Original SS or Fake cap?
Original SS or Fake cap
Archive for August, 2010
Question Reitstiefel mystery
This pair of Reitstiefel marked Helix Reitstiefel für den Kenner and Grand Prix 1937 may or may not be WWII vintage. Additionally, they are marked 41 6 and have Continental rubber heels. I recognize Continental as a brand that shows up on WWII vintage boots. WWII or not they certainly look great. My main question is about the inserts - they are marked H and V - I assume for right and left. The only language I can find in Europe using these letters is Swedish - Höger = right and Vänster equals left. Apparently, Swedish was also spoken in parts of Finland. I’m wondering how these inserts may have wound up inside German boots. BTW, they were purchased at garage sale for $10.00! And yes - they fit.
Question Reitstiefel mystery
This pair of Reitstiefel marked Helix Reitstiefel für den Kenner and Grand Prix 1937 may or may not be WWII vintage. Additionally, they are marked 41 6 and have Continental rubber heels. I recognize Continental as a brand that shows up on WWII vintage boots. WWII or not they certainly look great. My main question is about the inserts - they are marked H and V - I assume for right and left. The only language I can find in Europe using these letters is Swedish - Höger = right and Vänster equals left. Apparently, Swedish was also spoken in parts of Finland. I’m wondering how these inserts may have wound up inside German boots. BTW, they were purchased at garage sale for $10.00! And yes - they fit.
Pre D Day Canadian rubbish pit.
Living in the South of England I'm lucky to have plenty of WW2 sites to explore, particularly due to the large build up of forces prior to the invasion of Continental Europe and D-Day Normandy.
Recently in a small wood used by Canadian troops prior to D-Day I found and dug out a small rubbish pit. I think I can say I made some usual finds.
The first pit contained plenty of ash, showing it had obviously been burnt. There were a couple of old rusted chairs, lots of broken beer bottles, fragment of pottery and rusted batteries but nothing spectacular mainly dross. But I did get one or two items including a Naafi plate, a pick axe head, beer bottle, and fragments of khaki material and fragments of a thin black jumper. I also found several metal rods, threaded at one end with a wing nut on the other (see pic) if anyone can identify them please let me know.Sadly this pit wasn't as productive as I'd hoped, however I spotted the corner of a large black bakelite battery sticking out of the earth nearby.
So I opened up another hole and immediately found in the top few inches two rows of three large batteries which were dated (on the bottom) either 42 or 43. After digging these out I noticed that below them there were yet more.
I continued digging down and discovered my best finds, two more sets of batteries but these were still in their original wooden battery carry boxes, all still complete. It's amazing that the wood has survived so long underground. After a lot of precision digging I eventually managed to free them without damaging the wood. But the hardest part was actually lifting them out the hole because they're both extremely heavy. The cells are accumulator batteries similar to today's car batteries containing lead plates. So with one case holding three batteries and the other holding six slightly smaller ones its the equivalent of lifting around 3 car batteries at the same time so not easy. Anyway lucky for me I had my child's push chair in the car and was able to use this to wheel them out of the wood to my car otherwise I would have had to leave them there. I refilled the hole returning the site to how it looked before I dug, see pic.
The batteries discovered near the surface would also have been in wooden boxes when dumped, due to the wooden fragments and handles I found with them but most of the wood had rotted away. So its remarkable that the lower ones were still intact, when you consider that they were buried in May or early June 1944.
I've now cleaned them and am waiting for the wood to slowly dry out before painting them either with a mat varnish or waxing them.
The better condition one has 6 battery cells with the manufacturers name and details of voltage etc painted on the front, sadly most of this has now gone but the date of manufacture has thankfully survived 1940. The second one is different having 3 larger battery cells the front has been engraved with the manufacture details and is dated 1942. There is also an electric socket mounted on it's side. Because the base was loose I took the wooden box off the cells and this revealed (on the bases) manufacture dates of 01 42. When the wood has dried completely I will repair this box sympathetically. For reference I include a picture of a battery box power supply in use on the beaches of Normandy.
I also kept a couple of the smaller batteries and was amazing to find that it is still possible to read the label including WD and the date of manufacture July 1942. I also kept a broken one because it reveals the linen coated cell inside.
Although the second midden was only small it contained no less than 15 of the larger battery cells, so I'm guessing was probably used by a Signal unit.
The final find reflects the human history for me, an empty bottle of Booths Gin. I like to think of the Canadians passing a pleasant time drinking in the wood before shipping out for Normandy, but the end of May beginning June 1944 was fowl grey weather cold, wet and windy thoroughly miserable so perhaps it was drunk to shut out this depressing time and stay warm. I'll never know but it's certain that soon after it was drunk and dumped they shipped out for an uncertain future on the shores of Juno beach.
LUCKYSTRIKE
Recently in a small wood used by Canadian troops prior to D-Day I found and dug out a small rubbish pit. I think I can say I made some usual finds.
The first pit contained plenty of ash, showing it had obviously been burnt. There were a couple of old rusted chairs, lots of broken beer bottles, fragment of pottery and rusted batteries but nothing spectacular mainly dross. But I did get one or two items including a Naafi plate, a pick axe head, beer bottle, and fragments of khaki material and fragments of a thin black jumper. I also found several metal rods, threaded at one end with a wing nut on the other (see pic) if anyone can identify them please let me know.Sadly this pit wasn't as productive as I'd hoped, however I spotted the corner of a large black bakelite battery sticking out of the earth nearby.
So I opened up another hole and immediately found in the top few inches two rows of three large batteries which were dated (on the bottom) either 42 or 43. After digging these out I noticed that below them there were yet more.
I continued digging down and discovered my best finds, two more sets of batteries but these were still in their original wooden battery carry boxes, all still complete. It's amazing that the wood has survived so long underground. After a lot of precision digging I eventually managed to free them without damaging the wood. But the hardest part was actually lifting them out the hole because they're both extremely heavy. The cells are accumulator batteries similar to today's car batteries containing lead plates. So with one case holding three batteries and the other holding six slightly smaller ones its the equivalent of lifting around 3 car batteries at the same time so not easy. Anyway lucky for me I had my child's push chair in the car and was able to use this to wheel them out of the wood to my car otherwise I would have had to leave them there. I refilled the hole returning the site to how it looked before I dug, see pic.
The batteries discovered near the surface would also have been in wooden boxes when dumped, due to the wooden fragments and handles I found with them but most of the wood had rotted away. So its remarkable that the lower ones were still intact, when you consider that they were buried in May or early June 1944.
I've now cleaned them and am waiting for the wood to slowly dry out before painting them either with a mat varnish or waxing them.
The better condition one has 6 battery cells with the manufacturers name and details of voltage etc painted on the front, sadly most of this has now gone but the date of manufacture has thankfully survived 1940. The second one is different having 3 larger battery cells the front has been engraved with the manufacture details and is dated 1942. There is also an electric socket mounted on it's side. Because the base was loose I took the wooden box off the cells and this revealed (on the bases) manufacture dates of 01 42. When the wood has dried completely I will repair this box sympathetically. For reference I include a picture of a battery box power supply in use on the beaches of Normandy.
I also kept a couple of the smaller batteries and was amazing to find that it is still possible to read the label including WD and the date of manufacture July 1942. I also kept a broken one because it reveals the linen coated cell inside.
Although the second midden was only small it contained no less than 15 of the larger battery cells, so I'm guessing was probably used by a Signal unit.
The final find reflects the human history for me, an empty bottle of Booths Gin. I like to think of the Canadians passing a pleasant time drinking in the wood before shipping out for Normandy, but the end of May beginning June 1944 was fowl grey weather cold, wet and windy thoroughly miserable so perhaps it was drunk to shut out this depressing time and stay warm. I'll never know but it's certain that soon after it was drunk and dumped they shipped out for an uncertain future on the shores of Juno beach.
LUCKYSTRIKE
MG34S or MG34/41 parts needed
Hello,
I have been collecting MG34S or MG34/41 parts for over three years. I need a complete top cover with feed block and levers along with a feed tray to finish a gun. The parts are clearly marked 34S or 34/41. The top cover is wider by 2mm than the standard MG34 top cover. The top cover has a cut out in the left side to accommodate the shell extractor mechanism. The feed block will fit on the MG34. Any help would be appreciated.
Michaelangelo
Important! WW2 Kreiegsmarine minesweeper badge for sale
WW2 Kreiegsmarine minesweeper badge type 5 LM markings for sale. I think the LM markings are Lind and Meyer. There is also dark blue fabric on the back of it which is quite interesting. here is a link to the action site
WW2 German Kriegsmarine Mine Sweeper Badge on eBid United Kingdom
WW2 German Kriegsmarine Mine Sweeper Badge on eBid United Kingdom
Important! WW2 Kriegsmarine kriegsabzeichen für Minesuch - Sicherungsverbände.
WW2 Kreiegsmarine minesweeper badge type 5 LM markings. I think the LM markings are Lind and Meyer. There is also dark blue fabric on the back of it which is quite interesting.
m43 Einheitsfeldmutze original or Junk
Hi Guys,
What do you think of this M43. I think it is ok but would like to be sure!!!
What do you think of this M43. I think it is ok but would like to be sure!!!
Thanks to All
Andy 
Cheeky Feldpost!
Guys,
A small group that has some local interest for me.
The soldier was likely a camp gaurd at the Stalag XIB as is indicated within the postal address.
I don't know, all that time on your hands and your mind starts to wander!
Quite a talented artist and we know what was on his mind!:D
Been there done that got the t-shirt!
Regards
Jock:)
A small group that has some local interest for me.
The soldier was likely a camp gaurd at the Stalag XIB as is indicated within the postal address.
I don't know, all that time on your hands and your mind starts to wander!
Quite a talented artist and we know what was on his mind!:D
Been there done that got the t-shirt!
Regards
Jock:)
Interned German national
Hi,
This is a very interesting item: German nationals, originally Templar’s in Palestine where interned at Internment-Camps when war broke out in 1939.
This one was interned at a camp in Haifa and the cover was censored and stamped by the special police. Also, a cover of a pamphlet kept around 1936 in Haifa.
Neil.
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Meie proektid
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Partnerid
