Britisches Freikorps insignia?

[Der Texaner]

I’ve always been intrigued about a SS group made up of captured British soldiers. From what I’ve been able to learn, this was a very small group of men, 50 or less, but it did in fact exist. To my question, does anyone know of, or even own an original sleeve shield or cuff title? Many thanks...

Best Wishes
Joel

[Paul.B.]

I’ve always been intrigued about a SS group made up of captured British soldiers. From what I’ve been able to learn, this was a very small group of men, 50 or less, but it did in fact exist. To my question, does anyone know of, or even own an original sleeve shield or cuff title? Many thanks...

Best Wishes
Joel

Joel some members of this unit removed and threw away their insignia on the way to the front.
I don't think many if any of these guys wished to be captured wearing the insignia of a traitor.

[Der Texaner]

Thank you, Paul. I’ve always had a hard time believing any British soldier would accept Nazi ideology. It would be akin to a US Marine joining ISIS in my opinion. But I do know the Freikorps did exist though and I’m just wondering if anything from them survived WWII. Thanks again...

-Joel

[FrenchVolunteer]

Hi,

member Basil on the WAF is the specialist on the BFC unit.

You will find answers to all your questions on the various topics opened over the years on the WAF, especially those last two :

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=898912

Post #11 by Basil on the produced insignia for the BFC :
Supposedly 800 sets of insignia were produced and each member received two sets; one in grey embroidery and one in bullion for their 'best' uniform. They were delivered to the barracks in Hildesheim where the BFC was based in April 1944 and it seems to me possible that they were lost when the barracks was flattened in an air raid in March 45. Alternatively they went to Dresden with the BFC in September 44 and were left there when the BFC moved to Berlin in Feb 45.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=908717

Post #9 & #11 by Basil about a said confirmed original Soldbuch, EKM and Union Jack patch probably still in the New Zealand Defense Forces archives (tunic was lost) :
The story about Courlander's uniform is true, by the way, although the tunic was actually badged for the 'Kurt Eggers' standarte, into which he had transferred from the BFC. The fact that it was loaned out for amateur theatricals and not returned was confirmed for me by an archivist who worked for the NZDF. The Union Jack patch was one that had been removed from his uniform by Courlander and retained as a souvenir; when he was captured, he still had it with him and it is listed as an 'exhibit' in the copy of his statement to MI5 held in the UK National Archives.
...
The exhibits also included his soldbuch and ID disc which, I suspect, are still likely to be in the archives, together with the Union Jack patch.

To date only poor period pictures exist of the Union Jack shield, collar tab and cufftitle.
No confirmed originals are known, all insignia you may find are reproductions (some made for the TV documentary on the BFC) and "best guesses" on what may have been the original designs.

See You

Vince

[Der Texaner]

Outstanding information, Vince. Thank you very much.

-Joel

[Der Texaner]

After doing some searching and reading old threads, it would appear to me that there are no items that still exist from the British Freikorps.

[Wolfe8918]

Hello,
The members of the British Legion were more concerned with fighting communism and holding back Bolshevism rather than betraying their own country, so I can understand that aspect at least. Not that its a great reason, but the Soviets and communism were monsters in their own right who conquered and pillaged their way across Eastern Europe. In terms of surviving relics I believe that in the Black Watch armoury in Montreal, Quebec, Canada they possess a collar tab from the BFC. They also possess a naval war flag from a significant German vessel (I believe its the Prinz Eugen but I could be wrong). Their website is fairly outdated but it could be worth reaching out.

[Der Texaner]

Edited to add that this seems to be a post-war photo. I got it from an article about Roy Courlander, and I'm not sure exactly who that is, but it wouldn't be Courlander if its post-war.

-Joel

[Der Texaner]

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[Der Texaner]

I didn't know 2 sleeve shields were produced for the BFC.

[Der Texaner]

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[Der Texaner]

Thank you, Paul. I’ve always had a hard time believing any British soldier would accept Nazi ideology. It would be akin to a US Marine joining ISIS in my opinion. But I do know the Freikorps did exist though and I’m just wondering if anything from them survived WWII. Thanks again...

-Joel

To answer my own question, the corporal in the first photo did survive the war and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He ended up serving 7 years and then moved to Australia.

[Gary Wood]

I didn't know 2 sleeve shields were produced for the BFC.

The first photo you show is post # 10 is from the Andrew mollo film “it happened here” so not a wartime photo

[Der Texaner]

The first photo you show is post # 10 is from the Andrew mollo film “it happened here” so not a wartime photo

Thank you, Gary, so that is not Roy Courlander? I'll edit it saying its not wartime.

[JOHN JONES]

Bfc

This is always worth a watch.
Looks like one Solbuch, is the only item to survive.
Or at least that is all that the archive would show, at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwfIkoRjMw


John.