Original Items. One-of-a-Kind Group. This is an exceptional WWII U.S. veteran bring-back grouping belonging to PFC J. Walters of Company B, 2832d Engineer Combat Battalion, with the crate addressed for shipment home to Mrs. Ida Walters of Holland, Michigan. The contents form a remarkably varied cross-section of German military, paramilitary, and personal material, including weapons, field equipment, insignia, and other wartime souvenirs. Preserved together with the original German ammunition crate and Walters' shipping information, the grouping offers an unusually tangible record of Europe at the close of WWII.

Full content list:

- German WWII R-Munitionskasten 4322 Panzerschreck ammunition crate with original German labels and PFC J. Walters shipping markings
- German WWII Leuchtpistole 42 (LP42) signal pistol
- German WWII E.S.N. 3 recognition-signal cartridge
- German WWII short-pattern KS98 dress bayonet by WKC, with scabbard and leather frog
- German WWII short-pattern KS98 dress bayonet by Carl Eickhorn, with scabbard and leather frog. Feuerwehr red-and-silver Portepee attached.
- German WWII 1941-dated Wehrmacht mess hall knife
- German WWII Zeltbahn 31 shelter quarter in Splittertarn camouflage, with two leather carrying straps
- German WWII 1944-dated RG34 rifle cleaning kit with case, pull-through chain, oiler, Hülsenkopfwischer, and brushes
- German WWII Luftwaffe enlisted/NCO leather belt and buckle
- German WWII HJ leather belt and “Blut und Ehre” buckle
- German WWII Wehrmacht Heer enlisted/NCO leather belt and “Gott mit uns” buckle
- U.S. WWII M1936 Web Pistol Belt
- German WWII yellow “Deutsche Wehrmacht” armband
- German WWII Heer M43 field-cap eagle and cockade trapezoid insignia
- Pair of German WWII Deutsche Reichsbahn official collar tabs
- German WWII Eastern Front Medal / Ostmedaille, “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”
- German WWII 1939 Black Wound Badge
- German WWII 1939 Silver Wound Badge
- German WWII Heer Gebirgsjäger / Gebirgstruppen metal Edelweiss cap insignia
- German 1935 “Tag der Arbeit” event badge, maker marked M.O.S.
- German 1938 NSDAP district/rally event badge
- German NS-Volkswohlfahrt Gau Düsseldorf membership door plaque
- German 1938 Merkbuch für den deutschen Polizeivollzugsbeamten, named to Gendarmerie-Wachtmeister Anton Pohler of Schongau

The grouping is housed in a R-Munitionskasten 4322 wooden ammunition crate, originally manufactured to hold two 8.8 cm R.Pz.B.Gr. 4322 rockets for the Raketenpanzerbüchse 54 “Panzerschreck” anti-tank weapon. Constructed largely of wood with dovetailed corners, internal ammunition supports, metal hinges, and a rope carrying handle, these purpose-built cases protected the relatively fragile rocket ammunition during storage and transport. The crate measures approximately 29" x 9" x 5".

Of particular interest, the original German ammunition labels remain affixed inside the lid. The upper label identifies a load of two 8.8 cm R.Pz.B.Gr. rockets fitted with A.Z. 5095/1 impact fuzes, and bears the propellant manufacturer's code blz, a 1944/5 lot designation, and Tpn 22.1.45 D, indicating processing at the Töpchin Army ammunition facility on January 22, 1945.

Directly below is a particularly desirable late-war instruction label headed:

NEUE WINTERMUNITION 1944/45!
“New Winter Ammunition 1944/45!”

The label specifies an operating temperature range of -25°C to +25°C and provides safety warnings and revised sighting instructions for the new winter ammunition. These labels reflect efforts made during the final winter of the war to improve the performance of Panzerschreck ammunition under severe cold-weather conditions.

Its exterior was subsequently painted with an American serviceman's return information:

P.F.C. J. WALTERS
CO. “B” 2832 ENGR
APO #758, P.M. N.Y. N.Y.

The opposite portion of the lid is addressed to:

MRS IDA WALTERS
R.R. #4
HOLLAND, MICH.

These markings identify Walters with Company B, 2832d Engineer Combat Battalion, a U.S. Army engineer unit serving with Seventh Army during the final campaign in Germany. Company B is documented participating in the Rhine crossing near Worms on March 26, 1945.

More detailed information on the contents of the box:

Leuchtpistole 42 with E.S.N. 3 recognition-signal cartridge

A Leuchtpistole 42, or LP42, signal pistol, accompanied by an E.S.N. 3 recognition-signal cartridge. Introduced into German service in 1943, the LP42 was developed as a simplified successor to the earlier Leuchtpistole 34. The LP42 utilized a more economical stamped-steel body with a protective zinc/galvanized finish, allowing faster production while conserving strategic light metals. It remained a single-shot, break-open smoothbore signal pistol chambered for German 26.65 mm (Caliber 4) signal ammunition.

This example retains its characteristic reddish-brown ribbed composition/Bakelite grip panels, lanyard loop, break-open barrel assembly, and gray zinc-finished steel construction. The body shows expected handling wear, scratches, discoloration, and age-related finish loss, giving it a very appealing untouched wartime appearance. The frame is stamped with a serial number that appears to read 020474, together with the wartime manufacturer's code eun. This code identifies production by Rana-Werke, Rudolf Danhardt, Klardorf in der Oberpfalz, Germany.

Accompanying the pistol is a long aluminum signal cartridge retaining the marking E.S.N. 3 and the additional code hls. E.S.N. is the abbreviation for Erkennungssignal, or "recognition signal." The E.S.N. series consisted of numbered signal cartridges intended to produce predetermined visual recognition patterns. The E.S.N. 3 cartridge produced a pattern of four white signal stars and formed part of the wartime German system of visual recognition and communication, particularly associated with Luftwaffe signaling.

KS98 Bayonet

Two short-pattern KS98 bayonets, each complete with its black-finished steel scabbard and leather frog. Known in German as Ausgehseitengewehre or Extra-Seitengewehre, these privately purchased sidearms were worn with dress and walking-out uniforms rather than being intended as standard field-combat bayonets. Both examples are of the short pattern and measure approximately 7 5/8 inches in blade length, 12 3/4 inches overall out of the scabbard, and 14 inches overall when sheathed.

The first example is maker marked on the blade with the distinctive knight's-head trademark over WKC, identifying manufacture by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie. of Solingen, Germany. The blade shows scattered scratches and age-related spotting. The plated hilt retains most of its finish but shows expected age, including oxidation around the guard and adjoining areas. The black-finished steel scabbard exhibits surface wear and finish loss from use and handling. The accompanying leather dress frog is more heavily worn, with finish loss and general surface deterioration. The retaining strap and snap are still present, leaving the set complete but clearly showing normal period wear.

The second example is a Heer short-pattern dress bayonet marked ORIGINAL / Eickhorn / SOLINGEN beneath the firm's distinctive squirrel trademark, identifying manufacture by Carl Eickhorn of Solingen. The blade retains a notably bright polished finish, with only scattered scratches and minor spotting from age and handling. The plated hilt remains well preserved, with crisp checkering to the black composition grip scales and only moderate wear to the fittings. Its black-finished steel scabbard is likewise in good condition, showing scattered scratches and areas of finish loss consistent with period use. The bayonet retains an attached German Feuerwehr sidearm knot, or Troddel/Portepee, tied around the leather frog. The knot is constructed with red and metallic thread, the latter having developed a green verdigris patina over time.

1941-dated Wehrmacht mess hall knife

A Wehrmacht mess hall knife, a type of full-sized institutional cutlery used in military dining facilities. The knife is constructed with a stainless-steel blade and aluminum handle. One side of the blade is stamped ROSTFREI, German for "rust-free." The aluminum handle bears the distinctive linked-oval UNIAL trademark, while the opposite side is stamped W.A.L. 41 alongside the German national eagle and swas. property mark. The W.A.L. marking identifies manufacture by Westfälische Aluminiumindustrie Jünger & Co. of Lüdenscheid, Germany, a well-known wartime producer of aluminum military equipment, including canteens, mess kits, and cutlery. The accompanying 41 dates manufacture to 1941.

Zeltbahn 31 camouflage shelter

A Zeltbahn 31 camouflage shelter quarter, rolled and secured by a pair of brown leather carrying straps. The Zeltbahn was one of the most recognizable and versatile pieces of personal field equipment issued to the German soldier and saw extensive service throughout the Second World War. Introduced in 1931, the Zeltbahn 31 was a large triangular section of weather-resistant cloth designed to perform several functions. A single Zeltbahn could be worn over the uniform and equipment as a camouflage rain poncho, spread out as a groundsheet, or erected as an individual improvised shelter. Multiples could also be buttoned together, with four Zeltbahnen forming the familiar pyramidal shelter intended for approximately four men. Larger shelters could be assembled by combining additional panels.

This example displays the classic Buntfarbenaufdruck 31 camouflage pattern, better known today as Splittertarnmuster or splinter camouflage. The design features sharply defined green and brown geometric shapes over a lighter gray-green to tan base, overprinted with the characteristic narrow green vertical “rain” or “grass” strokes. Both straps show considerable age, while the Zeltbahn itself retains strong camouflage coloration with expected fading and possible moth or general service-related wear. The buttons remain securely in place.The interior retains a faint manufacturer ink stamp that reads J. C. Runken & Co., Bremen, with the 1940 date below.

RG34 rifle cleaning kit

A Reinigungsgerät 34, or RG34, rifle cleaning kit, retaining a selection of its original cleaning and maintenance components. Introduced in 1934, the RG34 became the standard compact rifle-maintenance kit of the German armed forces and is most closely associated with the Karabiner 98k, although its tools were suitable for servicing other German small arms as well.

The kit is housed in the familiar compact sheet-steel container with hinged end compartments. The case retains its wartime finish and is stamped cmr 44, identifying manufacture in 1944 by Hawig, Hauswirtschafts-Maschinen-GmbH of Berlin.

Visible components include the long articulated Reinigungskette, or pull-through cleaning chain; an empty brown phenolic/Bakelite Öltropfer, or oil bottle; the steel Hülsenkopfwischer cleaning and disassembly tool; and several bore-cleaning and oiling brushes. The pull-through chain was passed through the rifle barrel and used to draw the appropriate brush or cleaning material through the bore, while the compact oiler provided lubricant for routine weapons maintenance. The Hülsenkopfwischer served as a specialized cleaning and maintenance tool for the rifle's action and cartridge-seat area and could also assist with basic disassembly.

Group of four WWII-era belts, consisting of three German examples and one U.S. pistol belt.

The first is a Luftwaffe enlisted/NCO belt and buckle. The rectangular metal buckle features the characteristic Luftwaffe eagle in flight clutching a swas., set against a finely textured background and surrounded by a raised oak-leaf wreath.

The second example is a HJ, or H Youth, leather belt with HJ belt buckle. The buckle displays the organization’s eagle clutching the diamond-shaped HJ emblem, surrounded by the raised motto:

BLUT UND EHRE

meaning “Blood and Honor.”

The reverse is marked with the circular RZM insignia together with the manufacturer code M4/39, identifying production by F. W. Assmann & Söhne of Lüdenscheid, Germany. An additional small “2” production or inspection marking is also present. The accompanying brown leather belt is stamped 86, indicating its original size designation.

The third example is Wehrmacht Heer enlisted/NCO leather equipment belt with Army belt buckle, retaining particularly desirable manufacturer, date, size, and wartime production markings.

The steel buckle features the standard German Army eagle and swas. surrounded by an oak-leaf wreath, with the traditional inscription:

GOTT MIT UNS

meaning “God with us.”

The reverse of the buckle is stamped C.T.D. 1943, identifying manufacture in 1943 by Christian Theodor Dicke of Lüdenscheid, Germany. The buckle is of the typical wartime steel construction and retains a gray finish with surface wear and oxidation.

The accompanying dark leather equipment belt is stamped 95, indicating an original nominal size of approximately 95 centimeters. It additionally bears the wartime manufacturer's identification:

RBNr. 0/0350/0227

This Reichsbetriebsnummer, or Reich factory identification number, is associated with Otto Graf, Heeresausrüstungen und Sattlerwarenfabrik of Leipzig.

Last of this collection of belts is a U.S. WWII M1936 Web Pistol Belt. The belt is constructed from heavy OD No. 3 khaki cotton webbing and features the characteristic rows of reinforced metal eyelets, adjustment hardware, and equipment attachment points of the M1936 pattern. Despite its commonly used name of “pistol belt,” the M1936 was a general-purpose equipment belt and could support a wide variety of field gear.

Assortment of Insignia

Assortment of insignia consisting of a yellow “Deutsche Wehrmacht” armband, a Heer M43 field-cap eagle and cockade trapezoid, and a matched pair of Deutsche Reichsbahn middle-grade official's collar tabs.

The largest piece is an original yellow “Deutsche Wehrmacht” armband, constructed from yellow cloth with the inscription:

DEUTSCHE
WEHRMACHT

woven in bold black Gothic lettering. Translating as “German Armed Forces,” this type of armband was not the standard insignia of a uniformed Wehrmacht soldier. Rather, it served as an identifying device for non-uniformed personnel officially serving with or attached to the German armed forces. The yellow Deutsche Wehrmacht armband was introduced before the war and was used by civilian and other non-uniformed Wehrmacht personnel whose status and connection with the armed forces needed to be readily apparent.

As the war progressed, regulations governing these identification bands changed, and use of the yellow Deutsche Wehrmacht pattern became particularly associated with non-uniformed, non-combatant personnel serving the armed forces. Such personnel could be encountered in a wide variety of administrative, technical, logistical, transportation, and other support positions. This example retains strong yellow coloration and very clear black Gothic lettering. Of additional interest are faint circular ink stamps visible toward both ends of the armband, evidently period issue or administrative markings.

Also present is a Wehrmacht Heer M43 field-cap trapezoid insignia. This field-gray insignia displays the German Army national eagle and swas. above the circular national cockade in the traditional red, white, and black colors. This pattern was introduced for use on the Einheitsfeldmütze, commonly known as the M43 field cap, and was worn by Heer enlisted personnel and NCOs during the latter portion of WWII.

Completing the cloth insignia assortment is a pair of Deutsche Reichsbahn collar tabs. The Deutsche Reichsbahn, or German National Railway, was of immense strategic importance during WWII, moving troops and supplies throughout Germany and the occupied territories. Railway officials wore an extensive system of distinctive uniform insignia reflecting their position within the Reichsbahn administrative hierarchy.

Each of these rectangular collar patches features a gold-colored winged railway wheel and swas., with a horizontal pair of oak leaves beneath. The perimeter is finished with distinctive alternating blue-and-gold twisted piping.

This particular combination of insignia would have identified a Reichsbahn official belonging to the mittlerer Dienst, or middle-grade service, encompassing pay groups 11 through 8 and 7a.

Assortment of decorations

Seven military decorations, badges, and uniform insignia. Most significant among the group is an original Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42,” commonly known as the Ostmedaille or Eastern Front Medal. Instituted in 1942, this decoration recognized qualifying German and allied personnel who served under the exceptionally difficult conditions of the Eastern Front during the winter campaign of November 1941 through April 1942. The medal features the characteristic steel helmet and stick-grenade suspension, with the German national eagle and swas. on the obverse. The reverse bears the inscription:

WINTERSCHLACHT
IM OSTEN
1941/42

above a crossed sword and laurel branch. This example is offered without its original ribbon and exhibits an attractive darkened wartime patina with expected surface wear.

Also present are two German 1939-pattern Wound Badges, one in Silver and one in Black. Both display the familiar German steel helmet bearing a swas. over crossed swords, surrounded by an oval laurel wreath.

The Black Wound Badge was normally awarded for one or two qualifying wounds, while the Silver Wound Badge was generally awarded for three or four. The Black example shows substantial wear to its original dark finish, much of which has mellowed to a brown-black patina, while the Silver example retains considerably more of its bright silver appearance.

Another particularly desirable piece is an original Heer Gebirgsjäger / Gebirgstruppen metal Edelweiss cap insignia. This distinctive badge consists of a gray metal Edelweiss flower and stem with a separately applied gilt-colored central stamen. Small holes around the flower and stem allowed the insignia to be sewn directly onto the mountain cap, or Bergmütze. The Edelweiss served as the traditional insignia of German Army mountain troops and was worn by personnel of the broader Gebirgstruppen establishment.

The group also includes an original 1935 “Tag der Arbeit” event badge, issued in connection with the German May Day labor celebrations. The oval aluminum badge depicts three idealized figures representing labor, agriculture, and professional or intellectual work, positioned above the German national eagle and swas.. The inscription TAG DER ARBEIT appears above, with the date 1935 divided at the lower edge.

The reverse retains its horizontal pin and is clearly marked:

M.O.S.

This maker marking is presumably associated with Matthias Oechsler & Sohn of Ansbach.

A second prewar political piece is a 1938 NSDAP Kreistreffen event badge from the Kreis Osterburg, issued in connection with a district-level National Socialist Party gathering.

The oval metal badge features a detailed representation of a fortified city gate with four towers, surmounted by an eagle, with a national eagle and swas. incorporated at the lower portion of the design. Around the perimeter is the raised inscription:

KREISTREFFEN D. NSDAP
D. KREISES OSTERBURG

with the date:

25.-26.6.38

The inscription translates as “District Meeting of the NSDAP, District of Osterburg, June 25–26, 1938.”

During the Third Reich, Osterburg was one of the NSDAP district organizations within Gau Magdeburg-Anhalt. Kreistreffen, or district meetings, were regional Party gatherings that brought together local NSDAP members and affiliated organizations for political ceremonies, speeches, parades, and other organized events. Small commemorative badges such as this were produced for participants and attendees and are today generally classified as Tagungsabzeichen or event badges rather than military decorations.

The largest piece in the assortment is an original NS-Volkswohlfahrt membership door plaque, or Türplakette, from Gau Düsseldorf. This piece was designed for display on the door or entrance of a residence or premises as a visible indication of membership in the Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt, or National Socialist People's Welfare organization (NSV).

Constructed from thin stamped metal with an attractive bronzed finish, the circular plaque features the large stylized NSV emblem at center surrounded by the inscription:

MITGLIED DER N.S. VOLKSWOHLFAHRT
GAU DÜSSELDORF

which translates as “Member of the National Socialist People's Welfare Organization, Gau Düsseldorf.”

The NSV was the principal welfare organization of the Party and became heavily involved in charitable assistance, maternal and child welfare, and the extensive Winter Relief programs conducted during the Third Reich.

German Police handbook

1938 German police reference handbook, Merkbuch für den deutschen Polizeivollzugsbeamten 1938, or “Reference Handbook for the German Police Enforcement Officer.” Published by Adolf Sponholtz Verlag of Hanover, the pocket-sized volume was intended as a practical professional reference for members of the German police establishment, covering information useful to a serving officer.

The personal information section is filled in by hand and identifies the owner as Anton Pohler, with his rank abbreviated “Gend. Wachtm.”, indicating Gendarmerie-Wachtmeister, and his duty station given as Schongau. His name also appears handwritten on the title page together with the date 12.5.1938. Additional entries record portions of his personal sizing and equipment information, including a boot size of 42, glove size 9, weight of approximately 75 kilograms, and height of approximately 1.71 meters, along with several entries for issued equipment.

The book shows clear signs of use, with contemporary underlining, brackets, and boxed passages focused on police promotion, seniority, and permanent civil-service status. The annotations trace advancement from Wachtmeister to Oberwachtmeister, Revieroberwachtmeister, Hauptwachtmeister, and eventually Meister der Schutzpolizei, as well as the conditions for permanent appointment and dismissal.

Interesting are marked regulations allowing qualifying service in the Wehrmacht and SS-Verfügungstruppe to count toward police seniority, with transitional provisions also recognizing earlier service in the SA, SS, NSKK, and as a Political Leader. The markings strongly suggest that a serving policeman was studying the regulations governing his own career and provide a revealing contemporary view of the administrative overlap between the German police, military, and National Socialist organizations.

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This inert ordnance item has been fully deactivated in accordance with ATF guidelines. It cannot be converted into a functional explosive device and is strictly restricted from international export.