Volunteer shields?

[Patrick W]

Hi Guys

Would very much appreciate some help in identifying these 2 - they came from a vets estate with a load of German stuff and a couple of bits of British insignia. I am assuming they are axis related as the cut off appears to be German Police green cloth or very similar.

Any ideas greatly appreciated

Thanks

Patrick

[NickG]

Wow! Slovensko domobranstvo - Slovenian Home Guard sleeve patches!
Very rare!! Indeed Axis related! Territorial protection troops (Home Guard).
They wore Italian kit originally, later also German (mix) both depicted !!!

More on this organization here:

http://travels.bowenplace.com/europe_2008/history_5/


.

[galizien41]

Cool, great originals.

[Patrick W]

Thanks Guys- wow Nick you sure know a lot about these more obscure services. Thats great thanks for the help!

[Rene Chavez]

I'm not sure about the embroidered one but I like the printed shield, I believe it was worn by members of the Gorenjskasamozascita - Oberkrain Selbstschütz.

Rene Chavez
www.foreignvolunteerlegion.com

[NickG]

So Slovenian home guard (Self defence troops) in the Oberkrain region = for the printed shield.
Domobranstvo uniform detail (slighly different shield though but cool image of Home Guard men).
Home guard shield variations based on regions I assume? Anyway all Slovenian Axis forces!
Note mix of German and Italian gear!

[djpool]

Nice!

[NickG]

Some more input on these rare shields. The men in the prior post are also Slovenian security forces
but actually belong to the SNVZ organization. This Osprey illustration show both shield types in wear!

[NickG]

Here some more period images of Slovensko Dmobranstvo - Slovenian Home Guard wearing the eagle sleeve patches, note German pattern uniform!
Of interest in the 2nd image are; the M43 style cap in Italian camo and German belt

[NickG]

Their security forces magazine!
Note in 2nd image German uniforms worn with SS style side caps all lacking German insignia!

[NickG]

Home Guard

[NickG]

Some more! German tunics, Italian helmets. Note Polizei officer with splinter M43 cap

[NickG]

These Slovenian Home Guard troops started with Italian kit but later were issued combat tunics of Polizei pattern with pleated chest and unpleated skirt pockets in Polizei green, a lighter shade than that of the Waffen SS men shown in this same group shot.
The Polizei member in the front row next to the SS NCO is a German with Polizei sleeve eagle, other than that same uniform as the Slovenian troops,
with eagle sleeve patch that started this thread.

[PBR]

There were quite a lot of Militias raised by the germans in the area of Oberkrain, OZAK\Provinz Laibach and Untersteiermark:

-Oberkrainer Selbstschutz: (formed by ethnic germans\german-slovenes from the Oberkrain) blue Krain eagle on white\red shield, often blank SS collar tabs, sometimes SS Totenkopf and eagle on the headgear.
-Kanaltaler Selbstschutz: (formed by ethnic germans\german-slovenes from the Kanaltal) WSS eagle, SS blank tabs, no headgear insignas but side edelweiss.
-Slovensko Domobrantsvo\Slowenische Landeswehr: (formed by ethnic slovenes from the Provinz Laibach): blue Krain eagle on white shield, no tabs, often eagle\slovenia national colours cockade on the headgear.
-Primorsko Domobranstvo\SNVZ also known as Slovenian Landschutz: (formed by ethnic slovenes from the Provinz Triest and Gorz, not from Oberkrain) Illyrian boat on white\blue shield, sometimes red Italian-SS style blank tabs, sometimes national colours cockade on the headgear.
-Landschutz Istrien (formed by ethnic italians and possibly croats from the Provinz Pola): white Goat on (black?) shield, red Italian-SS style blank tabs, unknown cockade on the headgear.
-Landschutz Friaul (formed by ethnic "Furlaner" from the Provinz Udine): gold eagle on blue shield, dark (black?) SS-style blank tabs, sometimes small gold eagle insigna or side edelweiss on the headgear.
-Stadtschutz Triest (formed by men from the Provinz Triest): no shield as far as I know, SS-style black tabs with Kroatien Einsatzstaffel-like rank tab and white cross on red shield on the right tab, insignas with a similar shield on the headgear.

We can also add to the list the Untersteiermark Wehrmannschaften and Kroatien Einsatzstaffel that actually operated nearby.