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1925 ALPINA MILITARY POCKET WATCH CONV & MEMORABLILIA
Written by GoldSmithWatchWorks Thursday, 13 January 2011 19:46
READY TO WEAR
Restored & Serviced
1925
MILITARY
ALPINA
POCKET WATCH CONVERSION
WITH
BLACK DIAL
CHROMED STEEL CASE
EXHIBITION CRYSTAL CASE BACK
1925 HIGH GRADE ALPINA MOVEMENT
BI-METALLIC MICROMETER REGULATOR
SIGNED
ALPINA – 1110 – 182,597.
Diameter (with crown): 52.00 mm
Diameter (without crown): 47.00 mm
Watch crystal diameter: 43.00 mm
Thickness: 15.00 mm
RUNNING AND KEEPING
EXCELLENT TIME
AND
OUR TOP OF THE LINE
DOUBLE CONTRAST STITCHED & PADDED
BLACK FINISHED
NEW LUXURY VINTAGE STYLE
MILITARY CHRONOGRAPH STRAP
WITH
STAINLESS STEEL
PUSH BUTTON DEPLOYMENT
ENCASED IN A
GERMAN
MILITARIA
SHADOW BOX
WITH
REMOVABLE
WATCH HOLDER
SO YOU MAY
REMOVE THE WATCH
FOR WEARING
WHEN NOT ON DISPLAY
(PICTURES WILL BE POSTED)
AND
FREE ONE YEAR GSW LIMITED WARRANTY
FREE ONLINE APPRAISAL WITH INFO TO INSURE
US CONTINENTAL SHIPPING
WATCH BY ITSELF
25.00
WATCH W/FULL
DISPLAY & MEMORABILLIA
INSURED WITH SIGNATURE
GROUND DELIVERY
10.00 ADDITIONAL
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
PLEASE CONTACT GSW FOR INTERNATIONAL
WATCH WITH MEMORABILIA BOX
WITH SIGNATURE AND INSURANCE
(WE ARE EXPLORING THE BEST WAY TO SHIP)
PAYMENTS AVAILABLE ON THIS OFFER
FREE 800 438 6894 TOLL FREE SUPPORT
INTERNATIONAL +17708311257
M-SAT 11AM - 7 PM EST
CONTINENTAL USA shipping IS 2 day air w/signature & insurance from Suwanee, Georgia, for a flat fee of 15.00 (unless stated otherwise) BEST PACKING and SHIPPING AVAILABLE .
International Clients pay a flat 25.00 (unless stated otherwise) for registered w/signature & insurance and are responsible for any CUSTOM FEES, DUTIES, AND/OR TAXES.
GSW NORMALLY SHIPS WITHIN 1 TO 2 BUSINESS DAYS. WEEK END SHIPPING IS NOT AVAILABLE IN THE USA.
MORE GREAT DEALS IN OUR EBAY STORE
GSW HAS TO MAKE A PROFIT. PLEASE READ OUR OFFERS THOROUGHLY TO KNOW THE QUALITY & DEPENDABILITY OF THE WATCHES WE ARE OFFERING. THERE ARE PLENTY OF VINTAGE WATCHES AVAILABLE ON EBAY, BUT I DOUBT THAT MANY ARE RESTORED WITH THE LOVE AND EXPERTISE AS THOSE OFFERED BY GSW. LET US NOT FORGET THAT GSW WARRANTIES OUR WATCHES. AND, NO MATTER THE AMOUNT OF EXCELLENT WORK PERFORMED BY GSW, 2 WATCHES OUT OF EVERY 50 WILL ULTIMATELY COME BACK FOR FREE FIXES OR ADJUSTMENTS. IT IS SIMPLY A FACT. SO, BUY CHEAP OR BUY FAIRLY WITH OUTSTANDING VALUE AND SUPPORT. IT IS YOUR CHOICE
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Alpina
1883
1883 and German Watchmaker Gottlieb Hauser
The Union Horlogère (UH) or Vereinigte Uhrmacher Alpina (VUA) was founded by Gottlieb Hauser1883 as an association of leading manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers to unify the purchase and distribution of watch and clock parts. Soon genuine calibres were designed, and manufactured by the Alpina *Ebauche Factory of Duret & Colonnaz in Geneva.
* Ébauche: an incomplete watch movement which sold sets of loose parts, comprising the main plate, bridges, train, regulator, winding and setting mechanism without the timing system, escapement and the mainspring.
1888
Alpina Glashütte 1909-1922
The First World War
During the First World War, major capital flow restrictions and import/export restrictions restricted cused problems for Alpina. Finally in 1917, towards the end of the war, the Association "Union Horlogère" was dissolved. Two separate anonymous societies were incorporated: the Union Horlogère SA in Bienne, Switzerland and the Alpina Deutsche Uhrmacher-Genossenschaft G.m.b.H. in Berlin, Germany.
After WWI
The representatives of Union Horlogère sold high quality watches primarily under the Alpina brand. Each watchmaker, manufacturer or specialized shop that wanted to become a member had to apply. Membership allowed each representative to benefit from the purchase of Alpina watches. Each member was guaranteed to be the only Alpina representative in his or her town with the exception if the town was large enough to support more than one representative.The Association fixed retail prices. Advertising was entirely paid the Association from its common funds coming from subscriptions, entry fees and subsidies calculated on suppliers' turnover.
The Alpina Gruen Gilde 1929-1937
In 1929 the American brand Gruen merged with Alpina forming "Alpina Gruen Gilde SA", the largest community of interests that ever existed in the horological field. The quality of Alpina and Gruen watches improved. Models such as the "Doctor's Watch" produced by the Aegler factory -- Rolex later bought the Aegler factory-- and was distributed under the names of Alpina, Gruen, Alpina-Gruen and Rolex ("Prince"). But the merger was of short duration. Gruen restricted Alpina access to its USA members and attempted to sell watches higher priced than Alpina, the two brands separated in 1937 and Alpina Union Horlogère SA continued alone.
Alpina's best sellers
In 1933, Alpina presented its first "sports-watch", the "Blockuhr" in steel- patented a new type of crown (Brevet 1464).- the "Alpina 4" in 1938 1) anti magnetic, 2) waterproof 3) Incabloc anti-shock system, 4) stainless steel.
The Second World War
While the Union Horlogère had separated in three legally independent companies during the First World War, relationships were again under intense scrutiny during World War II. Import and capital flow restrictions as well as travel problems suppressed many of its activities. Eventually, the Allied Forces pressed the Swiss Alpina Union Horlogère to drop usage of the Alpina name in Germany. The German association then adopted the name Dugena (Deutsche Uhremacher-Genossenschaft Alpina), which became their new trademark
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"FLIEGERTRUPPEN"
WWI: 1915 -1918 -ALSO POST WWI German Fliegertruppen GERMAN AERIAL DETACHMENTS
WWI: Pre-Luftwaffe" was called the Luftstreitkräfte and very early in the war as Die Fliegertruppen deutschen Kaiserreiches (The flier troops [OF] the German empire)
WWI : P.u.W.: (POLISH) Prüfanstalt und Werft der Fliegertruppen - The Test Institute and Workshops of the flying troops) CREATED BOMBS TO DROP FROM GERMAN AIRCRAFT
WWI: Eigentum Der Fliegertruppen = Property of the flier troops/flying corps
somwtimes " FLZ " the mark of the Prussian air corps in WWI Fleiger (flyer) und Luftfahrt (aviation)
P.u.W. (Prüfanstalt und Werft der Fliegertruppen - The Test Institute and Workshops of the flying troops)
WWII: THE SWISS AIR FORCE (Swiss Standard German is used in writing)
.
ALPINA
VUA
ca. 1925: 182597
(Vereinigte Uhrmacher Alpina)
THIS PRISTINE DIAL IS SIGNED
EIGENTUM DER FLIEGERTRUPPEN
ALPINA
I AM SURE THE DIAL WAS RESTORED
WHEN THE WATCH WAS CONVERTED
IT WAS ORIGINALLY A POCKET WATCH
IT WAS PURCHASED FROM A SELLER
ON EBAY FROM EASTERN EUROPE
WE HAVE PURCHASED WAR RELATED WATCHES
FROM THIS VENDOR THAT ALSO WERE MAGNIFICENT
WE ARE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT
THE MOVEMENT IS GENUINE ALPINA
ALSO THAT THE SERIALS & MOVEMENT
DATE THIS WATCH TO 1925
IT WAS MADE IN GERMANY
BY GERMAN WATCH MAKER ALPINA
THE SAME ALPINA THAT SOLD WATCHES
TO THE GERMAN FLIEGERTRUPPEN
MOST EIGENTUM DER FLIEGERTRUPPEN
(PROPERTY OF THE FLYING CORPS)
HAD REVERSE DIALS
YET THERE WERE
AREOPLANE DASH WATCHES
AND
OTHER POCKET WATCHES
THAT WERE SOLD TO THE
GERMAN MILITARY
THE SAME TERM
WAS UTILIZED AFTER WWI
AND
THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES
CONTINUED TO BUY WATCHES
FOR THE FLIEGERTRUPPEN
THE PHOTO OF MUSSOLINI
AT THE TOP OF THIS OFFER
TITLED
"Mussolini bei Fliegertruppen"
IS FROM THE
FEDERAL GERMAN ARCHIVES
AND
WAS TAKEN IN 1932
WELL AFTER WWI ENDED
IN 1918.
THE Luftwaffe
WAS FORMED IN 1935
MILITARY BLACK DIAL
WITH
60 MINUTE OUTER TRACK BORDER
WHITE ARABIC NUMERALS EVERY 5 MINUTES
WHITE ARABIC NUMERALS 1-11
MILITARY/ALPINA LOGO AT 12
HASH MARKS EVERY 5 MINUTES
SUB-SECONDS DIAL
60 SECOND OUTER CHAPTER RING€
STEEL BREGUET HANDS
DIAL SIGNED
MILITARY/ALPINA TRIANGLE LOGO
AND
EIGENTUM
DER
FLIEGERTRUPPEN
AND
ALPINA
IN
WHITE ENAMEL LETTERING
THIS
THREE PIECE
WATCH CASE IS CONSTRUCTED OF
CHROMED STEEL
AND
FEATURES
ROTATING REMOVABLE TOP BEZEL
AND
EXHIBITION
GLASS CASE BACK
EXCELLENT CONDITION
MOVEMENT IS A
HIGH GRADE
Alpina 1110
VUA
(Vereinigte Uhrmacher Alpina)
ca. 1925: 182597
WITH
GOLD PLATED
LEVER ESCAPEMENT
BI-METALIC MICROMETER
BREGUET HAIR SPRING
INVAR ELEMENTS
Features
stem wind and set
sub second
Data
19''', Dm= 42.9mm
H= 5.7mm
f = 18000 A/h
15 jewels
f = 18000 A/h
power reserve 38h
MOVEMENT SIGNED
ALPINA – 1110 – 182,597.
DOUBLE CONTRAST STITCHED & PADDED
BLACK FINISHED
MILITARY CHRONOGRAPH STRAP
WITH
STAINLESS STEEL
PUSH BUTTON DEPLOYMENT
CASE AND LUG CONDITION
EXCELLENT
GERMAN MILITARIA INCLUDED IN THE HISTORICAL
SHADOW BOX ALONG WITH THIS MAGNIFICENT ALPINA
1
WW2 Winterhilfswerk Talisman Innsbruck
,
Hitler publicises the winter welfare organization (13.09.1933) - 13.09.2010 " Our groschens create the ammunition in the fight against hunger and Kälte" - in such a way a newspaper wrote, after Hitler had publicised the winter welfare organization on 13 September 1933. Soon one murmured however that with the hundreds million of realm Marks also ammunition was paid for armament.
German Soldiers in WW2 wore a Winterhilfswerk "Talisman" with names and symbols of German cities, Towns and occupied countries. The profits from sale of these "Talisman" were for poor people in winter (for coal, warm clothes, food), and, after 1941, for warm uniforms for Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front. Many soldiers wore these Winterhilfswerk tags with the names of the towns which they came from along with ID/Dog-Tags.
We chose this particular Talisman from the many that have survived due to the history of Innsbruck and its importance to all sides as an ancient cross road. In fact, it was one of the most bombed cities in the Axis territories; the Allies completed 22 Raids inflicting 461 casualties, with 3147 buildings damaged.
Besides the marshalling yards, many historic monuments were destroyed, including: the Servitenkloster monastery (1614-1616) and the Bartholomäuskapelle, one of the oldest buildings in Innsbruck (13th century). The Landhaus or old federal state parliament of 1724, city hall, St. James's Cathedral (1717-1724), Stift Wilten monastery (1651-1667), the Jesuit Church (1627-1637) and several buildings in the historic center were badly damaged.
Innsbruck is the capital city of the federal state of Tyrol in western Austria. It is located in the Inn Valley at the junction with the Wipptal (Sill River), which provides access to the Brenner Pass, some 30 kilometers (19 mi) south of Innsbruck.
Earliest traces suggest initial inhabitation in the early Stone Age. Surviving pre-Roman place names show that the area has been populated continuously. In the fourth century the Romans established the army station Veldidena (the name survives in today's urban district Wilten) at Oenipons (Innsbruck),
The first mention of Innsbruck dates back to the name Oeni Pontum or Oeni Pons which is Latin for bridge (pons) over the Inn (Oenus), which was an important crossing point over the river Inn. The city's seal and coat of arms show a bird's-eye view of the Inn bridge, a design used since 1267.
Innsbruck became the capital of all Tyrol in 1429 and in the fifteenth century the city became a centre of European politics and culture as emperor Maximilian I also resided in Innsbruck in the 1490s.
In 1564 Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria received the rulership over Tirol and other Further Austrian possessions administrated from Innsbruck up to the 18th century.
Up to 1665 a stirps of the Habsburgian dynasty ruled in Innsbruck with an independent court. In the 1620s the first opera house north of the Alps was erected in Innsbruck (Dogana).
In 1669 the university was founded. Also as a compensation for the court as emperor Leopold I again reigned from Vienna and the Tyrolean stirps of the Habsburg dynasty had ended in 1665.
During the Napoleonic wars Tyrol was ceded to Bavaria, ally of France. Andreas Hofer led a Tyrolean peasant army to victory on the Berg Isel against the combined Bavarian and French forces, and then made Innsbruck the centre of his administration.
Innsbruck was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938. The KZ Innsbruck-Reichenau concentration camp was located here
The war ended in Innsbruck on May 3 1945, when the resistance movement liberated and units of the US 103rd Infantry Division entered the city. From December 1943 to April 1945 60 percent of the buildings in Innsbruck were damaged, 461 people were killed.
2
BACK SIGNED "800"
World War II
GERMAN Merit Cross 1st Class With Swords
[JEWELERS REPRODUCTION]
This award was created by Adolf Hitler in 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars (same medal but with a different ribbon). The award was graded the same as the Iron Cross: War Merit Cross Second Class, War Merit Cross First Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross.
The award had two variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service in battle above and beyond the call of duty (but not worthy of an Iron Cross which was more a bravery award), and without swords for meritorious service behind the lines which could also be awarded to civilians.
A total of 118 awards of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross with swords, and 137 awards of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross without swords were awarded. Considering the relative rarity of the award compared with the grades of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, it took on extra meaning..
3
WWII GERMAN Totenkopf BELT BUCKLE
NOTE: WE HAVE TWO BUCKLES WE ARE DECIDING ON.
Why did we chose this German belt buckle in our German WWII Militaria Shadow Box that is designed to store & display this awesome German Alpina Military Watch?
Totenkopf or Totenschädel (plural: Totenköpfe or Totenschädel) is the German word for "skull of a dead man" and is used to describe a military insigne featuring a skull suprapositioned upon crossed long bones; when used in this context it is commonly known as the "death's head" in English. It is distinguished from the similar traditions of the skull and crossbones and the Jolly Roger by the positioning of the bones directly behind the skull.
Though the Skull and Cross Bones were the symbol used by units considered "elite" -i.e. the S.S.- such as the SS Divsion who wore the Skull on one collar lapel and the SS-runes on the other, the history & use of Totenkopf is much longer.
Use of the symbol as a military insignia began with the cavalry of the Prussian army under Frederick the Great. Frederick formed Husaren-Regiment Nr. 5 (von Ruesch), a Hussar regiment commanded by Colonel von Ruesch. These Hussars adopted a black uniform with a Totenkopf emblazoned on the front of their mirlitons and wore it on the field in the War of Austrian Succession and in the Seven Years' War.
During the Napoleonic Wars, when Frederick William, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, was killed in battle, his troops changed the colour of their uniforms to black, with a Totenkopf on their shakos in mourning their dead leader
shakos
The "death's head" continued to be used throughout the Prussian and Brunswick Armed forces until 1918, and some of the stormtroopers that led the last German offensives on the Western Front in 1918 used Death's Head badges
Anton Ludwig August von Mackensen
(6 December 1849 – 8 November 1945)
The Totenkopf was used in Germany throughout the inter-war period, most prominently by the Freikorps. In 1933, it was in use by the regimental staff and the 1st, 5th, and 11th squadrons of the Reichswehr's 5th Cavalry Regiment as a continuation of a tradition from the Kaiserreich.
The Totenkopf was also used as the unit insignia of the Panzer forces of the German Heer (Army) during the Third Reich era, and also by the Panzer units of the Luftwaffe, including those of the elite Fallschirm-Panzerdivision HG.
Flugzeug Junkers Ju 88 1940
Both the 3rd SS Panzer Division and the World War II era Luftwaffe's 54th Bomber Wing Kampfgeschwader 54 were given the unit name "Totenkopf", and used virtually the same graphic skull-crossbones insignia.
The British Army's Queen's Royal Lancers continue to use the skull and crossbones in their emblem, inherited from its use by the 17th Lancers - a unit raised in 1759 following General Wolfe's death in Quebec,
In 1792, a regiment of Hussards de la mort (Death Hussars) was raised to defend the young French Republic from the Austrian attempt to invade France
OTHER FORCES THAT USED OR USE SIMILAR
1-South Korea's 3rd Infantry Division
2-The primarily Prussian 41st Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, Mustered in: June 6, 1861-Mustered out: December 9, 1865 wore a death's head insignia
3- The Portuguese Military Police, the lancers, of the Regimento de Lanceiros 2 use a skull-and-bones image, similar to the totenkopf, in their emblem,
4-The Kingdom of Sweden's Hussar Regiments
5- The White Russian Kornilov regiment
6- the Estonian Kuperjanov's Partisan Battalion
7- During 1943-1945 the Italian Black Brigades and numerous other forces fighting for the Italian Social Republic,
8- United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance Battalions
9- DFSW PL (Direct Fire Support Weapons Platoon) of the 3rd Battalion RAR (Royal Australian Regiment)
10- No. 100 Squadron RAF (Royal Air Force)
4
GENUINE 1940 PHOTO LUFTWAFFE OFFICERS CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS.
Though History denotes the facts of the Brutality and Horror of the Nazi Regime and War machine, many Germans, faced with dim prospects of the depression, multiplied by war reperations caused by the German folly of WWI, joined the military believing they were doing the right thing. Many of these young soldiers, as well as Officers, were ultimately slautered by the Third Reich. Hundreds of thoudsands died on the field and, ultimately, in the Russian Gulag.
We chose this original photo because it depicts German officers and enlisted men in 1940, the year when the all consuming Blitzkreig began and a Victory of a sorts permeated the peoples of Germany, when the educated as well as the illiterate were lead to belive they were superior to the world, when they were celibrating what they believed to be their moment on the world stage.
NOTE:
The US transferred 6,000 German officers to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp that now was under Soviet Union administration. The US also shipped 740,000 German POWs as forced labourers to France. The U.S.also chose to hand over several hundred thousand German prisoners to the Soviet Union in May 1945 as a "gesture of friendship". One million German prisoners died in the Soviet camps between 1941 and 1952
5
WWII GERMAN ARMY FELDGENDARMERIE
MILITARY POLICE STALINGRAD
We chose this small portion of History to be a part of this WWII German Historical Shadow Box due to the fact it'd historical place in the German culture is larger than it's pieces. In fact, no German Military collection would be complete without mention of this unit.
PAIR OF SHOULDER BOARDS WITH NUMBERED BUTTONS
PARTS OF A Feldgendarmerie GORGET that was worn as a breast breast plate held by thick chainse.
Courtesy of WIKI
A Feldgendarmerie gorget with a Wehrmacht uniform
The Feldgendarmerie were part and portion of the German Army of the German Empire and Third Reich for over 200 years. The Feldgendarmerie (English: Field Gendarmerie ) were the military police units of the armies of the German Empire (including the Wehrmacht) from the mid 16th Century until the conclusion of World War II.
The roots of military police in the German armed forces can be traced back to the "Proffoss"of the 16th Century, and the creation of the Feldjagerkorps zu Pferd by Friedrich II in 1740. The primary duties of the Reitendes Feldjagerkorps were to control traffic, to carry important messages, and to protect members of the royal family. Springing from this band was the Feldjagerkorps zu Fuss in 1741 which served both in the Napoleonic Wars and the Franco-Prussian War.
Early incarnations of the Feldgendarmerie came into being on an ad-hoc basis through mobilizations of the Germany army as a whole, most notably in the wars of 1866 and 1870. At the outbreak of the First World War the Feldgendarmerie comprised 33 companies. They each had 60 men and two NCOs. By 1918, the number of companies had been expanded to115 units.
Courtesy of WIKI
A Feldgendarmerie Kübelwagen on the Eastern Front in June 1943.
When Adolf Hitler came to power in 1933, Feldgendarmerie were reintroduced into the Wehrmacht. The new units received full infantry training and were given extensive police powers. A military police school was set up at Potsdam, near Berlin to train Feldgendarmerie personnel. Subjects included Criminal code, general and special police powers, reporting duties, passport and identification law, weapons drill, self-defence techniques, criminal police methodology, and general administration.
Courtesy of WIKI
Feldgendarmerie operating in occupied Russia, July 1941.
The sign says "Partisan danger ahead. Single vehicles Stop! Hold weapons ready.".
NOTE: The Feldgendarmerie of the Waffen-SS had a more sinister nickname - "Kopf Jäger" or "Head Hunters". The name was an obvious referral to the SS "Totenkopf" (Death's Head) skull emblem embroidered on the front of their caps. On their head gear and shoulder boards, the SS- Feldgendarmerie wore the Waffenfarbe orange-red.
All prospective candidates served at a Feldgendarmerie command after the first term of examinations. Courses lasted one year and failure rates were high: in 1935 only 89 soldiers graduated from an initial intake of 219 candidates. Feldgendarmerie were employed within army divisions and as self-contained units under the command of an army corps. They often worked in close cooperation with the Geheime Feldpolizei (English: Secret Field Police), district commanders and SS and Police Leaders.
Courtesy of WIKI
The traditional symbol of the Feldjägers is the Prussian Gardestern
Schwarzen Adlerordens (The order of the black eagle) created by Frederick I of Prussia.
A Feldgendarmerie battalion was attached to each Wehrmacht formation. The staff officer was responsible for maintaining order and discipline, traffic control during large scale troop movements and maintaining transport routes. Each Feldgendarmerie battalion also had support personnel such as cooks, clerks, and armourers.
These battalions were equipped with motorcycles and motorcycle combinations which were armed with MG34 machine guns, Kubelwagens, Field cars such as the Horch 4x4 and 3 ton Opel Blitz lorries and a small number of armoured vehicles as a means of transport.
Personal weapons consisted of small arms such as the excellent Walther PP which was designed as a civilian police pistol (PP-Police Pistole) or the Walther PPK which was favoured by officers whereas the Luger PO8 and Walther P38 were used by other ranks. Automatic machine pistols were carried by NCOs and the Kar 98 rifle was issued but was not widely used. The MG34 and 42 were used as vehicle mounted armament for defending road blocks.
A battalion was subdivided into smaller-sized Truppen which were attached to each division or corps. A Gruppe, a section sized unit, were then assigned to specific field or local commands. Feldgendarmerie sections would also be temporarily assigned to special operations, such as anti-partisan duties. A typical Truppe attached to an Infantry or Panzer Division.
Feldgendarmerie became more popularly known by the pejorative Kettenhunde (English: chained dogs) for the gorget they wore with their uniforms.
Feldgendarmerie served on every front in the war and towards the end were more often employed as regular troops on the front-line and were involved in many desperate counter attacks and defences. Many were decorated for bravery.
During the last days of the war all Feldgendarmerie caught by the Soviets (who had offered a bounty for their capture) could expect to be shot on the spot and many were issued with a second Soldbuch (paybook) and matching ID dog tags.
If in an area where it was fairly likely that prisoners would be taken the Feldgendarm would hand their real paybook into the Felgendarmerie redirection Centre and would receive the false book and tags, which would state the soldiers status as a regular soldier. After the hostilities their real paybook and tags would be returned to them.
At the war's end many Feldgendarmerie, specifically those who had not fallen into Soviet hands, found themselves assigned to police roles by the Allies. They wore an armband as identification which bore the legend "Wehrmactordnungstruppe" (Armed Forces Order Troop) and below this read "Military Police". They were all armed and payment for their services came in the form of increased rations.
With the creation of the Bundeswehr in 1955, the Federal Defence Ministry searched for a new designation and adopted Feldjäger which was a traditional Prussian regiment with some military police type functions
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6
ORIGINAL GERMAN WWII BUTTON RIBBONS
World War 2 Cigarette Cards
Bombing England / Air Raids
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CONDITION WATCH:
EXCELLENT - RUNS EXCELLENT
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