Seen this one, two things here, either he was first in the Army, or this is  a real early portrait were he wears it unofficially for combat actions he was in, this before the Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge.

Found another.

And another. 

 

Now this one is amazing, he's got so many Army/SS badges plus the Air Force ones, and Seven Tank Destruction Badges, hasn't gotten the Gold one for Five Kills yet, we also can see barely his Knights Cross, no ID on him on this redirect, maybe his photo will turn up again, this time with his name.

7 hours ago, patches said:

And another. 

 

Now this one is amazing, he's got so many Army/SS badges plus the Air Force ones, and Seven Tank Destruction Badges, hasn't gotten the Gold one for Five Kills yet, we also can see barely his Knights Cross, no ID on him on this redirect, maybe his photo will turn up again, this time with his name.

Was this picture taken in captivity? Looks like his insignia including eagle have been removed.

15 hours ago, Preppy Picker said:

Was this picture taken in captivity? Looks like his insignia including eagle have been removed.

I don't think so, the lack of a Brest Eagle and Collar Tabs maybe is a personal preference for field wear, but then if captured, why did he or a enemy soldier rip them off but let him wear still all his medals. And bluse isn't a 1st Pattern where the Eagle was not sewn on,  as the 1st Pattern Bluse had no lower pockets, this one being worn does as we see.

No rank insignia, no collar tabs, no breast eagle - when seeing this picture my first thought was that he´s a participant at one of the countless post war Wehrmacht unit reunions. Unfortunately we can´t see if the medals are de-nazified. Of course I could be wrong, just my first thought.

On 12/7/2023 at 5:04 AM, patches said:

And another. 

 

Now this one is amazing, he's got so many Army/SS badges plus the Air Force ones, and Seven Tank Destruction Badges, hasn't gotten the Gold one for Five Kills yet, we also can see barely his Knights Cross, no ID on him on this redirect, maybe his photo will turn up again, this time with his name.

@Proud Kraut

 

This image comes up on Pinterest with the following text which names the soldier. 

 

'Yes, this is a real Fallschirmjaeger, not a reenactor. This highly decorated soldier is Willi Peters. He has a sleeve full of Tank Destruction Badges and a chest full of metal. I'm sure it was uncomfortable to fight with all that on. Again, note the jacket length.'

 

Of course this doesn't mean it is accurate....

 

Gunner 

 

 

Here's one more of hi., An Unteroffizer, in this one not seeing a KC, so perhaps I was in error, and what might of been a KC is just the shirt collar, plus no Willi or Wilhelm or say Wilibad or Willibald Peters. that is listed for the KC.  There no info on this guy other then his name now. Which is odd given all his awards, like the biggie he's got, the Close Combat Clasp in Silver, also you would figure by then when this photo was taken he would have at the very least a award of the German Cross no!

On 12/10/2023 at 11:46 PM, patches said:

Here's one more of hi., An Unteroffizer, in this one not seeing a KC, so perhaps I was in error, and what might of been a KC is just the shirt collar, plus no Willi or Wilhelm or say Wilibad or Willibald Peters. that is listed for the KC.  There no info on this guy other then his name now. Which is odd given all his awards, like the biggie he's got, the Close Combat Clasp in Silver, also you would figure by then when this photo was taken he would have at the very least a award of the German Cross no!

Interesting that he is wearing BOTH a Luft Ground Assault badge AND an IAB.  Wonder if he just liked the bling?

Anyone know which Badge this one is he has? He's not wearing this one in the first photo i posted.

Another

As to your badge circled in red, it appears to be a "Victor's Badge in the National Trade Competition".  It is the Gausieger badge with a white background and an HJ badge over a geared wheel pin back.  

13 hours ago, SARGE said:

As to your badge circled in red, it appears to be a "Victor's Badge in the National Trade Competition".  It is the Gausieger badge with a white background and an HJ badge over a geared wheel pin back.  

Thanks for that SARGE, there were three categories it would seem, a Reichssieger in Gold, a Gausieger in Silver and a  Kreissierger in Bronze.

 

Here's the Bronze and Silver ones.

 

A history of Badge.

The Badge was conferred upon individuals who won the German National Trade Competition.

Individuals were eligible for the badge if they were a member of a Nazi youth organization, like the BDM or Hitler Youth.

Recipients also had to fit within one of four recipient categories, including females between the ages of 15-21, male manual workers between the ages of 15-18, male apprentices within technical and commercial trades between 15-21, or male and female students at a trade or commercial schools.

The German National Trade Competition tested the participants on practical trade knowledge and skill, arithmetic, and political theory.

In 1938, individual badges were founded to reward each level of victor.

The winners were first selected from their local area or “Kreis”. They were awarded the Bronze Badge (Kreissieger).

The “Kreis” winners competed against each other, and from that contest the district or “Gau” victors were selected. They were awarded the Silver Badge (Gausieger).

The “Gau” victors also competed against each other, with the victor becoming the National Champion. The National Champion was awarded the Gold Badge (Reichssieger).
 

In a similar vein, the wear of the Army and SS Close Combat Badge, were the Air Force Paratroopers and Field Division and Hermann Goering Troops awaded this decoration, the WIKI says yes.

 

By the way, anyone ever see the Air Force's Close Combat Badge, being worn, I never had. just like the Air Force Tank Assault Badge, both adopted in what, November 1944, never seen that one either.

Here's one wearing the General Assault Badge, Waffenfarbe probably Red for Artillery, a member of a Artillery Regiment of one of the Divisions.

Here's a curious one, has both the Army-SS Infantry Assault and Close Combat Badges on his Flieger Bluse, but wears Army Litzen Collar tabs rather the Air Force Gulls, he also lacks the usual Air Force Ground Combat Badge on sees, also check out his belt buckle, it's a Army one.

2 hours ago, patches said:

Here's a curious one, has both the Army-SS Infantry Assault and Close Combat Badges on his Flieger Bluse, but wears Army Litzen Collar tabs rather the Air Force Gulls, he also lacks the usual Air Force Ground Combat Badge on sees, also check out his belt buckle, it's a Army one.

I've seen a photo of a LW soldier that looks just as strange as this one, though there are many differences.
The photo is like yours, with the Army replaced with SS.

Incidentally, the soldier photographed in Hungary had apparently had his collar insignia removed.

The soldier also had a Front Flying Clasp, and I heard an explanation from the seller of the photo.
The soldier was a glider or transport pilot related to LW's paratroopers, and was transferred to another organization just before the end of WW2 because the war situation no longer allowed him to carry out his original mission.

I still can't tell if that's true, but I remembered it so I thought I'd post it for reference.

Noch Ein

A Unteroffizier Herbert Reinersmann, not only has the KRETE and AFRIKA Cuff Bands, but also the Army's  Close Combat Clasp and a General Assault Badge with no Luftwaffe Ground Combat Badge.Reinersmann gef April 1945, not mentioned where.