Gebirgsjaeger Officer's Waffenrock

[Mike H]

....

Indeed, as John says the Edelweiss was not implemented until 2 May 1939 (HV 39B, No. 196). The Waffenrock was tailored by a company in Munich and is dated 14 August 1936. In 1937, this Hauptmann was assigned to the German Military Attache in Spain as a Liaison Officer to the Italian Expeditionary Korps. From there, he went to Rome for three years, and finally as a Liaison Officer (the German word is "Verbindungsoffizier") in the Italian headquarters in Libya. After that, back to Italy again.

Before making such comments, it is necessary to have the full story of the tunic. Had you known the tunic was dated 1936, you would have known that no Edelweiss was authorized at that time and after that, this Officer bounced around quite a bit and did not return to Regiment 99.

As far as the photo is concerned, it is a copy of an image a friend found on the internet. There is a website on Gebirgsjaeger with several photos of this unit in Garmisch-Partenkirchen including a parade. These were likely taken in the mid-1930's. There is not an Edelweiss to be seen. The portraits from that album can be easily downloaded, copied, and sold to anyone on eBay. I also imagine the photos of the officers of the Regiment may have been available to the men as so many stock photos were.

Homework is everything. Having as much information on hand as possible before calling something "rubbish" -- quite a strong word in English, my friend -- is necessary before drawing conclusions.

Enjoy your hobby.

Mike

[Johnny R]

Opps, Baumann was GJR 98 not 99. Other info still is correct for the record.

[MASteel]

Officer on the photo has quite short ribbon bar while loops on the 'Rock are for a long one. And both seem to be for a Hauptmann, field tunic on photo and the very nice Waffenrock you got.

[Johnny R]

You can see in the photo there is another loop. He is wearing an abbreviated Feldspange which was done typically with only the principle awards on field and service tunics, it was "en vogue". On the waffenrock all the "candy" was worn.

If anyone wants to pick this apart it is all up hill IMO.

[DonC]

You can see in the photo there is another loop. He is wearing an abbreviated Feldspange which was done typically with only the principle awards on field and service tunics, it was "en vogue". On the waffenrock all the "candy" was worn.

If anyone wants to pick this apart it is all up hill IMO.

Don't forget, too, that the loops on a 'Rock have to support a medal bar, not just a ribbon bar. I have had a few sets named to the same wearer over the years where there were at least two more loops on the WR as opposed to the field service tunic to accomodate the medal bar. I've also seen smaller loops intersperesed among the larger ones for the ribbon bar.

Don

[sander vw]

Hi, my appologies, I didn't see the manufactury date of 1936.

Why did you post the picture with the tunic? It isn't the owner of the tunic right?

[Johnny R]

It is named to him Sander

[sander vw]

It is named to him Sander

Where can I find this information? I've got loads of high awarded GJ photos who need a name.

[John Walker]

Johnny, Nice to see the tunic. I used to own that tunic and he is 100% correct on the sleeve insignia. By the way, WHAT AN OUTSTANDING WAFFENROCK!

[Johnny R]

Where can I find this information? I've got loads of high awarded GJ photos who need a name.

It is hit or miss with name searches on the net- there are resources in Stadt archives like the link example etc. but there is no master list.

https://www2.landesarchiv-bw.de/ofs2...eigeKlassi=001

[Johnny R]

Johnny, Nice to see the tunic. I used to own that tunic and he is 100% correct on the sleeve insignia. By the way, WHAT AN OUTSTANDING WAFFENROCK!

I was happy to get it and put it back not historical context etc. Mike just did that with his and I know the name was lost until he researched it. Good stuff.

[Mike H]

...

As I said before, the photo was on the internet and was part of an album. What you did not see was the photo mounted on a page with the Hauptmann's name written under it. That is how we identified him. I have other photos of him as well with Italian officers and a photo with Rommel.

Note the photo below of our man with the Italian General Vercellino. You will see a very long ribbon bar on his uniform. Incidentally, that is GFM von Rundstedt in the background with his back to the camera.

With extensive service in Spain and later with the Italians, I am quite sure what we are seeing is a bar (and a Medal bar for the Waffenrock) that would have had the Spanish awards and probably something from Italy as well. I would imagine the loops were added to the Waffenrock later. There are also loops for three badges aside from the medal bar. In the photo below, you can see a KVK1 with Swords and a black wound badge. The wound badge was earned in World War I along with the EK2 and Bavarian medal.

As most of you already know, loops were added to Waffenrocks after the officer had purchased the uniform. When he was promoted to higher rank than Hauptmann, I do not know. Every piece fits in the puzzle perfectly.

I am delighted to have this in my collection.

Mike

[Johnny R]

I have no doubts on this one either, it is a myth that all the ribbons and awards were worn all the time. Like the one I posted, the tunic that started the thread probably was shelved when assignment changed etc. and the waffenfarbe was no longer accurate etc.

[TONY GANZ]

gj tunic

I just cannot keep my mouth shut on this. Sander VW comments are exactly why the collectors with great stuff are gone from the forum. Let's just jump all over Mike H and tell him he is wrong about this tunic. Why ? Jealousy, envy or both. Mike H is not the type of person not to do his research, and to say it must have an edelweiss is the precise type of statement that betrays ignorance. Too much of this going on here. My last word of advice. BUY SOME BOOKS!

[Ostmark]

Beautifull tunic, love it