Any DAK items

[Mark Gibson]

Hello Raymond,
I really hate to say this but unfortunately your tunic is a reproduction. I truly hope that you haven't spent a lot buying this and if possible are able to get your money back.
I suspected that it wasn't quite right just from a few simple mistakes with the cut, lack of stitching and the fact that the obviously bad boards were made from the same material. I thought that a better look was warranted as the boards may have been made from spare material along the rear seam, an area where pieces for repair are often taken. Just seeing the inside confirmed my worst suspicions and I actually do feel bad having done so. The reverse of the collar is also quite telling for any German tunic.
I have attached a picture for you to have a look at showing what an original tropical tunic should look like from the inside.

Best of luck and I truly am sorry

Mark

[Jos L C]

Unfront's high shoes are definately cut Luftboots and original IMO.
You can also see that they used the leather strap, which normally secures the long shaft, to make some loops to pull them on plus the rest is sewn inside the shoes where they made the new seam.
No ?

They came in tan,green and blue canvas.

Jos.

[Raymond]

Mark, you shouldn't feel bad at all. I didn't pay much for it and will use it to learn from. I do see other things about this tunic I should have caught. Such as the missing liner material and wound dressing pouch. One day I will get an original to compare it to and I'll never make the mistake again. Lesson learned .

[Unfront]

Unfront's high shoes are definately cut Luftboots and original IMO.
You can also see that they used the leather strap, which normally secures the long shaft, to make some loops to pull them on plus the rest is sewn inside the shoes where they made the new seam.
No ?

They came in tan,green and blue canvas.

Jos.

Jos: Yes, I believe that these are cut Green Luftwaffe tall boots. The tell is that above the lace holes, there are no additional holes for the speed lace. The sewing work also says something as well. Again I will try to get a more decent photo.

I have never seen a set of the blue canvas boots in the flesh. Does anyone have one in their collection that they would share photos of?

[Jos L C]

Jos: Yes, I believe that these are cut Green Luftwaffe tall boots. The tell is that above the lace holes, there are no additional holes for the speed lace. The sewing work also says something as well. Again I will try to get a more decent photo.

I have never seen a set of the blue canvas boots in the flesh. Does anyone have one in their collection that they would share photos of?

I don't have the blue ones, but here's a set sold on ebay few years ago..

Jos.

[MilitaryCollect]

Any DAK items

Hello,

Jos, nice boots! The others would be 3rd pattern Luft tall boots (looking at the leather toes), but have 1st pattern (one piece leather) feature.

Further, the heels look very worn, but the hob nails show little, if any, wear and neither do the 1/2 leather uppers. Please also note the spacing between the top three lace-holes on this pair and those on Jos' originals.

I'm skeptical for these reasons.

I can tell you that a fellow in Norway was hand-making making green tropical tall boots for $300 per pair and they looked VERY good (without any interior markings). Can we please see the stamp on the sole and a close up of the material to compare with Jos'?

Christopher

[Unfront]

There is a stamp on the sole but it is not legible. I can also see where hobnails have been re-affixed, perhaps that would explain the disparity between the wear of the soles and the "newness" of the hobnails. I would like to see some of these Norwegian made boots. Did the guy make/fake boots to look like cut down Luftwaffe tall boots? That would be a pretty fresh one. I guess I will have to go tell Jack that his boots that he gave me are no good. I'll post some photos as soon as I am able.

[Jos L C]

It's all about the features good boots are showing..
Soles can be dried out over time, while the rest looks new.., also saw used boots which were like new inside..
I've followed many fake Luft boots, but none are like unfront's..
Still think these particular cut to shoes boots are fine, one feature in particular tells me that.

Jos.

[Unfront]

Yeah, the soles of these boots show age, but not a lot of wear and tear. The hob nails do show a little abrasion. But over all these boots look pretty good. Given my source for these boots, and the overall construction, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that these are original boots. These boots are what got me into collecting in the first place. I wanted to get the tunic shirt but that did not happen. Thankfully I was able to pull down a tunic on my own. It is just not as nice as the one Jack (the vet) had.

[alphared6]

As regards Raymond's Tunic ... it appears to be made from British "OD" denim. I once read that a film was made by a British studio about the war in North Africa and that the German uniforms were made from military denim material. It maybe that you have not a WWII artifact but a piece of movie memorabilia!

[Raymond]

As regards Raymond's Tunic ... it appears to be made from British "OD" denim. I once read that a film was made by a British studio about the war in North Africa and that the German uniforms were made from military denim material. It maybe that you have not a WWII artifact but a piece of movie memorabilia!

That's an interesting posibility. If you should come accross any info on this please let me know.
Thanks,
Ray

[MilitaryCollect]

Any DAK items

Hello,

Here's a photo attributed to 5 Le. Div., Aufkl-Abt. 3 (mot.) from the book: "Afrikakorps 1941-1943" by Gordson Williamson. The waffenfarbe appears to be yellow.

Christopher

[Mark Gibson]

Hello,

Here's a photo attributed to 5 Le. Div., Aufkl-Abt. 3 (mot.) from the book: "Afrikakorps 1941-1943" by Gordson Williamson. The waffenfarbe appears to be yellow.

Christopher

Ummm...okay???

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Christopher, the whole picture looks yellow to me? Or are you having a joke with us?

Cheers, Ade.

[MilitaryCollect]

Any DAK items

Hi Ade,

Tim sent a PM asking what color waffenfarbe the 5 Le. Div., Aufkl-Abt. 3 (mot.) wore upon their arrival in North Africa. This photo is the only attributed one I could find. The post was in answer to his question.

Yes, the camera causes the photo to look a bit yellow, but the depiction in the reference book is reasonably clear. My best guess is that the waffenfarbe color is golden yellow and not pink, lime green or copper brown.

http://www.deutschesoldaten.com/unif...llarpanzer.htm

Other Notes:

Reconnaissance Units:

In 1942 the Aufklärungs-Abteilungen (mot.) and Kradschützen-Bataillone were officially merged into Kradschützen (Motorcycle)- Bataillone. With the exception of units serving in Africa the term "Aufklärungs-Abteilungen (mot.)" was no longer officially used. Headquarters and the First (Armoured Car) company of the new Kradschützen Battalions wore, depending on unit, either rose pink, golden yellow or copper brown!

Other similar units (non-Afrika) wore varying piping depending upon which units they were assigned to. Because the Afrika units kept their official designation "Aufklärungs-Abteilungen (mot.)", it follows that they also kept their individual unit's waffenfarbe. Moreover, at the time of their arrival in February, 1941, I believe they would have been wearing their golden yellow piped boards.

If anyone else has information in answer to Tim's question, PLEASE feel free to post.

Further down in the above-site is a photo of "Oberstleutnant Mildebrath, commander of Panzer Regiment 5, wear[ing] the tropical tunic with skulls on the lapels" while clearly in the North African desert. http://www.deutschesoldaten.com/unif...llarpanzer.htm I believe there was a prior debate here as to whether 21 panzer (5th Rgt.) wore the skulls from their continental uniforms on their tropical tunics.

Christopher