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Guys, we finally have an end to this ballhawks now and all markets will be open again soon. Can't Wait! Rich

Guys, been very distracted by our spiral into despair here in Germany due to the gas situation. I have been busy trying to shift my reliance on gas to having a back up in the form of a couple to three wood burners. I have all the required products now and am waiting for my workmates to set a date to start rebuilding the existing chimneys and cleaning one out. Luckily they are qualified builders and recon its a days work! Being ever the pessimist I will plan for 3 days to cover any unforeseen issues. To give you an idea of what is going on over here right now, my pal paid €3200 last year for his annual heating oil refill, this year he paid in excess of €9000. This is quite simply not sustainable for every household in Germany and will be pushing us into an economic collapse. The knock on of which may take down the EU in its current format. Just my opinion but I think we are being fool hardy getting involved in another US proxy war, what could go wrong with that?

Picked up this Reichsbahn 1st aide supplies tin with the grenade box. 1st one I have encountered. Nice addition to the railway collection.

Cant think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than having a cold one and chatting helmets and collecting. Hope you all are well. Would love to see more collections being post! Cheers! The Afrika Rat

Hi, welcome, it is quiet here but we collectively can probably steer you in the right direction. Best Rich

Ive baton on the fence for now. Going to convert to concrete panels were that wind blows through. Looks like all calmed down now.

Just added this one. 1st I have ever owned. Made at the end of that era, as Hitler had taken power.

Started picking at mine too. Now my beloved puss cat died,i can sort new flooring and carpets. She was 22 and things were getting grim.... It was puppy-pad central towards the end. Still miss the mogg,but it was her time i think.

Thanks Bjorn, hope to smash out a bit more today before work tomorrow. Turning into a nightmare, I have to lift all the floor glue and leveler as it needs to be smooth for the 'click' vinyl.......Ahhhhhhh!

I picked up this can for cheap awhile back, had a split seam in the front and an ugly coat of "baby jobby" green (only way I can describe it. ) So I decided to try my had at Brazing/welding. After a little work I got a satisfactory bond, I smoothed it out with a grinding wheel on my Dremel tool. And repainted can in German Field grey .

Guys, as stated above.

Guys, This short engagement was recorded in the Ulrich Saft book Kriege in der heimat. These photos were taken post war by a young boy that used to play on the wrecked tanks, what a play ground he had! He is now in his 80s and has recently rediscovered these pictures taken before 1949 but after the war. It shows two of the tanks from the battle although he tells me there were 3 British tanks in a row in column of march and they were destroyed on the North South road that goes past the Hotel Kroepke which is still there today. those tanks were on the road circa 3 to 400m South of the hotel just before the slight bend in the road. The Tiger was further South and I will confirm the locations later. The flak was to the North East of the road described above. The old boy (Albert) has offered to walk the locations with me but he is not in the best of health. I will do it as soon as I and he can. Rich

Guys, couple or 5 unusual discs. Happy New Year! Rich

Hi Does anyone know of a collection of the 8th Army News? My Grandfather appeared in an edition once when, as part of Operation Market Garden. Was photographed handing out chocolate to children from his Bren Carrier. I would be really interested in seeking out if there is a collection of photos that were taken at the same time in case there are any others with my Grandfather in them. I have looked on-line but only come across the same one each time. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated. I have attached the photo below for those interested. My Grandfather is the one sitting in the middle at the back with his goggles pulled up. I love this photo. Regards Ben

I have done this a bit back to front and put my first post up and never introduced myself. My main interest is Scottish military history that is relevant to my family although I have found a German connection from a marriage who's brother was killed in Russia.

Hi, I have already learnt something. So the "turtle" helmet shape, of which this of that style isn't it? Was issued as early as WWII. I never knew that. Looking at the elastic version of the chinstrap compared to the later webbing type it does make sense. I have never owned one as the ones I usually come across are shells only and dated quite late. Now I know a little more about their history though they are more interesting. Great job on cleaning the paint off. Truly good work. thank you for sharing.

Guys, I hope you and yours all had a good one. I was not online as I have had a few more shifts due to people being ill and a tight deadline to sort the living room before the kids got here for Christmas. I laid the last bit of floor 7 minutes before I had to drive to Hamburg and collect the kids... Typical... They went home to Cyprus today and I have a whole 3 days to sort my shti before work on the 1st Jan, at least it is double pay! Hope you all have a good new years celibration. Best Rich

Guys, got the Kamine in now! Kamine.mp4

Here are 2 of my Bread bags. The 1st is a "continental" type 1939 dated example. Showing the pre war quality. This one was just added to my collection. The 2nd one is a '41/'42 Tropical version. Showing all web type material, as leather dried out easily in hot dry climates. Olive color. Grey painted d rings.

The logo alone deems itself not militaria related..

Here it is guys. Arrived last week. I've cleaned it up, rubber mallet got out the imperfections and dents. Lid closes proper now as well. I dont intend to do anymore than just preserve it for my display. but will hopefully make or find the innards for it. Before and after cleanup photos.

I am never far from a Guinness.

Hi @Alan Clark and welcome! @Richard Auld is our document expert here, stick around, soon he will stop by.

@Afrikakorpsrat64 cheers!

I've added another M27 to the collection. This one I am very happy to have as it has nearly all of its Black/Green paint. Sadly the liner has seen better days.

Thanks Val for that

this might be a better photo

Just like all my cat's, Im rescuing Troppenhelms now.😄 Just added this one, was a great price $125 US. Missing the Heer shield and strap but I get spare shields all the time, not worried about strap. Its named to an officer I believe, will research this weekend. Its 1941 dated. Need to find a LW one next. This makes 3 Heers in the collection now.

@valseems to have sorted itself out, but if it comes up again I'll let you know. Thanks

I'm not really a religious kind of guy. But a ever so slightly "oh my god" is in order here, I think. I will do some cosmetic renovation on the battery in the coming days. I will try to do some test runs, to see what the Ampere hours capacity are like on this battery as well. I will keep you posted. Best regards Björn

Shown the pics to the German EOD types and none have seen anything of that construction. One even suggested due the material (copper and brass) used in construction that it may be some sort of nautical measuring device? Something towed behind a boat? Dependent on the function of the screw of course? Also if a bomb it would split at the join of the copper and steel? Best Rich

They are copying these too now but I like the look of this one because you have two different buckle centres if you look closely (see highlighted areas). When they copy such items they tend to use two the same, nice score! Perhaps you can salvage a striker system from a similar civilian item, I can keep my eyes open! Best Rich

Guys, like buses, you never see them then another comes along. This is better than the last one?! Rich

Pictures aren't the best but a similar grey was also applied on board by sailors when painting the ships? Not really my area but I remember passing up a grey painted helmet only to meet a pal that was very happy having bought it and he cleared it up for me that the Kriegsmarine used a ship grey paint too. Many Eastern EU states used German surplus after the war, even the Germans did, in particular the BGS, Police and Fire brigade. The forum is very slow as most people seem to prefer Facebook or the other social media type platforms. It has nothing to do with nationality. The busier forum is WAF but be careful it is full of bandits and sharks. Rich

Too small really , copper bombs were 24 lb and made of cast iron or steel . that was my first thought too.

Hi, I can ask my German EOD pals if they have anything on it. Can't say how long till I see one of them but should be before the end of the month. Rich

printers lead is hard and not mailable/bendy, so back then caught a lot of kids out! Obviously without reference to the dodgy catch arrangement and the fact it was single piece stamped.

Its 1st Kings Dragoon Guards. A British Regiment.

800 with no scabbard? plus the fact it was played with. the makers logo faces the back not the front which sez it was taken apart and who knows what else.

Got a nice H.Arld 1942.

Got a nice early entrenching tool , 1939 date an maker marked. The search for an affordable carrier goes on. I have a Finnish made carrier on my other tool at the moment.

i was lucky enough to win this item and to me it looks original. don't know the grade, 'enlisted or officer'. bevel weave looks good on the back. input welcome.

one more addition. a WW1 iron cross with an 800 numbered ring.

OK Guys, here is an Update on the Pickelhaube restoration. It is nearly complete, and faster than I had dreamed possible. I managed to find another Pickelhaube with damaged shell that had almost all of what i needed to restore my shell. The orig. chinstrap was too fragile to use so will keep that separate and use an aged copy. I have a nice Prussian Wappen, from @Gronkollectoron the way to complete this. I could use some nice orig. Prussian discs for it though. I used old WW2 era German thread to sew on front visor.

I like the Tiger , it has a better look to it, and more going on

No that's it complete and in good condition. Unusual from Prag! Good for that price. The more ussual ones over here are around €15 -20 and up to 25 from dealers.

I have been looking for an A-11 Elgin watch for a while but I am not willing to pay 400 plus. I found this one at a Flea market and bought it for 125. The band is crap but the watch runs good. The back is very hard to read but under a loop it says Type A-11 Spec. No. 94-27834 Se ???9-1434 M No. 1783 ORD. No. W535AC-2805 Elgin. Any help on the history of this watch appreciated. Thanks.

Was a gift from a friend. Original WSS Croatian Vol. sleeve patch.

The M39 Tornister, was part of a major update to the soldiers equipment, and was implemented in 1939. The new system was a more versatile equipment type, wich could be used in different variations, and would allow the transport of more equipment in the Tornister. The main difference was the introduction of the Y-straps and the A-frame (Sturmgepäck) The Y-straps was to be worn on the field uniforms at all times, and was used as extra relieve for carrying the weight of the standard equipment on the combat uniform. (Taking the strain of the internal carrying straps and the belt hooks on the combat tunics) The introduction of the Y-straps ment that there was no more use of the integrated carryingstraps on the Tornister. Instead the Tornister was issued with (adjusteable) leather flaps with hooks, to hook them onto the D-rings on the Y-straps. Here is a very nice, 1940 dated M39 Tornister. The first thing you notice, when telling the difference on a M39 versus M34, is that the M39 has a leather strap with stud-button mounted on the lower parts of the outside lid of the Tornister. This leather strap is there to secure the A-frame to the Tornister. And of corse, the lack of carrying straps, replaced with hooks for attaching to the Y-straps instead. The M39 Tornister, also has D-rings attached to the top of the Tornister. These are for hanging the hooks of the A-frame. The M39 Tornister also have the loops for the button-on Mantelriemen - equipment straps. It does MOSTLY look like the M34 Tornister on the inside, but it does no longer have the integrated pocket for the messtin inside, The messtin was now to be worn outside of the backpack, mounted on the A-frame. This Tornister is in more or less un-used condition, and I do have a matching 1940 dated Y-strap from the very same factory for it: ..And with the A-frame with pouch and messtin, Wehrmacht blanket and a tentsheet mounted on the outside: