Chris Liontas

Frank's trade patch is sewn in green (!) criss cross pattern. However, his SSI is sewn in individual black stitches by hand (and looks to be cut from German red uniform material)

Chris, A few photos of mine for example. These tunics have been around and in collection since the early 70's, and were bought originally from the families; so I doubt they have been tampered with in any way. Each displays a different sewing style to every part of the uniform. It seems, troops would sew their insignia on in several stages, rank, OS stripes, SSI/discharge. So possibly, you can have three to four different thread types on one tunic. The first set is PVT Frank Kudingo, 2nd Wisconsin then 107th Sanitary Train, 32nd Division

Love the patch Chris. The 4th ID seemed to really get into the embroidery on their patches. Really works of art.

Hey Chris! No problem with that in my opinion. I have several patched tunics with different stiches on them. The discharge strip was not even put on in some cases until 1919, so the overseas stripes (and wound) would most likely be different. Lets see this tunic! :)

Greeat cap with a great history! Amazing you were able to find the family also. Pieces like this make it all worthwhile. Looks like U-557 had an amazing short career. Six merchants and one British Cruiser sunk for a total of over 31,000 tonnes. She was rammed by an Italian E-boat of all things and sunk. Tragic end to a brave crew

Nice photo!!! What program did you use to do this? Looks great!!

rofl!!

Very nice!!! The Luftwaffe Observer badge was so well designed.

Nice shot of the eagle on the 1st uniform. Looks like an earlier one. Any date on the photo Robert? :)

WOW!!! Beautiful!

LOL!! SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! :cheeky:

AWESOME post!! Thanks Rick!! :)

Amazing medal Scott! 32nd Division WW2 PH's are as rare as rare gets. I know several guys in Wisconsin that have been looking for years with no success. Amazing find!

Excellent medal Prosper! So the Free French forces actually awarded this to Vichy? I would not have thought this. Is is hard to find the Vichy version of the medal?

The silver content in the photo look modern rather than what I would have expected in 1870. Besides what is wrong with the uniform :)

Chevauleger hats, right to the 1st Chevauleger and the visor to the 6th Chevauleger The belt is a pre war white belt used for dress for the Chevaulegers. The photo was a gift from my fried Robert Noss, it shows a Bavarian Cav father along with his three sons in field grey, two medics and one priest.

Chevauleger helmets, each around 1880-1900 time frame.

M1873 Officer close up

Uhlans view, again 2nd Uhlan to parade marked 1902 along with M1873 Officer's Tschapka to officer

ROFL!!! Principles are made to be beaten down anyways :)

I've got to agree with Chris, these are just such outstanding medals. I remember in the 80's, these and Red Stars were hard to come by...but no one wanted them!!! Boy that was a mistake on my part. The history and humanity behind these are amazing (not to mention the great communist writing...Comrade X killed many Fascists with his bare hands while not spilling the Vodka ration--love it!) :)

I am stunned that the Tank badge is on there! I did not think there would have been much demand for such a badge!!

Thanks guys! They really are beautiful helmets. I agree with you Brian, these have gotten so expensive lately it makes it hard to collect them. I have been lucky to find them from old collectors lately, rather than dealers which has helped a ton. I look at the dealer sites and my jaw hits the floor. Luckly Bavarian helmets seem to be a tad less expensive than their Prussian, Saxon counterparts. Thanks again guys :)

EM Tschapka to the 2nd Uhlan rgt with Parade bush. The helmet is marked 1902 and profusely unit stamped on the inside. The bush I had to repair the attachment, but is original.