Leaderboard

Pictured from my collection of Kriegsmarine antiques is a Female Auxiliary Service broach (3cm (1.1811 inches) diameter). This broach was worn with the service uniform and civilian dress. For more information regarding the female auxiliaries that supported the German Navy, Air Force, and Army, read the book 'World War II German Women's Auxiliary Services (Men-at-War, 393)' by Gordon Williamson.

Walter Krupinski, 197 victories und Erich Hartmann, 352 victories after receiving the Eichenlaub, March 1944

I recently found a small cache of period Mauser 1871/84 ammunition. Dates are between 1886-1887. Most cartridges are the M71/84 Scharfe Patrone made by Konigliche Munitions Fabrik, Dresden. I have one Scharfe Patrone M71 which has a stamp for the Hauptlaboratrium, in Munchen. Lastly, I have a few Platzpatrone M71 cartridges made in Erfurt.

Pictured from my collection of Kriegsmarine antiques is a thermograph manufactured by R. Fuess. This instrument was used by the Kriegsmarine to measure air temperature.

Thanks Fritz, I did not realize only the first day is for all. Typed out so all can view comments about this last hero of WWII Battle of Britain on the British side. I wonder if any German pilots still survive? He may have been the last vet on both sides?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg1z42pkj8o In case the link goes down: Obituary please read Corrected typed in so all can read. Photos removed OBITUARY Source The Times, Tuesday March 18 2025 Group Captain John Hemingway obituary: last of Churchill’s ‘Few’ dies at 105 The Irish-born RAF pilot was shot down four times, including twice in the Battle of Britain, but to him his survival was nothing but luck. Group Captain John Hemingway, an Irishman known to his fellow RAF pilots as“Paddy”, was extremely lucky to emerge unscathed from the war, having been shot down four times, including twice in two weeks during the Battle of Britain. A modest, brave man, he never liked to be thought of as a hero and hated people thanking him for his wartime service. In one of his last interviews he said that he had lived through extraordinary times but did not see himself as exceptional in any way. “I’m alive because of luck,” he said. “This is not false modesty,” he continued. “It was a characteristic of those times and the culture of my squadron to be resolute, realistic and not to dramatise those very dramatic times.” Hemingway’s nearest brush with death came when he was shot down over the North Sea on August 18, 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain. At the controls of a Hawker Hurricane with 85 Squadron and then a pilot officer, he was climbing fast to meet a formation of Luftwaffe bombers about 20 miles off Clacton-on-Sea. Alongside him was another Hurricane flown by his friend Dickie Lee. The German gunners had spotted Hemingway and Lee, however, and soon two aircraft attacked them. After his Hurricane was hit, Hemingway’s aircraft stalled, inverted and fell into a spin. When the engine stopped, the 21-year-old Irishman had no choice but to bale out of his oil-drenched cockpit, describing it as having become “very smelly and very hot”. He knew his chances of survival in the North Sea were virtually nil, but after swimming hopelessly for the Essex coast for two and a half hours, Hemingway, by then at the limits of exhaustion, was the beneficiary of extraordinary luck. A rowing boat from Clacton lightship happened across his path and picked him up. “You were just rolling in the waves,” one of his rescuers told him. Lee was killed in that engagement. Hemingway was flying again a week later, again in a Hurricane, the aircraft that claimed the highest number of victories during the Battle of Britain. His wartime service had begun a few months earlier during the Battle of France. Hemingway scored some of the first Allied aerial victories of the campaign when he destroyed a German bomber on May 10, 1940, then shared in the destruction of a second one the following day. On May 11, however, after being pursued by a German liaison aircraft, he was hit by ground fire and forced to crash land in a ploughed field near the river Meuse in Belgium. “I was furious the Germans should do this to me,” he recalled. Hemingway undertook an arduous 70-mile walk to Brussels with a column of refugees, made all the harder because of two injuries in his leg. His kneecap had been pierced by a sliver of metal. This was removed by a soldier who heated his knife over a candle and cut it out. On that journey Hemingway was given food by the refugees and remembered a delicious soup heated up in an oil barrel and made up of boiled rabbits, mice, potatoes and turnips. Having made it to Brussels, he then rejoined 85 Squadron in Lille. After sustaining heavy losses in France, the squadron returned to England and its former base at Debden in Essex. This was a place of happy memories for Hemingway, who had spent his spare time there reconditioning old cars with his great friend Flight Lieutenant James Marshall during the last months of peace. Marshall was among the old colleagues still alive at this time — he would be killed in 1942 while doing aerobatics over his girlfriend’s home. The squadron’s new commander, meanwhile, was Squadron Leader Peter Townsend, who a decade later, as a group captain, became known for his relationship withPrincess Margaret. Hemingway recalled that during the Battle of Britain, which began on July 10, 1940, Townsend liked to carry out attacks head-on. It was on one of these sorties, led by Townsend, and eight days after his adventure in the drink of Clacton, that Hemingway had to bale out again. Having closed in on a German bomber, all the while shooting at it, Hemingway wheeled around to have another go. It was, he later admitted, the “silliest thing” he had ever done. Immediately there was so much smoke and oil everywhere that he thought his Hurricane was on fire. In fact he had been hit by a Messerschmitt, a Me 109. He landed unhurt except for sore sinuses caused by free-falling for as long as possible to speed his descent and avoid being shot, because he knew that enemy aircraft had started targeting parachutes. This time he found himself in a much better place than the North Sea: by the Barge pub on Pitsea Marsh in Essex. Hemingway damaged an Me 109 on August 31, but on September 22 he had another scrape while flying on patrol over Lancashire with Marshall and under the leadership of Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Allard. After running low on fuel they all made forced landings, Hemingway and Marshall coming down near Burnley. In February 1941 the squadron went over to night fighting, exchanging Hurricanes for Havocs. On two successive nights in early May, Hemingway damaged Heinkel (HE 111) medium bombers. He was transferred to 1452 Flight at West Malling, Kent, where he flew Havocs that were equipped with powerful Turbinlite searchlights in the noses, the idea being to illuminate airborne enemy targets. However, the light also gave away the Havoc’s position and the experiment was superseded by advances in radar. He then worked away from the front line as a flight controller. By 1945 Hemingway was back to operational daylight flying and in April he assumed command of 43 Squadron in Italy, flying Spitfires. On April 23 he baled out for the last time after ground fire hit his plane, but he escaped uninjured. Italian partisans disguised him in peasant’s clothing and got him past a German checkpoint by having a six-year-old girl accompany him. He served in Italy and Austria as officer commanding 244 Wing and in 1947 he was a member of the RAF delegation in Greece. In 1953 Hemingway commanded 32 Squadron in Egypt and he later worked as an operations officer for Nato at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, near Paris. He returned to Britain in 1966 in the rank of group captain and took command of RAF Leconfield in Yorkshire, as it transferred from Fighter Command to Maintenance Command. He retired in 1969. Born in 1919, John Allman Hemingway was the eldest of four children of Basil Hemingway, a builder and developer who lived at Churchtown Park House,Dublin, and his wife, Elizabeth. John and his sisters, Georgina, Thelma and Sylvia, spent holidays with their parents at Greystones, Co Wicklow, a few miles down the coast. John attended St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir School, Dublin, where he said he was “a very unsuccessful choirboy”. He later attended St. Andrew’s College in the city, where he was a gifted rugby player and runner. His father urged him to find a career, preferably in medicine, but Hemingway chose the RAF, travelling to London in December 1938. He was offered a four- year short-service commission. It is thought that he was one of only ten Irishmen to fight in the Battle of Britain. Hemingway married Helen (née Prowse), known as Bridget, in 1948. Originally from South Africa, she had come to Britain to serve in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the war. They had a daughter, Susan, a dance and English language teacher and two sons, one of whom, Brian, works as a producer-director in corporate film-making. Hemingway moved back to Ireland after his wife died in 1998. In retirement Hemingway dabbled in antiques and was a keen walker. A private man to the point of being almost reclusive, his great passion was Beethoven. He rarely talked about the war. For some years, when he was in his early nineties and out of touch with friends in England, Hemingway’s name was missing from the official list of Battle of Britain pilots who were still living. He was thought to have died until it was learnt that he was alive, aged 98, and living in a residential home on the outskirts of Dublin. He was still sporting the neatly clipped mustache he had grown for a bet at the start of the war. Still vivid among his memories, he said, was the acrid smell and intense heat of his burning Hurricane cockpit, that and the sight of the empty places at the RAF breakfast table. “Fate was not democratic,” he said. “New pilots with just a few hours in Hurricanes did not have the instincts of us more experienced pilots and were very vulnerable in combat. For that reason, many did not last long.” On the 75th anniversary of VE Day in May 2020 it was announced that Hemingway was officially the last surviving of the nearly 3,000 airmen who flew in the Battle of Britain, after the death of the air gunner Terry Clark at 101. In an interview not long before that anniversary, Hemingway recalled the moment that he realized his life had changed for ever at the outbreak of war. It was the night of September 3, 1939, and it was the first time his squadron had been scrambled to their aircraft, ready for action. They did not take of that night but as the 20-year-old sprinted across the runway to his Hurricane, he remembered feeling that things would never be the same. “In those few moments I realized that I must now shrug of sentimentality of all sorts and henceforth cope at all levels entirely on my own, no matter what the circumstances,” he said: “Group Captain John Hemingway DFC, Battle of Britain fighter pilot and last of “the Few”, was born on July 17, 1919. He died on March 17, 2025.”

I don't plan on firing the cartridges. Typically they are averaging about $25+ a round when they pop up.

Getting back to the markings, the B.4R.5 is Königlich Bayerisches 4. (Inf.) Regt., 5.Komagnie number below is the weapon number within the Regiment. Very nice cartridges, must be hard to find nowadays, it would be a shame to fire any.

Hi guys, Check out this channel that has helped me become adept at identifying iron cross second class. https://youtube.com/@ek2secrets?si=F0UrWbv2Lb1N7x7n Have fun learning!

42CM Morser in action.

Just arrived, for the KM sailors blouse

German 10cm gun in action.

German 21CM Mortar in action.

German Soldiers with a kleine Granatenwerfer 16 or Gr.W.16.

French Soldiers in early gas masks, note the drummer in the background. The Soldier left front has a cloth muzzle cover on his Lebel rifle, not a common sight. They also appear to have helmet covers as well.

German Trench scene.

Detailed photo of a sniper team, note the leather carrier on the shooters waist for storing the scope. Also of note are the 2 M1913 Kugel grenades in the background.

U-873 bei der Indienststellung auf der Deschimag-Werft in Bremen am 1.3.1944

Admiral Lindemann mit dem Führer in einem 380er Geschützturm der Bismarck

They were both totally drunk in this picture, Hartmann was reprimanded for trying to grab the Fuhrers cap

Hi John R., Thank you for your donation of 50.00 GBP. We look forward to improving the forums with your donation. Thanks Treasure Bunker Forum

unfortunately did not work out, could not refind, was from facebook, everything disappears too quickly

Fritz, can't see the last image. Could you please re-post/reload it?

This is a 1915 dated German 57mm shell casing used on the Fahrpanzer, which was a mobile artillery unit, used on fortifications. Hermann Gruson company began making these in the 1870s but later merged with Krupp. Gruson turrets were exported to many countries, one of the products they made was the Fahrpanzer which was mounted on a narrow-gauge rail line. Typically, they would be brought out to fire, then removed to prevent damage from counter fire. During WW1, as artillery was in high demand, many of these units were moved into forward trenches where an armored encase artillery unit would be of good use. The Fahrpanzer had a 2-man crew and fired a variety of calibers, the most prevalent being 37mm, 53 and 57mm. There are a few surviving examples, and I did get to see a Fahrpanzer in the Athens Military Museum in 2014. It has the following stamps: Clockwise: AWS, Artillerie Werkstatt Spandau, 2, 1915, AWS 10: Inspection stamp for Patronenfabrik Karlsruhe, last one is partially gone, might be DR1, which would be another inspection stamp. The image below shows the Athens Museum's display of the Fahrpanzer (image from the internet).

Period image of German soldiers with the body and helmet armor plates.

Recently found a really choice condition Schwerehandgrenate, a much nicer example than my previous post.

There are two Berthier carbines in the foreground. I think they came in 1916, but not absolutely certain. Some info on the Berthier - http://armesfrancaises.free.fr/FR Mle 07-15.html

Here is one I just got in, WW1 French, 110th Infantry Regiment. Note the Chauchats and the 2 types of Berthier Rifles. I believe this to be a very late war photo/post card as the M16 Berthier came out in the last year of the war.

Dagger of unknown age and origin, most likely arabic, first half of 20th century Steel blade, possibly damast, as traces of old engravings, some slight rust staining. Handle is of bone or possibly horn, fittings and scabbard of cupro-nickel silver with a strong patina.

Did you find any markings on the bayonet?

I saw this the other day, thanks for posting.

Deutsche Technikmuseum, Berlin

British soldiers with a captured MG 08/15, note the differences in ammo cans.

Epauletten für einen Leutnant zur See, Kaiserliche Marine These are highly priced at 800 e !

Falaise, Frühsommer 1940, I. Gruppe Stukageschwader 1

Montagehalle im Weser-Flugzeugbau, Tempelhof, 1943

Epaulettes of 2. Eskadron, Gefreitenknöpfe, Monogramm of König Wilhelm II. von Preußen Paßgurt Brustrabatt Schulterklappe zum Mantel Schirmmütze zur Ausgehuniform, ab 1912 Kartuschkasten

Diese Maschine mit der Kennung "weiße 13" ging am 01.01.1945 kurz nach 9 Uhr bei dem Unternehmen "Bodenplatte" verloren. Der Flugzeugführer Uffz. Herbert Maxis von der 13./JG 53 musste die Maschine nach einem Angriff auf Stellungen der 455th AAA batallion in der Nähe vom Oberfelsberg Bruchlanden und wurde daraufhin beim aussteigen aus seiner Maschine von amerikanischen Soldaten erschossen. Im Jahre 1987 wurden von Raymond Wagner (Deutschland) an der Stelle der Bauchlandung diverse Überreste der Maschine geborgen, darunter die Tragflächen, die mittlere Rumpfsektion und einige andere kleinere Teile. Für die Rekonstruktion der Bf 109 G-14/AS, (Slowakisches Technik Museum) wurden kleinere Teile der Maschine von Herrn Wagner verwendet. Die Tragflächen der WNr. 784993 wurden von Herrn Wagner an Herrn K. Steiner nach Österreich verkauft. Dieser verwendete sie für seine Rekonstruktion einer Bf 109 G-6, (Kurt Steiner). Die Rumpfsektion der WNr. 784993 wurden von Herrn Wagner an einen unbekannten Interessenten verkauft. Herbert Maxis was born Nov. 20, 1920, in Berlin-Friedrichshagen, in the Treptow-Kopenick district of Berlin, Germany. When World War II came, he was married to Felicitas Maxis. He became a Luftwaffe pilot. On January 1st, 1945, he was flying as part of the German "Operation Bodenplatte" (Operation Baseplate), an attack on US and Allied airfields in France and Northern Europe. His group, IV/JG53, Squadron 13, was flying from the Stuttgart area of Germany, to attack the US airfield at Metz, France. He was flying an ME-109/G14/AS, tail number 784993, "White 13", for the large number painted on the side of the aircraft. In the early morning hours of that New Year's Day, he passed over the village of Ober-Felsberg, in the Uberherrn-Saarlouis district of the Saarland. For some reason, instead of proceeding on to the primary target airfield at Metz, some 20 miles further west, he peeled off to attack an American convoy traveling toward Ober-Felsberg from the nearly town of Ittersdorf. As he swung around into the attack, some 100 feet over the ground, American gunners began to fire at his plane and hits were scored. He also opened fire with his guns and wounded at least two American soldiers. Although men were firing machine guns and small arms fire at him from the ground and village, the credit for the shootdown went to Flenory Griggs of Battery 'A', gun crew #1, of the 455th AAA Bn., of Patton's Third Army, XX Corps. Maxis managed to make a perfect belly landing in the ME-109. Some say he was wounded as he opened his cockpit and stepped from the plane. Eyewitnesses say he stepped onto the wing, and raised his hands to surrender. Others say he reached into his flightsuit, as if to pull a pistol. Whatever the event, a nearby field artillery soldier shot Maxis in the head, killing him. He body lay across the wing of the plane. Many photos were taken of this aircraft. US soldiers came (from HQ) and removed the body. By that time, his flight gear had been taken as 'souvernirs'. Apparently, the dog tags (his ID # was 69-010-125) were taken as well. As a result, his grave has never been located and he is still listed as Missing in Action. He was 24 years old when he died...His plane, "White 13", was buried in a trench and re-discovered in 1987. The remaining parts of the airframe were restored with parts from other German aircraft and is currently on display in the AVIATICUM Museum in Werner Neustadt, Lower Austria.

Mai 1940 über Frankreich

Two shoulder pieces for a Kapitän zur See, one for the blue uniform, the other for the white Summer tunic

The Imperial crown (Deutsches Reich) was used used by all states except Bavaria. The Navy and colonies were Reichsangelegenheit, not of the individual states, the states had no outward representation abroad, that was the responsability of Deutsches Reich, Marine- und Kolonialamt. Bavaria was a separate kingdom with it's own military system and war ministry and had it's own pilots badge -

WW1 Feldflasche, 1916/17 now complete

Canadian Soldiers posing with the Lewis Gun.

Well I went and found a nice Bavarian marked butt plate to go with this rifle. It is marked B. 4. R. 5. which stood for Bayr. 4. Infant.-Regiment. “König Wilhelm v.Württemberg” (Metz), 5. Komp. This new plate actually matches the rest of the rifle as far as patina look goes, the previous one had been polished.

Gentlemen: Thank you for posting videos, enjoyed watching. I greatly appreciate you sharing with Forum. Best regards, John R.

Somehow the brass discs are not right, on the side is Reichspfennig, the other SS-Kantinengeld, either one or the other, no combination of both

I spent some time looking for several “imperial” navy badges. The above stamp is one of the most uncommon. There are plenty of examples on: https://gmic.co.uk/topic/56784-100-years-german-navy-aviation/ A special topic when the imperial German navy made the centenary (2013). So there are simpler most acceptable common stamps, just one side stamped or molded. Why invest in a more complex process (two sides mold) for faking a stamp that differs clearily from the STDs ones, is the strange point about this one mine. Thank you, all. Arend

Below are some images of the M1871 in action. During WW1 it was initially used in bayonet practice for new soldiers, however it also was used by prison guards, reserve units, and other rear echelon forces, but as losses mounted, these invariably made their war to the front as did many other obsolete weapons.