Arm badge question

[Robert Noss]

Hello to all,

I have a question about this armbadge

Somewhere I have read that this is for chemical troops, Anti-Gas or something like that.

But I am not sure, that's why I ask here.

The man at the left is wearing a badge too, maybe the same, but it is not clear to see

He is also wearing a belt buckle with a star ? Garde ?

Any comments are most welcome, as always

Kind regards

Robert

[Guest Rick Research]

Crossed grenades were for special assault troops (Sto?truppen), I think.

The belt buckle is from Mecklenburg-- even though he only has an EK2, if there is his name on back we should be able to find him on the Mecklenburg award rolls if he lived that long.

[Naxos]

From: Aufbau und Verwendung der deutschen Sturmbataillone im Weltkrieg; by Hellmuth Gruss (1939)

"Besonders m?ssen noch die Abzeichen der Sturmbataillone erw?hnt werden, die am linken Unterarm getragen wurden und die Zugeh?rigkeit zu einer bestimmten Spezialausbildung zeigten, wie z. B. zwei gekreuzte Handgranaten f?r Spezialisten im Handgranatenwerfen."

[Naxos]

Robert, can you make out any numbers on the shoulder straps?

[Chip]

As Hardy indicates, it's an unofficial specialist patch. There were all sorts of them, including those for the Minenwerfer specialists. Here is a metal one, which was sewn on the sleeve. Crossed grenades in a ring.

[Naxos]

... Here is a metal one, which was sewn on the sleeve. Crossed grenades in a ring.

Very nice, never seen one like that.

Edited May 23, 2009 by Naxos

[Chip]

Hardy,

I got it in Germany many years ago. Near the same time I got a series of photos of an outdoors awards ceremony with the Crown Prince. One of the awardees is wearing an assault backpack and has a very similar metal insignia on his sleeve. The only difference is that the one in the photo has a gear teeth type design to the outer ring.

Chip

[Naxos]

Hardy,

I got it in Germany many years ago. Near the same time I got a series of photos of an outdoors awards ceremony with the Crown Prince. One of the awardees is wearing an assault backpack and has a very similar metal insignia on his sleeve. The only difference is that the one in the photo has a gear teeth type design to the outer ring.

Chip

Great shot - what number is on the strap?

[Thomas W]

Here's another unofficial Stosstrupp arm badge in the form of a "backwards" S on a cloth backing:

[Thomas W]

Here's a closeup of the badge:

[Chip]

That backwards "S" also looks like a number "2". The Saxons had a sleeve insignia that looked somewhat similar, a red "S" on the gray background, as in this picture. I have seen a couple of photos of it being worn.

Chip

Edited May 23, 2009 by Chip

[Chip]

Hardy,

The soldier was from the assault section of IR.368.

Chip

[Guest Rick Research]

Upside down bordered grenades worn below the elbow:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2283...l=Sensenbrenner

Nicely documented for unit and date.

[Thomas W]

Chip, here's my photo of a Saxon Stosstrupp, one member of whom is wearing the "S" or snake arm badge:

[Thomas W]

Here's a closeup of the arm badge:

[Chip]

Thomas,

Thanks for showing the photo of the Saxon Stosstrupp patch. I have seen only a few other photos of it. This mothed insignia I have shown belongs to a collector back East and came from Ebay a few years ago in a lot with some Saxon medals and some other common insignia.

Chip