Huge ETO Bring Back Lot

[Jean-Loup]

Very strange paper. Appart from what you said, I can also make out some lyrics of the Lilly Marlene song:

 

"Vor der Kaserne
Vor dem großen Tor"

 

If you want to take a proper photo, carefully press all the pieces of paper under a piece of glass. 
Amazing grouping by the way 😄

[Fixbayonets!]

I took your advice and posted a few photos under glass, perhaps it is easier to read now.  The second photo shows the faint writing on the reverse.

 

Thanks again for taking the time to look it over.  By the way, I am a subscriber to your youtube channel.  You post excellent content, keep up the good work! 

[Proud Kraut]

Maybe the address of a lady named Elisabeth? On the right upper corner I´m reading an address still existing: Klappacher Strasse in Darmstadt. On the left upper corner the name of the city Bonn. Also, as mentioned before, parts of the Lilly Marlene song lyrics:

 

Vor der Kaserne

Vor dem grossen Tor

Stand eine Laterne

und steht sie noch davor

Alle Leute bleiben stehn

Wenn wir bei der Laterne stehn

Ich und Lilly Marlen

[Fixbayonets!]

Thanks for the additional information, very much appreciated!

[Jean-Loup]

I had written a response but I seem to have forgotten to post it.

I agree, this is more Lilly Marlen Lyrics, as well as what seems to be some gibberish... 

Great grouping in any case.

[Fixbayonets!]

Thank you Jean-Loup!

[Big Iron]

Wow, what an impressive haul! It's almost like the vet was a collector who went back in time and knew what he wanted to collect! Was it in a box all together? What a true collector's dream!

[Fixbayonets!]

Thanks Big Iron!  With the exception of the tunic, breeches, boots, sword & rifle all of this was shipped home inside the 10 in 1 ration box.  Not all of it was still kept in the box some 80 years later.  I received the rifle, one of the flags, and a few more armbands & insignias at a later time.  They were kept at the second family home in Florida.      

[Big Iron]

2 hours ago, Fixbayonets! said:

Thanks Big Iron!  With the exception of the tunic, breeches, boots, sword & rifle all of this was shipped home inside the 10 in 1 ration box.  Not all of it was still kept in the box some 80 years later.  I received the rifle, one of the flags, and a few more armbands & insignias at a later time.  They were kept at the second family home in Florida.      

Thanks for the reply! Again, that is quite the find, and while I'm jealous of the treasures, it is also great someone who will care for them got the group. Too many times family just pitches everything because it is old and they're not interested. I haven't read the whole thread, but did you get his US stuff too? How did he get the larger items home to the States? I knew a vet who had a K-Ration box he tried to get a German helmet into but it wouldn't fit so he hit it with a sledge hammer to get it to go in and the box split apart and he threw the helmet into the bushes. He wound up bringing a box of knives, bayonets, and daggers home, but had given them all away over the years.

[Fixbayonets!]

The family story was that he mailed the ration box home to his wife with everything included as shown except for the larger items.  I tested this story and everything does fit inside the ration box with of course the exception of the tunic, breeches, boots, sword & rifle.  The family did not have a story as to how he got the larger items home.  As far as this vet being almost like a collector, yes, he had a very good &  diversified eye.   He also had the convenience of having a tank to haul his trove for him.

 

Interesting story you told about trying to jam a German helmet inside a ration box.  It's amazing what some of these guys sent (or tried to send) home.