strange Wehrmacht NCO shoulder boards?

[torstenbel]

Got this nice group studio portrait photo, but I do not think that I have ever seen shoulder boards like the Uffz. in the centre is wearing? The look almost like there is a latch over them? At least to me, these look strange ... Cheers, Torsten.

[afrikasandman]

almost looks like he has them on upside down. Matt

[gijoe002us]

They do appear to be upside down. Cool Photo!

[afrikasandman]

seems odd that he would have tress sewn on the underside as well. He is a NCO not a brand new soldier..... just goes to show they are just like privates at times. Uniform all jacked up, surprised his buddies didn't square him away before the pic

[torstenbel]

seems odd that he would have tress sewn on the underside as well. He is a NCO not a brand new soldier..... just goes to show they are just like privates at times. Uniform all jacked up, surprised his buddies didn't square him away before the pic

I actually think those three guys are brothers ... anyhow, it kind of looks to me as if these are basically two shoulder boards on top of eachother? Both sewn in and an ordinary Soldat shoulder board on top of the Uffz one to show that he is time-served as a soldier first before becoming an NCO and that he did not just come fresh from NCO school, to keep his 'street cred' with is EM mates? Soldiers can be funny like that sometimes ... could this be an explanation? I cannot see how or why shoulder boards would be upsidedown, but to me it looks more like these are two separate straps ... although I have never actually seen or heard of anything like that and of course the above is only my own interpretation of what I see ... Cheers, Torsten.

[Lenny W]

very cool pic standard NCO boards with tongue flipped up covering unit markings

[torstenbel]

very cool pic standard NCO boards with tongue flipped up covering unit markings

Hi there, have you seen this setup before somewhere? I have seen slip ons to cover unit markings, but I have not seen it done like this before. Cheers, Torsten.

[pzrwest]

I agree with Lenny the tounges have been flipped on top instead of underneath. Was probably done for the picture for security measures, The boards appear to be the old style pointed boards and the tounge is covering the unit markings

[Johnny R]

They are following the early War regulations to cover or remove unit numbers, this was done often with numbered boards, latter they went to slides that could easily be turned over or removed. Note the Waffenrock boards are also not showing numbers, probably plucked out.

[afrikasandman]

never thought of that.... but I don't see why it would be a big deal to show the #s on his boards. Don't think he was in some super elite scary unit but it is definatly a viable option.

Torsten,

as a NCO he would still have his credability with his troops, he was likely lower enlisted and did well and earned his stripes (as we say, got promoted to NCO) Those soldiers are respected but usually transfer to a different unit or company with in the unit once you are promoted to NCO because you are no longer just lower enlisted. We still make a big deal about it today, the NCOs when they first get promoted usually leave their unit/company and if they are doing an enlisted only formation the NCOs are on one side and lower enlisted on the other side. Cool photo for sure and thank you for posting it. Matt

[DaveJ]

If the unit was being prestaged for something, spelled-invasion, the movement would be secret, hence the unit numbers covered up.
Operational Security

[Lenny W]

Hi there, have you seen this setup before somewhere? I have seen slip ons to cover unit markings, but I have not seen it done like this before. Cheers, Torsten.

i believe there are some examples of this in some period photos in this wonderfull thread where and what page i do not remember
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=101861

[Johnny R]

The regulations changed during the War but early all units of the WH ere to remove or cover any identifying markings, you see SS soldiers with tabs and CTS removed etc. Later it was only for units deployed in the field operations areas and by the end of the War all units wore unit insignia openly based on a direct order from Hitler.

[torstenbel]

The regulations changed during the War but early all units of the WH ere to remove or cover any identifying markings, you see SS soldiers with tabs and CTS removed etc. Later it was only for units deployed in the field operations areas and by the end of the War all units wore unit insignia openly based on a direct order from Hitler.

Hi johnny, why would the approach have been changed later in the war to warrant a direct order from AH? Cheers, Torsten.

[Johnny R]

Hi johnny, why would the approach have been changed later in the war to warrant a direct order from AH? Cheers, Torsten.

I do not know but would suspect that since he was a classic micro-manager he probably thought that it would instill unit pride, the order was placed in early 1944 and then changed again requiring numbers to be covered with units that were moved back to the home theater. It was all for security but when they were retreating it did not really matter much any more. It is talked about in Angolia-Schlicht either Vol. 1 or 2 probably in Vol. 1 i n the back where the boards are, I do not have the books here. .