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**Tim O'Keefe** · 09-30-2012, 03:56 AM

These two photos show the DAK story in a nutshell. In the first, the troops are wearin their Tropenhelms proudly and seem to be coping with the extreme environment. Most likely this photo is around Easter '41 when the DAK was still naive to the ways of the desert.
The later photo really shows what the situation was like. Dirty wearin the workmans M40, nobody wanted to be there. And they could not wait to get out of Afrika. Most had no idea even what they were doing in Afrika anyways. Especially once Russia was invaded. This photo could also be in April/May '41. period but the situation has changed with the first assaults failing miserably. The DAK instead of being the hunter were now trapped.

One of the reasons i am interested in the DAK is just that.
Germany never intended to have troops in Afrika and High Command dismissed the need for maps of Afrika in 1938 as being out of the theatre of operations. No preparation, (green colored clothing

) no desert training, no time for climatization. Thats why the German solders never adapted to the desert like the Allies did. Yet they coped as best they could.

Thanks for posting these revealing photos

Also great recent additions to this thread

Heia Safari !

Originally posted by MarkG View Post

Cheers Mark and Greg.

I also love early green Greg. The reason why I love the really early tropical uniforms and equipment is because they are a great representation of what was worn and used in the early battles of the DAK. There is nothing better to me than the look of the early troops attacking at well known battles such as Tobruk (that Australian interest showing through). The 1st pattern tall boots,early caps and 1st pattern tunics were worn throughout the whole period of the Afrikakorps service in North Africa from the first skirmishes of 1941 to the surrender in 1943.

Both of the following photos are from the outskirts of Tobuk in 1941.

I'm glad that I have had the opportunity to build a reasonable collection of these incredible artificats and have learnt so much over the years from some wonderful collectors and friends.

Mark

**afrikasandman** · 09-30-2012, 04:19 AM

Killer additions and posts gentlemen! I'll post a few pics at the end of the month when my 2 new additions get to my home. Hope everyone is doing well.

Mark,

those tall boots are just killer man, I doubt I will ever own a pair but they are very nice. Wish my combat boots were worth nearly that much

Matt

**Mark Gibson** · 09-30-2012, 04:42 AM

Originally posted by afrikasandman View Post

Mark,

those tall boots are just killer man, I doubt I will ever own a pair but they are very nice. Wish my combat boots were worth nearly that much

Matt

Matt,
They were actually much cheaper than a set which were sold by a member of WAF that I was interested in. He asked 4500Euros for them and got it. A bit too much for me but we're all different with what we may be able to afford.
Just wait till you see some other new additions. I've basically added a complete uniform (except for trousers) in the past 6 weeks and then some.

Here is one of the recent additions, a NCO 1st pattern for mountain troops (or SDVB288). It is quite a nice example with a size 100 chest. I haven't taken many pics but will take more soon including some close ups.
This is the first of two 1st patterns that I've recently added. I have to take pics of the other as well as more pics of this one.

Tim, I had a quick look for the two photos in order to confirm the dates on the back again but when you have a few thousand photos they can be pretty tough to find. I do know that the top one was definitely April 1941, I just can't recall the month of the second shot.

Mark

Attached Files

Tropical Tunic GJ NCO 5.jpg (63.6 KB, 516 views)

**Tim O'Keefe** · 09-30-2012, 06:04 AM

The first photo looks to be April for sure. 2nd could be May but think its a little later. These same schutzen have been seen in another photo too but can't remember when.

Outstanding GbJg tunic, notice the larger upper pockets. If from the 2nd Co. 288 it would be a very special piece. Look forwards to seeing more.

**Mark Gibson** · 09-30-2012, 06:09 AM

[QUOTE=Tim OK;5510525]The first photo looks to be April for sure. 2nd could be May but think its a little later. These same schutzen have been seen in another photo too but can't remember when. QUOTE]

Hello Tim,
The first photo is definitely April, both definitely being taken on the outskirts of Tobruk. You would have seen these soldiers posted by me before (and in other pictures).

Mark

**nzef1940** · 09-30-2012, 06:31 AM

DAK Wagon

Not in my collection! But spotted at the War Memorial Canberra during a recent visit.
Well worth the trip, just an amazing place.

Attached Files

**nzef1940** · 09-30-2012, 06:32 AM

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canb3.jpg (155.7 KB, 507 views)

**Mark Gibson** · 09-30-2012, 07:07 AM

It looks so much better now that they've repainted it. This is what it looked like 3 years ago.

Mark

Attached Files

Kubelwagon.jpg (215.9 KB, 497 views)

**Mark Gibson** · 09-30-2012, 07:20 AM

This PAK38 is at least untouched. It retains names/service numbers of those who captured and transported it scratched into the front shield.
This one was on display for many years but is now located in the AWM storage facility at Mitchell (a 15 minute walk from my home). They had an open day about 2 weeks ago that is always well worth going to.

Mark

Attached Files

**nzef1940** · 09-30-2012, 07:56 AM

Bugger, I was there two weeks ago, would have loved to have seen the PAK.

One more pic not DAK related but ANZAC's at the memorial.

Attached Files

anzacs.jpg (76.6 KB, 489 views)

**afrikasandman** · 09-30-2012, 08:34 AM

Sweet god Mark! That is the tunic that dreams are made of for me at least! You do know how I love me some SV287/88 items. I am drooling a bit on my keyboard, as I have several killer photos and 1 photo album to a soldier that severed in the 287/88. Several pics of him wearing his patch in theater, his actual patch removed from a 1st model tunic as well and some pics of him at El Alemeine before the battle. That is just a stunning tunic man and one that is always welcome in my collection! Love to see some more shots when ever you get some spare time on your hands! Matt

**Mark Gibson** · 09-30-2012, 09:23 AM

Matt,
Oddly enough I'm really not overly interested in GJ items, this tunic just caught my eye because of the fact that it is an NCO in a decent size. I do have another tunic with edelweis, an em's dated 1940. I've always liked it simply due to the fact that it is an early tunic and the heavy material looks great. This is actually one of my favourite tunics.

Mark

Attached Files

**afrikasandman** · 09-30-2012, 09:32 AM

Mark,

both are stunning tunics for sure. They are rather hard to come by and should you ever move one along keep me in mind. The GJ Co. was small that was with the 287/88 and I don't think I have any pics of them in Afrika. I do have a really scarce pic of a guy in an gray wrapper wearing a SV287/88 patch on his sleeve. They only had 3 STUGS so yeah pretty uncommon. Great stuff man, you have a gift for finding it! I can't complain though as its been a great deployment for gaining some killer stuff. Matt

**OSS** · 09-30-2012, 10:22 AM

I was glancing through an alumni publication of a school in New England when I chanced upon an article about one of the students who enlisted in a British regiment in WWII that was accepting Americans as officer candidates, the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (60th Rifles). This man served (and ultimately lost his life) with the Eigth Army in North Africa. At any rate, included with the article was this image of two members of 90th Light, taken prisoner at El Alamein. The photo, which I have not seen before was interesting to me for several details; the tan cartridge pouches, multiple canteens, bloused trousers and canvas low shoes on the left figure and the Afrikakorps cufftitle and wear of overseas cap by the right figure. Perhaps some of you are familiar with this shot, if not:

Attached Files

img422s.jpg (68.5 KB, 492 views)

**Mark Gibson** · 09-30-2012, 04:11 PM

OSS,

I've never seen that one before, a very cool shot. I find the placement of the cufftitle quite interesting as it looks to be a little high on the soldiers sleeve, just like the cufftitle on one of my tunics which sits quite high.

Speaking of cufftitles, interesting to see a photo sell on ebay of a panzer soldier in tropical tunic with black 'Afrikakorps' cufftitle for $316 Euro. A very nice portrait sold seperately to 4 other portraits of the same panzer soldat. All up all five portrait shots sold for $563.99Euro. It would have been nice to keep them all together but they have gone their seperate ways to different buyers. I won't post pics just in case the buyer is a member and has another purpose for the cufftitle pic (such as a book).

Mark

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