DAK Feldgendarmie sleeve eagle and boards ID help

[Fred Green]

HI Bill,

That is very interesting. The eagles that Dave has and another eagle that I obtained came out of two different woodwork lots. I do not think they are faded from another color as they are in the same shade of brown/tan. I had speculated that they were worn in Italy or the Balkans and that would conform with what you have mentioned above.

John

Hello John,

Can you post yours on here too? thanks.

Fred

[John T]

Hello John,

Can you post yours on here too? thanks.

Fred

Sure Fred, here you go,

John

[John T]

second bird, not reverse of swastika

[Edelweisse]

Police Eagles

Hi Folks:

Randy asked me to post some police eagles that I picked up years ago. I believe that they are "faded" in the sun and at one time was water damaged. I picked up three of them in a group. People can say "DAK" but to me....normal police eagles that have been subjected to some abuse. That is my opinion.....

[Edelweisse]

DAK police Eagles

Another eagle

[Edelweisse]

Police Eagles

One more faded eagle

[Edelweisse]

Police Eagles

Last picture of my police eagle group

[John T]

I can accept that dye will fade from exposure to the sun. Look at tropical web gear for example, however the eagles that D. Wyatt posted appear both un-issued, then the third that I posted, and now we have in your lot another eagle with the same color so for them to fade to a uniform color would be highly unlikely and would even more support the argument that this is the original color of the eagle. Thank you for posting the boids,

I think that your lower left eagle could be a faded-salty version of the eagles at the top of the thread.

[Fred Green]

Hello John,

Thank you for posting your eagle!! I noticed too about the second eagle not having the swastika go through the backing material. Odd.

Fred

[RobertE]

Some great eagles here, and the grey-backed type is intriguing. I would speculate based on materials and form that they are certainly original.

I have no idea what type uniform it would have been worn on. The wool or flannel backing makes tropical / med seem less likely to me.

Thanks for posting them, again.

s/f Robert

[W.Unland]

I am resurrecting this thread to add additional information to this discussion.

I have obtained one of the eagle insignia in question and make the rather surprising observation that it appears perfectly legitimate in hand. As this photo will show it is in fact the same pattern as others that I possess that have been accepted as authentic in the past based on construction and period photographs. Granted the head shapes vary slightly, but in my experience this is within expected manufacturing variation caused by different machine operators.

[W.Unland]

This second photo points out the pattern characteristics common to both insignia.

1. Most noticeable, the upper wreath leaves are missing the lower edge of the back leaf, making the upper wreath more narrow than the remainder.

2. The detail lines on the head are the same.

3. The small wing feathers follow the same pattern and angle.

4. The body has distinct straight edges and a pointed tail.

5. There is a gap at the top of the smaller wreath.

Granted some other eagle patterns display one or more of these characteristics but only this pattern has all.

Because the embroidery on the incident tan backed eagle is of the same tension and quality as the other, and because of the characteristics mentioned above; one may conclude that they were made by the same machine and at the same time.

Although I find the backing color "disturbing" I have to conclude that the insignia is authentic. I must also conclude that it was made for the purpose discussed before, namely for use on the SS style tan "saharina" tunic by police personnel assigned to the Baltics and Italy later in the war.

To be sure I am confused why the insignia was made with a "cut edge" without reinforcing as seen on the cotton "mottled" eagles. As it stands it would have unraveled with use. This, however; must wait for further evidence, such as a period photo.


And YES, the tan eagle is the same color as the material used to edge the "mottled" eagle, but NOT the same weave.

Regards,
William Unland

[RobertE]

This reinforces my opinion of originality, Bill. It's nice to see a piece of insignia not previously seen in photos or collections be accepted.

It's a cool eagle - I'm still not convinced it was for a Saharina, though. The edges could be intended to be folded under, as the case with many other national emblem insignia (white navy cotton eagles, ect).

Thanks for posting the nice comparison shots.

s/f Robert