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I have been searching for this one for several years, and when it arrives I will show you why it was needed in my collection.. Till then…. G

Better when everyone has his own topic. There is still room for comments and suggestions on the respective pages.

No problem Fritz, Not 100% sure about everyone having their own topic as sometimes it's good to add similar items to something like the Brodie helmet thread, where everyone can contribute. However I do agree that who ever has started the particular thread should have the final say on what is added. If they would prefer such as in your equipment thread that other items are not added because for example they want to add more items, then that is easily done. Anybody who would like threads split, removed or merged just let me know by personal message, and of course the thread starter will have the privilege of the final say . I'll move these last posts to Forum rules for future reference.

Here is a WW1 M1915 German belt buckle, for Prussian troops. This is the buckle that would go with the belt listed above. These are later period types as early war ones were brass colored. I got this from a vendor some time ago, in which the buckles were still in the paper wraps. As stated before there were many types of buckles for the various German states and for various organizations. This type is for enlisted men and NCO's.

Here is another German ammunition pouch, this one dated 1917. There are no apparent ink stamps inside the pouch on this one. These pouches were designed to be worn with the standard issue belt which went through the two loops on the rear of the pouch. The "D" rings could be used to attach the the horsehair packs, bread bag straps, suspenders, etc.

x Oberleutnant Oswald Bölcke and Leutnant Max Immelmann amongst their comrades. Front row: Salffner, Meding, Lt.Albert Oesterreicher, Bölcke, Hptm. Hermann Kastner, Lt. Max Immelmann, von Krause, Lt. Ernst Hess Back row: Lt. Max Mulzer, von Schilling, Oblt. Maximilian von Cossel, Fromme, Oblt. von Gusnar Taken the last day on which Bölcke and Immelmann together in the same group. Bölcke was despatched the next day for preparation for the Verdun Offensive. He was in Douai in June for the funeral of Max Immelmann + 18.6.1916 Oswald Bölcke, a commemorative postcard, 40 Victories Hauptmann Oswald Bölcke (Boelcke) *19.05.1891, Giebichenstein b. Halle a/d Saale +28.10.1916, Bapaume, fatal accident Pour le Mérite, 12.01.1916 (Telegraphen-Bataillon 3) Oberleutnant Max Immelmann * 21.9.1890, Dresden + 18. 9.1916, Annay, Pas-de-Calais Pour le Mérite, 12.1.1916 (Eisenbahn-Regt.2) Oberleutnant Max Ritter von Mulzer, Führer, Flieger-Abteilung 32 *3. July 1893, Kimratshofen +26. September 1916, Valenciennes 9. July 1916 Pour le Mérite (Chevaulegers-Regiment 8.) Original period photo print Reverse, gelaufen A later copy Richthofen in the peacetime uniform, Kriegskarte, Probably licensed from Sanke Sanke postcard of Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen. These were published in large quantities and each photo had an order number, which can be seen at the front of the card as well as the manufacturer's logo and the name of the person depicted, very collectable, and these cards can reach high prices, especially when there is an original autograph of the person depicted. This particular photo is well known and has been featured in many biographies of Richthofen. Not known when this portrait was taken, presumaby after December 1916 (Pour le Mérite, 12. January 1917) and before 21. April 1918. Cards printed after that date bore a small cross after the name. In the photo he is wearing the uniform of his old regiment, Ulanen-Regiment 1, along with the military pilots badge, Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class and the Ordre Pour le Mérite. There are many various other photos of Richthofen by Sanke and by other photographers and publishers, as he was very popular. To the bottom left hand corner of the picture is the logo or trademark of Rotophot AG, which was founded in 1912. Sanke and Rotophot were still in business during the 1920s and 1930s. Richthofen with Exzellenz General von Hoeppner, Kommandeur der Luftstreitkräfte A rare set of five cards, numbered 3000-3004 by Verlag Harry Rothenberg, Breslau, not so well known as the Sanke series: Richthofen, this card was printed after 21.4.1918 + Gebrüder Richthofen, Manfred and Lothar, printed after 21.4.1918+ Oberleutnant Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen, Manfred's younger brother * 27.9.1894, Breslau + 4.7.1922, Hamburg Pour le Mérite, 14.5.1917 (Dragoner-Regt.4) Werner Voss, * 13. April 1897 in Krefeld; † 23. September 1917 nördlich von Frezenberg Photo was taken in Richthofen's room. Leutnant Kurt Wolff, * Greifswald, 6.2.1895 + Werwik, 5.9.1917 Pour le Mérite, 4. 5.1917 (Eisenbahn-Regt.4) Leutnant Karl Allmenröder * 3.5.1896, Wald b. Solingen + 27.6.1916, Zillebeke (Feldartillerie-Regt.62) A member of the Richthofen "Flying Circus" who joined Jasta 11 in late 1916 and gained over 30 victories before being shot down on 27. June 1917 near Zillebeke, Belgium. The photo was taken before he gained the Pour le Mérite and which has been added later to the photo. His other decorations as seen in the photo are the Iron Cross 1st class, the Military Pilots Badge and the Oldenburg Friedrich-August-Kreuz 1st class. After the crash he was recovered from the battlefield and buried in his home town Solingen-Wald, where his grave can be seen today. Funeral of Karl Allmenröder, decorations can be seen in this photo (Sanke): The Hausorden von Hohenzollern (Ritterkreuz) can be seen in the photo (centre). The circumstances leading to his death are still unclear. A Canadian ace, Fl./Lt. Raymond Collishaw, R.N.A.S., was accredited with this, however, there is a discrepancy in the dates. Leutnant Emil Schaefer, Jasta 11 Pilot * 7.12.1891, Krefeld + 5.12.1917 bei Ypres 26.4.1917, Pour le Mérite (Jäger-Bataillon 7) Leutnant Gustav Leffers * 2.1.1895, Wilhelmshaven + 27.12.1916, Cerisy Pour le Mérite, 5.11.1916 Leffers reportedly flew a captured French Nieuport Offizier-Stellvertreter Edmund Nathaniel * 18.12.1889, Dielsdorf + 11.5.1917, Bourlon Wood 15 victories Oberleutnant Hermann Göring, last commander of the Richthofen Squadron * 2.1.1893, Rosenheim + 15.10.1946, Nürnberg Pour le Mérite, 2.6.1918 22 victories (Infanterie-Regt.112) Flieger from Flieger-Bataillon 2 in marching order, undated private photo, early uniform. The Flying Ulan - a wartime photo of a soldier of Ulanen-Regiment 13 in peacetime unform, with wartime leather equipment. The large metal scaled epaulettes have been removed and grey cloth shoulder straps of the Fliegertruppe have been added. Unusual photo depicting rear area use of the old peacetime uniform, the Tschapka is worn here without it's field cover.

Württemberg, Kingdom Kriegsdenkmünze, 1866. Inaugurated by Wilhelm I. in 1840, last awarded for 1866 by König Karl. Bronze, on newer ribbon. Crowned K within a laurel wreath, reverse with crossed swords , within a canopy the inscription Für treuen Dienst in einem Feldzug Silberne Verdienst-Medaille 1892-1918, Silber medal with portrait of Wilhelm II. of Württemberg. The reverse with the inscription Für Tapferkeit und Treue within a laurel wreath, on original ribbon Wilhelmskreuz 1915 Für öffentliche Wohlfahrt - for public welfare. Bronze cross with a crowned W and date 1915, the reverse shows an open wreath without inscription. On a replacement ribbon. There were four variations of this decoration. Charlottenkreuz 1916 instituted January 1916 by Wilhem II. for care of the wounded. Silver celtic type cross within intertwined C and W, the reverse with 1916 within the centre medallion, on correct replacement ribbon. Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse 1913-1918 for 12 years long service Dienstauszeichnung 3. Klasse 1913-1918 for 9 years long service Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse 1879-1891 (Schnalle) 1st type "K" Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse 1892 - 1912 (Schnalle) 2nd type "W" Landwehr-Dienstauszeichnung 2. Klasse 1913-1918 (Medal) 3rd type

Here is a nice WW1 German Gas Mask and carrying tin. The mask is leather which replaced rubber in the summer of 1917.

I've got an almost identical buckle, with all paintwork, no leather tab ever fitted, never worn, this I purchased in the late 60s in a Militaria shop in North London (Muswell Hill), most likely long gone - they were also specialists for AMERICANA, civil war, etc. You can also see the two cartridge pouches I posted, slightly missmatched, different makers, one has been slightly blackened as per regulations from Sept.1914, introduced as from Jan. 1916, but hardly upheld, the blackening is only visible in traces rendering the brown just a shade darker, the natural brown was still predominant till the end of the war. They also have the early brass fittings. I also have a similar belt (same tone of brown), maker's mark from Stockach/Württemberg, 1917, stamped to XII. Saxon Army Corps. However, there is a topics column esp. for uniforms, belts and buckles on the forum, why not transfer to there? See front page.

This is a M1909 standard issue belt for German troops in WW1. This belt allows for the addition of a belt buckle to be added, which was dependent on the state in Germany where the troops were from. This particular belt is stamped with "I.R. 11" which I believe is for Infantry Regiment number 11. Also it is dated 1915.

Here is a nice WW1 M1909 German ammunition pouch used with the 98 Mauser rifle. These pouches held the rifle ammunition on stripper clips and could be pulled out when needed to reload. This one is dated 1916, there is also a stamp inside the pouch compartment. Although these are the pouches most are familiar with, due to wartime shortages, it was not uncommon to use older or captured ammunition pouches as well.

would love to see the WW1 French Daigre armour set when it's finished

Bayern: Militär-Flugzeugführer-Abzeichen, silver by Karl Poellath, Schrobenhausen Deutsches Reich Militär Flugzeugführer-Abzeichen, 1913-1918. Early silver example by C.E. Juncker, Berlin

Hello Fritz, I do not have the brow plate yet, still looking. There are a lot of fakes out there right now. I had to special order the webbing materials, and yes the iron rivets would be better, but I didn't have the tools for them. So I went with copper for display purposes. I might in the future swap them out with the correct type. I am working on a WW1 French Daigre armor set now. I have the original plate along with new fabric and parts, should turn out really nice when done. I dont know of anyone who has a intact one.

Thanks Guys. much appreciated.

A rare and expensive item presently, most one or more of the lower plates missing and seldom have any original paintwork. Do you also have the brow plate for the steel helmet? These usually turn up as ground dug, seldom intact, due also to their heaviness the paintwork is the most vulnerable part, and of course the leather attachment strap. You did a good job at restoring the webbing attachments, this type of material is hardly obtainable nowadays. The copper rivets should of course have been iron, as copper would have been unsuitable and was no longer available midwar, but understandably restoring with iron rivets would have been more difficult

Here is another one of my favorite pieces, WW1 German Armor. There are 2 types, one for machine gunners and static positions, and the the second type used for assault troops. This is the one used for assault troops as it has the shoulder stock ridge on the upper right side (users right). When I got this all the plates were disassembled, inside the duffle bag. Also included were the felt pads. All the plates are stamped with lot numbers, and I re-assembled the plates using a another set of armor as a guide. I used the correct type of webbing straps and black waxed rope to secure the plates together and used copper rivets for the shoulder pieces. Turned out nice I think. The duffle bag has LT. A.G. Cherry, 301st engineers, which was part of the US 76th Division. They arrived in france in July of 1918 and were for the most part, piecemealed out to other units. Typically engineers and other specialist units were kept together and forwarded to units in need. Note the sticker on the inside with Cherry's name as well.

Happy Birthday

I have seen reproduction canvas straps and the leather carrier as well, but not originals. I am still looking for a really nice cup to go with my canteen. Here is a picture of the canteen with the canvas strap.

I've seen a few of these on offer, also with the cup and cover. They cost around 200 Euro complete, never seen the carrying strap however, I believe they were carried on a string or cord.

Very nice! Likewise, I do not have very much in the Austrian category, it is extremely rare to find it here in the US. Below is the enameled canteen, you often see in Austrian collections, however this one is mint with the cloth cover. Sadly it doesn't have the cup or carrying strap, but the condition more than makes up for that I feel. I often see these with rust and chips to the enamel.

I did a battlefield tour in 2015, very reasonable prices. just have to shop around and plan accordingly. Our package included a driver picking us up at our hotel, then taking us all around the Messines, Ypres area, all the museums, cemeteries, you name it. Below are just some examples of what you can find. I went to a barn (first photo) where a local farmer had several tables set up to where you can purchase whatever you want, only thing to remember is some of this stuff amy still be live. However you are allowed to walk in some of the fields (the guide usually coordinates this beforehand) and pick up the shrapnel balls, spent casing, etc. We saw rows of artillery shells lining the roads by the farms, the guide told us the Belgian Army EOD collects them once a month and destroys them. It is amazing how much ordnance is still there!

A better view..

Some photo postcards of the aftermath of the raids in July 1943. All postcards by Foto Hugo Schmidt, Hamburg 36, Poststraße 14-16 Street scene with minimal damage and what looks like anti-tank barriers near the centre of Hamburg, possibly Reeperbahn or Neue Pferdemarkt. Ruins around the Nikolaikirche near the Hopfenmarkt. Hamburg, view along the Mönckebergstrasse towards Spitalerstraße and the Hauptbahnhof, ruins A view in the opposite direction from the Mönckebergstrasse towards the Rathausmarkt, ruins, to the left, the Petrikirche Mönckebergstrasse and Gerhard-Hauptmann-Platz, ruins View from a building in a side street over the Mönckebergstrasse showing the scale of devastation. -------------------------- Alt-Barmbek, Soldiers and Luftschutzpolizei clearing the ruins and searching for the missing. KZ-Häftlinge from Neuengamme preparing a house in Altona for demoltion. Sperrgebiet - Betreten verboten! KZ-Häftlinge clearing up the rubble. The area of Hammerbrook had to be walled in, as it had become a dead zone. Remains of the victims could only be recovered on clearing the ruins in the postwar years. Much of Hammerbrook was not rebuilt till the early to mid 80s. It was reported that on one occasion an SA-Mann was shot by Ordnungskräfte for plundering in Ballindamm in the city centre. A view of Hammerbrook or Rothenburgsort, both entirely destroyed. 900.000 lost their homes in Hamburg and were compelled to leave the city. Flakbunker, Heiligengeistfeld Cellars thought safe as air raid shelters became a death trap and inferno Hamburg-Eilbek The aftermath 1945, life in Nissen-Huts

Soldbuch Rolf Bohn Some photos which were sent yesterday, Name and Photo have not been included for familiar reasons. Seite 1: 4./G.R.389 – das heißt, 4.Kompanie / Grenadier-Regiment 389 – Nummer der Erkennungsmarke: 5, Blutgruppe: O Seite 17 - gemischte Marsch-Kompanie XIII/183/42 - vielleicht gem. Marschkompanie, Wehrkreis XIII, Stammrolle 183/1942 (?) - Grenadier-Regt. 389, 4.Kompanie, Stammrollen-Nr. 455 (später gestrichen) - Grenadier-Regt.330, 1.Kompanie, Kriegsstammrolle: 527 - Grenadier Ersatz-Bataillon 186 (Ansbach) - Grenadier Ersatz-Bataillon 72 in Pardubitz (Böhmen) Seite 7 - Bekleidung u. Ausrüstung – Annahme und Abgabe Seite 22/23: Auszeichnungen und Beurlaubungen (23) 10.11.1943 – Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz 15.08.1944 – Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber 29.08.1944 – Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Silber Seite 8a: Besitznachweis von Waffen u. Gerät Gewehr Nr. 145 v. 3.10.1943 Seitengewehr Nr. 5771 v. 3.10.1943 Spaten am 16.11.1944 Weitere Angaben, diese undeutlich, Seite nachträglich gestrichen S.18/19 Zahlmeisterei Eintragungen über Soldgruppe: I./Feld-Ausbildungs-Regiment 815 20.10.1942 Wehrsoldgruppe 16 1.3.1944 Wehrsoldgruppe 15 Kriegsbesoldung: Nach eigenen Angaben ohne Bezüge S.12/13 Nachweisung über etwaige Aufnahme in ein Standort-, Feld-, Kriegs- oder Reservelazarett Armee-Feldlazarett (illegible) Krankensammelstelle Cherson, 12.10.43 (Krim) Schreiberhan, Krankenabtlg.I, Josephinenhütte, 11.11.43 4./Grenadier-Regt.389 (Datum unleserlich) Krankensammelstelle Großwardein, 20.7.1944 Kriegslazarett 2./541, 8.8.1944 (Charkow) Reserve-Lazarett XXe Wien, 1.Sept.1944 Lungendurchleuchtung durchgeführt, 7.9.1944 S.20/21 Wehrsold / Lazarett S.12/13 Lazarettaufnahme, Untersuchungen, etc. S.5/7 Genesenden-Kompanie, Grenadier Ersatz-Bataillon 72 – Bekleidung und Ausrüstung - (Seite 6 fehlt!) Versetzt an Ersatz-Bataillon 72 Seite 8b/8c Nachweis über Waffen und Gerät (erhalten): - Reinigungsgerät 34, - Gasmaske 30, Größe 5 - Gasplane - Verbandpäckchen - Karabiner 98k Nr. 23337 - Zielfernrohr Nr. 71435 - Tarnjacke - Tarnnetz - Behälter f.Zielfernrohr - Winterabzug Letzte Eintragungen: 19.1.1945 bzw., 24.1.1945(!) Seite 9 - Impfungen gegen Pocken, Typhus/Paratyphus, Ruhr, Cholera, sonstige Schutz- und Heilimpfungen: Erfolgt, siehe Einträge Rolf Bohn, recollections told in 1978: I was twice wounded. One day in the Lazarett, somebody took my tunic and left a worn out one in it's place. There was an investigation. I was able to prove that somebody else had my jacket as there was a repair on one sleeve where I had been wounded. I got my jacket back. During my war service at the Front, I was engaged as a sniper, and often operated alone. Another time, I came across an abandoned Russian T-34. Without hesitating, I climbed up and dropped a stick grenade into the open turret hatch. That was one tank less for the Russians. Almost the entire war I spent on the Russian Front, until after the Allied invasion in France, then I was transferred to the West. During the entire period at the Front, I hardly had any leave and did not see home again. I was captured by the Americans, and I and my comrades were left in a field surrounded by barbed wire for days on end without shelter, food or water. The French took over after that, but we still had no shelter. Eventually we were fed continuously with only spinach - I can no longer stomach spinach till this day. My comrades were dying like flies, I was lucky to survive. We were made to do forced labour for the rest of our captivity. I was released a few years after the war, and wanted to return to Hamburg or Altona, where I came from. Hamburg was overcrowded with refugees and most accomodation had been bombed out, so I was not allowed back to Hamburg, so I went to Canada with my sweetheart Minna, and finally settled in the US. We were still referred to as DPs (displaced persons), and had difficulties with the language. I managed to find a job with the Ford Motor Company in Cleveland, Ohio as a tool and die maker and later an inspector of tool and dies. I was not good at languages, but always good in arithmetic and maths, which brought me forward, I had originally learned „Feinmechaniker“ with the fountain pen manufacturer Montblanc in Altona.

Rolf Bohn, P.O.W. Index Card, US Army, France, May 1945 Personal Ausweis British Zone, Minna Augusta Bohn (geb. Ahlers) from Delmenhorst, Hamburg-Altona, 1950/51 Minna Augusta Bohn in a post-war photo Familie Familie Ahlers - Delmenhorst, Oldenburg, Bremen area (Bohn-Ahlers, maternal side) Willi Schmold, Infanterie-Regiment Bremen, pre-war photo and in a photo from 1909 (centre left) wearing dark blue Litewka with Unteroffiziersborte Willi Schmold (centre), Reserve-Infanterie-Regt. 440, Frankreich, 12.2.1917 - Willi, seine letzte Aufnahme - shortly after this photo, he fell. 8. Komp./II.Btl., R.J.R.440 Writing on the reverse of the card, an older photocopy A further photo from same source, Artillery or Train soldiers? Unknown

Personal experiences by Max Tiedemann Am 24. Juli 1943 flog die britische Luftwaffe unter dem Codewort "Operation Gomorrha" einen Bombenangriff auf die Stadt Hamburg, der als "Feuersturm" in die deutsche Geschichte einging. Mehr als 700 Bomber mit tausenden Spreng- und Brandbomben verwandelten zahlreiche Stadtteile in eine Trümmerwüste. Innerhalb von zehn Tagen wurden vier Angriffe geflogen - mindestens 35000 Menschen wurden getötet, 250000 verwundet und eine Million obdachlos. Max Tiedemann, der Bruder meines Großvaters Erwin, erlebte dieses Inferno hautnah und hielt seine Erinnerungen schriftlich fest. Am Samstag, dem 24. Juli 1943, lastet drückende Hitze auf Hamburg. Der Abend bringt nur wenig Abkühlung. Kurz nach Mitternacht – um 0.33 Uhr – zerschneidet das Heulen der Sirenen die bruttige Stille: Fliegeralarm! Nahe High Wycombe bei London beugen sich die Stabsoffiziere des britischen Bomber Command gespannt über ihre Karten. Drei Stunden zuvor sind auf den südenglischen Fliegerhorsten 791 Bomber und Kampfflugzeuge gestartet; das Unternehmen Gomorrha hat begonnen. Um 23.55 Uhr fliegt der Verband bei Büsum an der holsteinischen Küste in den deutschen Luftraum ein. 67 Minuten später fallen die ersten Bomben auf die Hansestadt. ------------- On the 24th July 1943 the Royal Air Force flew bombinb missions under the codeword "Operation Gomorrha" against the city of Hamburg, since known known as the "Firestorm. More than 700 bombs with thousands of high explosive and incendiary bombs turned whole quarters into a waste of rubble. Within ten days 4 raids were flown - at least 35.000 people were killed, 25.000 injured and a million homeless. Max Tiedemann, the brother of my grandfather Erwin went through this inferno and recorded down his memories. On Saturday, 24th July 1943 an oppressive heat lay over Hamburg. The evening hardly brought any relief. Shortly after midnight - at 0.33 hours - the silence of the night was broken by the shrillness of sirens: Fliegeralarm! Near by High Wycombe, with in reach of London, staff officers of Bomber Command lean over their maps. Three hours previously 791 bombers started, Operation Gomorrha was underway. At 23.55 hours they reached Büsum on the coast of Holstein entering German airspace. 67 minutes later the first bombs fall on the Hanseatic City. From the homepage and chronical of the Tiedemann family Hamburg-Eilbek, where I lived for many years. Photo taken after the raids in July 1943 The bridge over the canal leading to the Alster Space on the canal has been turned into living quarters in the past decades St. Gertrudenkirche near the Alster The old chapel at the former cemetery on the Wandsbeker Chaussee. The cemetery is now a park. The former S-Bahn station building in Hasselbrook has been turned into a restaurant A quiet residential street in Eilbek-Uhlenhorst The Wandsbeker Chaussee at the corner of the Richardstrasse Eilbek as it is today, Richardstrasse. One of the most pleasant residential areas in Hamburg, within easy reach of the Alster, and with a good standard of living. An aerial view over the Richardstraße and Wandsbeker Chaussee Hasselbrookstraße 14 - Max Schmeling once lived here. This is nearer the area of Hamm.