EM shoulder board with double loop of tress ??

[Maxoumilitaria]

Hi,

I just bought this single Infantry shoulder board. Everything looks OK to me in terms of authenticity but I've been searching (in the book from the Suters among other sources) and I can't find the case where an enlisted man would have a shoulder board with a double loop of tress.

To summarize:
- EM shoulder board with single loop of tress = NCO candidate
- NCO shoulder board with double loop of tress = Officer candidate

But EM shoulder board with double loop = ????
Would it be possible to have an enlisted man being already an officer candidate ?

Thanks for your help !!

Best,

Max

[afrikasandman]

It should denote that he is a NCO candidate if im not mistaken. Matt

[Crusader17]

Are two loops officer candidate, with one loop being NCO candidate?

[longislandercjv]

1 tresse loop on an Enlisted man's strap denotes an NCO candidate.

2 tress loops on an Enlisted man's strap denotes an OFFICER candidate,
and are found on NCO straps.

The 2 tresse loops on an Enlisted strap are indicative of
a particularly qualified soldier for officer training.

[Maxoumilitaria]

Thanks for your answers.

That was my theory : so it's possible to be officer candidate without being NCO prior to that? I didn't think soldiers could "jump" the ranks like that.

[Hans Kristian]

Hello,

I started a thread about this type of boards some time ago, and here are much good info to get:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=695934

Best regards,

Hans Kristian

[RamJet]

Thanks for your answers.

That was my theory : so it's possible to be officer candidate without being NCO prior to that? I didn't think soldiers could "jump" the ranks like that.

They didn't jump, they became Fahnenjunker, Fähnrich and Oberfähnrich ranks and so run through the NCO range, although very fast.

[Maxoumilitaria]

Thanks for your answers !

@Hans Kristian: many thanks for the link, this post answers all my questions!

Cheers,

Max

[Rikster]

...or.......somebody in the last 70 years just slipped a double loop of tresse on a shoulder strap...............

[phild]

...or.......somebody in the last 70 years just slipped a double loop of tresse on a shoulder strap...............

Sure, but you have to say the same thing regarding any removable board on any tunic. You either accept it or you don't and the opinions of 50 experts will be of no help in knowing one way or the other.

[Hans Kristian]

Yes, the eternal question; on uniforms with slip-on boards you can never be sure of anything, is it the original boards..?..or changed..?..you will never know...and even sewn-in boards could be changed.
As long as the boards are genuine it is fine with me. And the double-tresse boards did exsist, so I have no problem with them.

...or.......somebody in the last 70 years just slipped a double loop of tresse on a shoulder strap...............

[Hans Kristian]

You are welcome..

Thanks for your answers !

@Hans Kristian: many thanks for the link, this post answers all my questions!

Cheers,

Max

[Johnny R]

As noted, the double loops were worn with EM boards and indicate the lowest rank/status for an officer candidate. These soldiers had no prior service and were selected based on tests result before entering military service. They were designated as Offizier Bewerber or O.B. After they completed basic training, a NCO course and the first phase of officer training "Offizier-Lehrgang" they then wore NCO rank etc.

[-Ray-]

As noted, the double loops were worn with EM boards and indicate the lowest rank/status for an officer candidate. These soldiers had no prior service and were selected based on tests result before entering military service. They were designated as Offizier Bewerber or O.B. After they completed basic training, a NCO course and the first phase of officer training "Offizier-Lehrgang" they then wore NCO rank etc.

"Shake N Bake!"

-Ray-

[Johnny R]

"Shake N Bake!"

-Ray-

Pretty much, in the later stages of the War, I think almost half of them were killed or wounded and sent back within the first two weeks. I do not remember the exact figures. I remember one German Vet told me about a new Lt. that was shot in the head and killed about 10 minutes after he got to the unit.