JimD Posted March 28, 2019 Share #1 Posted March 28, 2019 These items surfaced directly from the soldier's family earlier this year. I would never have otherwise bought the visor cap since it is a private purchase item and, of course, it is a "high risk" investment. However, since it came directly from the family and the veteran's son kindly executed a nice letter of provenance, I felt confident enough to acquire it. Out of respect to the family I will not name the veteran who brought these items back. He served from November of 1942 till January 1946 and was credited with the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns. He passed away in 2009. The 14th Armored entered combat in November 1944 and liberated some 200,000 allied prisoners of war. The 14th also also liberated a few sub-camps of Dachau and some other forced-labor camps holding Jewish, Polish and Soviet prisoners. The Officer's visor cap is a private-purchase example and is named to "F. Wimmer". A little research uncovered a possible candidate for ownership in a Dr. Friedrich Wimmer (1897-1965) who was an SS Brigade-Fuhrer and served as General Commissioner for Administration and Justice in occupied-Dutch territories 1940-1945. He was an SS Sturmbahnfuhrer in 1938 which seems to be the rank written on the cap's interior. I located a transcript of his testimony as a witness in a Nuremberg trial proceeding 13 June 1945. He was not a defendant. The chained M36 Officer's dagger cannot be traced to anyone. The soldier who brought these items home also "liberated" an army visor, numerous bayonets, an army pith helmet, some assorted pistols and a target rifle. Since this cap and dagger were the only two SS items in his haul perhaps they were owned by the same SS officer but that will always remain a mystery. The dagger is not maker marked, which is correct for M36 SS daggers. It appears our armored vet decided to brush up the metal fittings on the scabbard at one point and they have been cleaned of any patina. Fortunately the chained hanger was spared this cleaning and is nicely preserved. Our veteran: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted March 28, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted March 28, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted March 28, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Persian Gulf Command Posted March 28, 2019 Share #5 Posted March 28, 2019 Evil Incarnate but historically relevant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted March 28, 2019 Share #6 Posted March 28, 2019 Wow! Those are some interesting bringbacks. As always it is so good to see the GI info has been preserved with these pieces. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarbridge Posted March 28, 2019 Share #7 Posted March 28, 2019 Congrats Jim...our veteran had a good eye... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAW Posted March 28, 2019 Share #8 Posted March 28, 2019 Hey kraut...you have nice stuff. Think I'll take it. Nice score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted March 28, 2019 Share #9 Posted March 28, 2019 Can we see the opposite side of the dagger please? Two rare items from one vet, nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted March 28, 2019 Share #10 Posted March 28, 2019 very lucky guy!!! nice items. love em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John4022 Posted March 29, 2019 Share #11 Posted March 29, 2019 As always it is so good to see the GI info has been preserved with these pieces. Couldn't agree more! Fantastic items made even better with solid provenance! Congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulruss Posted March 29, 2019 Share #12 Posted March 29, 2019 very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Barickman Posted March 29, 2019 Share #13 Posted March 29, 2019 Wow, Allgemeine SS officer visor and a chained SS. It doesn´t much better than that! Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
everforward Posted March 29, 2019 Share #14 Posted March 29, 2019 Congrats Jim...our veteran had a good eye... Indeed. Love the visor....thats a beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtdorango Posted March 29, 2019 Share #15 Posted March 29, 2019 Wow!!...that visor is a killer piece...mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy Posted March 30, 2019 Share #16 Posted March 30, 2019 Wow !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z19 Posted March 31, 2019 Share #17 Posted March 31, 2019 I collected German visors for years and have never seen a makers mark like that. Interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Michael Posted March 31, 2019 Share #18 Posted March 31, 2019 WOW!!! very nice pickups! Here is a photo of Wimmers wearing a similar cap. Wonder if it's the same one. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share #19 Posted March 31, 2019 Thank you Mike. That photo is great. I am not certain the "F. Wimmer" who owned the cap is Friedrich Wimmer but, as of now, I have no other candidates. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share #20 Posted March 31, 2019 Can we see the opposite side of the dagger please? Two rare items from one vet, nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted March 31, 2019 Share #21 Posted March 31, 2019 Very nice. Please also add this to our up and coming World Militaria Forum. We are trying to build up the content and this would be an excellent edition. The maker stamp on the hat indicates it came from a shop in Zweibrucken. That is not far from where I was stationed, and we visited the airbase there a couple of times. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweibr%C3%BCcken_Air_Base It was notable for having been part of the Siegfried Line. Back in the 1980's you see the remains of demolished bunkers along the hillside around the base. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimD Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share #22 Posted April 1, 2019 Thank you Gil. I appreciate the information. I will post this on the WMF as well but I kinda feel sheepish sometimes posting the same items on two forums at once. But your point about building content on the WMF is well taken. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1st Sgt CES Posted June 19, 2019 Share #23 Posted June 19, 2019 What a Great Hat !!!!!!!!!!! I would love to have it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted June 24, 2019 Share #24 Posted June 24, 2019 Really interesting bring-backs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanemono Posted June 24, 2019 Share #25 Posted June 24, 2019 Two great items. If you were to own Nazi pieces those are the top of the list and identified! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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