German helmet

Death card of Unteroffizier Walter Büchel. Killed in action during the Battle of the Hürtgenwald. Büchel was 34 years old and was killed in action on 25.11.1944 in the Hürtgenwald, Germany. Later to be reburied in Lommel, Belgium.

Heavily used Soldbuch by Wachtmeister Wilhelm Hentrich, born on 23.5.1918 in Heldra / Dtsl. Hentrich has served in the Heer throughout the war with the exception of a few hospital admissions. This Soldbuch was issued at the beginning of the war. This Soldbuch  has been carried by him for the entire duration of the war. Very interesting detail is pages 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the original Soldbuch were so worn out that for these pages there is an “Ersatzausfertigung” created on 20.4.1945.

Normally a completely new Soldbuch was issued (Zweit or Ersatzausfertigung) but this one was given on a very late date during the war, only the first four pages were replaced. These pages are fairly concise, especially when it comes to which units he served during the war. There, however many notes / Eintragungen in the soldbuch which are stamped with “Schwere Artillerie-Ersatz und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 309 ”, and the Zahlmeisterei notes on page 18 (and also EKM data on page 1) we can see that he served in it during the outbreak of the war Artillerie-Regiment 45 and that somewhere in early 1940, probably before May 1940 he was transferred to the Artillerie-Regiment 152. This is a perfect match as many notes in the Soldbuch are stamped “Schwere Artillerie-Ersatz und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 309”, which provided troops for both Artillery Regiments when they were stationed at the Westwall in the early days of the war and took part in the campaign through France in May 1940.

In 1941 A.R. 152 participated in Operation Barbarossa and  the invasion of Russia. Already in the first month Hentrich was wounded by shrapnel and was hospitalized until October of that year. For his injury he was rewarded with the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz. In August and September of 1942, he was admitted to hospital again but due to damage, the reason is unclear for some reason. His unit fought in 1942 and 1943 on the eastern front in the Orel and Newel areas. The exact date when Hentrich will be transferred to the Artillerie-Regiment 198 is unclear, but I suspect late 1944.

As a soldier now on the front line, he is submitted to the IV Batterie of the Artillerie-Regiment 198, which is part of the 98 Infanterie-Division. This division was fighting in Italy in the Rimini area and was heavily involved in the fighting in August and September 1944. At the end of 1944 the division then withdraws to the Apennin position and fight back to the Senio River. During this fighting, Hentrich is awarded the KVK II Class on 30.1.1945. In April of 1945 Hentrich was promoted to Wachtmeister, his unit then retreats across the Po river in the direction of the pre-Alps, where the division eventually capitulates.

Superb and really (over!) complete MGZ40 with the case, strap, collimator, brush, cleaning cloth, both filters, MGZ40 scope and the ultra rare periscope. The can is in very good condition with up to 90% of its factory paint and stenciling. Spring closure, pull tab and backstraps fully intact. The case is marked dhq. The strap is in good used condition without any major damages. The MGZ40 is clear and in fully adjustable condition. The rear lens in the eyepiece has a crack, but is still serviceable. The accessories that are missing in 9/10 cases are all there. The collimator for adjusting multiple Lafettes, the cleaning brush with cloth for cleaning the lenses and both colored lenses. The set also comes with the ultra rare periscope to further lower the shooter making it possible to shoot out of full cover. This periscope or Vorsatzfernrohr für die M.G. Zieleinrichtung is only scarcely encountered and in working condition. It comes with its original rubber eyecup making it the the final touch in this set. A superb and incredibly hard to find set; let alone to find it in original finish in working condition! If you want just one superb MG42 Lafette display; this is it!

Rare original Kriegsmarine issue wristwatch with its original issue strap. The watch is in running condition but I have no idea if it will be correct if worn over 24 hours. The watch is in complete and unrestored condition. There are a few cracks in the glass which is typical and otherwise undamaged!

Heavy late war original blanket lined M42 Heer Wachmantel in good used condition.

Textbook late war US M1C paratrooper helmet with period applied net. Typical front seam swivel bale example with a Westinghouse paratrooper liner. Hard to upgrade salty piece!

Superb EU-Deactivated P640(b) FN Hi Power in original finish. This specimen from 1943 was produced under the German occupation for the German army. Most of these were issued to the Waffen-SS and many images illustrate this. The piece can be cocked, dry fired and slid to the back position. It’s in full original finish and with its matching barrel, sled and base. The magazine is a textbook German produced example. The piece is deactivated and comes with not one but two(!) certificates. The Hi-Power was deactivated in France to the new EU standards and is free to own for anyone over 18 in most European countries. Pickup in Tilburg, the Netherlands is preferred, shipping within the Netherlands at cost of quality packaging and shipping at your own risk.

Very nice and rare original ZF4 scope leather cover with strap and wooden plug. The strap is in good condition with functional press stud and supple leather. The

Beautiful and textbook Heer sidecap with period applied piping for a Panzergrenadier. The cap is a very nice and untouched example with full period sewn insignia. The left side of the sidecap has 4 pieces of string which most probably indicate the place for a former unit emblem. Superb cap!

Scarce pre RZM era cap in mint condition. This Hitlerjugend cap is wool piped for Oberbann 1 and was worn by the rank Kameradschaftsführer to Oberstammführer. The cap is a textbook example with factory placed insignia. The cap is without the RZM label which makes it a super early example around 1930. The cap is a superb example that would be impossible to upgrade!

A very nice late war Waffen-SS belt buckle marked RZM 155/40 ᛋᛋ  indicating production by Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid. A nice combat worn example of a original Waffen-SS belt buckle in its original finish!

A very nice pre war double decal m40 Polizei helmet. The helmet is nicely marked ET64 indicating production by Eisenhüttenwerke Thale with the lot number 1031. The helmet retains its original factory installed liner. The original early borderless Polizei decals still retain up to 90%. A very nice M40 Polizei helmet that would be a very nice addition to any helmet collection!

Rare original matching Heer officers shoulder board for a Oberstleutnant der Panzergrenadiere. Hard to find rank in good condition!

Rare original Heer issue M40 Mantel in good worn condition. It’s a nice and textbook M40 mantel which is not that special; but what makes it special is that this Mantel was made in the famous factory of Hugo Boss which is still well known for high quality clothing. Very rare to find a garment from the Boss factory!

Rare original rzm pattern leather dagger hanger for a SS dagger in used condition. Hard to find piece in used but undamaged condition.

Textbook original leather Dienstglas strap in good supple condition.

Rare original Waffen-SS visor cap insignia manufactured by Assmann. The skull is marked Ges. Gesch., the eagle is unmarked. Both the eagle and the skull have all of their prongs intact and are without repairs or alterations. A perfect and matching set that would be hard to upgrade!