Who's this?

[David B]

Hi Everyone,

Can anyone tell me who or what role the person in the center of this photo has.

Also what are the rings around his sleve and the arm badge above them (the badge is quite hard to see in the scan)?

[David B]

Heres a bad close up of the arm stuff

[Michael Root]

Hi David,

It's past midnight & I've had a few killian's , but I'll try and help you out.

The rings, I believe designate him as the unit's top sergeant. Either a Stabsfeldwebel or a Oberfeldwebel can't remember which?? (The killian's)

And as far as the "badge" above his rings.........I believe it might look like an anchor?????....which means he would be (I think) the helmsman on an assault boat???

Hopefully I didn't give you any bad info.

Cheers,

[David B]

Thanks for the help Mike!

I dont think the badge is an Anchor ( that scan is a shocker, sorry!), under the magnifying glass it looks something like my highly scientific drawing.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi David, I have scanned this image from Brian Davis' book on German Army uniforms 1933-45. The badge that you have in question can only be one of these three, as all the others are not this shape.
Hope this helps you?
Cheers, Ade.

[David B]

Thanks Ade,

I think it must be the Arty badge (first on the left).
Another photo in the group shows six soldiers with what appears to be a blank arm patch above rank insignia. I'd say this is the same thing.

(Sorry for another bad scan)

[erichcraciun]

The badge is with almost 100% certainty the Rischtabzeichen for Artillery or Nebeltruppen. The badge in the second foto is most likely the Nachrichten (signal troops) badge. If the men a Pz. Gren. or Pioniere, the signals lightining bolt would be too dark to make out.

Erich Craciun.

[David B]

Thanks Erich!,

I think they may be Pioniere due to very dark piping on their shoulder boards.

[Rick White]

Michael is right. The rings (Tresse) indicate the man is "Der Speiss" of the Kompanie - a Hauptfeldwebel. He would be the senior NCO in the unit. He could be either a Stabsfeldwebel or Oberfeldwebel in rank.

Rick

P.S. Michael..Killians is just a Bass wanna-be