Here is a grouping that has something for everyone! Wolfgang Rehbach started his military career as an officer in the Kriegsmarine. During the war, he was seconded to the Luftwaffe to act as an observer in flying boats. He spent the balance of the war in this role, but toward the end was returned to the KM where he trained in UBoats! To top it off, he served in the post-war German Army as an armor officer. The career of this officer is very unique, but this group is also very complete...all docs, medals and badges (minus the badge for the bronze recon clasp...likely he only recvd this award on paper, having probably already qualified for the silver. Also included is his Navy Dagger complete with hanger cut and modified to fit a Luftwaffe uniform.
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All he seems to have missed was... astronaut training!!!! -
He was also involved in the destruction of convoy PQ17... if that is a name any of the navy buffs are familiar with.Comment
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wonder why he didnt just use Luft hangers, surely that gold KM dolch was a bit odd against a Luft tunic to begin with. I dont think mixmatched hanger would have made any difference. Speaking of which, why didnt he have a Luft dolch to wear with his Luft uniform?
They got away with this half/half stuff?
Accidentally offending people on the internet since 1997
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Chris,
Yes, this is some story! 35 ships start out from Iceland in late June '42 and three weeks later only 11 ships limp into Russian ports!
The ol' bait em with Tirpitz to pull the RN off the convoy ploy. Classic story and a terric read "The Destruction OF Convoy PQ.17" by David Irving.
TimComment
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INteresting grouping
Hello,
Yeps a very nice grouping and there is one thing where I would like a little more explanation about => that remembrance shield, can you give us more info wether it is wartime, what material ( besides the wood ) is used, etc ... better detailed scan, etc ...
Oh yeah and mayby the general forum would be a nice place to discuss it
( or the Cross forum guys would not like it 
)
Cordial Greetings,Comment
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Here you go, it is a first prize plaque for a sailing competition and is wartime. The metal is bronze/tombak and it is mounted on a piece of stained walnut (I think). There is a wall hook on the back, and the remains of a paper labelComment
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I am sure Andy wont mind me jumping in here to field some of the questions.
I had the pleasure of meeting Rehbach a few years ago, and it is indeed the way he wore his dagger. i assume it was a very rare occasion for him to do this, and it was just safety pinned with the pocket botton between the straps.
Dont forget he was stationed in a part of norway that even the norweigians call the ass end of nowhere, so daggers did not play a big part in his service life.
He served in the Luftwaffe, but was very much a navy officer, (I think it is the EK docs where there is an " (M) " for Marine before his rank.
The Plaque is for a sailing Regatta prize.
Wonderful old man he may have been, but not a great Navigator. First time he came to visit me he had to break off the mission as he got lost (Damn Roadmaps!!).
A week later he made it just fine.
He was the Navigator that discovered the ecorts for convoy PQ17, The British had hidden their Battleships in an effort to draw out the german Battleships (they figured the Germans would send out battleships if they thought there were onlyCruisers and destroyers in the escort) rehbach mistook a cruiser for a Battleship, and radiod this back, probably influencing the fact that the German Battleships did not attack and fall into the trap.
sometimes an error works out for the best.Last edited by Chris Boonzaier; 10-21-2002, 05:56 AM.Comment
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Thanks Chris
Obviously, I acquired this group from Chris a few years ago, and its one of my favorites! I have seen pics of Heer officers assigned to the Luftwaffe wearing Luftwaffe uniforms and Heer daggers....I'm searching for them
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