what is the exact rank and qualification....

[Frank Heukemes]

...of this Kriegsmarine soldier, please?

[hochiminhtrail]

He is an army pionier obergefreiter with the hellsman sepeciality badge.

Alex

[PANZERPIONIERE]

Can you show the rest of the picture?

Steve

[Frank Heukemes]

Thank you. I am sorry, I cannot show the whole picture, as it is not my own and I am only allowed to publish it as a whole in my book. But what you see is the essential part of the uniform.
Now what would an army pioneer do with a Kriegsmarine helmsman speciality badge? And what is the black cuff thing? And what is that small pip on his shoulder board?

[PANZERPIONIERE]

It is not a kriegesmarine patch, it is a Pionier Steuermann badge for qualified pilot of a pionier sturmboot.

As for the cuffband? not sure.
Steve

[Angel Farré]

Frank, the black stripe was worn at funerals, mourning insignia I will call them. I have seen some pioniers with this insignia, they are the ones trained with boats used to cross rivers and lakes, if my memory don't fail one of this soldiers, a NCO, won the KC during the Holland campaign alongside his unit commander and received the award from Hitler himself, some photographic articles were done and I see them, I think that a couple of photos are in "Blitzkrieg in the West" by the Series of books Then and Now.

The insignia in his shoulder straps, maybe a number?

Angel

[PANZERPIONIERE]

Here is a thread we did a while ago on the steuermann badge.

Steve
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ght=steuermann

[Frank Heukemes]

Thank you Angel, now I got it!

[Angel Farré]

Perfect, do you have release date for your book? I can't wait to see it.

Angel

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Angel,

Thank you for the interest.

September 1st is the ultimate date now, no more changes to that.

This year.

The good thing about the delay is: it grew to 380 pages. The website will also start around that date, maybe some weeks before.

[Angel Farré]

Wonderfull, then the Panzerkampfabzeichen one, where I hope I can help you also a little with my modest pieces.

Angel

[Philippe DB]

The good thing about the delay is: it grew to 380 pages.

Oh my god! Lets hope the price didn't grew with it

KR
Philippe












Just kidding Frank, can't wait to see the final product

[Tim B.]

Oh my god! Lets hope the price didn't grew with it


Tim

[Frank Heukemes]

Price stays the same , of course!

[Marc Garlasco]

Interesting GAB in the pic Frank - the eagle looks like he is looking up...
Marc