S Boot badge with diamonds from Afrika ?

[90th Light]

The S-Boots are one of the unsung heroes of front line KM combat. That includes Afrika from 1941 to 1943 (also before Feb. 41 and after May 43).

The amazing picture below the cap proves this. He is wearing not one but three S-Boot badges. A first model and two second models, I wonder if one of them is diamonds ??? Are any of those medal ribbons Italian ??? The EK1 also looks to possibly be an interesting version ???

In fact the KM would be the first Germans to engage Allied forces in Afrika as early as 1939 esp. the S-Boots & U-boots,

Chris

[90th Light]

Although I did not get this photo off WAF, here is what it says on this forum about him;


Soldbuch and photo of Kriegsmarine Fahnrich (Ingenieur) Albert Eggenhoffer. Page 25 shows the entry that Eggenhoffer "arrived Africa 8.1.1942" and "left Africa 17.5.1943". He was awarded the AFRIKA cuffband on 1.4.1944 at a time when he was assigned to a Schnellbootsflotilla in the Adriatic. The photo is interesting in that he wears not only the AFRIKA band, but also 3 E-Boat badges! Aditionallly, the photo is dated in winter, yet he is wearing his Kriegsmarine tropical tunic. Eggenhoffer either had a sense of humor or no sense at all!


Chris

[Simon O.]

Interesting and strange photo. Could very well be taken early post war at the guys home.

[90th Light]

Thanks Simon,

some are saying that the photo is a post war put together. Well I am on the right forum to lay that misconception to rest.

The photo is not "contrived"

it is featured here on WAF as part of the Afrika documents section written by COL Scott Pritchett. Have a look for yourselves at the bottom of the link page.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/camp..._documents.htm

The photo was taken some time in the winter of 1944. I came across this photo from a completely different source than WAF. My source has just confirmed that "Eggenhoffer" did have at least 3 S Boot badges. Interestingly one of them was made of real silver and this is the badge seen in the middle of the photo. I am trying to confirm if it was "800" grade silver or "935"

Is it possible to have a real silver S Boot with no diamonds ???

I have heard of such a badge but have never ever seen one and have assumed until now that it was nothing more than a fakers tail to peddle their whares.

Who knows, may be they did exist. It would be interesting to find out what Scott knows about him,

Chris