Ushankas from the Kolwitz Maker

[TrondK]

I have tried to find details and number regarding the ushankas made by Kolwitz Prag. That was not so easy.
I would very much like to know numbers and more important what colours and variations that exists today. Do not have to make detailed photos for the fakers to learn from. But we should try to gather any information we might have around these furcaps.

The rumors i have heard, was after spring 45 there was found abandoned railroad wagons with different winter supply. Ushankas, wh winter caps, and other types of militaria. Many allied service men took ushankas and other furcaps home since they were mint & unworn, and could be used in winter conditions back home.

Has anyone anything they might share? Examples, Stories, colours, variations, etc

[RobertE]

Hello,

These are not as plentiful as the SS fezzes, which are the standard GI "shopping bag". I have not heard of these being found in bulk by allies, and have only found them in singles in collections, and have never pulled one from a veteran lot. In general, the fur caps used by German armed forces had a practical use back home, and we see a tremendous number of standard winter fur caps in the states but not these.

I think it's very possible that an unissued lot of these were turned up after the war, as was so much other unissued material. I have seen other eastern European items turned up in large lots recovered by the allies, such as the shoulder board and sleeve shield lots found in great qualities. As large numbers of these Ost troops surrendered to the allies in Austria and at other locations at war's end, their stores could also have been conceivably captured as their logistics trains would have been with them at their camp locations. I have not seen many wartime used examples of these, just unissued, which also supports the warehouse/train/equipment dump possibility.

The style you posted by the Prague maker is a classic. I have one in black and one in red, and they are a hard piece of headgear to find in untouched condition. They are a classic piece of Eastern volunteer headgear, and I'm glad to see you opened this thread.

s/f Robert

[NickG]

I love these Osttruppen Ushankas! . This would be a good topic for the headgear section actually.
I only own Russian origin Kubanka's (one was found with an early SS or Cavalry skull)
and such a Czech made version (Maker: "R.K. Kolwitz Uniformen Prag") would be a dream to own for me!
(in any regimental color!)
It's a good question, how many colors exist? We know of black ones and red ones for sure... and a Siberian white colored one!
Here's the Prag maker stamp! (archive image)

[RobertE]

I had a blue Prague-made Kubanka, but traded it. I have these two left.

s/f Robert

[RobertE]

Standard interior markings -

[NickG]

Just awesome! So these were made in Blue, White, Black and Red...I have seen a picture of a White one!
Any other colors that we know of?

and they all have the pre war Waffenrock Wide tresse material used on the crown!
(photo credit waffenrock RonR, braid material is mine)

[NickG]

I wonder if this one is also from Prag...it's got that typical low (German made/German Wool) profile...they are Ushanka-Kubanka mixes...
so another color option could be plain field-gray as well I guess...
So many styles and colors...all equally spectacular!

[djpool]

Here is my small contribution. I actually own 2 of them to include the one shown by Bob Hritz which was a vet find. They are slightly different in construction. One is a bit more simplified as far as construction goes and used less material.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...hlight=Kubanka

Jim

[TrondK]

Thank you all so much for your additions to this thread. Very very interesting to see there are more around of them.

There are two kolwitz ushankas in my collection today, but will hopefully increase that number as time go by since i am seriously trying to study the exotic history of axis made ushankas. And that is a uphill battle.
I find it interesting we can see the changes of making them, size and fur as the war progressed.

Take alook at this "Siberian" white. It came without insignias, but luckily it has not been tampered with and has only 1 set of former holes after insignia. It has the standard kolwitz markings- only difference is color of fur.

Now here comes a tricky question- Where these used by polizei?

[djpool]

The white and blue topped ones are awesome. Jim

[TrondK]

You have some extremely interesting objects in your volunteer collection Jim.
Is that a green topped kubanka or a ushanka on the cav uniform?

I have not yet seen examples of kolwitz ushankas without the silverbraid crossing the top.

[djpool]

You have some extremely interesting objects in your volunteer collection Jim.
Is that a green topped kubanka or a ushanka on the cav uniform?

I have not yet seen examples of kolwitz ushankas without the silverbraid crossing the top.

Thanks for the compliment. What you see is pretty much the extent of my FV collection. The only other significant item is a blue topped kubanka.

As far as the kubanka is concerned it's actually red topped. The green is just the field grey base cloth.

[NickG]

These are so awesome! I am extremely jealous!
Here's a picture that I took during the 50th DDAY anniversary in Normandy of 2 French reenactors (the one on the left dressed
as Maquis French resistance is famous and he appeared in many Militaria magazine articles...some French members might recognize him.
The Cossack guy is wearing all original gear including such a Kubanka/Ushanka !
He is reenacting a Osttruppen member who deserted to the Resistance...hence the FFI arm band.

[NickG]

The "Great Siberian White" just to drool over!!!
(was shown on warrelics thread...found a great home in the mean time!)
Congrats T.K.!!!

[RobertE]

That white-topped specimen is really unusual. I'm not sure what it would represent based on our knowledge, but Siberian Cossacks wore white fur Kubankas with colored tops. Sometimes, according to the research conducted by Schuster and Tiede, the tops were also white.

These are an iconic form of headgear that are associated with one of the more fascinating and tragic foreign volunteer outfits in the German armed forces.

s/f Robert