SS Xmas Kameradschaftsabend (battalion size) unknown nice location and date ?

[FrenchVolunteer]

Hi,

a friend would be happy to get more infos on the location of this SS Xmas Kameradschaftsabend which took place in a beautiful location (Castle ? Church ?).

We can clearly see at least one DRK sister and many other women, some of them in the Military forces; or the BDM.
Some officers can be seen.

Which unit could it be ?

You can notice the St. Nicolas flag on the left.

On the back, some Xmas trees near the weapons.

Could it be a pre-war celebration ?

See You

Vince

[Luciusdegeer]

Vince,
this is the old (19th century) building of the Antwerp Stock Exchange (the oldest stock exchange in the world).
Building was abandoned around 2000 and left to decay. Should now be renovated and turned into a Marriott hotel.
Flag you mentioned is in fact the city coat of arms of St Niklaas (St Nicolas), near Antwerp.
Look on the internet under 'handelbeurs Antwerpen'.

Bien à toi,

Lucius

[FrenchVolunteer]

Hello Lucius,

many thanks for your incredible help, yes you find it !

Below are pictures of the "Bourse du commerce" building as it is as of today.

We can easily match the period picture, thanks to a darker stone in the wall.

Now we have to identify the SS unit... Could it be the "Hitlerjugend" during the winter 1943-1944 ?

See You

Vince

[Martin Stiles]

cheers

Now this is what this forum is about!
What a great response

[FrenchVolunteer]

Hi,

i'm pretty sure that this is a still unknown unit of the "Hitlerjugend", it may be confirmed by the Hitlerjugend flags on the top right side with the SS flag.

The division was located in this area, and i'm sure we can get more infos in the dozen of books published on the division.

See You

Vince

[Remy Spezzano]

Vince,

You may be right about these men belonging to the 12. SS HJ Division.
If you look at the stage area you can see they must have marched there from where they are stationed. You can see the K98 rifles nicely stacked and the helmets and field equipment on the ground. Good eye on your part!

Remy

[John A.]

No cuff titles...

Looking as carefully as I can at all left sleeves, where visible, I only see 1 possible
cuff title, on the officer who is sitting facing the camera, in the center row of
tables, third table from the bottom, second from left, next to the lady with the white (nurse?) cap.
I don't see any silver from decorations on him, such as Infantry Assault Badge, wound badge, etc.
Lack of cuff titles would fit with the HJ Division, as I recall.

There appear to be 2 possible actual HJ members, if I am seeing their armbands
correctly. In the upper left corner of the photo, the top row of tables, left side,
facing the camera, the second person from the left, and the second person from
the right (same table) appear to possibly be wearing HJ armbands with black uniforms?

Most seem to be lower enlisted men. I see 1 NCO (collar tresse) with his back to the camera,
and directly across the table from him is an Unterscharfüher. They are on the right side row
of tables, third table from the bottom if you count the part of a table visible in the lower right
corner of the photo. They are sitting at the left end of the table with a female sitting at the
narrow (aisle) end between them.

If you go to the officer sitting by the lady with the white nurses' cap, and move one table in that
column closer to the camera, there appears to be a possible Unteroffizier-Antwörter, based on tresse
loop on epaulette, sitting facing the camera. He is third from left on his side of the table. On the right
end of his table, also facing the camera, appears to be an NCO (collar tresse.)

I don't see any recognizable decorations, suggesting either new replacements, or soldiers who have not
spent much or any time in combat yet? Not even buttonhole ribbons for EK2, Ostfront or KVK.

Without magnification, that's about all I can do, and some are educated guesses.
I hope this helps!

Luciusdegeer, that was fantastic that you could identify the exact building!!! Well done!!

John