) [badge for Acting NCO (blue)] - Sonderausbildungsabzeichen für Schütze / Beobachter Leichte Flakartillerie (rot) [specialty badge: Gunner / Observer light AA guns (red)] and below these, in the position where regularly a second Sonderausbildungsabzeichen [specialty badge] should be worn the Laufbahnabzeichen für Artillerie-Mechaniker (rot) [Career badge for Artillery Mechanic (blue)]. I have searched through my documentation but I cannot find an explanation why he shoild be wearing two career badges, or why a carer badge is worn in the position of a (second) specialty badge. Does any of you have an explanation (preferably supported by a Regulation reference)?

Sorry for the late reply, the topic just caught my notice. The box looks like the old Imperial issue, with the white metal crown and motto replaced by the Nev Government's. I support the idea not to reject it.

#11 - Unidentified, possibly Wachmannschaft

#10 - Unidentified, possibly Wachmannschaft.

#9 - Werkschutz. Note the eagle on the cap, rather similar to #2.

#8 - Werkschutz. The man in the right wears an armband (just visible) reading Werk...

#7 - Unidentified, possably Werft Feuerschutz / Werft Polizei (Dockyards Fire Brigade or Police). Dated: Wilhelmshaven 9 IV 1940.

#6b - the arm badge

#6a - Werkschutz, unidentified, with cloth company (?) arm badge. The photo is dated 27 X 1939

#5 - Unidentified Wachmann, probably Eastern Europe. The cap badge is a 12-pointed (sun or flower shape) metal crest.

#4 - Unidentified Wachmann. On the collar tab a 4-pointed star (like for Scharführer), on the cap below the Kokarde a yet unidentified shield shaped badge.

#3 - Unidentified Schutzmannschaft. The picture was taken by a photographic studio in Utrecht (The Netherlands). During the occupation of the country, the German authorities erected a Security and Guarding Unit of elderly Germans and Dutch unfit for front duties. They were dressed in spinach coloured uniforms and thus nucknamed by the Dutch public as Spinachmen. Note the large metal eagle on the Feldmütze.

# 2 - Werkschutz der Focke Wulf Flugzeugwerke