AlecH

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Bought these (what I take to be) Werhmacht Winter Boots at the flea-market last weekend. The uppers condition is not so bad, the soles and heels have had some hard wear. Looked the boots over, found no marks or stamps, checked through a number winter boot threads on different forums, have not found a matching boot, on my boots the leather goes higher up the leg. Are there any members with knowledge of winter boots? who could help. Thank you. Regards

Dropped by the shoemakers at the weekend. Asked for his best advice regarding softening Gebirgsjäger boots. Quite simple really, according to him, one coating of dubbin applied to boots, leave for a few days, then rub off the residue should do the trick. I did mention the Full Urine Boot treatment, he gave me a sad look, shook his head and said - a urban myth. Regards

Came across this swastika badge at the weekend, its metal, measures 25mm x 25mm at first I thought could be a NSDAP supporters badge, looked through a number of badge catalogues without finding it, now I think, although its a little on the large side, it may be WHW piece or even perhaps come from uniform insignia. No makers mark, do members have any ideas. All information welcome Regards

Last week I bought this German S98 nA 2nd Model "feather" parade bayonet from a generalist collector. I unsure if its WW1 or pre WW1 - I read the leather sheath were in use up till 1915 so it may be WW1. The bayonet measures 66,7cm, without sheath 65,5cm. There's no makers mark on the bayonet or any other markings, on the leather sheath is stamped the number - 101. Any further information appreciated Regards

Lindemann, Fritz Born: 8th March 1884 Died: 22th Sept. 1944 Highest Rank: General - Artillery Artillery - Kommandeur - 138 (Arko 138) Fuhrer - 132 Infantry Division Ritterkreuz ( 4.9.41) Deutsches Kreuz in Gold ( 23.8.42) Spangen to EK1, EK2, Fritz Lindemann, part of the 20th July 1944 Hitler assassination plot, after the unsuccessful assassination attempt, Lindemann went underground. In August 1944 he was thrown out the Wehrmacht and sentenced to death, for his capture a 500000 reichsmark reward was offered. 3rd September the Gestapo found him,tried to capture him, shooting him several times, badly wounded he died from this wounds 19 days later. Image: KVK 2 + Swords - Citation Dedication - 1.2.43

Schubert, Albrecht Born: 23rd June 1886 Died: 26th November 1966 Highest Rank: General - Infantry Kommandeur - 44 Infantry Division Komdierenden General - General Kommado XXVIII Armeekorps Komdierenden General - Stellvertretenden General Kommando XI Armeekorps Befehlshaber Wehrkreis XI Befehlshaber Wehrkreis XVII Ritterkreuz (17.9.43) Deutsches Kreuz in Gold ( 20th January 1943) Spangen to EK1, EK2, Image: KVK 2 + Swords - Citation Dedication - 30.1.44

Braun, Julius Born: 15th March 1895 Died: 8th May. 1962 Highest Rank: Generalleutnant - Artillery Wrote Book - Enzion und Edelweiss - Die 4 Gebirgs - Division 1940 -45 Kommandeur Artillery Regt.115 Artillery Kommandeur 134 (Arko 134) Kommandeur - 4th Gebirgs - Division Höhern Artillery - Kommandeur 318 Regt. Deutshes Kreuz in Gold ( 26th December 1941) Spangen to EK1, EK2, Image: EK 2 - Citation Dedication - 23.2.44

EK 2

Pfeffer, Max Born: 12th June 1883 Died: 31th Dec. 1955 Highest Rank: General - Artillery Taken Prisoner at Stalingrad, died in a Russian POW camp 1955 Art - Kommandeur Arko 44 Kommandeur 297 Infantry Division General Kommandeur - IV Armeekorps Ritterkreuz ( 4th December 1941) Spangen to EK1, EK2, Image: EK 2 - Citation Dedication - 3.11.41

Ringel, Julius Born: 16th Nov. 1889 Died: 11th Feb 1967 Highest Rank: General der Gebirgstruppe Kommandeur Infantry Regt. 266 Kommandeur 5th Gebirgs - Division Kommandeur - General LXIX Armeekorp Befehlshaber Wehrkreis XVIII Kommandeur Korps Ringel Ritterkreuz (13. Juni 1941) Eichenlaub (25. Oktober 1943) Image: Book Dedication - Gebirgsjäger auf Kreta 1941

Meindl, Eugen Born: 16th July 1892 Died: 24th Jan 1951 Highest Rank: General der Fallschirmtruppe Kommandeur Gebirgs Artillierie Regt. 112 Führer - Gruppe Meindl - Narvik Kommandeur Luftlande Sturm Regt. 1 Führer - Kampfgruppe West Kommanduer Luftwaffe Division Meindl Ritterkreuz (14. Juni 1941) Eichenlaub (31. August 1944) Schwerter (8. Mai 1945) Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (27. Jul.1942) Spangen EK1, EK2, Image: KVK 2 + Swords Citation - 22.12.44

Jim, Thanks for your post, interesting to read. I remember many moons ago as a schoolboy footballer, after playing, we cleaned the boots and then gave them a good coating of dubbin to keep them supple. However the town I live in, we still has a couple of shoemakers, they make predominately orthopaedic shoes for diabetics and people with special foot needs.I'll drop by one of them and ask for any advise they may have.I'll let you know, what they say. Regards

Zenetti, Emil Born: 16th May 1883 Died: 23rd June 1945 Highest Rank: General Luftwaffe - Flakartillery Kommandeur Luftgau-Kommando VII Ritterkreuz der Kriegsverdienstkreuzes mit Schwertern Image: KVK 2 + Swords Citation - 28.7.44

Kitzinger, Karl, Born: 18th April 1886 Died: 14th April 1962 Highest Rank: General - Luftwaffe Kommandeur Luftverteidigungszone West Kommandeur Luftraum Norwegen Spange EK1, EK2 Image: KVK 2 + Swords Citation - 20.4.41

Bader, Paul Born: 20th July 1883 Died: 28th Feb 1971 Highest Rank: General - Artillery Kommandeur 2nd Infantry Division Kommandeur 3rd Infantry Division Kommandeur 21st Gebirgs - Armee Korp Kommandeur Panzer Truppe Gustav Deutsches kreuz in Gold ( 29 January 1943) Weiderholungsspange EK1, EK2, Image: KVK 2 + Swords Citation - 1.9.43

Generalleutnant Wolf - Günther Trierenberg Born: 18th June 1891 Died: 25th July 1981 Commander of the 167th Infantry Division Commander of the 347th Infantry Division Ritterkreuz - 10th May 1943, Deutsches Kreuz in Gold - 5th May 1942 Image: EK II - 2nd June 1942

Hube, Hans - Valentin Born: 29 October 1890 Died: 21 April 1944 Highest Rank: Generalobst Kommandeur 14th Panzerkorp Kommandeur 1st Panzerarmee Ritterkreuz (1. August 1941) Eichenlaub (16. Januar 1942) Schwerter (21. Dezember 1942) Brillianten (20. April 1944) Image: EK2 Citation - 19.9.42

Hello Alec, We posted at the same time as each other - apologies for breaking up your pictures (btw that's a beautiful Deschler you have there). Hello Danny, You are man who knows his iron crosses - you are right L/10 Deschler Iron Cross

EK 1 - Front

Hello Jan, I'm not enthusiastic about your piece, I'm no expert, but a couple of points disturb me - The back has no small peg sticking out the back, or any signs of one being there - its purpose being to hold the medal in upright position. The swastika also is much too thick. Here's a couple of pictures of my screw-back EK 1. Regards

Stamp Marks -

WW1 Mess Tin - Maker ? Last week at the flea-market picked up this WW1 German Mess Tin for 5 euro. Taller by 3cm than WW2 German Mess Tin and has four soup ration marks as against the laters three, Makers Mark reads - E.T.A.G. -THALE - A/H - 14. Does any member know this maker? the only maker I know from Thale is the helmet manufacturer Eisenhuttenwerk. The four letters could stand for Eisenhuttenwerk Thale Aktien Gesellschaft. I was under the impression the firm used the initials EHW, I'm unsure. Any information would be welcome. Regards

Thank you Kevin, For your intriguing post - reading through it, it appears to be anecdotal - i.e. you've never tried the technique yourself ?. No - I'd not heard of it, but I have heard of, for contrary reasons soldiers soaking their feet in basins of urine in order to harden them up, before going out on forced marches. Thinking about your suggestion, it does seem the ultimate, ultimate, last resort solution. I've to think about it for a long time, however one point you bring up, I will adopt - I'd never given any thought to the boot soles, as you say, I shall give them a clean up and a light coat of dubbin can't do any harm. Regards

Purchased a pair of Gebirgsjäger boots a couple of weeks ago, condition is good, although the leather boot tops are hard and stiff. I intend to rub a coat of dubbin over the boots, leave to soak for a week, then reapply another coat of dubbin and so on until the leather softens. I've never tried this before, thought it best to check it out in case I'm doing anything wrong or perhaps members have a better suggestion. Any information welcome. Regards