An Original Unissued German WWII Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Smock

As a means of introduction, the firm International Military Antiques (IMA), and its founder in 1981, Christian Cranmer, gained significant fame with the protracted negotiation and final purchase of the entire contents of the state arsenal of the nation of Nepal, in the capitol, Katmandu. The single most important element being a very large quantity of .577/.450 cal. Mk II Martini-Henry Pattern 1877 rolling-block breach loading rifles, manufactured at the Birmingham Arsenal dated 1878. They had been stored in the same place, untouched for 100 years. These were from the exact production lot which had been in standard issue to the men of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (South Wales Borderers) wo fought the Battle of Rorke’s Drift against the Zulus on 22-23 January 1879. Needless to say I purchased one of the premium completely refurbished rifles when they first became available.

 In this author’s personal opinion, while the company has regularly offered some historically significant pieces, there have also consistently been some dubious items, clearly misidentified/misdated, and at highly inflated prices.When questioned they have tended to get rather defensive, and have not rectified the issue or withdrawn the item.

 However, on other occasions they have acquired some real gems. Fortunately I collect WWII British Airborne Forces militaria, and am fortunately not even tempted, but certainly have a full appreciation of the item which they are currently offering for sale. The only reason I’m presenting the item is in order that those collectors who might be tempted, or already have one within their collection, can use this example as collaboration, full authentication, and valuation. This author has no direct or indirect interest in the item.

 The item is a circa 1944 original German WWII Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Smock in Tan and Water camouflage, in excellent, unissued, condition. It is currently at offer for $8,995.00. Price recently reduced to $7,995.00. For those collectors who are in the specific field, this may not be an exorbitant price. However, that large a reduction in price, immediately raises my antennae, in that someone may have seen something that brings authenticity under question. Or it just may be the current market.  Personally have a rare unissued original British dummy parachutist device (Device, Camouflage, No.15), fortunately a very generous gift, but within the same comparable price range. One of the first questions that comes to mind is where was the smock found.

 The following is IMA’s Item Description:

“ Original Item: Only One Available. This is an incredibly rare circa 1944 WWII German Luftwaffe Paratrooper Smock in “Tan and Water” camouflage pattern. The Smock is in excellent, unissued, condition, and one of the fi nest specimens we have ever seen! All of the original blue glass buttons are present. The “Zipp” brand zippers, which were purpose built for this style of smock, and all in excellent working order. Each zipper has a crosshatch black leather pull tab. The snaps are all intact and marked "PRYM". The reverse has the pistol pocket with small black bakelite buttons. The snaps at the cuffs are identical to those at the hem for the leg closure. All snaps function as intended. The breast eagle is machine embroidered and is hand stitched onto the smock with purple/blue thread. It should be noted that this hand-application is most likely period, as there is no evidence that an eagle was previously machine-applied. The interior is unlined and uses a mix of green and blue Herringbone Twill cloth for pocket reinforcements, etc. The original size adjustment draw string is in place and secured underneath with a strip of purple/blue cloth. Note that on several sections of material inside the body panels of the Smock that “16” is written in grease pencil. These are cutter markings from when the Smock was made in the factory! Generally these are worn off with even the lightest of wear! No other markings are to be found in the Smock, which is not uncommon for a late war garment. Overall, an incredible late war Fallschirmjäger smock offered in truly excellent condition. 

Approximate Measurements: Collar to Shoulder: 10” Shoulder to Sleeve: 23.5” Shoulder to Shoulder: 20.5” Chest Width: 20” Waist Width: 20” Front Length: 40”.

The Fallschirmjäger were the paratrooper branch of the German Luftwaffe before and during World War II. They were the first German paratroopers to be committed in large-scale airborne operations and came to be known as the "green devils" by the Allied forces they fought against. The Fallschirmjäger were very effective when used in commando style raids. The Fallschirmjäger were famous for their willingness to give every effort unwaveringly even in the grimmest of situations. The Fallschirmjäger were seldom used as parachutists. Instead, they were prized for their combat abilities and frequently acted in a "fire brigade" role as roving elite infantrymen. Throughout World War II the Fallschirmjäger commander was Kurt Student."

 It is with full acknowledgment and gratitude to IMA that the following comprehensive set of imagery is presented solely for reference/comparative purposes.

Arnhem Jim's Blog Posts Grouped by Categories 2011 - 2021

 In an attempt to more easily facilitate a reader’s search and recovery of specific information on a given subject from Arnhem Jim’s blog page, the author thought that a single post combining all posts (excluding administrative posts) by categories would aid in the reader’s ability to exercise a more efficient recovery process. Personally, I have always found it very frustrating to remember that I knew generally where I had specifically found a bit of information, but without an index or table of contents of the document (or set of documents) could look forward to a lengthy, time consuming search, and table of contents and indices are never comprehensive.

The blog page does provide a search window, for use of interrogation by key words/terms, but the search retrieval results usually will show only the first post containing the relevant search terms. With the following grouping of post by categories, hopefully multiple relevant posts are identified. In order to ensure that no post of 11 years was omitted was a bit of a bookkeeping and proofreading task, but to the best of my ability all posts are included. Hopefully the will prove beneficial.

Battle of Arnhem

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/p/operation-market-garden.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/04/market-garden-was-intelligence.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/05/battle-of-arnhem-colonel-john-l-waddy.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/battle-of-arnhem-two-movies-on-battle.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-bridge-too-far-movie-casting-mirrors.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2014/08/70th-anniversary-of-battle-of-arnhem.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2019/07/commemoration-of-forthcoming-75th.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2019/09/operation-market-garden-75th.html 
http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2014/09/operation-market-garden-and-battle-of.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/05/critical-resupply-shortfall-during.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/07/detailed-list-of-arms-and-equipment-of.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/07/a-detailed-and-annotated-order-of.html

 

Toy Soldiers and Military Miniatures

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/p/britains-minatures.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/03/whats-form-general-mgen-re-urquhart-at.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/03/battle-of-arnhem-whos-son-and-heir.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2019/04/an-addendum-and-update-on-state-of-toy.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/less-we-forget-past-glories-remembrance.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/09/heroes-of-arnhem-in-miniature.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/10/landing-zone-z-wolfheze-netherlands.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/05/collection-of-toy-soldiersmilitary.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/08/vintage-w-britains-toy-soldiers.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/11/another-set-of-w-britains-toy-soldiers.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/10/officers-of-scottish-regiments-of.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/08/an-addendum-to-collecting-toy.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2014/05/cannon-to-right-cannon-to-left-cannon.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2014/06/its-all-matter-of-scale.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/01/an-analysis-of-wwii-infantry-weapon.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/03/curious-and-more-curious-intriguing-set.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-toy-soldiers-of-mme-fernande-metayer.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/07/vintage-films-on-making-of-wm-britains.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-history-of-tin-soldiers-from.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/09/operation-market-garden-series-by-king.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/09/wolfheze-junction-it-werent-no-ok.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/09/an-addendum-to-photographic-catalog.html  

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2019/06/greenwood-ball-connoisseur-military.html

 

Infantry Weapons and Other Small Arms

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/03/british-pattern-1868-cavalry-lance-at.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/10/other-webley-limited-standard-semi.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/11/some-infantry-weapons-of-1st-airborne.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-other-webley-addendum.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/12/were-inglis-or-patchett-machine-carbine.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/03/recovery-of-gun-from-rising-sun.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/05/tell-it-to-marines.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/07/19th-and-20th-century-british-cavalry.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2018/01/an-addendum-to-19th-and-20th-century.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2018/02/an-interesting-makarov-pistol-open-to.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/08/issuance-of-pistols-in-british-army-in.html

 

Historical Prints of Uniforms, Actual Uniforms, Headgear and Regimental Ties

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/11/uniforms-of-british-empire-1900-by.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/10/regimental-bands-of-british-army-c1900.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/10/yeomanry-regiments-of-british-army.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-volunteer-battalions-of-gordon.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/06/other-volunteer-battalions-of-scottish.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/08/selected-uniforms-of-gordon-highlanders.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-american-soldier-uniforms-of-united.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/small-collection-of-military-headdress.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/elite-forces-headdress-from-former-ussr.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/08/world-war-ii-british-airborne-helmets.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/07/uniforms-of-lord-stratconas-horse-royal.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2014/11/acquisition-of-scottish-officers-full.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/05/uniform-of-lieut-colonel-of-parachute.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/03/uniform-of-colonel-of-airborne-forces.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/11/british-army-coloured-field-service.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/08/a-significant-wwii-parachute-regiment.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/02/a-field-guide-to-regimental-ties.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2018/08/an-addendum-to-abridged-field-guide-to_22.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2021/10/an-original-unissued-german-wwii_28.html

 

Artillery, Tanks, AFVs and Transport

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/04/fallschirmjager-artillery-during.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-17-pounder-anti-tank-guns-at.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-universal-carriers-of-british.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-polsten-20mm-gun-at-operation.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-airborne-jeeps-of-1st-airborne.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-territorial-army-in-scotland-circa.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/07/war-canoes-in-21st-century.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-6-pounder-anti-tank-guns-at_10.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-1st-airborne-divisions-75mm-pack.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-rolls-royce-goes-to-war-for-real.html

 

Gliders and Aircraft

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/03/nothing-is-impossible-glider-pilot.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/09/general-aircraft-gal-4950-hamilcar.htmlhttp://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/06/hamilcar-gliders-at-operation-market.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-officers-of-glider-pilot-regiment.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-general-aircraft-ltd-gal-4950.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-comparison-of-wwii-gal-49-hamilcar-mk.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/12/horsa-and-hamilcar-gliders-at-operation.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/04/an-exercise-in-photo-reconnaissance.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/04/unique-aircraft-unique-perspective.html
https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-memorable-flight-in-caf-warbird-c-47a.html

Communications Equipment

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/04/communications-at-battle-of-arnhem.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/04/wwii-cutting-edge-night-vision.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/11/wwii-british-special-forces-night.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/19th-century-military-communications-at.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2019/09/wireless-sets-of-1st-airborne-division.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/02/forgotten-in-market-garden-raf-fighter.html

British and Commonwealth Cap Badges and Cloth Insignia

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/p/british-militaria.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/03/first-restrikes-fox-company.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/05/knowncommon-restrikes-and-counterfeits.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/british-cap-badges-additional-guidance.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/08/wwi-royal-naval-division-cap-badges_28.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/10/duke-of-edinburghs-own-volunteer-rifles.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/09/wwii-parachute-regiment-cap-badge.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-identify-and-date-canadian.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/12/applied-modern-technology-in.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/12/wwi-royal-naval-division-cap-badges.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/06/regimental-cap-badges-of-volunteer.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/07/canadian-parachute-qualification.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/09/guidance-in-identifying-fake-british.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/05/royal-naval-division-cap-badges-addendum.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-1970s-decade-of-restrike-in-british.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/04/an-introduction-to-post-wwii-queens.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2018/06/an-alert-original-dies-for-british-army.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2018/06/wwi-royal-naval-division-cap-badges.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2019/02/1st-canadian-armored-carrier-regiment.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2019/02/royal-navy-air-service-armoured-car.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2019/05/a-semi-forensic-analysis-of-wwii.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/08/wwi-royal-naval-division-cap-badges.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-original-brevet-first-wings-of.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/10/fox-morigi-or-moriarty-its-all-in-name.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2021/10/wwii-and-post-wwii-parachute-regiment.html

 

British HO/OO Scale Model Trains

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-different-kind-of-gordon-highlander.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-last-gordon-highlander-locomotive.html

 

Naval History, Intelligence and Naval Investigative Service

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/p/military-strategy.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2014/03/admiral-harry-e-yarnell-usn-unique.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/08/ens-nathan-f-asher-usn-unsung-hero-of.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/08/rope-yarn-sunday-old-naval-tradition.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/10/david-versus-goliath-fairey-swordfish.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/06/david-versus-goliath-fairey-swordfish.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-royal-navy-field-gun-trial-annual.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2018/03/hijms-mikasa-significant-ship-in.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/04/one-of-don-quixotes-broken-lances_19.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/11/what-now-don-quixote-another-windmill.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/11/not-you-again-don-quixote.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2018/06/a-forrest-gump-type-moment-in-naval.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/02/know-thy-enemy-know-thyself-sun-tzu.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2021/05/another-tilt-at-windmill-by-don-quixote.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/05/when-is-harp-is-not-refinance-of-your.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-sea-ceptor-system-with-soft.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/03/from-halls-of-old-nassau-to-shores-of_3917.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-summer-cruise-in-wisconsin-battleship.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2018/04/us-naval-aviators-daring-young-men-on.html

Additional Related Posts on Military History and Militaria

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2019/01/an-army-marches-on-its-stomach-unless.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/07/parachuting-for-dummies-rupert-world.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/08/1939-musical-ride-of-rcmp-at-new-york.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/01/the-reincarnation-of-calcutta-light.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/02/ganze-manner-early-book-on-german.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/01/famous-war-horses-in-history-and-who.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/05/samurai-on-parade-jidai-matsuri-kyoto.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2012/11/early-british-paratroop-training.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2013/12/impossible-victory-rorkes-drift-22-23.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-gallimaufry-of-militaria.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/06/newly-rediscovered-paintings-of-battle.html

http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2016/12/gordon-highlander-regimental-cutlery-to.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/01/its-in-cards.html

https://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2020/03/british-wwii-mrc-medical-research.html

 

WWII and Post WWII Parachute Regiment - Unit Designation Strips

  Recently a reader of the blog who is also in a WWII Parachute Regiment reenactor group, posed a question regarding the “correct” shoulder insignia found in the right sequence on the battledress of the period. Less and less frequently is the genuine article offered for sale, let alone on eBay. The next question immediately arises, as to whether showing the real thing with a semi-forensic analysis for the benefit of the collector, outweighs the detriment of providing the counterfeiter with the added insight to better their next edition of a given badge.

Just a brief review.The Parachute Regiment and the Glider Pilot Regiment were officially formed by SPECIAL ARMY ORDER A.O. 128/1942 dated 31 August 1942. It’s this collector’s personal opinion that the majority of airborne collectors acknowledge that the first Parachute Regiment unit designation strip (worn just below both shoulder seams of the battledress blouse) was dark blue “PARACHUTE REGIMENT” (sans-serif) lettering on a light blue background. This was authorized on or shortly after ACI (Army Council Instruction) 905 dated 12 June 1943 which officially established regimental designations for the Parachute Regiment and the Glider Pilot Regiment. The strips came in both a printed and embroidered version.To the best of this author’s knowledge, this remained the only officially authorized regimental designation strip for the remainder of WWII, although there was a wide variety of unauthorized variants also worn as shown in numerous historical photographs.

The following first embroidered pair, at least from the front (without seeing the backs), appear to be righteous. The second printed title, and the third embroidered example, also appear to be genuine.

Before evolving and being officially designated the Parachute Regiment there was a period when a wide variety of shoulder titles were worn. The first being a curved "AIRBORNE" strip (both printed and embroidered, officially authorized by ACI 3816 dated 31 October 1942). There was also a version with rounded ends. In addition "Parachute 1", "Parachute 2", "Parachute 3", "Parachute 4" (for battalions) were worn. Subsequently, when the PARACHUTE REGIMENT unit designation was authorized, the strip was modified to a straight horizontal strip, worn below the Pegasus Formation badge. Also additional independent parachute companies ("Parachute XXI, Parachute XXII), and attached air landing (glider-borne) support units wore their own authorized unit/regimental designation strips.

Although continuing to research, at some date after the end of WWII, currently not established by this author, an official transition occurred to a unit designation strip worn in the same location which was light blue “PARACHUTE REGIMENT” (serifs) on a maroon background. Its authorized wear was terminated when battledress was phased out, which in limited cases was as late as the early 1960's. The following is a pair of images showing both sides of what I believe to be a genuine pair. Please observe the following attributes/features:

 

• The colours, both shade and chroma, used

• The use of consistent serifs can be observed both front and back

• The regularity and consistency of the overall centering and spacing of the lettering

• The regularity of the overall dimensions of the strip

• The consistent diagonal and regularity of the stitching of the lettering

• On the reverse the absence of irregularity and cross-over stitching, common in reproductions

• The characteristics of the backing material, trimming of same, and the sticth marks (would appear one was issued, one was not) This in an otherwise identical pair, being offered as such, is somewhat troublesome, i.e. not a matched pair).

 

 Compared with the vast majority of copies currently on the market, these features are even more readily discernible.

 This second 2 pair of unit designation strips also appear righteous in this author's personal opinion.

 

Apparently this configuration was available in both embroidered and printed configuration. The following printed pair (sans serifs), though extremely very well done, have been specifically identified by the seller as reproductions. Two clues are no serifs and the lack of bleed-through present in the majority of the backs of WWII printed insignia, Under these set of circumstances the collector's only safeguard is limited to provenance.

Here is another example of reproduction designation strips. Notice the thinness of the letters and spacing, and the maroon color and texture of cloth.