M18 Transitional Helmet w/ Painted Army Breast Eagle

[para03]

Hey guys. I was going through my collection of stuff for sale & came across this neat image. It shows two Gebirgsjaeger honor guards standing next to the graves of recently buried GJ soldiers. Both graves are topped with M18 transitional helmets with painted insignia. The first helmet to the left has a standard Army helmet eagle painted on the left side. Now, check out the one to the right with that strange eagle. Weird! Has anyone seen such a thing in person? Would you trust it if you'd seen it for sale?

[para03]

A close-up of the eagles....

[naxos]

I believe that this picture was taken at the cemetary in Tolbach, Tyrol. Sebastian (Seb) Klettenhammer was from Tolbach so was Jakob Walder.

Klettenhammer was kia on August 22 1942 in Usti-Tosna, Russia and Walder was kia on May 26 1942 in Acroma, North Africa.

The bodies of the soldiers are not actually buried in Tolbach - it is a Memorial for the fallen of the community. The new crosses with the helmets are there to honor the men recently lost - the crosses will remain until the names are added to the permanent memorial.

The helmets I believe are only used as props on the crosses.

Perhaps a bigger scan of the other names on the memorial might help to investigate this interesting picture more.

Regards, Hardy

[para03]

Hardy-
Hold on one moment. I am making a better scan of the names...

[para03]

Here is a close-up of the names on the left side..

Note also that the buckle he's wearing does not appear to be standard issue Army.

[para03]

and the list of names on the right monument

Thank you very much for the detailed reply!

[naxos]

There names are already added on the left memorial: Johann Lercher and Josef Hackhofer

[naxos]

Jäger Johann Lercher

* 07.07.1920 Toblach
+ 24.08.1942 Iwanoskoje Newa


Gefreiter Peter Oberlechner

* 09.01.1920 Toblach
+ 08.05.1942 Nordostw. Daln Kamyschi, Sewastopol

[para03]

Awesome Hardy! I'd be real interested in seeing if you can find any other information on the other names. It would help me give a much better description for the photo. Thanks!

-Chuck