British Freekorps - Looking For Photos

[Matthew S.]

Can anyone direct me to some period photos of the British Freekorps on the 'net? I wouldn't mind printing a few out for my files as those are about all there is left concerning them. While we are on the subject, what are the chances there are some original British Freekorp insignia left? A) Slim to none B) Not a chance in hell or C) I have a better chance of seeing Hitler's ghost walking across my front lawn.

[Gilles C.]

Three lions on a collar...

Knock on member WARLORD's door. Who knows... He's had at least one famous picture (or more). As for the insignia, I can imagine that they are (or were?) high on his "shooting list". But such stuff is so explosive, that the very few owners in Britain (if ever...) will be quite reluctant to show off.
Regards
Gilles

[militaria.no]

Can anyone direct me to some period photos of the British Freekorps on the 'net? I wouldn't mind printing a few out for my files as those are about all there is left concerning them. While we are on the subject, what are the chances there are some original British Freekorp insignia left? A) Slim to none B) Not a chance in hell or C) I have a better chance of seeing Hitler's ghost walking across my front lawn.

Hello Matthew!

Take a look at this "Britische Freikorps"- thread started by my good friend Øyvind. It is very interesting with both pictures and discussions :

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...8&page=2&pp=15

Best regards
Marius

[ReichsHeini]

I think you will find that the insignia for BFK would be non-existant. They only made one small run I understand. There is only one collar tab known to exist from what I have heard. Here is the unmasked version of a popular photo of some of these guys, which is usually redacted to hide their traiterous faces!

[Matthew S.]

Thanks all. ReichsHeini, that photo is great. Nice views of the sleeve shield, collar tab, and cufftitle. Since the British Freekorp was only 29 strong (The SS wouldn't have wanted any more at any rate. Far more trouble than they were worth), I figured it would be pretty unlikely any insignia survived. As far as I heard, all its members were eventually rounded up and sent off to serve prison terms. I imagin the uniforms and such were destroyed.

[Gary Wood]

Matthew,

here is another for you
cheers
gary

[Kuifje69]

In an Issue of Siegrunen from Richard Landwehr, there was also a lot of info of the BFC, including pics.

I will check what issue it was, but I thought is was around no. 76

Regards,

Rene

[Simon O.]

If you're at all interested in the subject then i really must recommend Adrian Weale's book which includes photos BTW.

[Robin Lumsden]

Simon's right.

Adrian Weale's book is the definitive history of the BFK - and even describes delivery of the tabs and cuff titles, to be sewn on overnight by the unit tailor.

[Tom M]

I've said this before. A son or grandson (can't remember which) once showed his fathers BFC uniform, with all insignia on it, on a documentary on TV over here. I'm sure others must have seen it.

[Tony C]

Hi Tom...saw a documentary on Sky History channel over here about 5 months ago, very good documentary, even spoke to a couple of BFK members, one now lives (lived) in Australia & was very upset to be interviewed, didn't want to talk at all!! Can't recall the name of the program though! .But they did include an original uniform , think it was the son who showed it off, as well as insignia etc, all very interesting. Didn't know they even existed until then !


Tony

[Basil]

Hi Tom...saw a documentary on Sky History channel over here about 5 months ago, very good documentary, even spoke to a couple of BFK members, one now lives (lived) in Australia & was very upset to be interviewed, didn't want to talk at all!! Can't recall the name of the program though! .But they did include an original uniform , think it was the son who showed it off, as well as insignia etc, all very interesting. Didn't know they even existed until then !


Tony

Sorry folks. I was one of the producers of the documentary and the uniform we used on it was one of the repros we had made up for the re-enactors who portrayed the BFC in reconstruction sequences. I'm Adrian Weale who wrote the book 'Renegades' about the BFC (Basil is an old Army nickname - as in Basil Fawlty): you can buy it here. The repro insignia were specially made for us by Cyrus Lee and you can still buy them from him: they aren't designed to fool anyone, but are reasonable decorative pieces.

I've mailed some more BFC pictures to Gary to post here, but the best ones are above.

[Bob Stevens]

A great book Mr Weale. That documentary was excellent too. What did happen to Thomas Cooper?

[Matthew S.]

This post generated a lot of useful information. I'm always interested in aything concerning the foreign volunteers, and the British Freekorp is the rarest of the rare. Definitely have to find some of those documentaries and books.

[Basil]

A great book Mr Weale. That documentary was excellent too. What did happen to Thomas Cooper?

Many thanks.

Tom Cooper died in South London in 1987: he'd been living there under an assumed name since the 1970s.