Any DAK items

[afrikasandman]

Some very nice items there, that cut off is very nice and that early Heer Tropical Flak blitz is hard to comeby. I have one very similar to it. Im sure you know that early flak wore the white in Afrika but most just assume white is INF, either way very nice items. Matt

[alphared6]

Some very nice items there,

Thank you. The Frankfurt Flea Market in the 70's was a great place for this stuff but at the time I was a poor EM and money was tight.

that early Heer Tropical Flak blitz is hard to comeby. I have one very similar to it. Im sure you know that early flak wore the white in Afrika but most just assume white is INF

Never understood why white was Inf everywhere else in the WH except in Afrika. Does anyone know why?

[OSS]

Thank you. The Frankfurt Flea Market in the 70's was a great place for this stuff but at the time I was a poor EM and money was tight.



Never understood why white was Inf everywhere else in the WH except in Afrika. Does anyone know why?

The initial military units sent to Africa to assist the Italians were Panzer units whose infantry wore lime green Waffenfarbe. Even later infantry divisions (ie. 164th leichte "Afrika" Div.,334th Inf. Div., 90th leichte Div.) sent as reinforcements were all motorized. Africa with its vast desert was not suited to standard infantry. The units in Africa that wore white Waffenfarbe appear to have be specialized (ie. flak).

[afrikasandman]

I have heard that the 70s in Germany was awesome for picking up tons of stripped tunics and the occasional one with insignia under the tables. Wish that sorta stuff still happened as I am sitting on a ton of loose insignia but can't justify the price of a stripped tunic to make it worth my time and effort. I don't even wanna sell the tunic, just put some of my stock to use. As to why Flak was white in Afrika I really have no idea, seems odd to me but im just going to roll with it. Great stuff. Matt

[alphared6]

. The units in Africa that wore white Waffenfarbe appear to have be specialized (ie. flak).

Unserstood. But weren't the rest of the flak units in Europe sporting red Waffenfarbe or was white for AAA special to Africa?

[OSS]

Unserstood. But weren't the rest of the flak units in Europe sporting red Waffenfarbe or was white for AAA special to Africa?

Standard Heer Flak units which were armed primarily with light anti-aircraft cannons and machine-guns wore white waffenfarbe, but the heavy Flak units which were armed primarily with 8.8 cm Flak (Heeres-Flak) wore red:

[Tim O'Keefe]

Thank you.

Never understood why white was Inf everywhere else in the WH except in Afrika. Does anyone know why?

Hi Mike

As Ramsey mentions, the DAK Inf were all Motorized, while the "foot" Inf in Tunisia did wear white. Lt Flak = white etc. In Europe it was the same way...

Here is another reference for you:
Here is list of Regt & Bn units in Afrika and the Balkans: copied from C Evans list, Thanks. 1941-42.

Combat Troops Staff: Waffenfarbe

Generals---Color was Red.
--------------------------------------------------
Color is: White.
Army Group Staffs. A.G's. G,E,F, Staffs.
Army Staffs. Army Group "A" 2,12 Staffs.
Armored Group Staffs. "Afrika."
Korps Stabs. 11th, 30th, 51st, 52nd, 65th, 68th, 69th, 91st.
Reserve Stabs. 59th.
Motorized Korps Stabs. 41st.
--------------------------------------------------
Color is Pink.

Armored Army Staffs.
Armored Korps Staffs. 14,40,46.
--------------------------------------------------
Color is: Light Green/Grass Green.
Gebirgejager Korps Staffs. 15th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, 46th.
__________________________________________________

Combat Troops--Infantry:
Color is: White.

Infantry Division Staffs.
1st Airlanding (Luftlande) Div Staff.
Assault (Sturm) Division Staffs. Rhodes.
Infantry Regiments. 16 thru 750.
Grenadier Regiments. 754,755.
Reenforcement Bataillons.220, 598,599.
Afrika Division Staff. 90,999.
Motorized Infantry Div Staffs. 16, 60.
Motorized Infantry Regiments Staffs. 60, 92.
Motorized Grenadier Regiment Staffs. 120, 156.
Motorized Regiment Grossdeutschland.
Special Purpose Div (Div zbV) Staffs.
Special Purpose Rgmt (zbV) Staffs.
Fortress Division Staffs. 41, 133, Kreta.
Fortress Btns. 621,622,623.
Fortress Infantry Btns. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,16,18,19,20,21,22, 999.
Reserve Division Staffs. 173,187.
Reserve Infantry/Grenadier Rgmts. 17, 45, 130, 231, 462.
Flak Btns.

__________________________________________________
Color is: Light Green/Grass Green.

Machinegun Battaillons. 2,8.
Gebirgsjager Div Staffs. 1,4,5,6.
Gerbirgs Regiments. 13,85,91,98,99,100,141,143.
Mountain Reinforcement (Feldersatz) Btns. 91,94,95.
Jager Div Staffs. 42,100,104,114,117,118.
Jager Rgmts.25 thru 750.
--------------------------------------------------
--------------------Various colors.
1 (Sonderverband) 288.
Brandenburg Btns. 1,2,4.
__________________________________________________
Combat Troops-Mobile: (Schnell Truppen)
Color is: Gold-Yellow:
Mobile Div Staffs.
Motorcycle Recon Btns. 59.
Division Recon (Divisionsaufklarung) Btns. 42 thru 392.
Motorized Recon Btns. 3,5,8,9,33,40,231.
Mountain Recon (Gebirgsaufklarung) Btn. 33.
Div Fusilier Btns. 181,297.
__________________________________________________
Color is: Pink.

Panzer Div Staffs. 1,2,5,8,9,10,11,14,15.
Panzer Regiments. 1,3,5,7,8,10,15,31,33,36.
Motorcycle Recon Btn. 61.
Armed Recon Btns. 1,3,10,59,90,164,220,999.
Panzerjager Btns. 33,39,90,190,334,605,999,52 thru 392.
Motorized Panzerjager Btns. 4,37,38,43,50,53,90,160,228.
Mountain Anti-tank (Gebirgspanzerjager) Btns. 47,94,95.
__________________________________________________
Color is: Grass Green.

Motorcycle Recon Btns. 2,8,15,55,59,64.
Motor Rifle Rgmts. 2,8,10,11,13,14,28,103,104,106,110,111,155,304.
Mechanized Panzergrenadier Rgmts. 1,69,86,104,113,115,125,155,200,361,382,433.
__________________________________________________
Color is: Light Green.

Light Infantry Div Staffs. 90,101.
""""""in Africk Staffs. 90,164.
Light Inf Rgmts. 200,361.
__________________________________________________
Combat Troops--Artillerie:

Color is: Red.

Artillerie Rgmts. 33,75,155,220,334,999,83 thru 670.
Arty Btns. 361,653,654,661,668,670.
Reserve Arty Btns. 10,96.
Motorized Arty Rgmts. 4,33,74,80,102,116,119,148,160,190.
Gebirgsarty Rgmts. 79,94,95,118.
Panzerarty Rgmts. 33,73,90,155.
Assault Gun (Sturmgeschutz) Btns. 184,190,191.
Army Anti-Aircraft Btns. 299,302.
--------------------------------------------------
Neberwerfer Btn 9. ---Bordeaux Red.
__________________________________________________
Combat Troops--Pioneers:

Color is: Black.

Pioneer Btns. 5,71 thru 704, 220,334,900,999.
Reserve Pi Btns. 46,86.
Pi Kompanies. 704,713,714,717,718, (Rhodes).
Gebirgspioneer Btns. 54,91,94,95.
Panzerpioneer (Armored Engineer) Btns. 13,33,37,38,49,59,86,89,200,209,220.
--------------------------------------------------
Bau Pi Btn. 85 Color is Light Brown.

Combat Troops--Signals:
Color is: Lemon-Yellow.

Signals Btns. 5,334,999,71 thru 392.
Signals Kps. 704,713,714,717,718 (Rhodes).
Reserve Signals Kp. 1087.
Gebirgenachrichten Btns. 54,91,94,95.
Armored Signals (PanzerNachtrichten) Btns. 4,37,38,77,78,84,85,90,190,200,220,341.

Color is: Yellow-Grey.
Propaganda Kps. Afrika,690,698,
Propagands Btn. Sudost.
Supply Troops:

Color is: Cornflower Blue.

Div Supply. 5,46 thru 887, 190,220,334,999.
Gebirgs Div Supply. 54,91,94,95.
Mot Div Supply. 4,61,66,82,85,160.
Armored Div Supply. 59,60,81.
Supply Btn, 533.
Mot Transport (Kraftwagon) Kps. 33 thru 999 and 4 thru 887.

Hope this helps,

Heia Safari !

[alphared6]

Thanks Tim! Now that is some useful information. I'm gonna print it and put it in my Bender book.

Mike

[OSS]

Hi Mike

As Ramsey mentions, the DAK Inf were all Motorized, while the "foot" Inf in Tunisia did wear white. Lt Flak = white etc. In Europe it was the same way...

I am unaware of any "foot" infantry in Tunisia or elsewhere in the N. African theatre. Certainly 90th Light, 164th Light, and 999th Light were all motorized and wore green waffenfarbe. The 334th "Infantrie" Division was fully motorized in spite of its name. Even the Wach Bataillon "Afrika" wore (Hellgrun) green waffenfarbe. White piped straps and caps from Africa are extremely rare.

[Mark Gibson]

White piped straps and caps from Africa are extremely rare.

That is exactly why this beautifully faded and well used pair on the left of the screen won't be going anywhere.

Mark

[Greg B]

Supperb s/boards Mark I'd be hanging on to them as well .

Greg

[Tim O'Keefe]

I am unaware of any "foot" infantry in Tunisia or elsewhere in the N. African theatre. Certainly 90th Light, 164th Light, and 999th Light were all motorized and wore green waffenfarbe. The 334th "Infantrie" Division was fully motorized in spite of its name. Even the Wach Bataillon "Afrika" wore (Hellgrun) green waffenfarbe. White piped straps and caps from Africa are extremely rare.

Agree completely. White was worn by the foot Inf & Flak in Afrika just like Europe. Early on some Em & Officers from the 2 & 8 MG Bn's still wore white. Also the Inf Officers sent to help in the seige of Tobruk also wore white for example. The DAK Flak units wore white as well. Not very many examples have survived though making it one of the rarest of waffenfarbe in Afrika. Green then rosa being the most common.

DM mentions the 334th Div wore white in the Inf except for the Jagers... ?

Very nice straps Mark

P/s The Italian foot solder provided the DAK with the necessary traditional Inf. It should not be overlooked what part they played in the theatre.

[90th Light]

White piped shoulder boards from Afrika are certainly one of the hardest to find.

Here is the only ones that I have found. The white piped EM came from a New Zealand soldier who also got this Wehrpass at the same time. This unit of Pz.Gren.125 were over run during the Second Battle of El Alamein October – November 1942. They were on their way up to the front when the New Zealand vanguard which had broken through took them prisoner. Looks like they never even got into the battle. As you can see from the unit page in the Wehrpass, they were infantry up until 31/ August 1942 when they were reclassified as Panzer Grenadier and rushed to Afrika from Kreta as reinforcements.

Looks like some if not many were still wearing the white piping of J.R.125 when they arrived.

The other shoulder board from an officer in M.G.8 which is holding the Wehrpass page open was picked up in November 1941.

Chris

[Mark Gibson]

Very nice Chris, I especially like the MG Bn 8 officers shoulderstrap. I've had the fortune to be able to handle an officers tunic from this Bn. Unfortunately I can't share any photographs of it but may at least get the opportunity to add it to the collection one day.

Mark

[Spanish Freiwillige]

I just loove this thread, and although I already shown my very few DAK items, most of your collections have inspired me to do this...

so I thank you all for sharing such beautiful items and hope this thread keeps on growing!!!!

thank you all....



more photos on the link below.......

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...314525&page=25