okay--what is this for??

[Mike Dunn]

Had this for a long time and have no clue what it was for. Any ideas?? Mike

[Sergeant 08]

We had already discussed it in some threads before. One example:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=427517

I can't remember, if there was a relation to "Der Stahlhelm".....??

[willyeksner]

I myself had no idea what it was, nor from Stahlhelm, but did check it with friends in the Netherlands and Germany that have some knowledge of the Stahlhelm-organization.
It is known as for infantry, Kennzeichen der früheren Waffengattungen für den Bund der Frontsoldaten in metal (Verfügung Bundesführung Bk/IIa 1625/32).
There we 21 different types of such insignia, I was informed. There must exist a plate with all the drawings, accompanied with Sonderabzeichen, Dienststellungsabzeichen and the ranks with the collar patches.

[colt45s]

Grenadeers

[Sergeant 08]

I got a photo from Mr.Saris today. It shows the so called Kennzeichen der früheren Waffengattungen (in this case the infantry badge) in 1934!

[Mike Dunn]

super photo--all the thousands of WWI and WWII photo Postcards I have had-never had one Stahlhelm related and only a handful of Landstrum photos.. nice stuff.. Mike

[Sergeant 08]

Some more photos from the same source like the photo in posting #5!

[Sergeant 08]

-

[Sergeant 08]

..

[Sergeant 08]

,,

[Coburg]

Great photos!!!!

Jim

[VerKuilen Ager]

Photos 1, 7, 8/9 were part of a series of 11 Stahlhelm emblems that showed the wearers former branch of service. These includes cavalry, artillery (# 8 & 9), pioneers (7), fleet, machingun section, navy submarine crew, colonial troops, aviator, motorists, and infantry (1). Photo 10 was not part of the series and looks like it was current service signals.

These were used quite late (circa 1935), which is evidenced in photo 5 with the wearing of the small, Nazified Bundesstern (so-called type 4).

[Sergeant 08]

part of a series of 11 Stahlhelm emblems that showed the wearers former branch of service.

Next picture shows, it were more than 11.

Verfügung der Bundesführung (Bk/IIa1625/32):

1. Infanterie
2. Kavallerie
3. Feld-Artillerie
4. Fuss-Artillerie
5. M.G.
6. M.W.
7. Jäger
8. Pioniere
9. Nachrichtentruppen
10. Eisenbahner
11. Fuhrpark - Train
12. Kraftfahrer
13. Luftschiffer
14. Flieger
15. Zeppelin-Besatzung
16. Flammenwerfer
17. Tankbesatzung
18. Sanitäter
19. Marine
20. U-Boot-Besatzung
21. Schutztruppe

PS: This picture does not show the badges for Sanitäter and Schutztruppe.

[Sergeant 08]

I saw this photo in another forum. Really rare examples.

[wilhelm Saris]

Thanks Stefan for showing the drawings I did send you. Could not reply sooner as I was suspended for a while.