Several years ago I was fortunate to acquire a German Para helmet - double decal w/ yellow and green sawdust camo. It has the early spanner bolts and both decals are clearly visible under the camo paint. It is clearly marked Hauptfeldwebel Hoffmeister. Since this is an early helmet - it might have an interesting history. Any ideas on how I can learn more about this First Sergeant? Thanks Rich
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There are 2 Hoffmeister's I could find:
1) Fallschirm-Pioneer-Regiment.20
Built at the end of March 1945 from remnants of 4.Kp./Fj.Pi.E.u.A.Btl.1 to make only one Battalion of Rgt.20.
Nachrichtenzug - Ofw Hoffmeister
2) Holland may 1940 4. / Fjr 2: one of the lucky to survive Ypenburg airfield and not to be sent to England as a POW:
Karl Hoffmeister, rank not known, listed WIA and treated in a Dutch hospital. -
Para Feldwebel
Wow! That was fast. Given the helmet is an early pre-war double decal, I think the data points to Karl Hoffmeister who ,as you noted was wounded in Holland. The helmet was captured in late 1944 by a member of USAirborne forces. The camo pattern is often associated with the 6th Parachute Regiment which, I believe fought in Normandy and Brittaney. I believe this was captured in the Brest area. Interestingly, The name has written in the liner "Jg A. Langer" So, perhaps it was reissued after Hoffmeister was wounded? It also came w/ a camo cover that has cutouts for two eyes and mouth. Sniper or recon would be a good guess. Any way to learn if Herr Langer served in the 6th Para? Thank You for your help. RichComment
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He was treated in the "Elisabeth Ziekenhuis(=hospital)" in the city of Leiden. The POW-list mentions him as HOFFMEISTER, KARL, no rank, 62809, the hospitallist mentions HOFFMEISTER, KARL, no rank, 62809 88 and FJR2.
I traced him down to 4. Fjr2 some time ago, but forgot to write down the source.
I do have my doubts regarding 62809 as severall POW from 3./Fjr2 had 62859 and from 4. and 6./Fjr2 had 62860, he's the only one with 62809. Mut maybe someone else can shine a light over that number.Comment
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