Small group of 75th Div. GI bring-backs

[Uniforms of the Day]

Just a small group I acquired today, that belonged to Richard C. Miller, from the Albany, OR area. This man was a graduate of Hill Military Academy in Portland, OR. He served in the Oregon National Guard (41st Div) prior to WWII. And he was with the 75th ID during the war. I have a 1945 dated ID card showing him to be a "First Sergeant". There are also two Luftschutz helmets that I did not photograph. Amongst other things, is a nice SS collar tab with RZM tag still attached and an ID tag from a Luftwaffe unit I am still trying to research.

[KASTAUFFER]

Nice little group Chris!

 

Kurt

[John4022]

That SS tab has the perfect worn look to it, a beauty! 

 

Congrats!

[agate hunter]

very cool grouping.

[Kurt Barickman]

SS enlisted tab with the RZM tag is great 👍 

 

Kurt

[USCapturephotos]

Super grouping and the kind I am always searching for. As said earlier, that embroidered and uniform removed ss tab is great! The 75th Division is a neat late war division too. 
Paul

 

[Uniforms of the Day]

I want to dig into his military time a little more. He was born in 1920. I am stumped by the German ID tag. It is a Luftwaffe training unit that instructed flying personnel. They were eventually converted to Luftwaffe infantry. But they fought on the Eastern Front, I think for the duration, until they were essentially decimated. So, I am curious how a 75th Div GI in Europe ended up with this tag?

[USCapturephotos]

I have a piece like that myself. It’s a combat worn and salty 3rd SS collar tab brought home by a member of the 96th BG, 8th AF who was shot down and became a POW for much of the war. Would love to know the story and can’t figure it out other than at the end of the war there was just so much movement of troops going on.

Good luck with your search.

Paul

[USCapturephotos]

Oh hey I remember us speaking years ago about 78th Div. WW1 and I recently was given a great bring back brought home by a vet in the 311th Salvage Unit….never heard of them until recently. Seems like they were a small company within the 311th Regiment. By chance do you know anything? If so, please pm me.

Take care.

Paul

[Dave T]

Great grouping! Thanks for posting your find. I initially saw your post on WAF. Fantastic SS collar tab with the group!

Many of the German units serving in the east made their way west in the closing weeks/days of the war and surrendered to allied troops (US & British).  For example 3rd SS made their way into Czechoslovakia to surrender to US forces. I believe also some 3rd SS div units may have surrendered in Austria.

There was however during the war many individual transfers and assignments. Perhaps the Luftwaffe unit in question made their way west in the final weeks/days of the war.

Great research possibilities!

Thanks again for posting and sharing your great find!

👍

[USCapturephotos]

1 hour ago, Dave T said:

Great grouping! Thanks for posting your find. I initially saw your post on WAF. Fantastic SS collar tab with the group!

Many of the German units serving in the east made their way west in the closing weeks/days of the war and surrendered to allied troops (US & British).  For example 3rd SS made their way into Czechoslovakia to surrender to US forces. I believe also some 3rd SS div units may have surrendered in Austria.

There was however during the war many individual transfers and assignments. Perhaps the Luftwaffe unit in question made their way west in the final weeks/days of the war.

Great research possibilities!

Thanks again for posting and sharing your great find!

👍

Thanks Dave T. Yup....that was the line of thinking that I had regarding the 3rd SS tab that I mentioned. The remnants of that division surrendered in Austria to US forces and were then turned over to the Soviets. I know of some 3rd SS men who reportedly took their uniforms off in Austria, changed into civilian clothing to then try and make the trek home to Germany, so there were all sorts of scenarios playing out.

Paul

[katieony]

A really nice group!

[Uniforms of the Day]

Interestingly, a fellow on WAF said that the Waffen SS absorbed many of the Luftwaffe ground units towards the end. In his opinion, it's possible that the SS tab and Luft. ID tag belonged to the same soldier. The half of the tag in this lot is the half that would be left with the body. So he believes the soldier wearing it was killed.

[Bodes]

22 hours ago, Uniforms of the Day said:

I want to dig into his military time a little more. He was born in 1920. I am stumped by the German ID tag. It is a Luftwaffe training unit that instructed flying personnel. They were eventually converted to Luftwaffe infantry. But they fought on the Eastern Front, I think for the duration, until they were essentially decimated. So, I am curious how a 75th Div GI in Europe ended up with this tag?

It wouldn't have been unusual for German troops to be redeployed to western Europe from Russia....And because of the harsh conditions they would have encountered on the eastern front, they tended to be some of the more feared members of the Wehrmacht....Bodes

[Timberwolf]

Man what a great group!

[Big Iron]

On 2/11/2024 at 1:18 PM, Uniforms of the Day said:

Interestingly, a fellow on WAF said that the Waffen SS absorbed many of the Luftwaffe ground units towards the end. In his opinion, it's possible that the SS tab and Luft. ID tag belonged to the same soldier. The half of the tag in this lot is the half that would be left with the body. So he believes the soldier wearing it was killed.

I believe there is a similar service for tracking the fate of the soldier whose tag you have. You may have to contact the Bundesarchiv or similar entity. It would be really neat to know the fate.

[Uniforms of the Day]

Thanks for the tip