scharfschutzenabz. (sniper badge) Gold

[mdj]

Hi,

I am always fascinated by those....this is the ultra rare 60x sniper badge in gold.

Do you like it as much as I do?

Martin

[NickG]

I like it. These fascinate me as well!

Seen this thread yet? In below link, which I posted in the Polizei section for obvious reasons!
Image repeated here!


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http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ghlight=sniper




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[NickG]

Now tilted!
Could it be?

Estonians (mixed SS and Polizei)

[Johnny R]

Is that a print or a period photo- you need to be careful with these

[Robin Lumsden]

That policeman has no combat awards.

If he'd qualified for a sniper badge with a border like that (silver or gold), he would have at least an EK2 and probably also an EK1.

[NickG]

Johnny: Its from an Estonian web site with tons of period images and NO mention of the badge...so why fake it?
and if it was altered like that they would have put the sniper badge on the upper right sleeve (Heer style...like your edit) not lower left sleeve,
which I assume is correct for combat (ordnungs)polizei....but who would have known that and "create" this image...?

Based on the angle of the oval is definately in the right place! = left sleeve here...

Robin: I can't explain the lack of medals... but if he is an accomplished sniper perhaps the medals were on another uniform and not worn here,
as these could get tangled up in his sniper (camo) attire ? A netted "Ghillie" (Gilly) Suit perhaps? Who knows?

There were several other (clearly period) images on that site which showed some of the same men (Narwa pocket)... so out of an album based on the sequence...
its real... not a recreation...I have no doubt!

You can see the feathers and the beak even!

[Johnny R]

I am not saying it isn't real just it is super easy to move stuff around in grainy images. If you zoom in to image 2 you can see a shadow under the badge that is isolated to the areas directly underneath it to the right, there is a straight break in the middle of the badge and the shadow does not continue to the left.

[NickG]

I am not saying it isn't real just it is super easy to move stuff around in grainy images. If you zoom in to image 2 you can see a shadow under the badge that is isolated to the areas directly underneath it to the right, there is a straight break in the middle of the badge and the shadow does not continue to the left.

Yes it is easy nowadays with all kinds of art programs to manipulate images, agreed. You have to be extra careful when examining/judging "period" pictures!

Regarding a crease/wrinkle/fold or a shadow of such a distortion not to continue is easily explained:
because the stiffness of the badge it just blocks it (reenforces the fabric in that area), so the shadow (or the wrinkle) does not continue in that area...
unless its a flimsy thin badge like a jager Bevo arm oval but the sniper badge is thick and embroidered and has a colored raised edge to distinguish its class,
a rigid piece of insignia for sure!

WAF member Larrister created this image of that patch (in another thread on this topic). You can see the feathers and eagles head+beak!
What else could it be?

[Johnny R]

Okay, I was not sure on the "crease/wrinkle/fold or a shadow of such a distortion" thanks, I understand now fully.

[NickG]

Any rock solid period images of such a badge in wear out there?

[Johnny R]

I have seen one image and it was in a German book and for 30 years I have not been able to remember where it was. This was almost never worn in the field. You can imagine what would happen if you were captured wearing one.

[paul.j]

"sniper patch"

Funny that the guy behind him to his left has one as well,2 snipers with an award for 40+ kills together in the same unit/photo and the location of these patches-I dont think so

[Johnny R]

Funny that the guy behind him to his left has one as well,2 snipers with an award for 40+ kills together in the same unit/photo and the location of these patches-I dont think so

Nor do I

[NickG]

Son of a gun.... I did not see that...Good catch!I fully agree that would be too much of a coincidence...
or could it be a combat Polizei sniper team? So the spotter also entitled to the same badge? (working in concert)

I ran the image by the polizei forum a while back and there are no known oval shaped specialty (trade) badges like that
in the Polizei regulations...only round ones...as shown here:
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ight=specialty
but the location is correct for Polizei...

If it was faked you would only put it on 1 guy otherwise it would be too unbelievable...which it now is...
so actually it could be proof that its authentic...but it will remain a mystery. Elusive sniper badge or something else...
Its not a doctored up image...nor reenactors (considering the source/site and other sequence images) that's for sure!

It is interesting to note that the other guy with the oval sleeve patch has a uniforn devoid of any other insignia...
no Polizei sleeve eagle... and no shoulderboards even...but kept the sleeve insignia so it was important to him.
(a badge of honor, like a sniper badge would be?)
The polizei trooper right front retains his shoulderboards but the polizei litzen on the collar and Polizei sleeve eagle are gone...
Makes you wonder if these Estonian police guys got transferred to the Waffen SS and modified their uniform for that reason...
(note German pattern Estonian Waffen SS collar tab =E+sword)
Reenforcements absorbed into the Waffen SS (while in the field)...like a kampfgruppe, a hodge-podge of men forming 1 unit.

[afrikasandman]

Just gonna throw this out there, maybe we are looking at the unit sharp shooters, not just 2 singular snipers. Perhaps in more of a rear area?? I have not seen any other pics from the album but its just a thought. No sniper would wear this badge in the field as it would mean instant death. If you read books about snipers on the Russian front they would even try to hide their rifles if their possition was in danger of being overrun. Which makes total sense to me, as you may survive if your simply had a k98 or a M40 but if you had a sniper rifle you were done. They were such feared hunters by both sides that no quarter was shown to either sides snipers. I do feel that its a legit period photo but think we would be looking at a group shot of the unit or Regiments snipers and not just a rouge pair. Plus I would think that maybe this is a training area since those two are wearing their patches and look how clean the uniforms appear on the two snipers. They are obvisously not at the front. Matt