vet acquired tunics

[Glenn McInnes]

Firearms,helmets and awards seemed to be the favourites brought home by Canadian Vets...Weapons such as pistols some Vets told me were not allowed (by enlisted soldiers) to be brought back but some made it through. Most weapons were thrown overboard on returning ships as they were told they would be searched,they never were.

Officers were allowed to bring home firearms.



Glenn

[nutmeg]

Firearms,helmets and awards seemed to be the favourites brought home by Canadian Vets...Weapons such as pistols some Vets told me were not allowed (by enlisted soldiers) to be brought back but some made it through. Most weapons were thrown overboard on returning ships as they were told they would be searched,they never were.

Officers were allowed to bring home firearms.



Glenn

Glenn, My father (95th Div) told me the same story. When they were leaving France they were camped in large fields before boarding the ships. They were told that anyone arriving in NY with firearms would be arrested. My father had an MG42 from the 17th SS Division he was bringing back but decided it was too risky and threw it down an outhouse. When they debarked in NYC he said guys were going down the gangplank with Lugers stuck in their belts and no one said word.

[Robert H]

Since I am here in the US I am impressed about the German flag mass in the US, looks like it was also a favorite bring back item from the war. In Germany you will find them to often. My score was once to find 2 home related flags, and I will look further into it. Just got one offer for a NSBO flag from Nurnberg but with a tag of 2.3k I really have to pass. Hopefully I have time over the weekend to make one picture of one untouched M36 DF tunic I recently found back over in Germany.

Very nice tunics ! Glenn your smock looks fantastic !

[Bob Coleman]

Since I am here in the US I am impressed about the German flag mass in the US, looks like it was also a favorite bring back item from the war. In Germany you will find them to often. My score was once to find 2 home related flags, and I will look further into it. Just got one offer for a NSBO flag from Nurnberg but with a tag of 2.3k I really have to pass. Hopefully I have time over the weekend to make one picture of one untouched M36 DF tunic I recently found back over in Germany.

Very nice tunics ! Glenn your smock looks fantastic !

I HAVE FOUND THAT MOST VETS I MET OVER THE YEARS HAD AT LEAST ONE FLAG THEY BROUGHT BACK. FROM PERIOD PICTURES, IT IS EVIDENT THAT THEY WERE PLENTIFUL. 2-3K FOR AN N S B O 4 X 4 IS REALLY AN AMBITIOUS PRICE.

[Sayle F]

Vet buy Generals tunic

Found at the bottom of the vets trunk.

[djpool]

While I personally have never gotten anything direct from a vet; I have been fortunate to be the second in the chain of custody on a few items. Heres a nice complete grouping I obtained from a friend in Tombstone.He got it directly from the family.
The owner was LT. Arnold Fassbender.
Born 31.051916 in Barrendorf
08.03.1940 Pioneer Ers Company 2/211 Graudenz
13.05.1941 Pio.Ers.Bn 253 Westhoven
19.06.1941 to 14.12.1942 Pio. Bn 211 of the 211 ID. Unit fought in Russia.
19.08.1941 promoted to Gefreiter
15.12.1942 to 09.06.1943 Stamm Company Pio. Ers.Bn 253 Koln- Westhoven
30.12.1942 Promoted to Unterofficer
10.06.1943 Pio. Bn 211 of the 211 ID.Russia
17.07.1943 Wounded by shrapnel in his left knee. Treated at the 4/604 Hospital in Gorki
17.07.1943 Promoted as Leutnant der Reserve
04.09.1944 1 Co.Pz.Pio.Bn 253 ID
14.11.1944 1 Pio. Bn 755 Army group B. Fought in the Eifel and Ardennes
Sometime in 1945 Arnold was transferred to Hungary eventually surrendering to US forces in Austria.
wr Jim

[djpool]

tunic with awards

[djpool]

breeches

[djpool]

boots

[djpool]

holster and belt

[djpool]

suspenders

[djpool]

A picture of LT.Fassbender

[djpool]

These next two uniforms came from Bob Hritz. He obtained them from the same vet as the two tunics posted by Drew Wright. First up is the special tunic of POA volunteers. This style tunic was only worn on the Western Front (at least thats what I've read).

[djpool]

Field grey cherkeska and Kubanka.Bob said the eagle was missing on the Cherkeska when he got it. He later replaced it. I believe this Cherkeska was probably worn by a German cadre member serving with a Cossack unit.

[Bob Hritz]

Jim,

That eagle was not replaced and is how I got it from the intelligence NCO.

Bob Hritz