New Pics German and US Chaplain Display

[Billy B]

A nice early Air Force Chaplain Patch. Now they no longer have the cross or the tablets

Why not?

[Chap15]

Why not?
Chaplains in Combat???

The cross and the tablets were removed when the DOD started allowing Muslim and other non-Jewish/Christian faiths. Other faiths have every right to provide worship for all Americans regardless of what they believe. One may not agree with the other faith but what makes the USA so great is that we allow toleration of other faith groups or for one not to have any faith at all. Liberals who want to deny freedom to worship, or the Islamic Fascists we are now at war with have no idea about toleration.

Yes Chaplains know much about being in combat. Chaplains had the 2nd highest death rate (%) on D-Day and the 3rd highest in the ETO (behind the infantry and the AAF). They do not carry weapons. All the chaplains that were captured in Korea never came back alive.

[Chap15]

Here is a USO Religious Kit much like what is in the GI Collectors Guide. The one in the book is Jewish. This one is Protestant.

[CollectRussia]

Do you have a print or copy of the Tom Lea painting of the Chaplain at Iwo Jima? Lea was an outstanding artist, and IMHO this is one of the best pieces of American Combat Art ever.

[CollectRussia]

Some of Tom Lea's work, including the Chaplain, can be seen here. Unfortunately, the photos are very poor quality compared to the originals.

http://joesouthpeleliu.homestead.com/PeleliuArt.html


"SUNDOWN AT PELELIU"

"Sick Bay in a Shellhole. The Padre Read, 'I am the resurrection and the Light' "

"The padre stood by with two canteens and a Bible, helping. He was deeply moved by the patient suffering and death. He looked very lonely, very close to God, as he bent over the shattered men so far from home. Corpsmen put a poncho, a shirt, a rag, anything handy, over the grey faces of the dead and carried them to a line on the beach to await the digging of graves."



I couldn't find better on the internet, but the Time Life series on WW2 has reproduced some of these in good quality.

[rexmundi]

Hello Chap,

Have you ever seen a Dutch Chaplain uniform? It is named to a Norbertijn. Friend of the Dutch Prince Bernhard. Member of the resistance, Luit. Coln.

[Klaus O.]

Very Interesting thread!

I would like to add an image of a wonderful Imperial German group of a well decorated German chaplain in WWI...

Ciao,

Claudio

[Daniel Murphy]

I have a photo ablbum from a man in a medical unit assigned to the Bavarian 23rd Inf. Regt. Here are couple photos from the album. First is the regimental staff after an award ceremony. The chaplains both have the Bavarian Military Merit Order without swords. Second is unknown but is wearing German Uniform, I know it is a poor photo but the collar patches have a cross flanked by two "pips". Oddly none are wearing crosses. If you would like I can make some copies for you.
Dan Murphy

[Chap15]

This is a WWII large field desk and typewriter. This was the authorized field desk. It as much larger and many chaplains tried to get the smaller field desk.

[Chap15]

The Factory stamp on the desk.

[Chap15]

Here is a WWII candelabra. These were issued along with the brass Cross and vase. Note...this is not a jewish menorah. A menorah has nine candles.

[Chap15]

The candelabra was stamped US at the base.
Maybe so that the Navy (USN) wouldn't steel it from an Army Chapel.

[Chap15]

A hard to find large WWII hymnal marked "Organ".

[Chap15]

A 1958 Tm

[Chap15]

A recent find. A 1918 dated Jewish field prayer book is stamped with RsB./IVB4 1943 on the last page.
I don’t know what the RsB. part stands for but IVB4 stands for the Zentralstelle für Jüdische Auswanderung (German Bureau for Jewish Emigration). The stamp is dated 1943. My best guess is that this book was taken from a former Jewish WW1 Imperial German Army veteran and that it was destined to go to some library or archive. The book reads from right to left instead of left to right.
It has 184 pages with prayers both in Hebrew and German writing. The foreword is signed by “Die Feldrabbiner des Ostens” (The Field Rabbi in the East). The (roughly) translated text of the foreword reads: “ This Jewish field prayer book is distributed in the fourth year of the war. The form and contents of this book are based on the experience of war. By order of the Field Rabbi in the East, the Army Rabbi Dr. S. Levi (A.O.K. 10) took care of the publishing of this book. The translations of the Hebrew prayers in German as well as the German prayers are – except for the named salmons that were copied from the salmon book for German Jews – provided by the publisher. Thanks to the numerous gifts from German Jews, who we hereby wish to thank, this book could be printed in Wilna.
may it strengthen the faith and inspire the strength in the holy service for the Fatherland to increase.
Signed: Area Upper-East, during the feast of freedom 1918. The Field Rabbi of the East.<O</O
<!-- / message --><!-- attachments -->