ID this LW unit (named helmet pic)

[airbiscuit]

The helmet belonged to Obgef. Schlosser, with a FP or unit of what looks to be: " L.22 f 10 or f 3(?) Wien (Vienna)" The helmet was sent home by a member of the US 413th Inf. Regt. / 104 ID (Timberwolves), who fought through Belgium, Holland, and Germany. I previously researched this and I think I remember coming up with a motorized flak unit attached to a LW kampfgruppe or feld division. Any help in really narrowing this unit is appreciated.

[airbiscuit]

dupe post

[Simon O.]

Hi

Could it be L22710? That would be a Luftwaffe FP number. Stab.\Flak-Rgt. 58 (mot) based in the Vienna area.

http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/24fladiv.htm

[airbiscuit]

Simon, thanks so much. It may very well be a 7 instead of an f, but the top curls forward, and does not look at all like a 7. I looked on the site you forwarded and it did not have a Regt. 58. Is it maybe 28 or 98? Thanks again for your help.

Hi

Could it be L22710? That would be a Luftwaffe FP number. Stab.\Flak-Rgt. 58 (mot) based in the Vienna area.

http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/24fladiv.htm

[Simon O.]

Sorry, my bad.

http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/flargt58.html

If that's an F then it's not an FP number.

[airbiscuit]

This helmet was captured by a member of the 413th IR, 104 ID (Timberwolves) in Belgium/Holland/Germany AO, so it could not have been Rgt.58 in Crete. I think it is L.22 (LW Flak Regt.22 or Abt.22 or Batt. 22) of Flak Regt. 10 ? or the other way around, with a Vienna connection. I did the tentative research at one time and I believe found a kampfgruppe of mot. LW flak that served in that area. Your help is appreciated. I would like to find out about Obgef. Schlosser and Obgef. Spendler, the LW soldiers whose names are in both helmets. Here is the other thread on the helmet, and its twin:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=99945

Sorry, my bad.

http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/flargt58.html

If that's an F then it's not an FP number.

[Simon O.]

Well, in a helmet you would expect either an FP number, stammrolle number or even a unit name. But if that's a unit then it makes no sense, it's not even close to being a unit abbreviation. The format of L and 5 numbers is that of a luftwaffe FP number but if that's an F then that possibility is discounted. The 'Wien' would seem to infer a static unit, such as a training unit or a unit's home depot.

Of course if that is a unit then it doesn't mean that the guy was still with the same unit when the helmet changed ownership so whatever unit this guy was with when his helmet was lost may well be completely unrelated to Vienna or whatever that letter number combination is.

See if you can make anything fit.
http://www.ww2.dk/

[airbiscuit]

Simon, that has been what I've been scratching my head over for years. Given the two camo helmets, I believe that the indication in the rim is for the man that used it, in the US 104 Inf. AO. "L.22" could be II./Flak-Regiment 22 (gem. mot.): http://www.ww2.dk/ground/flak/flargt22.html ; As you see, it was organized with batteries 6 - 10 and the f10 could be battery 10. This unit became part of Stab/Flak-Sturm-Regiment 3 (mot.). It fought in Holland and Eifel and was captured in the Ruhr pocket. That is the 104th Div. AO. Note that upon designation with Flak-Sturm-Regiment 3 (mot.) it states that the Abt. retained their old designations (i.e., Battery 10). Check it out and tell me what you think of this theory (which is the only one I have had for years).

Well, in a helmet you would expect either an FP number, stammrolle number or even a unit name. But if that's a unit then it makes no sense, it's not even close to being a unit abbreviation. The format of L and 5 numbers is that of a luftwaffe FP number but if that's an F then that possibility is discounted. The 'Wien' would seem to infer a static unit, such as a training unit or a unit's home depot.

Of course if that is a unit then it doesn't mean that the guy was still with the same unit when the helmet changed ownership so whatever unit this guy was with when his helmet was lost may well be completely unrelated to Vienna or whatever that letter number combination is.

See if you can make anything fit.
http://www.ww2.dk/

[Simon O.]

I see where you're coming from but that's to ignore what's actually written. IMHO i really do not think that is a hamfisted attempt at writing a unit designation.

I think where the helmet ended it's active service is quite likely unrelated to the letter number combo and Wien. For example, i have a gas mask and case with the owners unit (LW as it happens) written on the strap, the unit is completely unrelated to where it actually ended it's days which happens to be in Norway.

If we were to assume that this is an FP number, just for arguments sake, starting with L227** let's see if there are any LW units which turn up with a Vienna connection.

L22725 Landeschützen Zug d. LW 117/XVII (XVII being the Luftgau vienna was located in) but the last number definitely doesn't look like a 5.


What if the F or 7 is a 4?

L22410 would make things really interesting but there's no Vienna connection as far as i can see. Verbindungs staffel Fl.Korps XI of Fallschirm-AOK 1.

I'm just thinking out loud here, playing around with different possibilities. What do others think?

[airbiscuit]

Sigh. This has been the conundrum. I would really like to get the background on Obgef. Schlosser from the Bundesarchiv, etc. Back in the day, they tracked a helmet for me to an army coast artillery unit, confirming that it was captured during the Normandy campaign, which was exactly the story that came with it (which I did not believe). I bet if we got Schlosser's records it would confirm it. Let me tinker with contrast and better pics and maybe we can ID the "f" as an F or number. I appreciate your help and input Simon.
Cheers,
AB

[Simon O.]

Sure thing. But if you're after tracking down this guy's service records it's the WASt you're after rather than the bundesarchiv.