Q re Freikorps Buckles

[Mil-Archive]

I am wondering if any Freikorps experts can look over these 3 buckles and let me know what you think.

I think buckle B is the standard 'Got Mitt Uns' ww1 one, but buckle A & C I think might be freikorps belt buckles.

Can anyone confirm & if so which kind ? I can not get any more detailed closeups than these unfortunately.

Thanks for checking

image_4697557.jpg

[Brian L.]

As far as I'm aware, the Freikorps didn't have specific buckles, except for one unit: the Schutztruppe Bug. I would like to see the full photo where you got these images. I suspect that the buckles, which seem to have 'Totenkopf' may actually be from the Wehrwolf paramilitary organization.

[Mil-Archive]

Thanks for checking. Ok here are the 'Gott Mitt uns' & and the more clear of the skull looking ones.

I thought photo b was AFTER photo A but note the EK1 on photo A not b.

There is also a small 'prayer medal' type device on A above the EKI. Same cap in each photograph. Photo B has a caption which seems to be 'Eine Soldaten, Neues Jahr 1920 ! '


uniforms.JPG

[Brian L.]

I think it's an optical illusion. The buckles are likely standard Prussian EM buckles with a crown. One photo is not after the other. He's just not wearing his EK in the second one. Based on his collar badges, he's a member of Freiwilligentruppen der 32. Reichswehr Brigade / Freiwillige 12. (Schliesiche) Infanterie-Division. The cap wreath dates it after the change from Freikorps to Reichswehr in June 1919 and before the adoption of the Reichsadler in place of the cockade in March 1920.

[Mil-Archive]

Thanks a lot for the information, that's very helpful.

I have been trying to get more detailed images but no luck. I did get a close up of the 'prayer medal' device from photo A, in case anyone can recognise what it is. It looks to be approx the size of a cent/penny. Not sure if it is Freikorps or WKI related.

medal-q.JPG