Björn Posted October 30, 2019 Share Posted October 30, 2019 (edited) This is a long story. I n 2011 a uniform coat belonging to a Stabshelferin des Heeres surfaced from the attic belonging to a family in Oslo, Norway. The family own a old compartment building in Oslo. The building has been owned by the same family since the early 1900's, and they have been renting out apartments to tenants since the building was new. The interesting thing is that every time a tenant has been moving out, the family have cleaned and made the apartment ready for a new tenant. But instead of throwing away things left behind by earlier tenants, they have just put everything left behind, up in the attic of the building. And they have done this from the early years of renting out, until the present day. The family that owns the building had found the coat in this attic, among lots and lots of other stuff. So they contacted a friend of mine, who is also a collector, and asked him to help them with finding the value of the coat, and to help them find a buyer for it. I was fortunate to get the possibility to give the family a good offer for the coat, and they accepted my offer. The Wehrmachtshelferin Corps was a volunteer organization. The German "Helferinnenkorps" worked closely with the German army with purely military administrative and communications tasks. The Luftwaffe also had a auxiliary corps, which was responsible for communication but also the operation and use of flak cannons in Germany. Also the German Kriegsmarine had their own Helferinnen. The female organization for the Wehrmachts Helferinnen was established as early as 1939-1940 at the outbreak of war. There were recruitment offices for these in all the major (occupied) cities in Europe. The earliest pictures I have seen of the wehrmachts-Helferinnen, were from the summer of 1940, in Paris. There are big differences in the numbers from one source to another, about how many women enlisted in military service in the Wehrmacht. One source I have come across operates with 500.000 women, while another source state that it was closer to a million different Wehrmachts-Helferinnen. But either way, it's relatively rare to find surviving Helferinnen uniforms and especially here in the Norway. Here is the coat that I bought from the family in Oslo: The coat is made out of stone gray wool, just like the early M36 Heer trousers. It has a full rayon lining inside, and small buttons all the way around inside, to acommodate a button-on cold weather inner coat or extra insulation. Detail picture of the internal pocket. Cuff with buttoned flap and cufftitle The cufftitle itself is very neatly hand sewn to the coat. The coat is in exellent condition, with only a minimum of wear to it. Most prominent sign of wear are around the cuffs. A couple of pictures of the fake split in the back of the skirt. The split is sewn together, but is made in such a fashion, that it can easily be opened up. Makes sence, if the owner was intending to ride a bicycle, or maybe even ride a horse. And a overall picture of the coat with the belt buttoned together. The waistbelt has been somewhat modified, as there should proberbly be a type of buckle closure to the belt. This exact model of coat is sometimes found or seen in use on original wartime photos. This picture is of a few Nachrichtenhelferinnen, using the same type of coat. Here's a picture of a Nachrichtenhelferin that Is wearing the Nachrichtenhelferin des Heeres cufftitle on her coat. Edited October 30, 2019 by Björn 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted October 30, 2019 Share Posted October 30, 2019 Great Text Bjorn, and enlightening us of this German coat/ Mantle.....Super Images also! No wonder you need a Museum added to your house ....you have so many superb items....Don't forget to build a garage / museum for your vehicles! Many & Very Best Wishes....Thanks Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted October 30, 2019 Author Share Posted October 30, 2019 Thanks, Ian. I have a little more on the coat also: I've bought a great original tie pin for Stabshelferin. These tie pins are most often referred to as "civil employee" tie pins. But they are not. This type of needle is found in pictures -and only in pictures of Stabshelferinnen. Here are some reference pictures of Stabshelferinnen where this exact pin is in use, which I have found on the net: And here Is the Pin that I bought. And it looks good, mounted on a tie, and with a shirt under the coat. The tie and shirt are not original wartime issue. The original shirt should be in a sort of light gray-greenish color. Im still looking for one of those. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted October 30, 2019 Author Share Posted October 30, 2019 (edited) The next thing that I was able to find, was a pair of Wehrmacht issue or type woman's riding boots. The boots are made just like the male officers boots, they have the same cut and seams but they are in a very small size. Euro size 37 the equivalent of US size 6,5. And the boots have 3,5 cm high heels.. I have come across a photo of Luftwaffe helferinnen, that seem to be wearing the same type of boots. Notice the high heels in the picture: (also notice the woman closest to the camera appears to be wearing a luftwaffe breast eagle on her overcoat) Edited October 30, 2019 by Björn 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 The next item that I managed to aquire for this uniform was the female breadbag and canteen. The "Weibliche Brotbeutel" or female bread bag is a funny thing really. It is more or less a military issue of a vomans purse. The breadbag has two rooms inside, where one of the rooms can be buttoned shut. The outer closure is a zipper. Zipper detail. I've folded a small towel and put it inside the breadbag, to help it keep a nice shape. The special strap for the female breadbag, with a D-ring to attach the canteen. The canteen is a early 1940 cup-less model. It has a nice, early type aluminium clip. The next thing I was able to get, is the very rare M43 type field cap for a Heer Stabshelferin. It has the correct twisted green/white cord around the crown. Notice how the Stabshelferinnen carry the eagles on their caps. The eagles of the Stabshelferinnen are mounted high on the crown of the caps, whereas the Nachrichtenhelferinnen wore the eagles on the lower parts of their caps. The eagles are of the standard wehrmacht type with green backing cloth. Nachrichtenhelferinnen had black backing cloth on their eagles. I bought this hat from Ed Hicks in the US. The hat was a war booty and was brought back to the US by a veteran of the 14th Armored Div. The cap is in untouched condition since the war. The inside of the cap: Notice the officer style metal eagle on the cap. This was as far as I have found not un-heard of. Stabshelferinnen had a much higher rank than the Nachrichtenhelferinnen. They were regarded as, and in many cases they had actual officers positions and duties. Here's a wartime picture of a Stabshelferin with a officers cap eagle on her sidecap: As far as I know to date, there are among collectors only known 4 surviving M43 type caps with the twisted white green cord for Stabshelferin. At the time being, I own 2 of them 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 (edited) After collecting all these parts, I just had to get a suitable mannequin for this uniform. The choise fell on a pretty Hindsgaul mannequin from 1987. I feel that it came out quite well and displays very nicely. Edited October 31, 2019 by Björn 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 And if this wasn't enough, I managed to do a good trade for a complete gasmask in very good condition to go with the kit. It's a D type gas mask canister - meaning Dicht - waterproof. It has a rubber seal in the lid. The set is in exellent condition. But the main reason that I went for this one, was the nametag inside the lid. It is named to a Stabshelferin Luise Kaiser. Finding a original german gas mask that is named to a woman is not easy (althou I have seen a couple). Finding a german gas mask that is named to a stabshelferin is like finding the famous strand of hay in a stack of needles. (I have seen one other, but named to a Luftwaffe Stabshelferin) How many Heer issues that may have survived? I think you can count them on one finger. I have not before or since seen another. But it looks good anyway. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 This uniform has been featured and published in the book, "Last ride of the Valkyries" by Lieutenant colonel J.L. Pool in 2016. The coat itself btw, is also the only known surviving example of this type or model since the war. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davejb Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 9 hours ago, Björn said: And if this wasn't enough, I managed to do a good trade for a complete gasmask in very good condition to go with the kit. It's a D type gas mask canister - meaning Dicht - waterproof. It has a rubber seal in the lid. The set is in exellent condition. But the main reason that I went for this one, was the nametag inside the lid. It is named to a Stabshelferin Luise Kaiser. Finding a original german gas mask that is named to a woman is not easy (althou I have seen a couple). Finding a german gas mask that is named to a stabshelferin is like finding the famous strand of hay in a stack of needles. (I have seen one other, but named to a Luftwaffe Stabshelferin) How many Heer issues that may have survived? I think you can count them on one finger. I have not before or since seen another. But it looks good anyway. Blimey, I thought at first that Dummy was a real woman, Those are very neat photos plus excellent uniforms you have, and the cap is a rare addition, very nice collection Bjorn,And if that dummy had been a real girl, I would have wanted her name and address lol 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 Absolutely awesome @Björn! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Auld Posted October 31, 2019 Share Posted October 31, 2019 Bjorn, Cracking display! Does the jacket have any markings, could these have been made as private purchase/manufacture? Do you have a war time picture of the 'hand bag' in use? I have one too and it was suggested some time ago that these were post war DRK? Does yours have any markings or dates? Is there any existing paper to proove these are war time? Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted November 1, 2019 Author Share Posted November 1, 2019 Thank you for the nice comments, guys. I really appreciate it @Davejb, haha - I think you'd have to get in line to get her number - I would be wanting her number too 😍 @Richard Auld, I have not found any markings inside the coat yet - But I think that I have not checked inside the internal pocket yet (I have found factory markings inside the internal pocket of at least one or Übermantel / Wachmantel that I have) I am pretty sure that these clothings are issue clothing. I have not yet found a issue list for Stabshelferinnen, or Nachrichtenhelferinnen, But I did come across a official 1943 list for SS helferinnen, and here the Wintermantel is among the issue inventory: The hand bag is another issue thou. These are commonly regarded by collectors, as original ww2 Helferin Brotbeuteln, and if you do a google search, you''ll find quite a few examples: https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&biw=1776&bih=808&tbm=isch&sxsrf=ACYBGNTO6X4U1wfFgvpVa2EakZqkgXF2ag%3A1572563305898&sa=1&ei=aWm7Xf-6NqXrrgT9iIDABw&q=helferin+brotbeutel&oq=helferin+brotbeutel&gs_l=img.3..35i39.61008243.61012439..61012909...0.0..0.324.1311.1j8j0j1......0....1..gws-wiz-img.uA4ekpgnI8c&ved=0ahUKEwi_k_DpzsflAhWltYsKHX0EAHgQ4dUDCAc&uact=5 I have at least two of them with carrying straps, and there is some faint inkstampings in at least one of them, if I remember correctly. I'll have to get back on this. BUT; When searching for them in original wartime pictures, I have only found them pictured with DRK helferinnen... So the question is not really if they are postwar or not, but wether these breadbags were a DRK issue bag only. In the 1943 SS inventory list, there is a mention of a Black service hand bag - 70210 - Diensttasche, Schwarz. So I must try to look through pictures that are available of stabs-and nachrichtenhelferinnen, to see if I can find a pattern or re occuring type of handbags used by helferinnen. The collector community have made mistakes before, and the best source of accurate information, is by study original lists and photographs. I'll keep you updated with what I find out. Best Regards Björn 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Auld Posted November 2, 2019 Share Posted November 2, 2019 Thanks for the detail Bjorn.I will see if I can find itas I am still living out of boxes with regards the hobby. Cheers Rich 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 I have done some studying, regarding the breadbags and the "Diensttasche" and I have concluded with that the female breadbags must be a DRK issue item. I have not found any contemporary pictures of Heer/Luftwaffe/SS helferinnen wearing the breadbag, but I have seen a pattern of black leather handbags, sometimes with a carrying strap, as a "Umhängetasche", but mostly as a strapless version worn as a "Unterarmtasche" or handbags. Luftwaffe helferinnen. Diensttasche worn with carryingstrap as a Umhängetasche: Another picture of Luftwaffe helferinnen. The Diensttasche or service handbag down to the left in the picture. No carrying strap on this one: SS helferinnen, with their handbags als Unterarmtaschen. And a couple of pictures of Heer Nachrichtenheldferinnen. Hanndbags/Servicebags worn with and without carrying straps 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 And I got hold of a original Einsatzbuch from a Stabshelferin des Heeres, with a clothing/equipment issue list. There is no mentioning of a brotbeutel in this list, only a Diensttasche. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 (edited) The Einsatzbuch is a nice addition to the collection. Frontpage: I have decyphered some of the stutterlin handwriting in a few pages in the book: Inside frontpage (missing picture) Bild Stamps say: HeeresStandortverwaltung Kolberg Page 1 Einstzbuch Nr II/ 1003 für die Stabshelferin *) Hildegard Piepenburg geb. am (geboren am): 15.7.20 in ***./neükirken Stand, Beruf: Stabshelferin Personalbeschreibung: Größe: 1,65 Gestalt: Mittel Gesicht: Rund Haar: Dunkelblond Augen: Blau-Grün Besondere Kennzeichen (z.B. - zum Beispiel - Brillenträgerin: Keine Beschriftung und Nummer der Erkennungsmarke: S.H.O. Wehrk.(Wehrkreis) Kolburg 1034 Gasmaskengröße: 3 Hildegard Piepenburg (Vor - u. Zunahme, eigenhändige Unterschrift des Inhabers) Die Richtigkeit vorstehender Angaben und die eigenhändige Unterschrift der Inhaberin bescheinigt den: 10. Januar 1944 Wehrkreisverwaltung II (ausfertigende Dienststelle) (illegible signature) (eigenhändige Unterschrift, Dienstgrad u. Dienststellung des Vorgesetzten) Oberstabsintendant *) Beachte Seite 15. Dienststempel: Wehrkreisverwaltung II Stettin Page2 Heimatschriften: a) Heimatschrift der Stabshelferin: 4 Kolberg / Ostseebad Langemarckstrasse 3 b) Anschriften der nächsten lebenden Angehörigen: Else Piepenburg (Mutter) 4 Kolberg / Ostseebad Langemarckstrasse 3 Fritz Piepenburg (Vater) 1 Berlin W 15 Parisenstr. 7 Piepenburg (illegible) Page 3 Bezeichnung der Dienststelle: a) Heimatdienststelle: HeeresStandortverwaltung Kolberg b) Einsatzdienststelle: Von 14.3.44 Zentralabteilung des Generalstabes des Heeres Von 23.5.45 - 31. VII, 45 Stab Streve Now, this is interesting. She was stationed at the Central Department of the Army General staff. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Oberkommando/OKH.htm And from after the war had ended, 23rd of Mai 1945 to 31st of July 1945 she was assigned to Stab Streve. If my assumptions are correct this could be the staff of Oberst Gustav Streve https://de.metapedia.org/wiki/Streve,_Gustav Translate the next link to english to read: https://eloblog.pl/rozkaz-riese-ujawnione-niemieckie-dokumenty-fhq/ Page 4 Dienstbezüge: a) Tarifbezüge Zeit 1.6.43 Org. Grüppe VII 70.A. Ab 1.6.43 Tölz ogefr. u. Rodem. Fritz (- a little bit unsure if this interpretation is correct..) b) Einsatzzulage: (Payment) RM (Reichsmark) 2,50 pro Tag Page 5 Impfungen (Vaccines) gegen: a) Pocken b) Typhus c) Ruhr d) Cholera e) Sonstige Schuts- und Heilimpfungen Page 6 Nachweis über Erkrankungen und etwaige Aufnahme in ein Krankenhaus (Arbeitsunfähigkeit) (Medical record) Page 7 Beurlaubungen (leaves) Page 8 Beurlaubungen: Wom: 28, Mai 1944 und bis 1. Juni 1944 Freizuzatz Nach: Kolberg Grund: Kurzurlaub den: 27.V. 1944 Braun Major (Unterschrift des Dienststellenleiters.) (Stempel): Feldpostnummer U 10222 Page 9 Kommandos, Versetzungen: Page 10 Aus Heeresbeständen empfangende zusatzliche Bekleidungs- usw. Stücke: 2 Ärmelstreifen f. St. H. ausgehändigt Wehrkreisverwaltung II (unable to decypher) 1/3.44. B or H: Einkleidung gem. anl. Bekl. Nachweis am 10. III.1944 Nach Einsatzstelle St.H. (Heer) Berlin (unable to decypher) Page 11 1 Kittel Getauscht 23.I.45 Hellen. (I think) Equipment and clothing list: Interesting note under the diciplinary chapter in page 15. It says that no diciplinary or punishment records are to be written into the Einsatzbuch. And she has recived training in defence against espionage, sabotage, betrayal and safe keeping of service/military secrets, and should be regarded as a espessially trustworthy person. Different rules of the Stabshelferin service: And in the back of the booklet, at hand written notice: Verdienst bescheinigungen durch die Flucht verloren gegangen. Über öffentl. dienstzeit u. beschei- nigung des He*** A*t*ntz im meinen Personal papieren m. einsatz-buch der Wehrkreis berlin II She has signed the note with a different last name, as she has proberbly been married : Signed Hildegard Heibemann Edited December 1, 2019 by Björn 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Björn Posted November 30, 2019 Author Share Posted November 30, 2019 2 hours ago, Björn said: b) Einsatzdienststelle: Von 14.3.44 Zentralabteilung des Generalstabes des Heeres So... maybe not a bad idea to display her together with a Generalleutnant des heeres from my collection then 🙃 ( I'll post more pictures of the Generalleutnant uniform in a separate thread later ) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Auld Posted December 1, 2019 Share Posted December 1, 2019 (edited) Bjorn, Love the book, I have one somewhere, maybe two I can't remember. Focus is still on the roof/room at the moment as the kids are here on the 20th. I have a week at work then holiday until 29th I will take more time to take a proper look at the items you have posted and give them the respect they deserve when I have sorted the jobs! Best Rich Edited December 1, 2019 by Richard Auld Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Auld Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Found it! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VikL Posted September 4, 2022 Share Posted September 4, 2022 (edited) Hei Bjørn. Hvis du vil selge ned Helferin samlingen, skriv til meg. Vi kan være enige. Jessheim. 🙂 Edited September 4, 2022 by VikL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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