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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 414
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 414 |
And a new addition to the family
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 414
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 414 |
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,365
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Great collection Viper and love the case!
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 414
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Skipper Greenwald made the case for me. If anyone wants a nice display or presentation case he is your man...........J
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,048
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Joined: Jul 2001
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thanks for the handsome postings - and yes John thanks to you as well; always good to see these "salties!"
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 139
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Joined: Nov 2003
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Viper next time you come through Rocky Mount bring your collection on the road with you!! Great stuff, Marty.
Looking for anything related to KC winner Johannes "Hans" Briegel and the Fsch. Pz. Gren Rgt 2 "HG"
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Sad to see the original series of posts on this subject sort of disappeared into cyberspace. Also sad to see the attempt to revive it fizzled-out. After a long absence, I've dug-out a couple of vet-acquired, officer-quality rune tabs, both lacking any twisted cord border. Both are unusual, not so much because of the obverse, but because of how they are made on the reverse. One example shows a rather unusual spacing and placement of the runes, with the tab mounted crudely to a plain cardboard back-this came from a Glider Infantry officer of the 101st Airborne Division-time period of acquisition unknown. This makes it impossible to try to attribute it to a specific SS unit (the officer is now deceased). The other example has a more conventional placement of runes, but the reverse shows that the embroidery came right thru the buckram backing, joining the runes, the backing and the wool all together. This example was liberated in the Battle of the Bulge by a GI of the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red One). So the original owner was probably a member of LAH or the 12th SS Pz Division. If this posts, I'll show the reverse sides next-I never could figure-out how to post anything larger than tiny, which this website will accept without kicking it back.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
This shows the reverse side of the two tabs discussed and illustrated above. I have seen a dealer offer another runic tab made with the stitching coming all the way thru, but this is the only tab I've seen with the wool wrapped- around a piece of cardboard and sewn with threads extending across the open part of the back. Anyone else seen this type of mounting before, on a known-original piece?
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
A bit longer and narrower in total proportion than usually seen. No vet provenance on this one, but nobody seems to dispute its originality.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Viewed from the back, the tab's long, narrow proportions may seem more evident. The RZM tag is about as well-worn as they get, without disintegrating.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
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This was removed from a casualty of the 37th SS Pz Gr Rgt, 17th SS Div at Carentan, France, 13 June, 1944. A Sgt in the 377th PFAB, 101st Airborne Division salvaged it, along with a bevo cuffband. Blood ate away the wool at one edge of the tab.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Here's the reverse of the 17th SS tab. Note how blood ate away material, as well as part of the paper RZM tag. The acidic qualities of human blood are considerable, if not cleaned-off. I have also seen pitting on souvenir Luger pistols, caused by blood traces, which were not cleaned-off the surface of the metal. This was first pointed-out to me by a 9th Infantry Division vet, who had an otherwise pristine Luger from a Luftwaffe officer, whom he shot while the officer was holding and firing the pistol. I observed that pitted piece around 1970, as the vet told me the story and pointed-out the blood-induced pitting.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Liberated in the same area, by the same vet, but not known if it came from the same officer.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
This aluminum cap skull comes from the same place, same vet. It has brass prongs and is marked 'RzM M1/52' on the reverse. I can't help but wonder if all 3 pieces came from a single officer?
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Here's the reverse. You'll notice the '2' in the 52 got mutilated, possibly when the vet inserted the point of his trench knife behind the insignia, to pry it off the cap.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Sorry-the '5' in the 52 got mutilated...
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Inf 2d lt of LAH-haven't seen many with cypher mounted off center, but occasionally...
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Still my favorites. These collar corners belonged to Siegfried Held of the 17th SS Panzer Jager Abt., KIA outside Carentan at la Fourchette, on 13 June, 1944. Untersturmfuhrer Held is buried at Orglandes, France. These collar corners came from the prisoner interrogation officer of the 501st PIR, 101st Airborne Division. You can still see a trickle of blood running down across the runes.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Not really well-worn but textbook and with vet provenance. A member of the 326th Abn Engineeer Bn, 101st Airborne Div. Liberated this at Lofer, Austria, in May, 1945.
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Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
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Here's the reverse, marked 'RzM M1/172'
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,048
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,048 |
fine items Mark - thanks heaps for the postings and for the provenances.
it's always greatly informative to learn the results of the research into your items' backgrounds. "If they could but talk!" Truly, your work helps bring the hobby alive.
Have another book in the works?
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Here's a textbook pair I purchased about 30 years ago-have had them squirrled away ever since-never posted these on any forum.
Iminicus-my 7th book (101st Airborne again)was just published in September-check my name under Amazon.com and you'll find info there.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Here's the reverse side of the same pair-I wish I could post larger images. Small pics don't do them justice, but this seems to be as large as the server will accept.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Here's another salty dog-hard to tell from the small scan but a very well-worn metallic wire runic tab. This has an early RzM tag on the reverse, with Gothic lettering. This was purchased circa 1975, for the(then outrageous) sum of $60-.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Here's the reverse of the well-worn early metallic wire runic tab.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Another favorite, officer-quality without border, ultra well-worn and with vet provenance. A paratrooper of C/506th PIR cut this from the collar of a haughty prisoner on the side of the autobahn, while enroute to Berchtesgaden early May, 1945. This one saw a lot of action and has an unusual overall shape.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Reverse of the autobahn C/506th tab-this probably once had a RzM tag, but it's long-since gone.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
This officer's green collar corner has changed owners several times in recent years. I got it from John Donovan a couple of years ago.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Back side of oficer's green collar corner...
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Almost a match-up with the one posted above-except that this one appears to have gone face-down in a mud puddle. That's it for tonight guys-this sleep-deprived poster is going to bed.
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,426
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,426 |
just superb, thanks for psoting Mark
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Goodie for the day: 1-1-07 Cutoff collar corner from an M40 tunic, showing upgrade of EM tab to officer's, by addition of twisted cord border. These type tabs had white silken runes, which turned golden-brown, with wear and age. I bought this circa 1970, for the then-preposterous sum of $35.00! This was in the days before unprincipled dealers started concocting cutoffs, by attaching real or repro insignia to parts of uniform, to inflate the asking price.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Sorry-couldn't resist peeking under one corner. So back in the 70's, I cut a few threads in one corner and peeked inside-sure enough a nice paper RzM tag on the reverse of the runic tab.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
It 'appears' that Lt.Heinrich Debus, an RK trager of the Wiking division may have worn an EM runic tab, upgraded by addition of twisted cord piping as shown above.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9 |
Unbelievably wonderful stuff! Thanks Brother Bando!!!! Originals in living color are a rarity to the nth degree- The learning curve never stops! a sincere thank you! blkbear1
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Goodie for the day 11-2-07 Before leaving the subject of SS officer tabs, here's a flatwire variant.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
Viewing he reverse of the flatwire tab indicates the buckram backing is missing on this one. But this does show the nature of the runic stitching, as well as the curious small 'ventilation' holes along the sides of the wraparound portion. The purpose for those small holes is a mystery to me...
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 621 |
One more for Nov 2nd. A reed green hbt summer combat nco collar corner, cut-off with the mouse grey tresse and rank tab intact(Unterscharfuhrer).
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,286
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,286 |
Well worn tropical skull..
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,286
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 3,286 |
Cupral M1/8 Wagner with two holes drilled in the wings to secure it to the cap..
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