Waffen SS

Textbook Steel tabbed Luftwaffe belt buckle maker marked and dated Hermann Aurich 1940. The buckle retains most of its original factory paint!

Textbook tabbed aluminum Polizei belt buckle marked ST& L indicating production by Steinhauer & Lück. The buckle comes with the added leather cloth protector on the back.

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.

A nice original factory bundle of 10 large bandages dated 1938 as carried inside the bandage pocket and inside the Verbandkasten.

Textbook pre war chinstrap in good used condition. Nicely maker marked and dated Rahm & Kampmann 1937.

Textbook tabbed aluminum Heer belt buckle maker marked and dated Gebr. Albert Menden 1936 which is one of the rarest belt Heer belt buckles!

Rare unissued Heer helmet decal in mint condition. This decal was never applied to a helmet and is nicely marked Huber Jordan u. Koerner Nürnberg-O Abzichbilderfabrik. Nice piece that would nicely display in a helmet collection!

Probably one of the best blue buckles I’ve had the pleasure to offer. Textbook late war blue Heer belt buckle or Einheitskoppelschloss in mint condition. Lovely buckle with full original paint!

A very nice coconut canteen marked HRE 42 indicating production by Heinrich Ritter, Esslingen. The canteen is in good condition together with its matching aluminum cup. Hard to upgrade textbook coconut canteen!

Nice matching K98 bayonet in good as found condition. Recently found during household clearing in Belgium! The bayonet is marked 43 asw indicating production by E. & F. Horster & Co. Solingen. the frog is a nice early variant dated 1940.

Excellent near mint chocolate brown Luftwaffe issue mapcase marked A Waldhausen Köln 1936. Hard to find pre war variant in smooth chocolate brown leather that would be very hard to upgrade!

Nice original and matching K98 bayonet marked 43ASW indicating production by E. & F. Horster & Co. Solingen. The bayonet is matching to its scabbard with the serial 8145 aa and has nice clean wooden grips.

Rare original Wehrmacht issue horse gasmask in good condition. The gasmask comes with all 3 Filters and a large portion of the original harness.

Very nice original iron cross second class marked 13 indicating production by Gustav Brehmer with the most of the original frosting remaining. Excellent piece that would be very hard to upgrade!

Rare late war Italian made M31 messkit marked SV44. One of the rarest mess kits to find!

Rare original and complete MG34 manual in good condition. As long as I can see no missing pages or serious damages. Nice lecture with in depth information about the MG34 and its accessories and applications within vehicles etcetera.