jäger cap badge question

[Mike Longley]

I am a reenactor. My impression is of a sniper, regular Wehrmacht. Recently a dealer told me that the oak leaf with acorn (jäger) m43 cap badge was correct for snipers. He pointed out the fact that it's the same oak leaf/acorn as seen with the eagle's head on first, second,& third class sniper patches. I know that jäger means hunter and that the oak leaf motif is very similar. I just have not seen any original m43 caps with this insignia attributed to a non mountain trooper. My collecting knowledge is limited in this area. The only original m43 I've had with metal insignia on the side was an edelweiss cap.
Was the dealer right or wrong as far as my impression goes?
Thanks in advance for your time, help and expertise.
Regards-Mike

[101combatvet]

I never heard of this and I believe that it is not 100% correct.

[juoneen]

Snipers to my knowledge in the field or woods, would never wear any insignia, just camoflage to hide with, and have their scoped rifles....there were likely snipers in every outfit , even mountain divisions.

[German_Sniper]

My understanding is the edelweiss cap badge was for Jäger, mountain troops and not specifically for snipers.

People may think that it is a badge for snipers from the movie Enemy at the Gates where Major König wears this on his cap.

[stark44]

There where Jäger snipers, also Gebirgsjäger snipers (some of the best in fact) but.. the oakleaf cap insignia has nothing to do with sharpshooting.

Reenacting a standard Wehrmacht sniper, you need no special insignia, patch, or cap device.. but a camouflage smock would be a good investment..

Here's a picture of a Gebirgsjäger/Jäger wearing the different cap insignias, neither of which are related to sharpshooting.

Cheers,
Stark

[Mike Longley]

I generally wear a helmet with a cover and a camo smock during tacticals. I'm working on my tunic since my unit promoted me and would've added the insignia to my cap (used mostly for public events or in camp) if the dealer had been correct. Thank you all for confirming my suspicion.

Could I ask another question? I've been using a scoped k98., but have picked up a k43 &fitted a scope to it. On the '98 I would wrap the handguard/barrel to camouflage the barrel. The '43 rifle vents in this area. I am uncertain if the German snipers wrapped these rifles or used another form of concealment (ie: modified umbrellas ...) when working with these rifles? Anybody know?
Thanks - Mike

[101combatvet]

Senich's book doesn't show any wraps so you could either way.

[juoneen]

As in the movie , snipers shoot, and move, generally unless in a strategicly advantageous protected position....the camo with burlap bags would not effect the sniper rifles performance , but although the G and K model 43 rifles had scope rails on many, I can't say I have ever seen many sniper pictures where they used the k43, and had it camo'd, most of what I have seen were 98's...but there certainly had to have been many 43's used from 43 on, and as the troops knocked off the snipers, they kept going, and few took photos of snipers killed right after nailing them.....so I would not worry too much about anybody commenting on it if you used a k43and wrapped burlap around the vet holes in the top wood.. I do recall a dead sniper killed near the town of toulon in a doorway recessed area of a town, but the rifle is wrapped in camo material like burlap but what rifle it is is not apparent. Snipers think for themselves, think fast, and do what feels natural for their own camoflaging, and that leaves much diversity as to personal preferences...regarding to the subject. Is there a german WW2 veterans snipers association , and if not, maybe there is a good book on the subject that may answer your question already published...lets see what the others say. Here are some sniper facts anyway:http://cydro.hubpages.com/hub/Top-5-...s-of-the-World

[Mike Longley]

Thanks for the helpful replies!
Juoneen, great link.
I was watching some German training films on you tube last night. It appears that one of the snipers in the film had cloth around the forward barrel and gas system portion of his '43 rifle. Others used no camo on the rifle at al.
I appreciate your time and help gentleman.
Regards-Mike