The old Suter's uniforms & stuff

[Dave Suter]

A number of branches used the crimson secondary color, but few had colonels. Rank indicates the Höherer Dienst (High Career). Most probably for an official attached to the OKW or OKH. Could also be for a Heeresoberschulrat of the Bildungswesen (School Service).

[Dave Suter]

The Officials stuff will drive you nuts. Here's a good example. This is for a Kriegsverwaltungsbeamte '39 - '41 (War Administration Official). In '41 this changed to a Militarverwaltungsbeamte (Military Administration Official). From '39 - '41 the rank was Kriegsverwaltungsrat (<35 years old) or Kriegsverwaltungsassessor (>35 years old) for the High Grade Career or Kriegsverwaltungsobeninspektor for the Elevated Career. In '41 it was changed to Militärverwaltungsrat (<35 years old) or Militärverwaltungsassessor (>35 years old) for the High Grade Career or Militärverwaltungsobeninspektor for the Elevated Career. Career was determined by the collar tabs as they allused the grey secondary color. Got all that? Anyway, this branch served in the occupied eastern territory as administrators and in control of the domestic economy.

[Dave Suter]

In case the one above wasn't enough, this is for a Kriegsverwaltungsbeamte '39 - '41 (War Administration Official). In '41 this changed to a Militarverwaltungsbeamte (Military Administration Official). From '39 - '40 the rank was changed to Oberkriegsverwaltungsrat. It changed again to Kriegsverwaltungsoberrat in '40 to '41 and in '41 it was changed again to Militarverwaltungsoberrat. This board is on a tunic.

[Dave Suter]

For an army Festungswerkmeister (Fortress Shop Foreman). I have the pair. This is one I'd love to see on a tunic, or an original wartime color photograph.

[Dave Suter]

For a Recruiting Major of Wehrkreis VII - München (Munich).

[Dave Suter]

For a Lieutenant Colonel of the Ingenieur-Offizierkorps (Corps of Engineer Officers) or Ingenieuroffozoerakademie (Engineer Officers Academy). I have the pair.

[Dave Suter]

For a major of the Feldzeugdienststelle (Ordnance Agency). The Fz device is one of the more difficult ones to find.

[Dave Suter]

For an Ergänzungsoffiziere des Reichskriegsministerium Major (E) (Supplementary Major of the Reich Ministry of War). This insignia was created 5 July ‘35 and abolished 22 March ‘38. Have the pair.

[Dave Suter]

For an Unteroffizier (Corporal) assigned to Kradschützenbataillone 3 (3rd Motorcycle Rifle Battalion) (created in 1939).

[Dave Suter]

For a Panzergrenadier Hauptmann (Motorized Infantry Captain) assigned to Infantererieregiment 271 ‘Feldherrnhalle’ or later Panzergrenadierdivision ‘Feldherrnhalle’. Board is the one pictured on page 365 of Uniforms and Traditions of the German Army, Volume 1.

[Dave Suter]

Well, guess I'll post some Pioniere stuff next.

This is an old style strap without Waffenfarbe and with the pointed button end. For Pioniere Batailion 1.

[Dave Suter]

Another early strap, this one with Weimar pattern tress. For an Unteroffizier assigned to Pioniere Bataillon 33 (33rd Engineer Battalion).

[Dave Suter]

This is a typical Pioniere Waffenrock strap.

[Dave Suter]

This strap is on a Waffenrock. It has a label reading "1./Geb.Bi.54" (1st Company, Mountain Battalion 54). The tunic also has a sleeve edelweiss patch.

[Dave Suter]

Sergeant's strap with metal numbers.