Help with Insignia "Souvenired" in Europe

Hello Folks,

My late uncle, Corporal Josef Pawlica served with the Free Polish Forces and made his way through France,, Belgium, Holland and Germany before being demobbed in 1947. I have applied for his records but the family believe that he may have been an engineer.

The items on the attached photo came to me via my father who was in his mid-teens in 1947 and were probably souvenired by my uncle whilst serving.

I would be most grateful anyone can tell me anything about them - the wallet is particularly good quality leather and I'm intrigued by the deaths head badge and the small pin badge.

Most grateful for any help

 

The eagle on the left is an officers' quality Wehrmachtadler (Armed forces Eagle) badge worn by Panzer Troops.
The badge on the right is the one-piece small other ranks insignia worn on the front of the ski cap worn by Waffen-SS armoured troops.

I couldn't make out the writing on the swastika lapel badge; it's up side down. Don't think it's a party membership badge.

 

I believe the bottom right is the normal Panzer badge for the field cap used by all Werhmacht panzer troops.

To my knowledge the skull is not an SS Skull, but similar to the double tunic collar Skulls worn by Panzer Crews.

Regards
Tom

 

The leather bound wallet appears very similar to souvenir ones produced in North Africa,although they did tend to have local scenes "tooled" on them.

 

Hi.
Bottom right what ever it maybe has the swastika facing the wrong way and the quality of the skull would not make the strict quality control (RZM)




Kyle

 

Err... it's been placed back to front. Poor quality too, so probably very late war manufacture.

 

Owen,

I stand corrected the Heer cap had the Eagle with Swastika and the circular cockade Hoheitsabzeichen.

Regards
Tom

 

Many thanks for all of the responses, it is a huge help. It looks like my uncle had some interaction of some sort with Panzer troops during his service. My apologies for placing some of the insignia badly - the eagle/skull one is actually in worse condition on the other side hence the mistake! The wording on the small badge appears to be "nun erst recht" which may help someone identify it.

The panzer link is interesting as I have another item comprising an electrically powered instrument with a kind of spirit level and a swinging arm which I take to measure tilt. I have always thought it came from an aircraft but maybe it is from a tank! I will post a photo and see if anyone recognises it as soon as I can unearth it.

Thanks again

 

Not an expert but I don't think so, German quality was never compromised even in the later stages of the war, The Skull is wrong if its real its not SS .This type of badge (trapezoid) had I believe a black rayon base, machine bevo woven silver/gray eagle and skull, trapezoid sides usually measured 65 x 50 x 12 x 50 mm being cut from 50mm rolls (I think?) Anyway if you look at the example I posted the reverse looks like this;-

 

Couple of photos of a genuine example no RZM markings these were made around 1923-33 semi official hence no RZM. The repros often have RZM markings.

Kyle

 

Many thanks to everyone who responded to the thread, I certainly know a great deal more now than when I started.

Each piece of information helps me with my uncles story - the big piece of the jigsaw should be on its way from the Polish Records office.....

 

Could the item you describe be a clinometer perhaps. Used for indirect fire by tank crews and an "if all else fails" by the Artillery.

 

Hello & thanks for your feedback. I posted the pictures of the object on the Weapons,Technology & Equipment forum under "Mystery German Object/Instrument"

I wont spoil the surprise but the result was rather unexpected and raises a whole load more questions....

 

I might even attach the picture this time....