Wehrmacht

Late war Soldbuch of Jäger Hildebrandt. The soldbuch was handed out on the 1st of April 1945. At this time Jäger Hildebrandt served in the Genesenden-Kompanie-Grenadier Ersatz und Ausbildungs battalion 467, with was located in Stendal near the Elbe river. He was awarded the Verwundetenabzeichen im Schwarz and Kriegsverdienstkreuz II Klasse mit Schwerter on Hitlers birthday in 1945.  Very hard to find late war Soldbuch for a Berlin battle veteran!

With the Soviet and Allied forces advancing towards Berlin, Jäger Hildebrandt was transferred to Kampfgruppe Oberstleutnant Bahr, which was part of the Divisionsgruppe Von Hake as Grenadier-Regiment Von Hake. A hastily formed unit which fell subordinate to the XXXXI Panzerkorps. The Kampfgruppe Bahr/Grenadier regiment von Hake was made up from several units like a Flak battalion from Hannover, Gren.E.A.Btl. 467 from Stendal and a battalion of the Hundeschule Rathenow. On the 22nd of April the Panzerkorps fell under the leadership of the 12th Army, commanded by General der Panzertruppe Walter Wenck, and was sent east of the Elbe river to attack towards Berlin, and relieve the units trapped in and around the city. The main effort of the 12th army was to attack towards Potsdam and the trapped 9th Army at Halbe. Initially the attack surprised the Russians and the German forces gained some success, reaching as far as Schwielowsee near Potsdam. The Divisionsgruppe Von Hake however was sent further north to the area of Neuruppin and northwest of Havelberg to face the Russian 47th Army. An attack by the XXXXI Panzerkorps which was intended to push towards the city of Berlin didn’t stand any chance, instead they broke through at Kyritz on the 1.5.1945, on 2.5.1945 another Soviet attack broke trough the Panzerkops lines at Friesack and Fehrbellin. What was left of the Divisionsgruppe von Hake tried to withdraw to the bridgehead at Tangermünde and thus escape Russian captivity.

Mint and textbook M42 Heer field blouse for a enlisted men in a Infanterie- or Grenadierregiment. The garment is nicely maker marked Reitz. The garment retains all of the nap in the wool and is easily classed mint. The garment retains its original breast eagle period factory sewn zig zag through the lining  and Einheitslizen. The garment has no damages, alterations or modifications and is in perfect condition. The size is a good medium fitting most if not all modern mannequins. This is a superb and mint M43 field blouse, a typical garment as issued and worn by members of the Heer in the Wehrmacht. Every detail is textbook and finding a better example would be impossible!

Nice brown P08 Luger holster in good used condition. The holster has shrapnel damage to the magazine pouch which went straight through.

Superb unissued Heer M43 field cap executed in captured Italian wool. The cap is a textbook example of a mint M43 field cap or Einheitsfeldmütze. The cap is a nice large size and would be impossible to upgrade. The cap retains its factory sewn BeVo cockade and blue buttons. The seams are nicely lined with bias tape. The lining is unissued, RBNR marked and in size 59 which is large. Certainly the best M43 field cap I’ve had to offer. Superb piece that’s impossible to upgrade.

A nice pre war M31 messkit in good used condition with most of its original paint. It is nicely marked EEF 39 which is a uncommon maker: Ewald Eigenbrod Aluminium-und Metallwarenfabrik, Freiling.

Nice and honest Heer belt buckle marked RS&S and Richard Sieper 1939(!). First steel one I’ve ever seen that’s dated 1939! Probably one of the earliest runs in steel buckles ever made!

A very nice matching messkit with the parts nicely marked FWBN 44  indicating production by F.W. Brockelmann Aluminiumwerk GmbH KG, Neheim/Ruhr. The messkit comes with a nice unissued strap dated 1941.

A fantastic pair of Sumpftarn sniper gloves in lightly worn condition. These gloves show a nice patina and are perfect for a combat mannequin. The size is nice and medium to large.

Unissued MG34 and MG42 muzzle covers in factory packaging. These covers made from rubberized cloth are a finishing touch to a MG42 display and where standard component in the MG tool pouches. 8 pieces in total.

A very nice original M31 Zeltbahn in good used condition. The Zeltbahn is nicely marked Warei Patent in the corners and dated 1941. Warei was the first producer for the M31 Zeltbahn and typically double marked.

Stunning and extremely rare late war Zeltbahn in Waffen-SS Oak leaf camouflage. The Zeltbahn is nicely made up out of different colours of camouflaged material, typical for a late war manufacture. What makes it so rare is that this Zeltbahn was produced in a small experimental batch between May and July 1944 with not normal but rotating buttonholes. The material is stunning and vibrant and looks like the day it was made. The zeltbahn no longer retains its buttons. A very nice original late war Waffen-SS Zeltbahn that I’ve never seen a second one of!

Late war M43 trousers in coarse Italian wool. A very nice pair of trousers in good, lightly worn condition in a nice and sought after wool colour. The garment is nicely maker marked and retains all of its buttons. The leg tie straps have been removed as with most of these trousers. The trousers are a good mannequin size and would nicely match with a Italian wool M43 field blouse.

Scarce mint original Heer M42/M43 mantel with the typical large collar. There are no repairs or damages, the mantel is in very good condition. These mantels are the most generic ‘battle of the bulge’ winter garment seen. Perfect for a Ardennes mannequin and hard to find in this condition.

Very nice US M1 fixed bale helmet named L.J. Wire. The helmet retains a nice light camouflage paint externally and is named to the front. The helmet retains a very nice early textured low pressure Saint Clair liner. The helmet would be a great base for further research!

Rare complete bakelite Einheitslaterne spare parts and maintenance kit. These bakelite cases containing many of the small spares for the bakelite Einheitslaterne are very hard to find in complete condition. The metal parts where at some point painted black. It contains rubbers, nozzles, needles, glass windows, a special tool, candle holders and last but not least the original manual! Very hard to find complete.

Scarce pre war gasmask in its original factory box, manual and spanner. Impossible to upgrade!

Very nice lightly worn pre war Luftwaffe bread bag with its original strap.