Heer Hoch und Deutschmeister Leutnant for Review

[djpool]

Last night I posted scans of a pair of Shoulder straps with Stalingrad Cross devices on someone's thread, only to have the authenticity of my crosses come into question. Much as I did not want to believe it, after reading past threads and comparing pictures I must conclude there is every reason to be suspicious about the origins of mine.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=194420

Despite this thumbs down, I am going to take the plunge and post pictures of another of my Infantry Officer tunics, with another pair of H&D Stalingrad Crosses. I obtained this tunic about 12 years ago from the same dealer from whom I bought the NCO shoulder straps, Brian Lawrence who owned & operated Parabellum Military Antiques in Sarnia, Ontario. Even though the first pair bombed I have a bit more hope for this pair of crosses. There are obvious similarities, but these look somewhat more like Dave Suter's cross. But I will let my fellow collectors decide as to whether they are (fingers crossed) genuine, or more garbage.

For me, I am happy with these crosses and IMO they have been sitting on these boards since before 1945 but again, feel free to put in your two cents as all feedback is welcome. 17 pics to follow. Thanks for looking.

Will,

Sorry to put you through this with my comment on the HuD cross.As I stated the Crosses are controversial, not definately bad. I have a set similar to yours as well as a textbook pair.The workmanship and detail on the controversial pair is as good as the textbook set. I got my set maybe 15 years ago from Niemann. Heres a thread you might have looked at:
http://www.wehrmacht-awards.net/foru...alingrad+cross

So I still consider them original until proof surfaces they're copies.

WR Jim

[Will Brown]

Not a problem Jim. They are what they are, and the members can think of what they want of them. I'm not about to start dismembering the tunic piece by piece anyways. Just putting it to the back shelf for now.

Regarding the lively debate going between Glenn, Kreager and NTZ, this may be adding fuel to the fire about the collar tabs, but here are two more older pics. Hard to get a good picture with all that silver bullion wire.

[Will Brown]

And the closeup

[Glenn McInnes]

Tabs are original,as suspected.





Glenn

[Will Brown]

Do they look like the right style of tabs for this sort of tunic?

They seem to me to be nicely/properly sewn on, what do you think Glenn?

[NTZ]

I agree with the close up the tabs are good. They are for sure replaced though. You can even see some of the old thread in one of your pics.

[NTZ]

Here you go.

[Glenn McInnes]

Do they look like the right style of tabs for this sort of tunic?

They seem to me to be nicely/properly sewn on, what do you think Glenn?

The tabs are perfectly acceptable for this tunic and I would say replaced as well (no question).




Glenn

[Will Brown]

Good to know. I was toying with the idea of replacing the replaced boards with those of a higher rank. Perhaps a major or colonel but I think I will likely leave the tunic as is. A dog can be a mongrel and yet still be man's best friend, so it is with tunics.

Everyone who can read now knows it's background and hey, it looks does look good, as you can see.

[Kreager]

I like those tabs too . Just reapplied that's all.

[CWP]

Even put-together tunics are collectible. For the price you paid, that is a fine display piece.

[NTZ]

I agree with everyone on value. The tunic is worth more than you paid as-is. It does make a nice display tunic for medals.

[PaulR]

I agree. Please leave it as is! It displays well!