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Hi guys. Just registered here so thought I had to introduce myself. My friends call me Inka so I choose that name to use here. I'm from Norway,up north almost where the polar bears roam,na,not so far north,but by the Polar Circle. Always been into ww2 history,I got it in early from my grandma who always spoke about the war and I grew up in an area which maybe held the largest concentration of POW camps in Norway during ww2. In my valley there was 18-20 camps where Red Army POWs slaved and Yugoslav partizans was sent to perish. I write articles,working on a few new books,I build miniature models/dioramas,I metal detect and am part of a soldier recovery team, and I m running my website Hobbyhistorica So,that's alittle bit about me,now it is time to get some coffee and check out the forum Cheers

Hello All. In October I am doing a 100km walk over three days along the lines of The Western Front to comemorate The centenary of The Battle of the Somme. We start at the Lochnagar crater and end at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres in time for The Last Post. All proceeds go to ABF - The Soldiers Charity (Formerly known as Army Benevolent Fund) ABF provide financial and emotional support to wounded British and Commonwealth Soldiers, the families of Soldiers killed in action and any former soldiers that have fallen on hard times through ill health or financial hardships. It is going to be an emotional and exhausting trip for a fat boy like me but will pale in to insignificance in relation to the hardships that faced the troops of both sides on these fields a hundred years ago. Any donations would be greatly appreciated by myself, ABF and the many people they support. Thank you! Frontline Walk 2016 Just Giving page - DONATE HERE http://www.soldierscharity.org/events/the-frontline-walk/

I dont know about the wife thing... how about a rental instead of a purchase plan? Less can go wrong that way.

Very nice,untouched tunic belonging to a GJ Uffz.It would be near mint if it wasn't for the stain on the right upper pocket flap and the right shoulder piece.A friend of mine is sure that it's blood, it could well be but it could be something else,even if it could really be blood from a light wound to the soldier face/ear/head or from a wounded Comrade he may have helped out of trouble,we'll never know! Cheers Manu

my advice when renting is always to check under the bonnet first, if the exhaust is flapping around, don't go near it

I,ve got loads of phone numbers of women offering services, I took them out of numerous telephone kiosks in Kings Cross London, Called a couple, got put off by the very deep voices on the other end, there names were Ladyboys and Brucette !!!!!

Yeah, I can really kick myself. I had M1 carbines and Garands, Kar98k's, various Nazi era pistols, etc., original WW2 US and German stuff, and some of the US stuff was 29th ID items which have doubled or tripled in value (thanks in part to Saving Ryan's privates). Back then I never thought I'd return to the hobby...

A "camo" M35 from my collection.This one has been found several years ago in Northern Italy followed by a few other helmets carrying nearly an identical finish,which thing would lead to suppose that it was done at unit level.It's a DD M35 that has been repainted and later coated with a mix of paint and sawdust/dirt.The eagle has been carefully masked around its contour while the other decal is still under the paint and the camo coating.Personally I would call this a "low viz" helmet,since dirt and sawdust have been eithe mixed with bue paint or with blue distemper and glue.It may have been coated with mud as well but not in this case!Italian collectors call this kind of coating "Zimmerit"! Hope you enjoy Manu

Here are some superb photos of members of Panzer Regiment 8, these soldiers were issued their tropical uniforms in Germany before arriving at Tripoli in 1941. Panzer Regiment 8 was part of the famous 15th Panzer Division and these photos are truly iconic. D 15th Panzer Division 1941 Libya (North Africa) Panzer Regiment 8 Panzer Abteilung I Panzer Abteilung II Schützen-Briade 15 Schützen-Regiment 104 Schützen-Regiment 105 Schuetzen Abteilung I Schuetzen Abteilung II Schuetzen Regiment 115 Schuetzen Abteilung I Schuetzen Abteilung II Kradschützen-Bataillon 15 Artillerie Regiment 33 Artillerie Abteilung I Artillerie Abteilung II Artillerie Abteilung III Aufklaerungs Abteilung 33 Panzerjaeger Abteilung 33 Pionier Bataillon 33 Nachrichten Abteilung 78 Versorgungstruppen

Super rare Horse carry rack for the MG. No need for fluffy words I'll let the piccs talk. enjoy.. This will be in the sale section later with the other horse carry rack.

To increase member numbers, I'm thinking of an add on to the forum. Mail order Russian brides?

Another Gebirgsjaeger tunic in as-found conditions,this time with trousers. It's rare to find such a complete set coming from the same estate.It's been found by an Italian collector in Austria or Germany a short time after it had been separately given away.The collector tracked the two and now they're in my collection. Inside the tunic's pockets there were a lot of tickets and papers. This man's unit was stationed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen where the soldiers were also sent for refitting and the Gasthaus Rassen is still one of the better known hotels there! The tunic came with its original suspenders,which thing is uncommon,not to say quite rare! It's a very early,unmessed-with M35 tunic and the date on the papers and tickets go to show that wven this late in the War the older tunics were still worn,either by Ersatz Units or by "Alter Hasen".This guy belonged to the 1/Gebirgsjaeger Ersatz bataillon,and for the ones who can read or want to translate from German here's a little story of it: <<<Das Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon 98 wurde bei der Mobilmachung am 26. August 1939 in Mittenwald, im Wehrkreis VII, aufgestellt. Das Bataillon unterstand der Division 157 und stellte den Ersatz für die 1. Gebirgs-Division. Am 15. Januar 1940 wurde das Bataillon zum Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon I./98 umbenannt. Dies wurde nötig, da fast zeitgleich in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, ebenfalls Wehrkreis VII, ein Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon II./98 aus dem aufgelösten Gebirgs-Träger-Bataillon 54 entstand. Anfang November 1940 machte das Ersatz-Bataillon II./98 Abgaben zur Wiederaufstellung des Generalkommando XVIII. Gebirgs-Armeekorps. Anfang Mai 1941 leisteten die beiden Ersatz-Bataillone Abgaben zur Aufstellung des II. Bataillons vom Infanterie-Regiment 727. Anfang September 1942 stellten die beiden Ersatz-Bataillone Abgaben zur Aufstellung des I. und II. (Gebirgsjäger) Bataillons vom Infanterie- (Feldausbildungs-) Regiment 616. Die beiden Ersatz-Bataillone wurden am 1. Oktober 1942 in jeweils ein Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon I./98 bzw. Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon II./98 und ein Reserve-Gebirgsjäger-Bataillon I./98 bzw. Reserve-Gebirgsjäger-Bataillon II./98 geteilt. Zu dem Zeitpunkt der Teilung befanden sich alle Einheiten in Garmisch. Die beiden Ersatz-Bataillone unterstanden nach der Teilung der Division 467. Die beiden Reserve-Bataillone unterstand nach der Aufstellung der 157. Reserve-Division. Das Reserve-Bataillon I./98 wurde nach Annecy in Frankreich verlegt. Das Reserve-Bataillon II./98 verlegte nach Lonslebourg, ebenfalls in Frankreich. Das Ersatz-Bataillon II./98 wurde am 6. Juni 1944 aufgelöst. Das Personal kam zum Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Bataillon 99. Im Juni 1944 gliederte sich das Reserve-Bataillon I./98 in drei Jäger-Kompanien, eine MG-Kompanie und eine schwere Kompanie. Das Reserve-Bataillon II./98 gliederte sich im Juni 1944 in zwei Jäger-Kompanien, eine MG-Kompanie und eine schwere Kompanie. Das Ersatz-Bataillon I./98 wurde am 20. Juli 1944 zum Gebirgs-Jäger-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Bataillon 98 erweitert. Die beiden Reserve-Bataillone bildeten im Oktober 1944 das I. und das II. Bataillon vom Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 297 der 157. Gebirgs-Division und waren damit aufgelöst.>>> The 2nd was deployed on the Normandy Front where it fought during the landing while the 1st was stationed not very far. Hope you'll enjoy it

Yes it sure is........ MCN deserves only the finest

Hi yes there is,, brb is the name you'll need to look for,, also the type of manufacture... ill make a load of picc's and post later on all about theses and fakes.

Nice. Was that the balloted one? Should be a stunning and emotional affair.

I was there for the 60th with @Libertesoe, great few days.:)

We can't do that as we could be held accountable. Only persons qualified in the law of the country where the relic resides could sensibly pass judgement on legality. The UK law is in depth and quite difficult to work through, but a good knowledge of what is and isn't legal is essential to a collector. Same goes for any other country but it is up to the individual to make themselves aware of the law. Remember that ignorance is no defence!] Not an idea that we could run with I'm afraid. Far too many bear traps!

Thanks guys. My enthusiasm and excitement will never diminish. I will let you have any news about a 2nd series as and when I have any

True story. Mate of mine over in Yorkshire got a mail- order Russki bride.All fine and dandy at the beginning until she came to live over here. She now drinks vodka like its out of fashion and apparently kicks seven bells out of him!!

Sometimes the rental thing goes haywire. I've heard of instances in which the rental model causes corrosion to the main spigot upon attachment, that in turn contaminates internal components, and exposure to mated interior plumbing systems will introduce the corrosion to the separate system, thereby necessitating permanent separation of both systems when TSHTF.

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Great news! always thought the complaints were quite unjustified by moaning idiots with an agenda. recall reading some arse moaning about CG crying when human remains were found.I've read a lot of stuff about him, mostly in the negative, but never having met the guy, I'm not joining in.it might not be very manly, but who's to say these things don't get to you at the time.same goes for the others' supposed over-enthusiasm when they find relics...who's to say they wouldn't react in the same way?after all, you guys are unearthing history, and are in a somewhat privileged position in doing so.one many would love to emulate. I second the thought of a second series too, would be brilliant.

Hi @MarkM, yes if you upload a gallery in members gallery, it shows in your profile. Go to gallery, create your members gallery and it'll automatically appear on your profile....

One of the early fake SS buckles by English dealer Tony Oliver. Getting quite collectable in their own right. Love the fact that the markings OLT 62637 stand for Tony's initials backwards and his phone number.

Hi All We have just heard that Ofcom have dismissed all the complaints made against World War 2: Battlefield Recovery, the show I was a presenter on that aired on Channel 5 throughout January. This means an awful lot to me. I always knew that neither we nor the producers did anything wrong, but the external regulator has confirmed this and released the following statement..... “We assessed a number of complaints that this series was offensive and disrespectful in its treatment of war graves. We won’t be taking this forward for investigation. “The series dealt effectively with potential audience concerns about the contributors’ methods. It made clear that the specific practices adopted were undertaken within recognised protocols. Scenes that featured human remains were dealt with sensitively, and the contributors appeared visibly moved by their discoveries.” Thanks to all for your support over the past few months. This forum and it's members have always been honest and direct, but at the same time fair and measured in their comments, and I thank you for that. It means a great deal to me to see positive comments about the show, especially from those who watched and enjoyed all four episodes. Kind regards Steve T

Hello everyone, Rather like @Todd A. Raffensperger's topic, this one is about World War Two and it's people, battles and events. I though people on this forum who may not know much about a certain battle could ask and we'd help them find out about it. Cheers, Hetz

From the private collection of General Sir Miles Dempsey, for the most part taken about D Day +7, the family released many items for sale by auction, these along with 2 SAS lots were all I could afford, and although I still have pics of the SAS lots, they are now sold to a private collector in Paris and it cost him I might add !!

Ok, this topic is all about the cockwomble on our FB group who keeps reporting us... I'll be posting here with updates... Another post reported to Facebook by our resident cockwomble... FFS, it's inert, it's a table lamp.... unbelievable there is such an idiot in here who get's off on reporting this stuff.

I brought up the idea of working on a mannequin to my wife and she seems okay with it... for now. Until she wakes up at 3am and its standing in the shadows with a gun.

I bet when that lot goes off ,its got a kick like a mule ,,,, sorry could,nt resist it

Thanks Lenny

Talked to a Russian chick way back about ten years but ended it when I ran into another American Princess I couldn't resist. Well she turned out to be just like the previous two self righteous, cheating, two faced, Prima Donnas. After that was over a friend of mine in California told me all about Thai women, hard working, grateful for what they have, loyal, and eager to please. Well come to find out, they are firecrackers as well but the best choice I ever made and everything he said is very true. They may need a little more TLC but at least it comes back to you.

Here's one I visited with my son in Mannheim, Germany 2014. My son had gone over to study in Mainz for a year so I volunteered (wasn't difficult) to take him over and get him settled in.....even fitted in a trip to the Remagen Bridge! There wasn't very much WW2 related in Mainz but a google search (http://zgma.de) pulled up a small private museum located in a quiet suburb , inside an Air Raid Shelter in Mannheim. Dirk Schulz, the curator owns and runs the place. He couldn't have been more helpful and even met my son and I at the central station, took us to the suburbs, opened up the museum and gave us a private tour. His interest lies in the area itself, pre WW2, during WW2 and the Post War period. It was amazing to see what his display consisted of ...oh and I forgot to mention the Anti Aircraft gun that sits outside and can be played with. There is a primary school located at the rear of the building and the local head teacher is very supportive of his efforts and regularly visits with the kids for a history lesson deliver by Dirk, in Luftschutz Uniform no less!!!!!!! He displays many artefacts including SA, Luftwaffe, SS and concludes with a display of American Uniforms which is first rate.This has a personal connection as he was employed by them as an Air Traffic Controller. Here are some pics .....

Greetings Inka.

Thanks, that would be really helpful (for all of us). Maybe the mods may see fit to create a reproduction / fakes folder so we could post al of the "buyer beware" info. I do purchase repros from time to time simply to be aware of what to look out for if I don't have the original yet (and don't have good references, i.e. book(s), actual examples, and so forth).

Im on the hunt buddy

great charity, have fun, I'm off to St Omer France in 12 days time, its the 75th for my corps on 22nd march and our home before they destroyed it was st omer bks named after the town

I was in Normandy a few months after the 70th Anniversary celebrations, beautiful area, I would love to go back.

It looks like shipping for 11kg from Lancashire to Florida, USA is approx. £120.50.

Welcome....

Hi All A long story very short..............I made friends with the secretary of a local metal detecting club after going to see a display of his club's finds at a local museum. I ID'd all his WW2 stuff and also pointed out a couple of illegal items he had on display. I was invited to join the club when they next visited the 'military field' on an estate they have permission to dig on. It was a great site and, after the first dig, we discovered the army had gathered up all the surplus ammo from the dumps around the area, dug a dirty great big pit, chucked stuff in it, and blew the crap out of it. They did this once a day, every day, for 2 weeks. The stuff I found on this field was amazing, and some I had never seen before. Here is a sample of the things recovered from the 'military field'. Enjoy! First dig, everything before cleaning.... 40mm shell bases, blown to hell and back in the 'hole' 40mm Bofors clip Shell booster No 3 fuzes for the British Mk 5 anti-tank mine Lots of cartridges......303, 30cal, 50cal, 20mm and even 2 German 7.92 Second trip More mine fuzes More 40mm shell bottoms PDF fuzes and even a tile breaker from a British incendiary bomb This is just a few of the finds. An amazing site and confined to one corner of one field. Amazing Laters Steve T

If these sockcuckers are offended by militaria, why join such groups? I would rant about the international politically correctness groups, Anonomous and the fascistic methods of those groups to make a safer world for all, the greater good and all that other bullshite, but, I won't. Yeah, I know, I just did !

Bil4338, the straps go on the outside of the ankle? No one caught that...thanks.

Superb....

I reckon my mates right. Its going to a good cause buddy. My dodgy russian pal Victor will be happy Thanks for the Ident Phil.

Yes Bil,drfinitely not easy to come by in ANY condition,let alone in a mint/near-mint/barely worn state! Cheers Manu

Lovely!

Here is a great LWFD Uffz/Flak tunic. A friend of mine picked it up directly from the woodwork about 10 years ago. I was lucky enough to finally buy it from him late last year. It came complete with a party badge and train ticket in the pocket.

That's a fantastic post @timjonheath@gmail.com Worthy of a stripe, in the field promotion no less...