my begineers Edelweiss collection

[Paul W.]

Please take a look , but dont be to harsh as ive only just started collecting Edelweiss badges, i need to sort out a few minor points, like owning microsoft word so i can check my poor spelling.
im reading up as much as i can, and have a few book on the way to hopefully help me understand more about the mountain troops. Its one big learning curve atm, its also my first website, ever, hope it doesnt show to much

help would be appriciated on the shield, also the ghost brigade badge, do i leave it in its present mucky state?

i dont want to hog the forum with loads of photos , so here is the link

http://www.giantatx1.karoo.net/edelw...lweiss_001.htm

[Chris B]

Hi Paul. Looks like you've got a neat little site, and it looks like you fell in love with the collecting hobby. I don't know anything about cloth insignias, but I can tell you the hobby itself really grows on you. You start with a couple of Reichsmark coins and a Hindenburg cross in a Ryker mount, and the next thing you know you're spending a lot of your free time reading threads on this site and scraping your nickels and dimes together for that first EK2 from H Weitze. Have fun, and Cheers, CB.

[Greg S]

Paul, I like your site. I don't know enough about cloth items to collect them myself but I have always liked the Edelweiss.

Does anyone know if they be grown here in the states?

[djpool]

GJ Patches

Paul,

Very nice site.A friend of mine sold off a large collection of variation GJ patches to Larry Stewart of Stewarts Militaria in Mesa Az about a month ago.You might try to contact him and see if he has any left.I wanted to buy a couple of them from my friend before he sold them off to Mr stewart, but he wouldn't break it up.

The campaign badge you show is actually a Watch Fob token. These were produced and issued to soldiers for participating in a particular campaign, sporting event etc. They were produced in various metals, I have one in 800 silver. They were also produced at various levels of command from Division on down to company. Pre war I've seen them issued by a number of different units panzer, infantry etc. It seems that once the war began fewer were presented, but the GJ units and especially 5th Mountain Division continued this practice till the end of the war. regards Jim

[Paul W.]

info

thanks for the info guys, apparently the flower seeds are easy to get, its the growing thats the problem, there very fussy, you need the correct soil conditions, next time i visit the Alps, ill bring a suit case full of soil back, they always say they only grow above the tree line, ill let you know if i have any success growing them, ive seen people seling the seeds on ebay if thats any help, and im sure they were based in the USA.
A key fob , intresting, ill get that updated , ive just managed to aquire a wehrpass for the mountain troops, ill get scans of that sorted the minute it arrives, i just need a black wound badge to go with it (pay day next week, yipee).
ive got a few modern badges i want identifying aswell, ill post the lnks here and hope someone may recognise them.

thanks again.....

[GJR100]

Hi Paul,

That's a nice start on Edelweiss patches.

The dark green wool patch is the one used in 1939. I'm not sure at what time the Bevo type was introduced.

The metal Edelweiss you show is a late war one. Flat, stamped and less detail.

Getting into Gebirgsjäger-Regimental-tags ? So many different ones, very hard to find (apart from the occasional fake).

If I can help you in any way ( believe it or not, but I like Wehrmacht Gebirgsjäger ), just drop me a note.

Oh, on growing your own Edelweisses, a friend of mine has them in his garden, no special care needed. I've grown these seeds once. It's no big deal, even I did it ...

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Bart

[Paul W.]

Hi, so let me get this correct, the rayon green one was pre 1939, grey wool 1940 onwards, so when was the dark green felt backed one used?
ill update my site later tonight with the wehrpass and a modern badge i need help identifying, also if ive missed any intresting info off the Wehrpass details, (i wish i could read german) let me know. anyone know what the note says at the end?

[GJR100]

Hi Paul,

The Edelweiss was introduced in 1939 (as you correctly state on your site), so there was no Edelweiss available prior this date. The dark green backed Edelweiss was first used, being the wool version IMO. After that the Bevo was manufactured, I don't know at what date.

The note you've put on display says as much as:

About: the Wehrpass on Jäger Friedrich Szabo born 5.6.1920
To: Heeres Entlassungsstelle 2/Wehrkreis VII in Augsburg

The unit hereby sends the Wehrpass of the Ober Gefreiter who is with the Heeres Entlassungsstelle since 8.12.1944.
Registered mail stands for receiving note

Bart

[Mark S.]

If you are after Edelweiss stuff, dont neglect some of the SA brigades, like Hochland who used the little alpine flower in all types of hat pins and tinnies.

[Paul W.]

thanks for the translation bart! ive posted it on my site, and thanks for the info on the other badges! ill keep an eye out for other types of edelweiss Mark.

[GJR100]

Hi Paul,

... and ... although not military ... The DAV (Deutschen Alpenverein) had a lot of pre-war Gebirgsjaeger amongst them.

I believe the character sequence of the D A V was changed after the war. The badges with the A as the top character being the pre-war/war version. But I'm not sure of that. Anyone ?



Bart

[Paul W.]

thanks guys, can anyone identify this (dare i say) badge , its approx 70mm high and its heavy, how was it and what was it mounted to? its definatly modern, as i can see the cnc machined lettering

http://www.sofuk.com/edelweiss/edelweiss_031.htm

[GJR100]

Hi Paul,

The lettering on the side says: Former Mountain Troops. This is from an organisation of former Gebirgsjäger.

By the size and the two holes I would say it was used on a car on a display-board.

Bart

[Greg S]

OK guys I just bought some seeds off eban and the seller mentions they will grow in zones 3-9 and I live in zone 3. We will see if a) they will grow here, and b) if I can grow them (I don't have a green thumb). I will post pics if all goes well.

[Paul W.]

great, id love to see them, i cannot believe i spent 2 weeks biking in the french alps and didnt take time out to spot any (to busy going fast downhill). Ill also try and grow some in the UK, apparently there a rare flower now. Well have to change that.