Heer Previously unknown Gorget

[Gordon Williamson]

This original wartime photo just arrived today with a bunch of Feldgendarmerie photos.

Just imagine the howls of derision and screams of "fake" from the experts if a gorget like this was offered for sale :speechless1:

[Paul R]

Talk about a homemade contraption.. :rolleyes:

[gary9]

I agree with Paul R, field made

[nesredep]

Hello!

Field made.

All the best

Nesredep

[PKeating]

Is there an echo in here?

PK

[Gordon Williamson]

Just came across this photo which seems to show the same style Gorget being worn, so not just a "one-of" piece after all.

The style of field caps, lack of any wartime decorations etc suggests this is an early, pre-war shot.

[coldstream]

Gordon

This may be way off the mark but the shape of the gorget shown reminds me of the type used by the Quisling era forces of Norway. Particularly the distinctive pointed bottom and rounded upper sections. If you look at the photograph of the Norwegion AT Labour Service Officer on page 34 of David Littlejohns 'Foreign Legions of the Third Reich' volume one you will see a similar shaped gorget in wear albeit with Norwegion badge. (Unsure if copyright allows me to scan and post this picture?)

Not suggesting that this is the same gorget in any way but certainly similar in shape.

[Eric Stahlhut]

this is off topic, but what award is the third individual from the left wearing on the right side of his tunic?

[Guest Rick Research]

:Cat-Scratch: Sharp eyes! Not the right shape for a WW1 Turkish "Iron Half Moon" so wonder what it can be?

Very very odd-- the uniforms are all late 1930s-ish BUT the Unteroffizier in the first photo (classic M1936 right down to the 1st pattern marksmanship lanyard) is wearing a no decals helmet-- which suggests mid-war.

Nothing to date or place these? They're older looking guys, so I wonder if some sort of static, no personnel rotation rear area or occupation troops still nicely kitted out because they hadn't had any equipment wastage?

Also nothing to indicate whether or not that is the SAME unit in the two photos-- and perhaps The One And Only bizarre gorget? :cheers:

[DonC]

It looks to me like the Gefreiter on the far right and the well-fed NCO near the middle with the cigar are wearing M40 tunics - or else their collars are a much lighter shade of green. I wonder if this is indeed a mid-war shot.

Don

Edited September 16, 2009 by DonC