My Waffenrock collection

[Todd Gylsen]

Thanks everyone for the compliments on my collection.

Drew, yes, I am trying to locate one from every branch, preferably officer rank, as can be seen from the low number of EM tunics I have. Right now, I'll probably try and obtain whatever rank I can get for the branches I am missing since they are the rarer branches. I have never seen a copperbrown piped waffenrock.

Rick, thank you very much for the information you were able to provide. That really helps me out in attempting to put the correct medals on the uniforms. Now for the hunt.

[Dave Suter]

Glad to see I'm not the only one here who collects Waffenrocks. (Don't suppose Ricky's suggestion will come to pass.... )

[TJ Suter]

I second the motion on Ricky's suggestion, all in favor..................

[junior]

Its nice to see some Waffenrocks this days!

[fknorr]

very nice stuff!

I am envious!

[CSP]

Todd:
Exceptional collection of Waffenrocks. The orange piped one is very nice to see. Thanks

[Glenn McInnes]

Outstanding!! Good Job Glenn

[Todd Gylsen]

Thanks for the compliments everyone! These are what I have managed to find in 12 years of looking.

[Bill Grist]

all

To all involved very nice thanks for sharing wfg

Here is the standard EM Infantry visor. Unfortunately the visor has some minor chips to it. The interior is minty.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Can anyone read what the name tag says or any information on who this person may be? How about any history on the 111th Infantry Regiment.

Hi Todd, great collection!

Here is a link with some info on 111th Inf. Rgt.:

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...nter/IR111.htm

Cheers, Ade.

[Brian Dentino]

Wow

Todd, I am truly speachless! Absolutely an amazing collection.
Would love to trade you my house, cars, and dog for a few of those beauties! Thanks for sharing.

Brian

[WWIIBuff]

Beautiful collection!!!

Awesome Awesome Awesome! Very impressive Todd. Looks like they grow more than potatoes in Idaho. Gotta love that panzer Fahnentrager.

John

[Bill D.]

Todd....

A very nice collection!

I believe that I was the first owner of General Reich's waffenrock after it came out of the family in Germany. I sold it to Bill Shea when I disposed of my own waffenrock collection, which is why the credit in the Schiffer book reads "Shea/Dienna Collection". Actually, when I sold it to Bill we had a buy-back clause in the deal. I thought that I might really miss that tunic, and so we agreed that if I ever wanted it back, I could purchase it from Bill for what he paid for it. However, I recall him telling me some time later that a fine fellow who collected waffenrocks wanted it very much, and since I hadn't by that time asked for it back, I gave him the green light to sell it. I'm glad it found a good home.

As a former waffenrock collector, and having looked at some of the questions that you have been asking here, perhaps I could make a suggestion or two.

Since you are obviouly investing a fair amount of money in these uniforms, it would be wise to invest as well in some reference books. I would suggest that yout ry to find the appropriate volume of Angolia's "Uniforms and Traditions of the German Army". This provides a wealth of information on uniforms, including waffenrocks, and will answer many questions, such as what the numbers stamped inside of the tunics mean. These books, as well as others, will provide critically important information when you are collecting rather expensive items such as these.

Now, I can't be quite certain from the scan, but I'm not really clear about the panzer standard bearer that starts off the thread. At least from the scan, it looks like the flags on the patch are red, rather than the light pink that the panzertruppe used, the red being the color of artillery. Again, though, it may be the lighting.

You might also want to track down a copy of the German Army Order of Battle for World War II, since that will provide a great deal of information on the history and actions of the units that are reflected in your colection.

Good luck!

[Bill D.]

One other point that I recall as being interesting about the Reich tunic. I believe it is dated 1943 on the tailor's labe in the pocket. However, waffenrocks were not to be made after the war broke out in 1939. The Reich tunic thus reflects that Generals are not necessarily subject to the same regulations as everyone else!

I believe that right now both Bill Shea and Helmut Weitze have orange piped waffenrocks, which were used only by military recruiting (Some identify them as recruiting or military police, but the assignment of orange as the waffenfarbe to the military police did not occur until after the war began when, as noted above, there was an end to the production of waffenrocks. As such, I think that all orange piped waffenrocks should be considerd recruiting).

Oddly, I had Reich's waffenrock, a Smoke Troops waffenrock, and a veterinarian's waffenrock before aquiring the orange piped waffenrock for recruiting. The orange on that waffenrock is different from the orange-red that was used on the waffenrocks for the Ordinance personnel. Actually, if Bill Shea still has the orange recruting waffenrock, that was one that came from me originaly as well. He sold it, and it looks like he re-aquired it.

[Todd Gylsen]

Hi Bill,

I was the person who had asked Bill Shea for quite some time if he was going to sell the General's waffenrock. After some time he asked me if I was ready to make the purchase and I said 'of course'. The Nebelwerfer waffenrock also came from Bill Shea.

Teachers at a Pionierschule also used orange piping. This waffenrock is named to Erich Abberger who from 1 Apr 37 - Aug 39 was a leader at Offizier-Lehrgänge at Pionierschule I Berlin-Karlshorst. I haven't gotten around to purchasing a recruiters waffenrock, yet. Give it time and I will locate one to add to the collection. I've only seen one Veterinarian waffenrock for sale some time ago. I had to pass on it at the time as I had just purchased another waffenrock just before the Veterinarian came up for sale.