Translation Help

[Perry Floyd]

This mask/canister was purchased for $45...

[John Hodgin]

Thanks for the good information Kai.

The reason I am puzzeled by this label is that I watched Perry buy the gas mask can for $45 from a fellow that find uniforms and equipment from veterans. He sells this stuff fast and cheaply at the show, dumping plies of the common pieces on his table. The prices are so good that much goes directly to dealers on set up day. I think this fellow probably didn't even look inside the can before selling it.

best,
John

[Perry Floyd]

If it's a collector/dealer added unit marking he did it just to get a laugh. It matches the overall appearance of the rest of the can. So everyone still stumped about the marking?

[Akira Takiguchi]

What a great postscript I made, only to precisely describe myself. "Collector sees only what he wants to see." Pi.Ers.Btl.14 is of course valid.

Well, by the way, I think <b>IIa</b> means Officer's Adjutant, which in my mind is basically found in divisional level or upper. But a Kompaniechef may had his adjutant who may be called as IIa... What are they doing today, Kai?

[Kai-Steffen M.]

jup- Pionier Ers.Btl. makes sense.... i misread it
after what you said where you got it from maybe its original after all.... i just wanted to express my suspiciousness ..
as for the IIa im totally puzzled by that- thats why i put an ? behing it in my first post- i dont know if a OG could get such a position - and then in a Kompanie? but im absolutely no expert on Wehrmacht organisational structures back then..

What are they doing today, Kai?

what? ha? who? dont understand the question , sorry.

Gruß,
KSM

[Akira Takiguchi]

Because you were in the army... Does a Kompaniechef in a reserve batallion have his adjutant these days? To me only a Spie&szlig; comes to my mind...

I am not trying to say that the label is a fake; rather, I am trying to make sure that IIA (and not IIa) does not mean an adjutant, whatever else it means

[Kai-Steffen M.]

ah- ok.. well, nowadays only staff officers of Oberst and upwards with the according administrative position have Adjutanten (with an officer rank themselves mostly- Leutnant z.B.). for lower ranks and jobs there are the unit assigned Stabsdienstsoldaten (specailly trained administration soldiers with enlisted men ranks) - on Kompanie level you are right- that would be the Spiess and his men ("Geschäftszimmer")-

As is said- i am totally puzzled myself what the meaning of the IIA is ..maybe one of these unsolved mysteries of WW2

Gruß,
KSM

[Perry Floyd]

So thus far what does it seem to translate to? I'm not trying to rally against it being a fake, just if it is the only reason would have to be a joke, a better price or the need to move it is not a issue..

[Kai-Steffen M.]

well, it is just a name and a unit- so you cant translate it i think

Obergefreiter (rank)
Paul Wolf (name)
IIA (???)
Marschkompanie, Pionier Ersatz Battaillon 14 (Unit)
(roughly translated as: march/transfer company, Pionier Replacement Battaillon 14)

Gruß,
KSM

[Perry Floyd]

Thanks Kai, I appreciate your time on it.
So the IIa has everyone stumped?

[Ian Jewison]

His rank Ob.gefr.....is that correct? Should it not be Obgefr?
II A....could be size 2? A his blood group and then the unit!!!!!!
Who knows.....is everyone completely happy that the name tag is original and pre 1945?

/Ian

[Gary T]

Yes it should be Obgefr.

For what it is worth I don't think it is original...

[Ian Jewison]

Ditto.....

[Perry Floyd]

So you think the tag was added post-war? Because of the abbreviation of the rank and the IIA? Any other reasons?

[Perry Floyd]

On gear I've run into a wide range of rank abb. Done by the individual many seem incorrect vs. what is officially correct such as a document.
Here's a example. Common mistake of a dealer/collector? Uffs.??