Stunning untouched Heer M34 tunic with full wartime sewn insignia for a Leutnant der Infanterie Regiment 111 – 35. Infanteriedivision. The garment is in very good condition retaining most if not all of the nap in the wool. The garment is a period converted EM tunic which most probably makes this a field tunic. The M34 model can be recognized with the open back and the the waist ties. The garment is nicely unit marked to Infanterie Regiment 111 inside the garment – matching with the shoulder boards. The garment is a perfect garment for a 1940 display sporting shoulder boards and markings for Infanterie Regiment 111 – a unit which fought hard in the 1940 campaign in the south of the Netherlands. Very hard to find a historic tunic like this, it would be a very nice base for a combat mannequin! Please find below a short description of the 1940 battles and places where this tunic most probably went in 1940.

On May 10 1940, at 05:35 hours IR 111 via Merkstein – Herzogenrath – Noppenberg – Wilhelm Schacht – Grube Nordstern ahead crossed the Dutch border. The border fortifications at Kerkrade, Heerlen and Valkenburg were broken against light resistance only. At 06:10 Kerkrade was in German hands and the railways facilities there were taken without damages. Both advance guards proceeded forwards. At 09:15 hours the first great obstacle, the Juliana Canal, was reached but all the bridges were already blown there. At 11:00 hours with strong artillery support, both frontline regiments got across it. Leaving Maastricht and Lanaeken behind the IR 111 reached the Petersheimer wood’s easthern edge with its frontline battalions. The wood was free of enemies so several recce patrols were sent towards the Albert Canal. By midnight both infantry regiments (IR 111 and IR 34) were deployed along it. On May 11 1940, during afternoon hours and after hard fighting, the division’s troops could get across the Albert Canal; hence within 48 hours the 35 ID had overcame all the water’s obstacles (four) laying ahead its march routes and the first attack’s objective, the road Bilsen – Maartenslinde, was reached. 

The whole day the enemy carried out aerial raids, british, french and belgian planes, all of them were rejected by our own Flak (antiaircraft guns). This fact delayed the heavy guns’ advance hampering its march towards the front. On May 12 1940, the motorized elements resumed its march at 05:00 hours getting across the Juliana Canal, the Meuse and the Meuse Canal.

Along the road they found also the infantry columns and its vehicles, up to 2/3 of them were composed of belgian and dutch cars, besides there were little charts and horses also. The “landsers” carried their machineguns, ammunitions boxes and assault tools even in baby carriages. Speaking on their mood and discipline, they marched with unfasten collars and rolled up sleeves, looking for any relief for the burning sun and the dust. 

The night from 14 to 15 may 1940 went quietly; on May 15 1940 at 09:00 hours one panzer division (3 Pz) supported by one aerial corps launched an assault against the Dyle position (Dylestellung). The sky was full of stukas, Do-17 and fighters. Around nightfall came the orders for the next day.

On May 16 1940, the movement proceeded with the Dyle crossing. At 08:00 hours resumed its march having the task of covering the division’s right flank. At 11:00 hours St. martin was reached without enemy actions. After leaving behind the Dyle’s battlefield the detachment reached Baissy-Thy. Tank alarm!. Three enemy tanks were put out of action by antitanks cannons but one of the crews was either killed or wounded in turn; one of the light armored vehicle (panzerspähwagen) caught fire also.

The recce patrols sent ahead reported around 60 tanks patrolling on the road to Nivelles and they stood there (Banterlez) in the evening. Meanwhile as the IR 111 was approaching Chastre could see the French troops’ withdrawal so according division’s orders strong recce patrols were sent against Ferme del Croix and Ferme Sartage; the IR 34 followed near the IR 111.

On may 20 1940, the mission was to move forward to the river Escaut in order to established a bridgehead at Antoing – Tournai. The AA 35 had reached the river by Ramecroix. In that town the Germans could see a destroyed English column, parts of vehicles mixed with human remains were littered all over the ground. The Detachment got heavy artillery fire and should retreat towards Pipaix.

That very day the Schelde crossing began; it was the hardest day of the whole the campaign. The IR 109 crossed by Antoing and the IR 111 did the same by Peronnes; both frontline battalions could establish two little bridgeheads against English elite troops. Due to strong counterattacks, supported by tanks and artillery fire, the bridgeheads were lost; nevertheless, the IR 109 could maintain one little strong hold on the far river bank.

On May 21 1940, the AA remained at Pipaix while the IR 111 could get across the river Escaut establishing a bridgehead. The Division took up defensive positions and also stood fast next day (22 May).

On May 23 1940, the order to carry out the reconnaissance towards Fontenay. As a result, it was known that the enemy had already retreated from the water line leaving its positions behind. A serviceable shuttle was found at Fontenay. The large grey columns proceeded slowly ahead. That very afternoon, the 35 ID had reached the French-Belgian border line.

On May 24 1940, at 06:00 hours the unit proceeded its march to Antoing, where the Abteilung crossed the Escaut. The British troops followed its withdrawal through Tournai heading to Templeuves. At every village and crossroads, the Germans found obstacles and blocking positions.

On May 25 1940, the cyclist squadron (radfahr-schwadron) relieved the infantry and by dawn that infantry regiment had proceeded its march as a whole. A hard task: to ward a two kilometer frontline, in its front Scottish troops. The officers were uneasy, however the day went quite calm, in spite of during the night there were alarms and own artillery fire.

On May 26 1940, at dawn antitank alarm; a Recce Patrol of five men was detached to deal with, but in reaching the spot, reported it was an old out of service truck. At noon and evening, heavy aerial attacks against Lille and Roubaix. Around 22:00 the 253 ID came serving as replacements.

A stunning untouched Heer Infanterie Leutnant in Infanterie Regiment 111 field blouse that would incredibly hard to upgrade!

A double decal Heer M35 helmet in minty condition. Nicely marked EF68 indicating production by Emaillierwerke Fulda. The reinforced size 61 line sits tight in the shell. The helmet still retains 90% of its original decals and paint. The helmet a nice example of a large sized textbook M35 in very good condition. A nice untouched helmet!

Stunning single decal KIA DAK camouflage helmet in good used condition. The helmet is a so called veteran bring back from Tunis. The helmet is without liner which was most probably period removed due to severe blood stains. The inside of the helmet is corroded just like every Killed-in-Action helmet. The helmet is named inside to Sold. Hasenack Feldpostnummer 35687. The Feldpostnumber 35687 indicates use in Panzergruppen-Nachrichten-Regiment 10 which was destroyed in Tunis may 1943. The helmet is a killer example of a stunning KIA DAK helmet that would be really hard to upgrade, especially with the name and unit marking!

Stunning example of a Heer infantry crusher, Feldmütze Alter Art or Knautschmütze. The cap is made with Dutch lining material inside which is a neat feature. These fieldcaps where incredibly popular with officers during the war. The cap is in great condition with a great patina all over. The cap can be formed to fit on a mannequin display but is otherwise folded flat as a envelope. The cap is a nice size 56-57 that should fit most modern militaria mannequins. The crusher bears the Waffenfarbe of the Infanterie. These caps are getting increasingly difficult to find and this one is definitely one of the nicest ones we’ve had on offer. A great example!

Stunning NS64 M42 three-tone Normandy camouflage helmet. The helmet is in good used condition and nicely marked NS64 with lot number D219 indicating production by Nickelwerke Schwerte. The helmet retains up to 85% of its original three-tone Normandy camouflage paint. The colours are strong and vibrant.  The leather liner is original to the helmet and shows indicatory traces of blood staining indicating this a most probably a KIA helmet. The helmet is a stunning and textbook example of a three-tone Normandy camouflage helmet in great condition!

Beautiful wartime converted Class-A jacket to Ike jacket style. This grouping consists of his jacket, purple heart, dog tag, and some loose rank and service insignia. Next to that are some post war hunting licenses to Pederson. The jacket is a size 38L and comes with full wartime sewn insignia. Pederson served in the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment during Market garden and the battle of the bulge. Nice grouping that would be a very nice base for further research!

A nice matching pair of MP38 u. MP40 magazine pouches marked Otto Koberstein Landsberg 1942 indicating production by Otto Koberstein Landsberg. The pouches are in good unissued condition as pictured! The leather on the pouches is supple and the canvas is strong. One of the pouches was most probably on top hence the slight difference in aging. The set still has the original red pencil lines at all the leather fixtures. A great set for a combat mannequin that would be very hard to upgrade!

Superb original M43 field blouse for a Heer infantry EM. The tunic is mint, and retains all of its originally factory sewn insignia. The base material is a coarse Italian wool and lined with grey rayon. The size is a nice medium fitting most modern mannequins. The breast eagle is factory sewn, not through the lining. The Litzen are also factory sewn, no traces of previously sewn examples. The tunic has not been shortened or tailored in any way. The tunic has multiple size markings; the usual sizes but also a additional stamp indicating the wearers height. The original factory red chalk markings for the buttons and holes are still visible. More then likely this tunic was never ever worn! 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!

Stunning 4-tone hand painted M42 helmet with battleship grey and sea green camouflage paint. The helmet is a complete untouched example with a very vibrant and stunning camouflage pattern. The helmet bears no decal but the colours are those typically seen on coastal artillery camouflage patterns such as Battleship grey and sea green. The helmet is marked NS62 indicating production by Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke, Schwerte. The helmet is in very good used condition and still retains its original chinstrap and liner. The helmet would very nicely contribute to any Kriegsmarine or Kustenartillerie collection. The colours are nice and vibrant and better in hand then on the pictures!

Stunning and rare cuff title for the Belgian 6. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade Langemarck in very good condition. Nice second pattern RZM style construction. The cufftitle still retains its full length and is in very good condition. This is one of the rarest cufftitles to find in its original full length of 47,5cm.

ET66 M40 Heer Ex whitewash three-tone camouflage helmet in good condition. The helmet is a interesting example which was repainted multiple times. Starting its life as a standard single decal Heer helmet it was subsequently repainted in a winter whitewash which was later overpainted in a three-tone spray painted camouflage pattern. The helmet was at some point coated with a clear lacquer. The helmet is a nice example with a large portion of its wartime three-tone camouflage pattern showing. The helmet retains its factory installed liner. A nice example !

Rare pre war M35 field blouse wit restored breast eagle and reproduction Litzen for a Panzerjäger nco. The garment is in good worn condition with loads of character. The left breast pocket retains two period sewn award loops and the collar retains its period sewn Unteroffizierstresse. The garment is a rare pre war variant without full back lining!

Discussion on WAF; https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/wehrmacht-uniforms-and-equipment/heer-uniforms-and-insignia-forum/12553514-another-panzerjäger-tunic-for-review

Beautiful double decal Luftwaffe M35 helmet marked Q64 indicating production by Quist. The helmet is in good used condition with its originally placed non-reinforced liner dated 1937. The helmet is a typical pre war example with the first pattern droop tail eagle. The helmet retains up to 95% of its factory paint and decals. Nice and textbook example that would be hard to upgrade!

Mint pair of M39 trousers for use in the Heer in the Steingrau or stone grey colour. The trousers are nicely named to Unteroffizier Lehmann M Stab Panzer Abwehr Abteilung 50. The pair retains all of its originally sewn buttons and retains 100% of the nap in the wool. Guaranteed the best pair on the market today. The trousers are in mint condition with zero issues and a good big size!

Beautiful Heer M43 field blouse with full insignia and M40 pattern Panzergrenadier shoulderstraps. The blouse is in good worn condition and comes without any alterations. The blouse retains a good percentage of nap in the Wool, with a nice amount of natural wear. The breast eagle looks to be resewn. Textbook M43 field blouse for a Panzergrenadier that would be hard to upgrade!