What Steiner's men really looked like

[napesica]

What Steiner's men really looked like

nice pics, thanks for sharing.
but i prefer this one like this :



derka

Why?

[derka]

i think your pic is reversed,
considering the grade should normaly be worn on the left arm, the lack of visible eagle on the right side upon the breast pocket and the details of the side of the mp44.

[FestungSpanien]

...and the decal on the helmet...nice thread BTW

i think your pic is reversed,
considering the grade should normaly be worn on the left arm, the lack of visible eagle on the right side upon the breast pocket and the details of the side of the mp44.

[anmarlodz]

the first photo ( napesica photos ) is the right one . The soldier on the photo is WSS soldier ( ss decal on helmet and ss colar patch on collar ) so sorry derka your photos is reversed.

[FestungSpanien]

looks like a SS decal indeed, good eyes

[derka]

the first photo ( napesica photos ) is the right one . The soldier on the photo is WSS soldier ( ss decal on helmet and ss colar patch on collar ) so sorry derka your photos is reversed.

what about the grade worn on right arm ?

[anmarlodz]

what about the grade worn on right arm ?

as said previously; most probably honor grade for long service .

IMO the lack of shoulderboards, typical for officers and NCO at HKL ( comon practice to prevent of being target for snipers ) , would confirm it.

[BergführerKiser]

Servus Kameraden,

It looks to me IMHO that Gefreiter Augenstein has a Gebirgsjäger Edelweiss (note the central part of the badge which is higher than the rest of the badge...this would correspond to the stamen on the Edelweiss) on the side of his cap instead of the Jäger Eichenlaub. I have seen this before in Jäger units...perhaps he was a former GJ??

Berg Heil,
Patrick

No Jäger sleeve badge in May 1943, however, we can see the Eichenlaub on the hat already and the Waffenfarbe had changed from white (101. leichte ID) to green (101. Jg.Div.)

Gefreiter Ludwig Augenstein 7./Jg.Rgt.229 from Langensteinbach, a friend of my Uncle, MIA since the battle in Krimskaja May 26, 1943

[naxos]

Servus Kameraden,

It looks to me IMHO that Gefreiter Augenstein has a Gebirgsjäger Edelweiss (note the central part of the badge which is higher than the rest of the badge...this would correspond to the stamen on the Edelweiss) on the side of his cap instead of the Jäger Eichenlaub. I have seen this before in Jäger units...perhaps he was a former GJ??

Berg Heil,
Patrick

Hi Patrick,
Ludwig Augenstein entered the Wehrmacht on October 9, 1941. Infanterie-Ersatz-Batl 109 at Forstner barracks in Karlsruhe. Identity disc: -5537 - 1./Inf.Ers.Btl. 109.
On March 17, 1942 he was placed in the ranks of Feldersatzbataillon 101/3 at Ulm Söflingen. On May 08, 1942 with Marschbataillon 101/3 for Konstantinowka in the Ukraine, were he was assigned to 7./Jäg. Rgt. 229.

I'm pretty sure it is an Eichenlaub cluster on the side of the cap.


.

[jacquesf]

Looks like an eichenlaub to me as well. I am with Derka on the reversed pic. That is a gefreifter rank insignia. Jacques

[naxos]

Servus Kameraden,
I have seen this before in Jäger units...

Berg Heil,
Patrick

In this you are absolutly right.

Here is another picture of 8./Jäger-Regiment 228 (Spring 1942)

[BergführerKiser]

Hi Patrick,
Ludwig Augenstein entered the Wehrmacht on October 9, 1941. Infanterie-Ersatz-Batl 109 at Forstner barracks in Karlsruhe. Identity disc: -5537 - 1./Inf.Ers.Btl. 109.
On March 17, 1942 he was placed in the ranks of Feldersatzbataillon 101/3 at Ulm Söflingen. On May 08, 1942 with Marschbataillon 101/3 for Konstantinowka in the Ukraine, were he was assigned to 7./Jäg. Rgt. 229.

I'm pretty sure it is an Eichenlaub cluster on the side of the cap.

Grüß Di' Naxos,

The Eichenlaub is a flat badge with not much relief and it doesn't have a center protrusion like what is seen in Augenstein's portrait. I'm holding both badges in my hand and I'm pretty sure that it's an Edelweiss on his cap.



I'll take some photos of both badges on a cap at the same angle...then you'll see the difference.

Berg Heil,

Patrick

[FestungSpanien]

I am doing the same as Patrick did comparing two different badges and I lean to think it's an Edelweiss

[Sonderkommando]

#

Excellent pics

[napesica]

What Steiner's men really looked like

i think your pic is reversed,
considering the grade should normaly be worn on the left arm, the lack of visible eagle on the right side upon the breast pocket and the details of the side of the mp44.

Hello, No the photo I posted it not reversed, unless they made an unknown experimental STG44 that was left handed. Note sling and bolt on wrong side in the photo that you reversed.
Also SS runes on left collar (barely visable) and plackett on front of Feldbluse is buttoned up on correct (man) side andnot reversed. The plackett is always the quickest way to see if a photo has been reversed. Thanks, M