For those who are really, obsessively detail-oriented, the "kazda" was simply called thusly until the introduction of the plastic laminated helmet made in Israel in order to save money by not buying the American kevlar helmet.    The Orlite helmet was called by two names: "kazda" and also "kaplast", a compound word for "Kazda + plastee", ergo the "plastic helmet".    Not to be confused with "KAPLAAAA"!!! meaning: "Success" in the Klingon language.  Photo of me in Kaplaa, I mean, "kaplast" in 1987...  

The solid Olive-Drab IS Israeli, but it's either a VERY early model or a copy. Tell me about the back straps; are they an "H" pattern or an "X" pattern? The X is the early style, replaced sometime in the early to mid 1980s by the H style.    Additionally, the shape of the pocket flaps and the width of the various straps is....weird.    My suggestion: Take a bucket with you into the shower next time you bath. Fill with hot water and a little bit of dishsoap and soak the LBE. Slosh it around with your foot and let it soak. The next day, rinse it out with clean water. You'd be surprised at the markings you find when something gets a good cleaning...

As an Israeli infantryman (1986-1994) I do not recognize it. There must be something else in the way of markings, I'll be happy to translate if you should find one inside a flap, etc.   As for carrying a plastic jerrycan of water, ain't no way in hell that's what it's for, WAY too fragile for the job. Ask me how I know this... 

Very cool! The guy's name or perhaps unit name was "Shekel" but nothing to do with the Israeli national currency, just a coincidence. Very hard to tell what was written at the bottom and partially covered by the Magen (Shield) of David.     

1973. I knew that. Guess I had a brain fart there. Lol. I figured from your user name you were IDF.  Great picture, too. Nagmash is an APC, correct?

Yom Kippur War was actually 1973, but either way, cool uniform ensemble. I can't imagine wearing anything wool in the Israeli summer or even springtime, especially on the Mediterranean coast where it's always muggy.    Pic is me (infantry) posing on top of an Israeli Merkava MKII or MKIII on Mt. Hermon in 1993. 

I've had this hat in my possession for quite a few years and the seller could tell me nothing about it's provenance. I'm hoping that you fellows (gals too??) can help me out here.    Danke shon,   -Steve in Arizona

He wasn't from Berlin, Detective Rath transferred from Cologne in 1929.

It looks to me like a home made copy of a CW Kapi, maybe for a costume or a not too authentic reenactor.

Hey folks,   I wanted to share this medal and document group I have had for a good number of years now.  It is to Albert Philip Oster, an infantryman with the Bavarian 8th Reserve Infantry Regiment.  He joined the German army in 1907 and fought on both fronts in WWI.  The fun didn't end there and he "joined" the Volkssturm in 1944.   The group includes the following:   1.  Iron Cross 2nd Class with  certificate 2.  Bavarian Merit Cross 3rd Class with certificate 3.  Bavarian 9 Year Service Medal 3rd Class with certificate 4.  Cross of Honor with certificate 5.   Service book 6.   Volkssturm call-up card   Thanks for looking!   -Ski    

Hnn 17th Infantry Regiment,  Infanterie-Regiment „Graf Barfuß“ (4. Westfälisches) Nr. 17  Being from  Berlin you figure he would of been in a Brandenburg Regiment not a Westphalian one.

I might do that, thanks! Give it that “camo” that really isn’t.