Lets see your TeNo Uniforms, Insignia and Headgear!

[dblmed]

Splendid Photo and TN/Police Items (!)

Gary, What a Splendid Photo and your TN/Police tunic and side cap is 'over the moon' in collecting rarity (!)

As Dave C said, that post June, 1942 photo really says it all, for the final uniform style and insignia of the TN/Police - very special indeed. (Why this date - due to the published official TN/Police insignia changes, which were slow to come into full use.)

From my understanding, the TN was the only organization granted the privilege of
wearing the "SS-Like" double collar tabs. (In fact, I'd bet that are basically indistinguishable.) I find it fascinating that the TN officer tabs for this time frame had the silver cording around them - when the SS had discontinued this practice sometime in 1942! (Since Himmler also controlled the TN/Police, maybe he had a plan to use up the prior SS collar tabs! Ha!)

Also from my understanding, the shoulder boards were Police Brown for the center 4 rows, and silver with Black chevrons for the outer 2 rows. (I believe that Hugh Page Taylor will address this in the "Vol. II Police" from Bender, which is due out during the holiday season. We'll have to wait and see.)

Yes, Dave C, I agree that the polizei 2 button cap which the TN-Mann is wearing is a nice one.

Some collectors have the impression that ALL of the TN were older men (like this fellow), but photographic evidence shows a nice mixture of young TN men as well, especially for duties outside of the Reich.

Why send this older man outside of the Reich? The TN were technical specialists, and technical skills are slowly acquired over time. Thus this fellow might well have been a construction specialist, water & power specialist, bridge specialist or any number of specialty trades. The TN 'story' is only now slowly being understood and the mysteries unraveled. ...... Txs, Dave / dblmed

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TN - Kommandos im Westen - 1940

TN - Kommandos im Westen - 1940

This article is from an 18 July, 1940 "Die Woche" and it graphically shows some of the various activities which the TN - Kommandos were performing in France, Belgium and Holland.

You can see that this is typically NOT the type of work which middle aged men engage in, unless one was in the TN and at war! We see examples of electrical power supply restructuring; bridge rebuilding; diving, with the old hard helmets and O2 tube supply;
water supply reintegration. All essential activities in order for a city / country to function properly.

These same types of activities (and others) were passed on as the responsibilities of the TN/Police outside of the Reich after the invasion of Russia. ... Txs, Dave/dblmed

[kirk]

Very nice TENO items!!

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TeNo/TN Officer in Heer Uniform -

TeNo/TN Officer in Heer Uniform -

This is a very interesting Photo which shows the transition of TN men into the Heer, which was going on in late 1940, then big time in mid 1941.

In 1939, in the invasion of Poland, the TN wore their marine standard dunkelblau uniforms, but with a yellow DW (Deutsch Wehrmacht) left sleeve armband, to signify their attachment to the Heer.

In the 1940 invasions of Norway, the low countries, and France, the majority of the TN Einsatztruppen were then wearing Heer uniforms, but without an Army breast eagle yet.

Then, by late 1940, and certainly mid 1941 and during Barbarossa, the TeNo / TN wore the army field-grey uniform which had the Army eagle over the right pocket. The rest of the uniform 'looks' TeNo, but a close up shows that NO TeNo buttons are present - they are smooth or slightly Pebbled. The TN kept their collar tabs, shoulder boards, left sleeve eagle triangle and TN cuff title - and TN headgear.

So, this photo is late 1940, or more likely mid 1941. .... Txs, Dave ..... dblmed

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Close Up....of TN in Heer Uniform........

Close UP:

Here's a close up of the TeNo / TN man in a Heer uniform, from the above Photo. ... Txs, Dave/dblmed

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TN Trade Badges

TN Trade Badges

The TeNo Trade Badges have always been the MOST Difficult of the 'Standard' TeNo Cloth for me to find. These Trade Badges are Circular, made of Black Silk (?) / Rayon with a Silver or White Tread TN Cogwheel and Gothic Lettering for the 7 Trades / Branches of the TN.

(I added in the illustration the TYR Rune arrow, awarded for having attended the TN Reichsschule Belzig or Dresden) ............... Txs, Dave/dblmed

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What is known about TN 'Colors'

What is known about TN 'Colors' in general, is that:

1A- Standard uniform color is: Marine Dunkelblau
1B- Early (Pre-1936 TN Officer's collars), had silver piping (and sometimes with the Silver/Black "V" combo)
2- Standard Collar Patches / Tab' color is: Black 'felt-like' material, with Silver Piping with Back "V's" in it, all around
3- Shoulder Board Underlay color is: Black (With the known exceptions of:

* A) RED Underlay for Stab / Staff at the RATN (Headquarters), but for only the
higher officers;
* B) Cornflower BLUE Underlay - for Artz und Sani Officers & Men

4- Shoulder Boards - 'Overlay' - top surface color is: Silver and Black, or just Silver - except for Landesführer, and above (Until the 1943 Rank change series.)

* A) Exception: The Muskiführer had RED cording inside of the Silver.

5- The 7 'Trade Circles' were Black silk / rayon with Silver (white) threading
6- The early TN Luftschutz cuff band was Green.
7- The early TN FAD cuff band was Orange-Yellow.

BUT, none of my TN "Net-Buddies" knows about WHAT or WHERE the Branch Colors were worn/shown on the TN Uniform. So these Branch Colors of the 7 Trade badges are an open area for research & answers!

Here's a nice example of the LD Trade Badge in wear. ...........Txs, Dave/dblmed

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TN Collar Piping - Pre-1937

TN Collar Piping - Pre-1937

Here's and example of a young TN officer (trying to look like someone familiar? with the stubby moustache) - who has the Silver / Black Color piping to his collar lapels.

Also, his visor has the unusual Black / Silver piping to parts of the visor & the chin cording. ..... Txs, Dave/dblmed

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TN Officer Portrait - from 1940 (or even later)

TN Officer Portrait - from 1938 (or later)

I recently acquired this nice TN Officer photo, as it has it 'All' for a study of TN Items:

* LD Trade Badge / Circle - on left lower sleeve;
* Reichsschule Arrow - left shoulder, for having attended Reichsschule Belzig or
Dresden;
* TN Honor Year Band - on right cuff;
* TN Visor (post 1936) - as the crest piping is Silver only; and combination of
Embroidered Cockarde/Kranz with a Metal TN Eagle;
* TN Dagger Hangers (Fabric Model) - authorized for wear in 1938;
* TN Logo buttons on his Uniform;
* Plus the SA Sports Badge and Ribbon Bars (types unknown to me?)

and, you may see things which I have missed! ........ Txs, Dave/dblmed

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• TN Officer with WWI Submariner Badge •

• TN Officer with WWI Submariner Badge •

This is a nice TN Uniform, and related, photo.
The date is late 1935 - early 1936 (as the sleeve eagle came out in 1935, but the single shoulder board was changed to Double Shoulder Boards in 1936.)

* TN Right Tab is XII/5 - for Ortsgruppe Kassel (matches up with Kassel on the photographer's stamp on reverse)
* A Trade Circle on the left lower sleeve
* Part of a 1919-1923 Honor Cuff Title on the lower right sleeve
* TN Visor Eagle + Laurel Mutzenkranz
* Medals on ribbons (which I can't ID)
* Close up of what I believe is the WWI Submariner Badge, (below a circular pin / badge)
* The 'unusual' leather gaiters / protectors around his boots / shoes.

TN Officers, thus far, which I have learned about were in the WWI Army. This is the 1st one which I have found which has a Kriegsmarine connection.
Lots of fun items to see in this photo. ..... Txs, Dave/dblmed

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• TN Metal Visor Insignia - 2 Types

Assmann Sample Board of TN Visor Insignia

Over the years, I have looked at perhaps several 100's of Aluminum TN Visor Eagles, but only 4 of the Nickel Silver TN Visor Eagles. So, it is quite apparent that the NS type is 'rare' - but I wondered WHY?

I believe that I may have found the answer in studying my Assmann Sample Board, which very clearly shows the 2 'variations' of the standard TN visor insignia. [Like so much in collecting, the answer was right in front of me ... but I did not recognize it for a long while!]

From having reviewed this sample board, the TN magazine "Die Räder", period TN photos and the 1942 & 1945 issues of Die Deutsche Polizei Taschenbuch für die Technische Nothilfe - it is my belief that the Nickel-Silver TN Visor Eagle was only produced in 1935 (the year in which it was introduced).

Afterwards, production from late 1935/36 - 1945 switched to the Aluminum TN Eagle. (Of course, some NS models could have remained in the Assmann stock, until used up.)

Interestingly, the TN Cocqarde (Mützenkranz)for the 1935 TN Eagle, was actually a standard pattern Assmann "Heer" type, which photos show in wear in 1935. Then, the TN Laurel (Mützenkranz) was introduced "at a later date" but the exact date has not yet been identified. (Photos of 1936 do confirm that it was in use by then.)

This very brief time frame of production helps to explain why we collectors very, very rarely come across an example of a Nickel-Silver TN Visor Eagle, IMO. ...Txs, Dave/dblmed

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• TeNo Gold Visor Eagles - 2 Types[

• TeNo Gold Visor Eagles - 2 Types

It is also very interesting to take a look at TeNo / TN Bullion Visor Eagles - as they continue to follow the pattern of the 1935 Visor Eagle - in that the arms of the Swastika are very distinct and are clearly separated [cut out] from the base material.

As would be expected, the TeNo Gold Metal Visor Eagles (which are very rarely found), should also be found in - 2 Types.

The TeNo / TN Gold Visor Eagles have been ID'd in:
• the (early) Nickel Silver Type (w Gold Color Plating) - and -
• the more common (later) Aluminum (w Gold Color Plating) Type. ... Txs, Dave/dblmed

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TeNo / TN Einsatzgruppe in France - 1940

• TeNo / TN Einsatzgruppe in France - 1940

Here is a photo of men of one the TeNo / TN Einsatzgruppe, involved in the invasion of France. (Young guys - Not an old guy in the bunch!). They are fully kitted out, with Gas gear, etc.

Their rifles have been ID'd as French Model 1916 Caliber 8mm Lebel. (Must have done some secondary rearming from captured supplies.)

Anyone know what the leather 'box' is, which the TN Mann on the Left, is carrying under his Ammo Pouches? ....... Txs, Dave/dblmed

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More TN & Lebel's

• More TN Men with Lebel Rifles

(From a different TeNo / TN unit. Seem to be practicing with their Gas Masks.) ... Txs, Dave / dblmed

[Military]

never seen such an amazing collection that you have Ron. the Teno eagles are just brilliant!