Chris Liontas

Hi all, kind of late into this discussion, but I remember really enjoying: Tannenberg: Clash of Empires. Revised edition (Washington D C: Brassey's, 2004. (History Book Club selection). (Original: Hamden , CT : Archon Books, 1990. Military Book Club Selection; Paul Birdsall Prize, AHA. Polish edition, 2005). Dennis Showalter (Ph.D) was a visiting professor when I was at the Air Force Academy. I remember his lectures on military history were absolutely outstanding. He published Tannenberg: Clash of Empires one year before I entered into the Academy--so most of the history proffs were still talking about it. Dr. Showalter was a great guy, and seems to really know his stuff (remembering him describe Vietnam as the pimple on America's ass still gets me laughing)--so for anyone interested in the Eastern Front in WWI, this might be a start (at least in English) Speaking on WWI though, how popular is the entire Western Front, really? Most Americans I talk to know Omaha beach, Utah Beach, even St. Lo---but if I mention the Argonne Forest they have no idea what I am talking about. WWI American history seems to be non existant in the present time. I can find certain books on Air Combat, that is always popular, but try finding a good book on WWI infantry combat written by the soldiers. I had a heck of a time getting, Artillery and Trench Mortars, a short memoir by a 32nd (Red Arrow) Division vet. And Suddenly We didnt want to die, another memoir, seemed just as unpopular. The American sector of the Western Front seems to be unknown to most Americans....I wish we had the pride the Brits, Irish, French, and Belgians had for their WWI battlefields. http://www.coloradocollege.edu/dept/hy/Fac.../Showalter.html http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id...1&ct=result

I love this forum Thanks a TON guys!! When I get the 'puter out of storage, I will post photos of the helmet. I am using my folks computer --- kind of slow with no photoshop etc....

Anyone have any inormation on this individual? I have his card, but cannot scan it (we are still packed from the move) I am sure it is either Wagenfuhr or Wagenssuhr (I cant tell if it is the german double S or an F--how do you tell?) I know he was in Hanoverian Uhlan Rgt 14, and I have more info but I cannot read the writing. The Tschapka I have dates from pre 1890, and has the proper reserve cross--I am just hopeing I can find out something about this individual Thanks all!

Thank you for sharing these!! Absolute works of art!

absolutly outstanding!! Thank you for shareing this tunic. It is always so interesting to me, that the Romanians get so little credit militarily in WWII. The books written in the West tend to ingnore them I have found. An outstanding piece of history

So I am thinking, orignal M35 helmet (sans chinstrap) Helmet oringinally painted LW light blue, then reissued Decals painted over during reissure with tri color partially removed as per regs? What does everyone else think? I am pretty sure the liner (see above) is good, but I dont know them that well. By the way..do my eyes decive me..or is that a 1st type eagle???

one more What perplexes me is why someone put water transfer decals on this helmet. I have had the helmet--ooohh since 1988 I would say. I had seen it in a shop for three years before that. So I have known where it was since 1985. I am figureing whoever had this helmet, just wanted to "jazz" it up. I am wondering if it came from one of the old mail order catalougs in the 70s. You used to be able to get German helmets from places like Global, Collectors Armory, and many other places. Each, if I remember correctly, sold transferrs allowing you to have any helmet you wanted. I wonder if someone bought a helmet, then sent away for the transfers to "fix" the fact that these decals were smudged?

Tri color

close up of eagle

Well I will be darned....you guys were right! I applied a washcloth to the decals, and they pealed right off. The tricolor was a little harder than the eagle, but still it came off in three pieces What surprised the hell out of me is what I found underneath. I'll let the photos d othe talking--but these look pretty good to me!

Black hollow back

Hi all. I have had these two for years. Not even sure where I got them! I just wanted to check and get some expert opinions on them. They seem good to me, but I dont specialize in badges so I cant be sure. There is a silver and a black one: Silver seems to be marked "65" or possible "63" I know 65 was a maker but not sure about 63 ?

Ok guys sounds good--I will give it a go. I'll try the soaking it with a washcloth, then use the steamer to seperate the layers. The trick is going to be not to peal any of the paint of with them. The eagle will probably be easier, I can feel a very jagged border on the decal. The tri-color might take a little more time. We'll see how this works Thanks for all the input!

The back of the helmet. Again the inside shows a consistant light blue paint, while the outside shows the two -- light grey/blue and the more green

inside and rings

Tri color

front

Close up of the grommet and the terrible transfer. I am betting I could remove it if I soaked it in water. BUt with the humidity here; I dont want to encourage rust Here you can see the paint....wierd

Hi all! I am a little out of my depth here. I would like to sell this helmet, but want to put it up and ask a few questions about it first. I am pretty sure it is an original M35 shell, with paint from the era, and original liner. I checked on the liner, and it is marked I believe 1938. I got the helmet a long time ago, before I knew the difference between real and repro decals. It looks like someone placed two water transfer decals onto the helmet--I have no idea why. The helmet was in a collection of a guy who didnt know his azz from a hole in the ground when it came to this stuff. I dont think he placed the transfers on the helmet--I think he just didnt know any better. The paint scheme perplexes me though--it looks like the standard luft early light blue, but with the wartime green on top of it. I dont have a clue why the paint scheme is the way it is. I included several photos showing it. I showed the helmet to several collectors now, they each think the shell and liner is ok. I was told to remover the decals and try to sell it that way, but I am not sure I want to do that. Are the shells of these still fairly collectable (with the liner of course).? Any ideas on the paint scheme? Thanks in advance

Fantastic photos!! Great finds! Is that a WWI Navy wound badge?

Does anyone collect or even know if these items exist? I know it was illegal after world war II to display these items from the Axis, but does anyone have any to display?

SPAD = Soci?t? Pour L'Aviation et ses D?riv?s. A GREAT WWI fighter, high speed and dive ability. Not as manuverable, I think it was outclassed by the Foker D.VII--I'm not sure how it preformed against the Camel or the DRI triplane. A Photo from the web

Distraction #2 US WWI uniforms. Officer 78th Division, 308th ARTY Enlisted 30th Division Enlisted tunic (no patch) Helmet 34th Division I think that was all the photos I took. It was fun to have a room for a while to display this stuff. Now its all stored -- oh well -- it will be fun to get it back out

Distraction #1 Uboat paper items. The neatest one is a WWII Wehrpass to a guy that served on U18 in WWI. U18 penetrated Scappa Flow one war before Gunter Prien did and was sunk outside the bay. Pretty neat little book.

stuff