52nd Contemporary at Ratisbon’s
The latest Ratisbon’s auction has ended with all unsold lots going into the shop with reduced BPs. Plenty of hats to start with, here’s a Heer visor cap for officers with white piping to indicate infantry. Came with matching pair of aluminium insignia with all prongs in place. It sold for £526.44 (includes BP of 22.5%). Of course, what service the visor is from dictates how desirable it is, so this next cap for officers drew more attention because it was for the Gebirgsjäger, or mountain troops. Came with green colour piping, hand-embroidered officer's pattern wreath badge that was attached by hand. There was the Edelweiss badge and cap eagle in zinc, with all prongs in place. It sold for £1,474.
Now, we have a feature on the NSKK in this very issue and here’s a Leader’s visor cap for Transportgruppe Speer. Came with a grey top with a brown cap band and silver bullion leader's piping. There was a zinc can badge and cockade with all prongs in place. Very good condition. It sold for £1,784.64.
Soft caps are one thing, but hard helmets are in even more demand. Here’s a German M35 helmet, the earliest type of helmet issued to Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine and Waffen-SS troops. This example was issued by the Heer and comes with three original photographs of the first owner. It had around 90% of the original factory paint, though obvious signs of wear and age. The eagle decal was about 80%. The national decal was about 65%. It is very rare to find a Wehrmacht helmet with photo proof which explains the price of £2,053. Having mentioned the Gebirgsjäger earlier, let’s take a look at a South Front field tunic. This was a period time, privately purchased
Heer field tunic designed like an M36 pattern. Featuring a machine-woven NCO/officer's pattern breast eagle, on dark green backing. Period time attached by hand as were the collar tabs. Infantry Oberfeldwebel boards, slipped on, and with period-time attached buttons. Also, there was a Gebirgsjäger sleeve badge, period time attached by machine. It sold for £715.96.
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