Fallschirmjager cuff band

[TomH]

I am sure this must have been discussed before but have searched the forum threads with no success. I put this picture up on the Fallschirmjager forum a while back and it was slated.

What intrigues me is that it warrants a significant mention in Ulrics TR,SS and Political Cuffbands Vol 2 (3/4 pages) which appears to validate it, partially suported by a photograph of a similar cuffband in gothic script. It is a six thread rather than seven - which is also dealt with in the book.

What is current wisdom/opinion on these?

thanks

Tom

[Lassi]

Hi I think this one is a fantacy pice, I´m not an expert on the subject so I can be wrong.
SS paratroopers did exsist but I don´t think they had a cufftitle like this?
Just my opinion
Cheers
Lassi

[Ian Hulley]

100% fake. Full stop. There's a whole range of these fantasy cufftitles,dating back to the 70's to my knowledge,and probably way beyond.

Cheers,Ian.

[Bobwirtz]

I join my colleagues in their assessment... I don't believe in this one or any other "SS-Fallschirmjager" cuffband.

Bob

[Dr. Strangelove]

fallschirmjaeger

Bob: I want your opinion about the photo on page 269 of the Williamson & Gordon book.

Dr. T

[Bobwirtz]

Could have been specially made by the man wearing it for a walk out dress tunic, but these were never made (wholesale) and issued. Otherwise you'd see more than just that one picture.

Bob

[Basil]

Siegfried Milius, the last commander of the SS Paratroop Battalion, consistently denied that any such cuff-title was ever officially issued. My own view is that the photograph in Williamson's book has been altered, probably during the war, to add the cuff-title to it.

[TomH]

.

The rebuttal of this piece on the FJ forum was for similar sound reasons - no veteran had ever encountered it.

However, (and this is hypothetical as I believe the piece to be a fantasy) would it not be feasible that this was manufactured but not issued/worn (as per the Wiking collar tab), with no consequent photographic evidence.

Similarly, it was thought that the SA collar tab was an unissued piece untill a photo of an Unterscharfuhrer wearing one appeared in Angolia's 2nd edition. (Although looking closely there seems to be a case for viewing this photo with suspicion).

The real area of interest for me is that a book (Ulrics) which I would regard as hugely authoritative should include and authenticate the cuffband in such detail.

For anyone not in possession of a copy, the story is basically that these FJ cuffbands appeared out of Czechoslovakia in the late 60's along with some Wallonien and Langemarck cuff bands (also with 6 starnd borders). It asserts that these were validated by Peter Groch and their authenticity was not questioned untill a prevalence of 6 strand fakes appeared in the 1980's.

For anyone who has the book and can read the narrative in more detail, I would be very interested to hear your opinions.

Tom

[Robin Lumsden]

My own view is that the photograph in Williamson's book has been altered.

I agree. In fact, I wonder about the validity of the photo as a whole. I can´t see a German soldier wearing decorations and other badges in this way for any sort of photo........posed or otherwise. It all seems very odd.

[Lassi]

Is there somone who will post the photo?
Cheers
Lassi