karstjager collar patch

[ben haynes]

hello, was the karstjager division collar patch issued and worn by members of the 24th ss division? thanks to all.

regards Ben

[Ian Hulley]

Go on then, I'll bite .... What do you think was a 'Karstjager' collar patch ?

Ian.

[Basil]

I've seen a picture of a 'used' one but I've never seen a picture of one being worn. Having said that, the most common of the Dachau-type foreign volunteer tabs are the ones that weren't widely issued or worn, whilst the 'Karstjaeger' tabs are relatively rare, which suggests that if they were actually manufactured in bulk, they might have entered the distribution chain.

On the other hand, the known examples may only be prototypes...

[Askold]

How rare are such tabs? I've only seen two (both on this forum). One belongs to Bob Hritz and I can't remember the other. Bob's was actually worn too.

[PBR]

Hello,

I've seen several hundreds of pictures related to the 24. Karstjaeger division and I can tell you for sure that there was not even a single one with the Karstdistel tab depicted on it.
I can tell you that the Karstjager's Reichsdeutsches, Volksdeutsches and the most of foreign volunteers used the runic tab: amongst +\- 1000 pictures I've noticed just two times (two individuals, one on the field and one probably from a Death Card)the blank tab in use by the soldiers of that unit.

I strongly suspect that the Karstdistel tab was used by very, very, very, very-very few individuals, so, since at the present day there's not even a single picture known showing the Karstdistel tab in use pre-1945, I would say that two "original" Karstdistel tabs (both used...) are much much more of what I would expect (and belive...).

PS-As far as I know I own the only picture known at the present day of what "seem" to be the Karstdistel in use, but it's unfortunately very blurry and too small to be 100% certain.

Just my two cents
Best Regards

[Ludwig]

Can we please see a picture of what collar tab you are talking about?

[PBR]

Can we please see a picture of what collar tab you are talking about?

Hello Ludwig,

I'm really sorry but since is going to be published soon for the first time I cannot post here right now, you need to wait few months.

Sorry about that.
Best Regards

[Ludwig]

But a fake then? Just to show the pattern?

[Bob Hritz]

This is an original tunic removed Kartsjaeger collar tab.

I would think looking at hundreds of photos is a bit of a slight research. It took me 40 years and tens of thousands of photos to find a photo of the Free Indian SS collar tab being worn.

Bob Hritz

[Ludwig]

Many thanks Bob!

[PBR]

Hello Bob,

Since you say your researched about this kind of subjects for 40 years, maybe you are able to post even a single picture with the Karstdistel worn on the field or do you know anybody who does?

Best Regards

[Bob Hritz]

Mr. TK,

I do not have a photo, but believe I have seen one. Of course, it was years ago and I do not possess the perfect memory.

I was researching the SS Fries Indien Legion and have a tunic worn collar tab that many said did not exist. It took 40 years of searching before I found a photo of an Indian volunteer, in France, wearing the collar tab and sleeve shield.

I was making the point that a few hundred photos do not make for very strong research.

To this day, I am looking for the viking ship collar tab to be seen in an original photo. I do know that I don't make statements based on a few hundred photos.

Bob Hritz

[PBR]

Mr.Hritz,

If you read better my post I've never said the Karstdistel tab did not exist, I said there's no picture known at the present day to confirm it was used on the field, I said that if it was very but very very few individuals (maybe 10, 20 no more for sure) worn it, so I said that two "used" original Karstdistel tabs on one forum are definitely too much for me.

I've have even said that I think I own the only picture known, maybe the one you saw years back, of that tab worn, but that the image is definitely too blurry to be 100% certain.

So the point you was trying to make have no sense at all since I meant I saw around 1000 Karstjager pictures amongst tens and tens thousands of WSS pictures, so I would say that 1000 Karstjager pictures are quite a strong research and I really doubt there would be many people on this forum that will ever have even the slight chance to obtain I don't say 1000 but even 100 pictures related to a very oscure unit such the Karstjager.

So the only statements here are not mine.

Best Regards

[Ian Hulley]

Well I'll be damned (again) I've never seen that one before. Many thanks for sharing Bob.

Ian.

[Ludwig]

Have you ever thought about writing a book, presenting your collection, Bob?