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Here is a Bulgarian M36 Helmet, type C, which was the last version to be produced. Initially these helmets were made abroad, but machinery was moved to Bulgaria to allow for domestic production. The type C was introduced in 1939 and is the most numerous of the various models. The helmet is somewhat similar to the German helmets, but smaller, lighter, and a shorter brim. This particular helmet at a size 54, with the original liner, but missing the chinstrap. I found this at a local estate sale, and it was a cheap pickup.

From my collection are pictures of my Sold-Libellen KM-2 sextant with its original metal storage box. This sextant was manufactured for the Kriegsmarine by C.Plath. The SOLD KM-2 was developed for navigational use aboard U-boats and S-boats at night and/or in poor weather conditions when horizon not visible. For an in-depth review of this type of sextant, visit the link https://sextantbook.com/2013/11/04/the-sold-km2-bubble-sextant/. A view of KM-2 stored in its metal metal box. Note several accessories from the storage box are missing, but the original inventory label is present on inside of one of the two lids (not pictured). Top of metal storage box with access secured with side latches. The handle sides of KM-2 Sextant were the identification plate was once mounted but removed. View of the dial side of KM-2 sextant. The plate on dial is marked J.B., indiscernible mark, Geprütt Deutsche Seewarte (German Naval Observatory). Another view of dial side of KM-2 sextant. Topside view KM-2 sexton.

Pictured from my collection is a Kriegsmarine navigation square marked Dennert & Pape Hamburg-Altona (maker). A square like this one is pictured on page 441 in the book 'Deutsche Kriegsmarine Uniforms, Insignias and Equipment of the German Navy 1933-1945' by Eduardo Delgado.

A small grouping from a WW1 German doctor who I believe died several years after the war from the effects of the campaign

Hi, I recently found 4 of these brass Lewis gun barrel jacks at an old British weapons depot. They are an armourers tool for removing the cooling fans from the barrel. Seem to be extremely rare as I can’t find any other examples online. Does anyone know what they might be worth ? Thanks

I’ve been looking for a nice example of the eastern front medal for a while now what are your thoughts on this one ?

Here's front and rear of my own nice Ostfront medal

Hi John333, It took me a long time to find a DECENT Ostfront medal. My advice would be to go for the shown medal if the price is reasonable to you as it is quite a nice example. Especially as it has a makers mark on the suspension ring. You can always keep looking for a better conditioned one and upgrade at a later date. So, if you don't have one yet, go for this one with an eye to upgrade at some point in the future. REALLY GOOD examples of this badge do not come up very often, and when they do they are snapped up quickly!

Is this a good one guys and any ideas on the maker ? Thanks

Fritz: The answer to your question "I assume the buttons on the leather crew jacket are probably of gilded glass? " is "No." All the buttons on the black leather jacket in my collection are of two-piece metal construction with a fouled anchor gilt front and the backs are marked BESONDERS HALTBAR 'Particularly Durable' with makers symbol. A black leather jacket like mine with gilt fouled anchor buttons can be seen below on page 263 of Volume 2, Die Kriegsmarine Uniforms and Traditions by John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht. Pictured below is the back of a two-piece metal fouled anchor button on my black leather jacket. Note that various manufactured produced buttons that were used in making black leather jackets for the Kriegsmarine. Along with my black leather jacket having metal gilt buttons pictured below, note that this jacket has the Kriegsmarine ordnance mark (Eagle over M) between two fouled anchor buttons. The Kriegsmarine proof mark like the one on my jacket is pictured below on page 265 of Volume 2, Die Kriegsmarine Uniforms and Traditions by John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht. The collar of the neck was closed up by a metal clasp like the one below on my jacket. Note the front corner of the low standing collar are rounded and the button holes are reenforced with a narrow leather trim. Pictured is the interior of my jacket, which is lined with wool. Also I have enclosed a picture of the back of this jacket. For further information I havedenclosed page 288 of Deutche Kriegsmarine Uniforms, Insignia and Equipment of the German Navy 1933-1945 by Eduardo Delgado.

Hi Eddie, I'm afraid the serial number is just a batch number so would not identify the U boat. Sometimes you will find the letter N which would identify them as belonging to the German Navy North Sea Fleet. Sorry can't help much more. Here is a list of the makers codes but no list of serial numbers as far as I'm aware. b e h ERNST LEITZ. WETZLAR GERMANY b e k HENSOLDT WERK FUR OPTIK UND MECHANIK HERBORN GERMANY b l c CARL ZEISS, MILITARABTEILUNG JENA JENA GERMANY b m h JIRASEK (not in Walter) PRAGUE CZECH b m j M. HENSOLDT & SOHNE, A.G. WETZLAR GERMANY b m t C. A. STEINHEIL SOHNE, GmbH MUNICH GERMANY b p d C. P. GOERZ, GmbH VIENNA AUSTRIA b v f C. REICHERT VIENNA AUSTRIA b y g JOH. WYKSEN, K.G. KATTOWITZ POLAND b z z I.G.-FARBENINDUSTRIE, CAMERAWERK MUNICH GERMANY c a d KARL KAHLES (telescopic sights) VIENNA AUSTRIA c a g D. SWAROVSKI WATTENS/TIROL AUSTRIA c a u KODAK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, DR. NAGEL WERK STUTTGART GERMANY c c x OPTISCHE UND FEINMECHANISCHE WERKE, HUGO MEYER & CO. GOERLITZ GERMANY c l b DR. F. A. WOHLER KASSEL GERMANY c l n ED. SPRENGER BERLIN GERMANY c r h FRANZ SCHMIDT & HAENSCH BERLIN GERMANY c r n HANSEATISCHE WERKSTATTEN FUR FEINMECHANIK UND OPTIK, FRIEDRICHS & Co. HAMBURG GERMANY c r o R. FUESS, formerly J. G. GREINER & GEISSLER BERLIN GERMANY c x n EMIL BUSCH, A.G. RATHENOW GERMANY d d v OCULUS (optometrist equipment, possibly gunsights) BERLIN GERMANY d d x VOIGTLAENDER & SOHN, A.G. BRAUNSCHWEIG GERMANY d k l JOSEF SCHNEIDER KREUZNACH GERMANY d o q DEUTSCHE SPIEGELGLAS A.G. (telescopes, lenses) LEINE GERMANY d o w WAFFENWERKE BRUNN A.G. (1943-OPTICOTECHNA GmbH) PRERAU CZECH. d p g ADOX KAMERAWERK GmbH (cameras) WIESBADEN GERMANY d p v ZEISS IKON A.G. DRESDEN GERMANY d p w ZEISS IKON A.G. GOERZWERK BERLIN GERMANY d p x ZEISS IKON A.G., CONTESSAWERK STUTTGART GERMANY d y m RUNGE & KAULFUSS RATHENOW GERMANY d y s HEINRICH ZEISS, UNIONZEISS K.G. ('apparently optical' BERLIN GERMANY d z l OPTISCHE ANSTALT OIGEE GmbH BERLIN GERMANY e a f MECHANOPTIK GESELLSCHAFT FUR PRAZISIONSTECHNIK, AUDE & REIPERT BABELSBERG GERMANY e a w R. WINKEL GmbH GOETTINGEN GERMANY e e d KURBI & NIGGELOH (photographic equipment) RADEVORMWALD GERMANY e s o G. RODENSTOCK MUNICH GERMANY e s u STEINHEIL SOHNE GmbH (telescopes & optics) MUNICH GERMANY e u g OPTISCHE PRAZISIONS WERKE GmbH WARSAW POLAND f c o SENDLINGER OPTISCHE GLASWERKE GmbH BERLIN GERMANY f j t PHOTOGRAMMETRIE GmbH (aerial recon. cameras) MUNICH GERMANY f l n FRANZ RAPSCH A.G. (sights, often subcontractor to Busch) RATHENOW GERMANY f v s SPINDLER & HOYER K.G. GOTTINGEN GERMANY f v x BECK & SOHNE KASSEL GERMANY f w r OPTISCHE ANSTALT SAALFELD GmbH SAALFELD GERMANY f x p HANS KOLLMORGEN GmbH BERLIN GERMANY g a g F. MOLLENKOPF STUTTGART GERMANY g k p RUF & Co., formerly CARL SCHUTZ KASSEL GERMANY g u g UNGARNISCHE OPTISCHE WERKE A.G. BUDAPEST HUNGARY g u j WERNER D. KUEHN BERLIN GERMANY g w v ERNST PLANK NURNBERG GERMANY g x l FRANKE & HEIDECKE (photographic equipment) BRAUNSCHWEIG GERMANY g x p HOMRICH & SOHN (photographic equipment) h d v OPTISCHE WERK OSTERODE GmbH OSTERODE GERMANY h f o VALENTIN LINHOF OHG (photographic equipment) MUNICH GERMANY h k m CARL BRAUN KG NURNBERG GERMANY h n a KORELLE WERKE, G.H. BRANDTMANN & Co. (photographic) DRESDEN GERMANY h r w HOH & HAHNE (photographic reproduction equipment) LEIPZIG GERMANY h w t IHAGEE KAMERAWERK, STEENBERGEN & Co. (cameras) DRESDEN GERMANY h x h A. KRUSS HAMBURG GERMANY j f n TETENAL PHOTOWERK, Dr. TRIEPEL, K.G. (photographic equipment) BERLIN GERMANY j f p DR. CARL LEISS BERLIN GERMANY j n h F. TUTEMANN (lens holders & optical equipment) LUDENSCHEID GERMANY j o n VOIGTLANDER-GEVAERT (cameras) BERLIN GERMANY j u x NEDINSCO, NEDERLANDSCHE INSTRUMENTEN, (vehicle & aircraft instruments?) VENLO NETHERLANDS j v e ERNST LUDWIG WEIXDORF GERMANY j x n HELMUT KORTH BERLIN GERMANY k h c OTTO HIMMLER (microscopes, optical equipment) BERLIN GERMANY k l n ERNST & WILHELM BERTRAM (photographic equipment) MUNICH GERMANY k n a DER ROBOT, BERNING & Co., K.G. (photographic equipment) DUSSELDORF GERMANY k q c JOS. SCHNEIDER & Co., K.G. GOETTINGEN GERMANY k r q EMIL BUSCH A.G. (assembled from foreign components) RATHENOW GERMANY k w c GAMMA FEINMECHANISCHE & OPTISCHE WERKE BUDAPEST HUNGARY k x v A. JACKENROLL GmbH BERLIN GERMANY l a e HEINRICH ZEISS, UNION ZEISS K.G. GOSTINGEN l f n REFLEKTA-KAMERAFABRIK, C. RICHTER (cameras) THARANDT GERMANY l m q CARL ZEISS (assembled from foreign components) JENA GERMANY l w g OPTISCHE WERKE OSTERODE GmbH (assembled from foreign components) OSTERODE GERMANY l w w HUET ET CIE PARIS FRANCE l w x OPTIQUE ET PRECISION DE LEVALLOIS, PARIS LEVALLOIS-PERRET FRANCE l w y SOCIETE OPTIQUE ET MECANIQUE DE HAUTE PRECISION PARIS FRANCE m b v I.G. FARBENINDUSTRIE, A.G.; AGFA (cameras) BERLIN GERMANY m c a FOTOWERK, Dr. C. SCHLEUSSNER, GmbH (photographic equipment) FRANKFURT GERMANY m t q PHOTOCHEMISCHE FABRIK ROLAND RISSE GmbH (photographic equipment) FLORSHEIM GERMANY m t r VOIGTLANDER & SOHN, A.G. (cameras) BERLIN GERMANY m t u A. LORENZ (MTU also used for AEG electrical equipment) GUTENFELD m t v A. LORENZ DRESDEN GERMANY n m s RICHARD HOLZ BERLIN GERMANY n x t S.A.I. OTTICO MECCANICA E RILEVAMENTI AEROFOTOGRAMMETRICI (stereoscopic aerial photography equipment) ROME ITALY o c p AKTOPHOT GmbH (photographic equipment) PRAG-SABECHTLITZ o c v W. KLAZAR (precision engineering; reportedly photographic equipment) PRAG o k c HAUFF A.G. (photographic equipment) STUTTGART GERMANY p v f C. REICHERT VIENNA AUSTRIA r l n CARL ZEISS JENA GERMANY A.G. = AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT; JOINT STOCK COMPANY GmbH = GESELLSCHAFT MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG; LIMITED COMPANY I.G. = INTERRESENGEMEINSCHAFT; UNION OF INTERESTS K.G. = KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT; LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OHG = OFFENE HANDELSGESELLSCHAFT; PRIVATE FIRM (literally, 'open trading company')

Hello all Another new member seeking Historical WWII information. I recently inherited some German WWII memorabilia from a close family friend whose husband just passed away. They emigrated here to Canada in 1980. Their parents and relatives were part of the war effort in Germany during WWII. Her father was in the Luftwaffe and his items are displayed en mass in one photo. Her uncle was in the 5th SS Wiking division and his items are in the second and third photo's. I will be receiving more information and possibly photos when she receives them from her mother who is still alive in Germany. I am not an expert on these types of items however I do have a keen interest in WWII Hx. Any info or referencing to other sources would be hugely appreciated. I am looking to preserve these items in frame along with my families war memorabilia from that era. Thanking you all in advance.

Some of my fathers medals and photo's of him which are either training in Iran or the south of Italy. One of the two.

Now that's a monster of a tank.Thanks for posting. Always been impressed on a visual level by the Char B1 as a young lad into WW2. It was that massive cannon & the fact it had 2 guns that did it for me. Still grabs me now. Photo source Wikipedia

This is a Mk14 bombsight, it’s been refurbished post war though as it has the ferranti gyro fitted to it.

I have decided to display some of my WW1 era Bayonets by using resin made stands that resemble the muzzle of the corresponding rifle. I think it turned out nicely. I am just missing one bayonet now to finish the display, the Mauser Kar98A, which are hard to find and heavily faked.

Here is an image from the US Army Signal Corps Museum, you can see the lamp and battery box on top by the sandbags.

Love your VB Launchers. Here is a display of US Rifle Grenades I did for a collector show in 2018.

First of all , can I say thankyou for the membership . I'm currently writing a book on CONTRACTS OF THE USAAF which will give information on equipment and clothing etc used by the USAAF Just a few random photos of my collection , I will, if allowed post more detailed information and photographs

Pictured from my collection is a thirteen stamp set 'Heroes of the Wehrmacht' 1944. The stamps are in mint condition, full gum on back. I had the stamp set professionally framed/archived.

Pictured from my collection the is the book 'Deutschlands Wehrmacht' published 1 April 1938 that describes and illustrates the oder of battle for Germany's Army, Air Force, and Navy . The front cover of 'Deutschlands Wehrmacht' Germany's Armed Forces. This page from the book shows the Rank and Career structure for the Kriegsmarine.

Back a few years ago 2018, I had a very long post on the now gone forum SRF (Surfpusrifleforum.org) about military surplus K98K rifles commonly found on the us market. In the 2000s there was a flood of surplus Mausers. I wrote a post describing the attributes of each specimen with many research links, examples, and mostly details from the rifles I own. None of these are deactivated. I will up date the 14 pages and post the new update information here. Most important, I am in the process of updating all the reference links so they function and can be view a number of ways depending on the age of the reader's computer. Some references are gone, but I saved most to the Wayback Machine Archive. I am providing fresh links. While saved on the archive, I have removed all links to the outdated version. And most important I would like to thank all on this forum for the help they offered.

Dear Gentlemen, Thank You for advising, Here is my first acquisition for the NSDAP Party Pin m1/164 RZM Marker, (Buttonhole), Check out the photos . I have put it through under the loupe so you guys can have a better look, for example, in the A & O alphabet you may find holes in it, not sure why is there a hole . Enjoy!!

Here are the medals to a soldier from my home town who lived less than a mile from me, he lived in the village of Lees. James Edward Barnes Private No 13437 of 11th Battalion Manchester Regiment Born 16th May 1884 in Lees, son of Thomas and Rachel Barnes of Andrews Street Lees, Thomas was a Cotton Cardroom Hand and James was a Cotton Spinner, they both would have worked at one of 5 local Cotton Mills in the area. James married Eliza Mary Frost ( born 11th April 1883 ) at the Oldham Register Office on 17th March 1906, they later had a daughter called Hannah and lived at 18 Butler Street Lees. James enlisted on the 31st October 1914 in Oldham an did his training at the 63rd Regimental District Aston-Under-Lyne Barracks. He was attached to the 11th Battalion M/C Regiment part of 34th Brigade of the 11th ( Northern ) Division which was formed at Ashton-under- Lyne in August of 1914 as part K1. Moved in April 1915 to Witley Camp near Godalming, on the 30th June 1915 the Division sailed from Liverpool on the ships Aquitania and the Empress of Britain, going via Mudros to Suvla Bay Gallipoli disembarking on 6th August 1915. Order of Battle of the 11th ( Northern ) Division. ( 32nd Brigade ). 9th Batt the West Yokshire Reg. 6th Batt the Yorkshire Reg. 6th Batt the York & Lancaster Reg. 8th Batt the Duke of Wellingtons Reg. 32nd Machine Gun Company ( Formed March 1916 ). 32nd Trench Mortar Battery ( Joined 17 July 1916 ). ( 33rd Brigade ). 6th Batt the Lincolnshire Reg. 6th Batt the Border Reg. 7th Batt the South Staffordshire Reg. 9th Batt the Sherwood Foresters. 33rd Machine Gun Company ( Formed March 1916 ). 33rd Trench Mortar Battery. ( Joined July 1916 ). ( 34th Brigade ). 8th Batt the Northumberland Fusiliers. 9th Batt the Lancashire Fusiliers. 5th Batt the Dorsetshire Reg. 11th Batt the Manchester Reg. 34th Machine Gun Company. ( Formed March 1916 ). 34th Trench Mortar Battery. ( Joined July 1916 ). ( Divisional Troops ). Pioneers. Mounted Troops. Artillery. Engineers. Train A S C. 22nd Mobile Veterinary Section. 213th Employment Company. 11th Motor Ambulance Workshop. The landing at Suvla Bay on the 6th August 1915 was done in lighters towed by destroyers, the first to land was the 11th Manchester Battalion along with the 9th Lancashire Fusiliers. They both came under heavy fire immediatly after being cast off by the destroyers, on landing they were to clear the Trenches by bayonet only, they had little food and no water for the first few day. Later they would push the Turks back and clear the trenches on the ridges The Battalions deserve credit for the way they stuck to their task. on 19/20 December 1915 they were to Evacuate Gallipoli and move to Imbos and on the 26th Jan 1916 the Division moved to Egypt landing at Alexandria. On the 2nd Feb they moved to Sidi Bishr for re-training and on the 19th Feb the Division took over a section of the Suez Canal Defences. Below are a few Photos from other sources and documents. 1. Map of Gallipoli. 2. Photo of Evacuation from Suvla Bay. 3. Medal index card. 4. Letter from his wife. 5. Photo of Medals. Part Two to Follow.

Finally found the manual/pamphlet that was included in the crate, there were 3 complete sets in the crate, each with its own manual.

Ooops, should upload the photo

Hi Ian, I have info on Pte Ian Fraser 43183 16 HLI He was my other half’s grandfather. Wanted to ask a few questions though, can I message or contact you directly?

Here is my newly completed WW1 French replica trench periscope rifle. The periscope is original, the rest is newly made. This was based upon period photo's as I could not find anyone with a real one for detailed examination. However this one functions just as a real one should, last image is of a period model. Trench periscope assemblies are very difficult to find today, and I am lucky enough to have one original (German model).

Pictured from my collection is a magazine. I apologize in advance for the reflection in the image of this magazine. On the cover of this magazine is a photographs of the crewmen of the U-47 commanded by Gunther Prien being celebrated after the sinking of of the British battleship HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow on 14 October 1939, with a loss of 833 lives. Scapa Flow was the home anchorage for the British Navy. This magazine is filled with pictures of the commander and crew of U-47 upon their return to Germany. Gunther Prien was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which made him the first U-Boat Commander to receive this honor. For further information go to the following link: http://donhollway.com/scapaflow/index.html.

Pictured from my collection is a booklet (top) and postcard (bottom). The booklet provides information about submarine and service in the Kriegsmarine. The postcard contains the Kreigsmarine Standard over a U-boot. I apologize for the reflection in images. Prior to archiving this booklet (top) many years ago, I took a picture of the front/back covers folded out, fantastic art work.

Pictured are my 'Eiserne Kreus II. Klasse (EKII)' Iron Cross Second Class (right) and an 'Eiserne Kreus I .Klasse (EKI)' Iron Cross First Class (left). As you probably know, these awards were presented to a serviceman of the German Armed Forces for an act of valor in combat. Both crosses were manufactured by the firm Rudolf Wachtler & Lange (maker mark 100). View the below video regarding the history of the German Iron Cross.

Pictured from my collection of Kriegsmarine antiques is a second pattern Reich war flag with Eagle over M (Kriegsmarine Ordinance Proof) Dt. (Deutsch 'German') Reichskriegsfl. 'Imperial War Flag' 100x170 (size in centimeters) marked in ink on flag's bunting. A flag this one is on pages 328-331 of Volume 3, Die Kriegsmarine Uniforms & Traditions by John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht. Pictured below is an illustration of a first patter Riech war flag (top) and a second pattern Reich war flag (bottonm) on pages 330-331 of Volume 3, Die Kriegsmarine Uniforms & Traditions by John R. Angolia and Adolf Schlicht.

This is becoming a fantastic reference source with so many items from a life time collection. Actually, beyond belief to actuall find so many items. When its done, I'll have to print this out.

Pictured from my collection of Kriegsmarine antiques is the front (top) and back (bottom) of an unmarked second pattern 'Schnellboote' Speedboat (S-Boat) badge manufactured by Schwerin & Sohn .This badge was awarded to crewmen for participating in one mission.

Pictured from my collection of Kriegsmarine antiques is the front (top) and back (bottom) of a Destroyer badge manufactured by Schwerin. & Sohn. This badge was awarded to crewmen for participating in three combat missions.

Pictured from my collection of Kriegsmarine antiques are the black leather insulated boots that belonged to Karl Reiser (1915-1987). He served aboard the U-Boats U-78, U-648, U-704, and U-977. I have a wartime and postwar photographs of Karl, not shown.

Fritz: Hello. I stumbled onto this Forum today, what a pleasant surprise. As a fellow collector and student of history I appreciate your posts. I will join the Forum later today after work. I look forward to your future posts, as well as posting pieces from my collection of Kriegsmarine antiques. Respectfully, John R.

Hermann Paschke, Januar 1918, grandfather of Steve Friedrich of Dover, Kent. 2.M.G.K., J.R.455

Some more interesting photos Nr. Name, Dienstgrad bei welcher Einheit Abschüsse bis Kriegsende (x) 1 ? 2 Alfred Gerstenberg, Leutnant Jasta 11 - 3 Otto von Breiten-Landenberg, Leutnant Führer Jasta 11 5 4 Hans Joachim Wolff, Leutnant Jasta 11 10 5 Friedrich Friedrichs, Leutnant Jasta 10 21 6 Erich Just, Leutnant Jasta 11 6 7 Max Kühn, Leutnant Jasta 10 1 8 Siegfried Gussmann, Leutnant Jasta 11 5 9 Scholz Edgar, Leutnant Jasta 11 6 10 Karl Bodenschatz, Oberleutnant Adjutant JG 1 - 11 von Conta, Leutnant Jasta 11 - 12 Erich Löwenhardt, Oberleutnant Führer Jasta 10 54 13 Hans Weiss, Leutnant Jasta 10 16 14 Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, Rittmeister Führer des Jagdgeschwaders 80 15 Wilhelm Reinhard, Hauptmann Führer Jasta 6 20 16 Paul Wenzel, Leutnant Jasta 6 10 17 Johann Janzen, Leutnant Jasta 6 13 18 Franz Hemer, Leutnant Jasta 6 18 19 Hans Kirschstein, Leutnant Jasta 6 27 20 Robert Tüxen, Leutnant Jasta 6 2 21 Georg Wolff, Leutnant Jasta 6 - 22 Heinz Graf von Gluszewski, Leutnant Jasta 4 2 23 Hermann Bahlmann, Leutnant Jasta 4 1 24 Hans-Georg von der Osten, Leutnant Jasta 4 5 25 Viktor von Pressentin gen von Rautter, Leutnant Jasta 4 15 26 ? 27 ? 28 Heinrich Dreckmann, Leutnant Jasta 4 11 328 Abschüsse ingesamt

Munich · The "House of Bavarian History" is looking for memorabilia from the First World War that tell a personal story. These stories from the life of Bavarian citizens are to be the focus of the new Museum of Bavarian History, which will open in Regensburg in 2018 to mark the 100th birthday of the Free State. Like Simon Gammel's spiked helmet?! The front in Flanders was like a lunar landscape, ripped open by countless grenade hits and furrowed by trenches secured with barbed wire - this was the scenery in World War I in which the incredible story of Simon Gammel happened. The farmer's son Simon Gammel, born in 1892 in Gisseltshausen near Rottenburg an der Laaber in Lower Bavaria, did his military service in the Royal Bavarian 16th Infantry Regiment in Passau from 1913. A week after the German Reich declared war in August 1914, the Passau regiment marched to the western front. After battles in Lorraine, the young soldier experienced the horrors of war in trench warfare on the Somme. The front had been frozen for months and the soldiers had dug in. French barrage rained down on the Bavarian positions as Simon Gammel was hit in his dugout. A piece of shrapnel shredded the leather of his spiked helmet, penetrated his skull, only to exit the back of his head and penetrated the helmet a second time. The shelter collapsed on Simon Gammel, burying him under dirt and wood. One of the support beams pressed against his back with a tremendous load, crushing his lungs. Things were not looking good for young Simon Gammel. "The bum's off!" yelled a comrade and the soldiers shoveled the dirt aside with folding spades in order to get to the buried man. They managed to free the seriously injured man and take him to the next dressing station. From there he was transferred to a hospital. Miraculously, the splinter did not cause any permanent damage, although Simon Gammel remained severely traumatized after the external healing. After his recovery, he was employed as an instructor and later posted back to the western front. After several weeks of positional fighting on the Aisne, Simon Gammel was taken to the Ahrweiler hospital on the Rhine with alleged flu symptoms. It was only there that a doctor realized that the persistent tremors were not due to chills but to war trauma. Gammel was then released to his homeland in Lower Bavaria. He married his fiancé and the couple had two children. Simon Gammel was a member of the municipal council and active in many clubs, but he could not forget his wartime experiences. When the veterans' association organized a trip to the former battlefields on the western front, Simon Gammel refused to take part, saying: "I've been there and I didn't like it at all." Simon Gammel died in 1977 at the age of 84. His granddaughter Christa Rott, who provided the information about her grandfather, and local researcher Franz Moises not only keep an interesting object with the Pickelhaube, but also keep a piece of Bavarian history alive for posterity with the stories about Simon Gammel's fate. Did your ancestors bring back WWI memorabilia that tell a personal story? Then please contact: House of Bavarian History, keyword Museum, Zeuggasse 7, 86150 Augsburg, Tel. 08 21/32 95 130, email museum@hdbg.bayern.de. Source: Munich Weekly Gazette

Uniformrock des Generalfeldmarschalls Prinz Leopold von Bayern, wohl im Bayr. Armeemuseum zu sehen (?)

Good day This looks like a good EM buckle in nickel by Overhoff & Cie of Lüdenscheid but is it? Many thanks

Very good. You can even read the full newspaper, all the most important news of the day, apart from "censorship". U-Boot successes around northern Scotland and successful attacks on the south of England, airfields etc., light British bombing raids in the West, little damage, 2 intruding aircraft shot down by naval flak and fighters. This issue was the last daily issue, after which a weekly issue on Tuesdays was planned.

This is my DAK paperwork collection.

It's a Spanish dagger from the 1970's with plastic handle rather than wood. Actually one of the first items I ever bought when I was still at school. I was on holiday with my parents in Majorca and saw this dagger in a little shop in Palma. After several days I persuaded my parents to let me buy it. I remember once I bought it, staring at it for hours thinking it must have belonged to an SS General who had fled to Franco's Spain. Franco was still in power and all the coins still had his head on them. I was even reading SS General by Sven Hassel at the time. I spent all my holiday money on it £25 I think in Spanish Pesetas. The day before we were about to come home I found another shop in Palma this one had dozens of the daggers every type you could think of, my heart sank as clearly they were all brand new. The only good thing was I managed to get it home well hidden in my suitcase and it was not taken by customs or the Civil Guard.

I got the opportunity to fire a Lewis Gun several years ago. It was made by Savage in .303 caliber. Recoil wasn't bad and I found accuracy acceptable given it's purpose. The owner had four magazines, so we'd fire them and start loading magazines again. It would empty a magazine pretty fast, even firing short bursts of four to five rounds. It was a lot of fun! if a transferable Lewis came available, I'd snap it up!

View through the cockpit of a Junkers Ju88 A-1, photo stated as dated 1940, has been later coloured. Another source states this as a Dornier Do 17

Here are my VB grenades, only have 7 and one cut away training aid. All with different maker marks. My goal is to get 11, enough to fill up the US grenade vest. Getting there, slowly, lol.