Waffen-Standartenoberjunker.
He wears a HBT polka-dot,
Erbstarnmuster uniform. On his head
he has a single-button enlisted man’s
cap. He is armed with the well-known
Sturmgewehr 44. Magazines for his
weapon are placed in canvas pouches.
Each pouch holds three magazines.
Munitions officer with a MG42
machine gun (Maschinengewehr
42), Waffen-Grenadier. The soldier
is wearing a broadcloth uniform
M43. The basic equipment hangs on
Y-straps and a leather main belt. The
soldier is armed with a Karabiner
98k. He has two pouches for this
weapon and an ammunition belt for
the MG42. The standout element
of his uniform jacket is a tricolore
national arm shield (the second
type designed for the Waffen-SS).
(i)
Waffen-Obergrenadier. The soldier is
wearing a drill HBT Erbstarnmuster
uniform. The basic equipment hangs
on leather Y-straps and a main
belt. The soldier is armed with a
Karabiner 98k. He has two pouches
for this weapon and a M24 stalk
hand grenade (Stielhandgranate).
Waffen-Rottenführer. He wears a M43
wool tunic (with French national arm
shield on the left arm) and polka-dot
camouflage trousers. He is armed with
a Sturmgewehr 44, with two pouches
and two hand grenades. On his head he
has a double-button enlisted man’s cap.
(ii)
Soviet infantryman, Yefreitor. His
equipment includes: M43 Gimnasterkat
Tunic, M35 trousers, jackboots
with Obmotki foot wraps, PPSh-
41 sub-machine gun with drum
magazine, SSh-40 helmet, PPSh-41,
drum magazine ammo pouch, RG-
42 grenade pouch, HJ trophy knife,
canvas main belt and gas mask bag.
Fall of Berlin. German gendarme from
the SA (Sturmabteilung). He is ready
to hunt for defectors and cowards.
(iii)
The classic look of a tank hunter from
the French SS-Sturmbataillon. His main
weapons are the well-known Panzerfaust,
Sturmgewehr 44 and M43 hand grenade.
Brothers in arms. French volunteer and Danish SS-Obersturmführer
from 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division ‘Nordland’.
(iv)
Meeting of two Waffen-SS volunteers in Berlin during the
last days before the capital fell to the Russians.
The commander of an IS-2 Russian heavy tank observes the terrain.
(v)
A Soviet infantry officer and tank driver analyze the operations of captured weapons, in this
case an StG44. The tank crewman has a fabric helmet and glasses for armoured troops, black
coverall, belt and high Kirza boots. He is equipped with a PPSh machine pistol. The infantry
officer wears a field visor cap, M43 Gymnastiroka, M35 field breeches and high leather officer’s
boots. He is also equipped with an officer’s M32 belt with suspenders, binoculars and map case.
(vi)
French Awards
by Vincent Domergue, with the help of Prosper Keating
F
rench volunteers in German units were eligible for various military awards: the
Iron Cross; the War Merit Cross; the Wound Badge; Assault and Close Combat
Badges; Tank Destruction Badges etcetera. Two rare decorations were also awarded
to Frenchmen in the LVF and the Waffen-SS: the Germanische Leistungsrune (Germanic
Proficiency Runes) and the Croix de Guerre Légionnaire (Legionnaire’s War Cross). The
first was a Waffen-SS sports proficiency badge awarded by the Amtsgruppe C Erziehung
(Instruction Department) of the SS-Hauptamt (SS Central Administration) between 1943
and 1945. The second was the LVF’s version of the Croix de Guerre, similar in standing to the
Iron Cross 2nd Class and awarded from 1942 to 1944.
1) The Germanische Leistungsrune
Fewer than 1,300 Waffen-SS soldiers – amongst them a handful of French
volunteers – received the Germanische Leistungsrune, which was awarded
in Silver or Bronze grades on passing tough physical tests.
The original example pictured here is with an article in the second issue of Devenir, the
French edition of the SS newspaper Aufbruch published in various languages by the
Germanische Leitstelle (Germanic Recruitment Department of the SS). The article introduces
the Rune de capacité (Germanische Leistungsrune). Dozens of different types of fakes
exist but as of today none of them is perfect. Source: Vincent Domergue collection.
(vii)
2) The Croix de Guerre Légionnaire
The Croix de Guerre Légionnaire (Legionnaire’s War Cross) was awarded to a few hundred
volunteers from the Légion des volontaires français contre le bolchévisme (Legion of French
Volunteers Against Bolshevism) or LVF as it was known. Instituted in the summer of 1942, the
cross consists of a modified 1939-pattern Croix de Guerre (War Cross) with the crossed swords
removed, the Republican centres replaced by the LVF centres and a laurel wreath added to the
obverse. The crosses were sourced from the Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) and altered by the
Parisian medals maker Arthus-Bertrand. The very rare original Croix de Guerre Légionnaire
pictured here is photographed on a rare copy of the LVF propaganda magazine published in
1944. There are various different types of fakes of this highly sought-after decoration, which
has been copied since at least the early 1960s. Source: Vincent Domergue collection.
(viii)
