Greetings all! During my photo collecting I've developed an interest in portraits of militarized civilian organizations of WW2 Germany; Polizei, Zoll, RAD, etc. I thought I'd share some of my Customs portraits. I don't find these too often and would enjoy seeing any y'all may have as well!

 

Kev

 

 

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And finally one of my favorites. I especially like the Edelweiss on his M43 (I believe it's an M43; forgive me and please correct me if I'm wrong!). Thanks for looking!

Very nice Zollgrenzschutz photos Kev. I have a couple of Zollschutz photograph albums but these photos are quite scarce in my experience.

 

The soft cap in your last photo seems to be the Bergmutze with the shorter visor from what I can see in the photo. That would make sense with the Edelweiss. It is also interesting that this cap has the Heer style eagle rather than the Zoll style eagle that showed up on the T shaped Zollschutz cloth insignia that are found up on most of these caps. Zollgrenzschutz did get some uniforms and equipment from the Army (Heer) so this does make sense.

 

The first two peaked caps are interesting. Both seem to be Clemens Wagner item of issue style caps with one having green chin strap cords and one having the leather chin strap. They both have a great pinched front shape molded by the wearers from their typical saddle-form.

Very rare portraits. Thank you for posting them. Have you seen any officer versions yet?

Very nice Zollgrenzschutz photos Kev. I have a couple of Zollschutz photograph albums but these photos are quite scarce in my experience.

 

The soft cap in your last photo seems to be the Bergmutze with the shorter visor from what I can see in the photo. That would make sense with the Edelweiss. It is also interesting that this cap has the Heer style eagle rather than the Zoll style eagle that showed up on the T shaped Zollschutz cloth insignia that are found up on most of these caps. Zollgrenzschutz did get some uniforms and equipment from the Army (Heer) so this does make sense.

 

The first two peaked caps are interesting. Both seem to be Clemens Wagner item of issue style caps with one having green chin strap cords and one having the leather chin strap. They both have a great pinched front shape molded by the wearers from their typical saddle-form.

 

Thanks Sarge! Would love to see some photos from your albums if you're ever so inclined. Makes sense about the Bergmutze and Heer style eagle. Thanks for the information on the visors as well! Glad you enjoyed the portraits!

 

 

Very rare portraits. Thank you for posting them. Have you seen any officer versions yet?

 

Thanks PaulR! I'm glad you enjoyed them. I'm afraid I have not seen any officer portraits but would enjoy seeing them if anyone else has them!

Kev, I used to and may still have a couple. will look thru my gutted TR collection.

 

Great portraits my friend!

Kev, I used to and may still have a couple. will look thru my gutted TR collection.

 

Great portraits my friend!

 

Thanks Mike! If you have any of those in your collection still, would love to see them! And I'd like first dibs on them if you ever decide to divest yourself from them.

Kev,

 

Here is a good pix of a group of Zollschutz fellows. Notice the mixed group of transitional RFV uniforms in wear. The wartime style with dark green collars and sleeve bands as well as the previous style tunics with the same color collar and Heer/Pol style collar tabs, The only tunic missing in this photo is the earlier double breasted RFV tunic worn into the NS Zeit only to be replaced by the ones shown here.

 

 

Photographs are windows into our past and this is particularly true of portraits. Portraits display well with uniforms. Thanks for sharing your portraits with us.

Kev,

 

Here is a good pix of a group of Zollschutz fellows. Notice the mixed group of transitional RFV uniforms in wear. The wartime style with dark green collars and sleeve bands as well as the previous style tunics with the same color collar and Heer/Pol style collar tabs, The only tunic missing in this photo is the earlier double breasted RFV tunic worn into the NS Zeit only to be replaced by the ones shown here.

 

 

 

Excellent photo, Sarge! Great image illustrating both early and war-era Zoll uniforms! Thanks for sharing; I really appreciate it!

 

Kev

Photographs are windows into our past and this is particularly true of portraits. Portraits display well with uniforms. Thanks for sharing your portraits with us.

 

Well said 509th and I wholeheartedly agree. Glad you enjoyed the Zoll portraits.

 

Kev

Kev,

 

These are not original portraits but they are Zollschutz post cards. The Zollschutz had printed a series of postcards that they issued out as propaganda for the good work the Grenzers were doing. I don't know if you have seen these before but they are part of a set of black & white postcard photographs approved by the Reichsfinanzverwaltung (RFV).

 

 

Kev,

 

These are not original portraits but they are Zollschutz post cards. The Zollschutz had printed a series of postcards that they issued out as propaganda for the good work the Grenzers were doing. I don't know if you have seen these before but they are part of a set of black & white postcard photographs approved by the Reichsfinanzverwaltung (RFV).

 

 

 

Sarge,

 

Sorry I missed this post until now! Excellent postcards! I have not seen those before this post. Very interesting photos and great propaganda images. Thanks for posting these!!!

My only Zoll acquisition at the SOS 2019.

 

Great photos, the one with the Bergmütze is interseting, perhaps he's in a unit of this organization that is from Upper Bavaria.

Great photos, the one with the Bergmütze is interseting, perhaps he's in a unit of this organization that is from Upper Bavaria.

 

Thanks for the comments, patches! Here is the reverse of the Bergmutze photo. Perhaps it may shed some light on the location (might not, as all I can be sure of is the date):

 

 

Here is an enlargement of the photographer's stamp. I cannot be sure about the City name, so if someone else can correctly interpret it that will obviously help.

 

 

 

Kev

What does it say Goetsis??? Hard to tell.

What does it say Goetsis??? Hard to tell.

 

 

I think I've figured it out, patches! I believe it's Götzis, which is a town in western Austria. That could explain the Bergmütze and Edelweiss.

 

Kev

 

 

I think I've figured it out, patches! I believe it's Götzis, which is a town in western Austria. That could explain the Bergmütze and Edelweiss.

 

Kev

BINGO!

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6tzis

A Zoller with his Family, a grown son in the Heer, probably newly trained, the son for whatever reason you'll note wears no Cap Eagle

This is all new to me, but I always enjoy learning new things. Google isn’t very helpful but does say Zollschutz is a customs organization. Please fill me in a little about this if you don’t mind. Thanks.

mikie

1 hour ago, mikie said:

This is all new to me, but I always enjoy learning new things. Google isn’t very helpful but does say Zollschutz is a customs organization. Please fill me in a little about this if you don’t mind. Thanks.

mikie

Here's the WIKI on it, does a good job in detailing them, even showing rank shoulder straps.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zollgrenzschutz

 

And a little more detailed.

 

https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=38&p=2491942

Interesting if a bit confusing. As I said, all new to me. But learning things like this is a big part of why I’m here. Thank you for the links. Hope my brain doesn’t explode while trying to figure this all out. 
Mikie

A period Cigarette Card, I think a Cigarette Card right, a Zoller stationed in Greece or Crete or Rhodes as he's wearing a Pith Helmet, Pith Helmets issued out in these places you know. As it is a period illustration we then gather then that Zollgrenzschutz Pith Helmets did not have Shields and were plain unadorned as seen here.