Announcement

**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 07:36 PM

The white bar is of course the 'end of (cloth) bolt' marker sometimes seen on the scrap wool at the back of some boards.

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**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 07:54 PM

A transport slide for the 33rd Nachschub Abteilung (Transport battalion), a unit associated with the 33rd Infantry Division, that became the 15th Panzer Division in November 1940, and finally the 15th Panzergrenadier Division in Italy.

According to the Lexicon der Wehrmacht database:-

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/

the unit was destroyed in Tunisia in 1943, and temporarily replaced for a period, but reconstituted with the 15th PzGren again in 1944.

Attached Files

**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 07:57 PM

The back of the slides, and on the boards.

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**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 07:57 PM

A couple of closer shots.

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**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 08:31 PM

Nachrichten Unteroffizier

Next a pair of M40 Nachrichten (Signals) Unteroffizier boards. These came with a pair of slip-ons for the 33rd Nachrichten-Abteilung. Like their sister unit mentioned above, this unit was with the 33rd Inf Div, then the 15 Pz Div, was lost in Tunisia in May 1943, and after being temporarily replaced was reconstituted in the 15th PzGren Div again in March 1944.

It's my understanding that in recent times a large collection of slip-ons was sold and at the moment they are 'available'. I might be wrong, but I suspect they won't always be so as they are slowly absorbed into collections again.

According to Thomas and David Suter's excellent book "German Army shoulder straps and boards 1933- 45" these were introduced in January 1940 as a security measure (i.e they could be removed before going to the front line), and were not worn/ issued to all units. As they were not supposed to be worn at the front-line for most of the war (I believe I read somewhere that this was rescinded in early 1944), I suspect this is why many survived, and I have visions of souvenir hungry GI's grabbing fist-fulls of them from the stores in 1945!

Attached Files

**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 08:32 PM

The back.

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**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 08:35 PM

More.

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**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 08:36 PM

Some closer shots (right shoulder strap).

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**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 08:51 PM

Nachrichten M40 EM boards.

A pair of Nachrichten/ Signals M40 EM boards.

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**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 08:52 PM

Back.

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**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 08:55 PM

With a close-up picture.

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**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 09:02 PM

Nachrichten boards.

Next up, a pair of 'M44' / late-war type Nachrichten/ Signals shoulder straps.

Attached Files

**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 09:03 PM

Rear. Note the brownish 'Feldgrau 44' wool on the tongue, and the rayon artificial silk often seen replacing cotton on later uniform garments.

Attached Files

**PaulW** · 10-01-2016, 09:13 PM

When compared to the other Signals boards, the top wool on this pair has the look of 'Italian wool' with it's darker green hue.

Attached Files

Announcement

Some Heer shoulder straps and slip-on unit titles.

Some Heer shoulder straps and slip-on unit titles.

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