I'll start this forum out with something a little out of the ordinary . Here is the tunic and schirmmutze of a seesoldat who participated in the international occupation of the city of Skutari, Albania in the summer of 1913. The tunic was designed as a Seebataillon litewka with yellow double collar litzen on a white tab, but in summer Braundrell rather than light gray, with muted brass buttons have the reichs crown. The black-white-red Borte was added to the collartabs for NCOs and the insignia and rank is of an Offizierstellvertreter in the II. Btl. Initially, two contigents of the I. and II. Seebataillons were created for the Skutari-Detachement in July, 1913. When they made their way back after the war started, they were initially incorporated into the X. Seebataillon and ultimately into the II. Btl of the 3. Marine Infantry Regiment. The tunic and cap is owned by Chad McDonough.
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Last edited by Dave Mosher; 01-22-2005, 11:37 AM. -
Close-up of collar and shoulder boards. Note the boards are feldgrau.
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Schirmmutze on Braundrell chord....Comment
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Dave,
These are beautiful items. Quite unique and rare. I do believe, however, that there are a few questions. For instance, the straps must have been added to this tunic at some later date, as they would not be the proper straps for the period of the Skutari mission. Feldgrau See Bn. straps were not even authorized until 1915. In addition, the straps do not match the lower NCO rank of the collar tabs. According to Das Deutsche Heer, the NCO collar tabs had the horizontal braid strip at the top and not the bottom. The tunic does not adhere to any of the prewar styles. Of course, it is a custom piece and that may be the reason, but how is the owner dating this piece?
Best regards,
ChipComment
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Hey Chip
I noted the same discrepancies as you did, but there was never a second horizontal braid strip, and I presumed that this NCO added his new rank during the war. I don't believe there were any Offizierstellvertreters in the actual detachment, but, with a leap of faith, the feldgrau boards on the tunic now do match the ultimate unit (II. Batl) the Skutari-Detachement were incorporated into during the war, so its all conjecture. Even if it is "just a wartime S.B. NCO litewka", it is unique and rare.
DaveComment
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