Marusin Kar98 and Waffen SS Unforms/Gear
 

Mein Herr,

Note the two types of tunic...one being the M40 and the other Being the HBT Reed Green Summer Tunic....



Questions/Comments?

Nice kit. Very well done!

Excellent. You've done your homework an' wear the uniform like a true soldat should. A few more weeks an' those seams should just disappear an' you won't have that Fresh from the depot look. :D

What do the different patches and medals stand for? Awards, units etc?

Awesome, just awesome. Where did you get the helmet? is it a repo or original?

Very nice work Komrade. The uni is very nice and you did a good job on the gear.

Two small notes for you, look at the camera and try to have some sort of expression on your mug when you get the picture taken.

The second one is that an SS soldier or officer would almost undoubtedly never use the expression "Mein Herr". The SS were a political force representing the culmination of the national socialist revolution. The expression "mein Herr" smacks of the old army traditions and the use of this term was generally regarded as indicating the individual had not fully embraced the revolution. Very bad form.

Keep up the great work, and pity you are not in ON.

LD

In reply to the medals and badges etc...on the M40 uniform is the Ribbon for Iron Cross 2nd class and Eastern (Russian) campaign ribbon worn through the 2nd button hole of the tunic. Above the left chest pocket is the Close combat bar in Silver, below that is the Iron Cross 1st Class, to the left of that is the Infantry Assault Badge in silver and to the right is the Wound Badge in black.

Iron Cross 2nd Class - official criteria for the badge was a single act of bravery in the face of the enemy or actions that were deamed definately above and beyond the call of duty

Iron Cross 1st Class - in order to recieve the 1st class, heer or SS men would have to perform 3 or 4 further acts of courage from the one that earned them the 2nd class.

Close combat bar in Silver - badge was awarded based on 30 days in close combat.

Infantry Assault Badge - awarded for combat with the following criteria being met:
- to have taken part in 3 or more infantry assaults
- to have taken part in 3 or more infantry counter-attacks
- to have taken part in 3 or more armed reconnaissance operations
- to have engaged in hand to hand combat in an assault position
- to have participated on 3 separte days in the restitution of combat positions

Wound badge in Black - for one or two times wounded by hostile action or air raid, or frost-bite in the line of duty

The Helmet is a refurbished M1935 original shell.

In response to lawdog who wrote:

"The second one is that an SS soldier or officer would almost undoubtedly never use the expression "Mein Herr". The SS were a political force representing the culmination of the national socialist revolution. The expression "mein Herr" smacks of the old army traditions and the use of this term was generally regarded as indicating the individual had not fully embraced the revolution. Very bad form."

I would have to respond:

The Waffen SS were not a political force as you may think. The Waffen-SS were the armed units of the Schutzstaffel, better known as the SS. The SS were the protective guards of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) - or the "Nazis." The military branch of the SS at this time was first known as the Bewaffnete SS, and later Waffen-SS. Many soldiers in the Waffen-SS distinguished themselves in combat, and in a small number of cases, became notorious for their atrocities.

My hope is that the stories of how those medals were won aren't lost to time.

Very Nice impression Oberst!
Looks like you got a nice, pricey Zeltbahn.
Blurred Edge?

Do you speak German by any chance?
I would need some help for filling out a SoldBuch...

Very nice kit. Well put together.

Comment on the SoldBuch

http://www.dererstezug.com/LandserItems.htm <--Soldbuch Anatomy Part 1-3. There are some other good sites out there to familiarize yourself with them as well.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand

THANKS!

I appreicate the precis on the origins and purpose of the Waffen SS. :p

However having two family members who served with the Waffen SS and having written my undergraduate thesis on the Waffen SS I can assure you that is was considered very bad form to use the expression Mein Herr in the Waffen SS. In fact I saw it mentioned the other day in a reference text I was consulting on putting together my own SS impression, and if I see it again I will be pleased to post it here.

While many people try to play down the "political" nature of the SS, political and other ideologies were an essential part of SS training. One of the reasons the SS were so effective in combat (and suffered very high casualties) was their fanaticism and belief that they were superior to their opponents. That fanaticism did not simply come from having the coolest collar tabs. :)

Arising out of Memel's comments, I am curious as to whether or not they are originals or repros?

LD

WOW.

Very convincing. Nice job :)

I speak a bit of it. Maybe I could help.

Lawdog,

It would be of great pleasure to me to be able to debate the origins of the Waffen SS with you as you seem to be very knowledgable in this area as well. Myself, having one member of my family serving in the Waffen SS, one in the Artillerie, one serving for a brief time on the Bismark, as well as two Grandfathers serving in the Heer, I have done very considerable research into the origins of the SS as well as other "organizations" during this era. I have been facinated with the Wehrmacht since childhood as well as the political organizations during the Nazi era. Having said this, you and I being of the same generation as well as age, can appreciate the trials, tribulations and sacrafices of all men serving in all branches of the German military during this era. Again I would love the opportunity to debate this with you however this is perhaps not quite the right forum. I do appreciate your comments however.

As for the originality of my kit, the following items are real named originals:

Entrenching tool
Bayonet
Gasmask and Canister
Canteen
Ammunition in pouches(deactivated ammo from Kar98 dated 1938)
Iron Cross
Wound badge
Refinished Helmet

The remainder of the kit is high quality reproductions.

I do have original medals from my Grandfather that he was awarded during the war as well however those I would not display on this uniform.

As for speaking German, yes I do, not quite as well as when I was a child as I was fluent, being brought up in a "traditional" German household. I do understand German completely and can write albeit not so well.