AndresT Posted January 25, 2016 (edited) These are Estonian Kuperjanov (Partisan) Battalion items. 1918 - present days. Officer & soldiers during Estonian War of Independence 1918-1920 Soldier hat skull & Officer skull Sport pin Flag Edited January 25, 2016 by AndresT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndresT Posted January 25, 2016 Bulak - Balachowicz skull badge, 1920 Latvian Latgale Partisan Battalion Est. 1919 Bulgarian Army also was used the Totenkopf in Tank Brigades. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robin Lumsden Posted January 25, 2016 Nice !! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter monahan Posted January 27, 2016 If you wish the roots of this tradition, I believe you need to look to the 'Black Brunswickers' of the Napoleonic period and their spiritual descendants in the German cavalry of the 19th century. Pity the SS made the skull so unpalatable as a device to most modern users. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndresT Posted January 31, 2016 (edited) Kuperjanov bttalion rings: Edited January 31, 2016 by AndresT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bayern Posted April 21, 2017 Once i read that the use of the skull and bones by prussian hussars after the death of Frederick William 1 . Frederick the Great formed a regiment of hussars the 5th or von Ruesch hussars , and gave to their members small triangular pennons made of black cloth with the skull and bones in white over . the pennons formed part of the mourning decorations at the king s funerals . The hussars founded the banderoles well suited and used them on their mirlitons . Possible ,the Great King was notorious for his economic mind ,he dont likes waste nothing . The skull was too emblem of the british Royal Lancers . the 3rd Cavalry regiment of the chilean Army has the name Hussars and the skull and bones as emblem . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndresT Posted July 8, 2017 Kuperjanov partisan battalion 1919. Note skull on helmet. It's similar to some Freikorps skull helmets. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndresT Posted July 13 (edited) German Luftwaffe in Estonia Ämari air base. Air Policing. Nitice skull & bones (or wrenches) emblem. Edited July 13 by AndresT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter monahan Posted July 14 Many other soldiers, units and groups have used the skull unofficially. It's a fairly obvious symbol for a soldier, I think, as it allegedly was for pirates: death, merciless, etc etc. However, the number of units who use it officially is fairly small, I think, because the optics aren't good in this day and age. I recall a public fuss when a member of the French Foreign Legion on patrol in Africa was photographed wearing a skull mask which covered most of his face. Wearing the masks against dust is common in the theatre, but this one was deemed 'intimidating' and 'inappropriate' as, I believe, his unit was on 'peacekeeping' duty. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
graham Posted August 7 Peninsula Commemorative Medal, Brunswick (Death’s Head) 17th Hussars. This medal was awarded by the Dukedom of Brunswick in 1909 to the descendants of the 17th (Death's Head) Hussars Regiment who fought in the Napoleonic Peninsular wars of 1809: - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndresT Posted August 8 Yes German history is full of skulls.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stuka f Posted August 9 Nice topic. Here is a Belgian sleeve insignia for artificer. Here seen on a student hat. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stuka f Posted August 9 On 07/08/2019 at 13:55, graham said: Peninsula Commemorative Medal, Brunswick (Death’s Head) 17th Hussars. This medal was awarded by the Dukedom of Brunswick in 1909 to the descendants of the 17th (Death's Head) Hussars Regiment who fought in the Napoleonic Peninsular wars of 1809: - Here is mine. Missing its ribbon... On 08/08/2019 at 04:00, AndresT said: Yes German history is full of skulls.... Very nice!! Here are mine, only 2. The second one on the right is hard to see due to reflection of the windows.... And more German skull's; Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndresT Posted August 15 (edited) Very nice! Here are (old!) Estonian Kuperjanov Batallion cuff with skull: And in collar: Kuperjanow's bust: Sport dress: Modern Kup. dog tag: First commander after restauration Bat. gen. Johannes Kert 1992: But here are British Submarine famoust "protest" skull-flag. PS! These hats are not mine. Found it from from other forum. It show nicely how skull similar to SS-skull is not SS-skull but... similar. There are many fools who still sees that behind any skull there must be ss and nazis. But hell no! Edited August 15 by AndresT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bayern Posted August 16 Hello, clearly NO ! the Chilean Army for example used and use the Skull and bones as emblem of one of their Cavalry units named also Death Hussars No 3 and dating back to 1818. The 17/21st Lancers of the British Army uses the Skull and bones over a scroll that reads OR GLORY as badge. The French Revolutionary Army created in 1792 a Cavalry Regiment named Hussards de la Mort , Death Hussars , with a black uniform almost identical to that of the Prussian Hussars. During the Spanish Civil War in the Francoist Army was created a Shock Company within the Guardia Civil ,the militarized Police force . the creator Captain Roger Oliete named the Coy La Calavera ,that is the Skull . the near 200 members weared a patch on the arm or the breast with the skull and bones and the letters G and C entwined . the Guardia Civil was and is a rather conservative Institute. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter monahan Posted August 18 It is a fairly obvious symbol to connect with soldiering - and pirates, I suppose - as death is part of the whole package. The Elizabethans were fond of including skulls in artwork too, as a reminder of Man's mortality. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bayern Posted August 18 Peter, perhaps i am wrong but i believe that the skull and bones as symbol of the Death is closely related with the Christianismus . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AndresT Posted August 19 (edited) Memento Mori https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori Crosses, mostly Orthodox (i'm too orthodox) have too skull & bones in the bottom. It means Golgata or (symbolicat Adam) Skull Hill where Jesus was crucified. Edited August 19 by AndresT Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter monahan Posted August 28 'Remember, Man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.', to quote from the Roman Catholic Ash Wednesday service. Today, many Christian denominations put a more positive spin on it, complete with crucifixes displaying the risen Christ. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites