Alles Stille im Ost

The photograph here shows a studio portrait of a Kanonier der Artillerie-Regiment, seen here in this post accompanied by a Ostmedaille and Feldspange.

The crisp studio portrait that depicts the Kanonier was taken by a photographer called Schmid in Freiburg im Breisgau, South West Germany. Freiburg im Breisgau is located in the state of Baden-Württemberg and the city was developed from its medival heritage that it has become intergrated with. The photograph shows the the Kanonier wearing a well tailored M36 Tunic. This is seen by the bottle green collar, to which Heer litzen is neatly sewn ontop of. This portraits is so clear and pays attention to the detail of the tunic as we can see the sewn in collar of the tunic, seen in the photograph by the thin white band inbetween the collar and neck of the Kanonier. The photograph also shows details of piping around the Schulterklappen (Shoulder Boards) being Hochrot (Crimson Red), this dennoting Artillerie (Artillery) corps. The Kanonier is also wearing a M43 Ski Cap to which it has been 'shaped' with an iconic style to pinch top where the Heer insignia is located. The two buttons seen on the ski cap (as apposed to a late-war variant of a single button) allows for the buttons to undo and the straps to become a chin strap that can be re fastened and provide some extra warmth and comfort if required.

The Kanonier is wearing a small rectangular bar piece abover his left hand tunic pocket, this is known as a Feldspange. A Feldspange was worn to dennote decorations and awards when it is not practical to wear the full orders.

The feldspange seen here is that of the Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42, in english known as the "Winter Battle in the east 1941/42" also commonly known as the OST Medal (Ost meaning East). The feldspanges colour being a centeral black stripe with white either side if the line and then crimson red. The white colour is to symbolise the snow, the black symbolises the fallen soldaten and then crimson for the blood. The same colours of this feldspange are what is seen in the ribbon attached to the medal seen accompanied in this post also. The other way that some awards could be displayed instead of feldspange would be through the second buttonhole of the tunic. Such awards could also be displayed with the worn ribbon when they have just been awarded. The Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42, seen here in mint condition shows the side that details a Reichsadler holding a swastika. Above which a helmet witn a grenade underneath can be seen.

The Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 was awarded to members of the Wehrmacht (this including Foreign units of the Wehrmacht) and the Waffen SS. The Ost Medal was awarded to those who had served a minimum of 14 days in active combat, 30 air combats or as 60 days continuous service in a combat area within the Soviet Union. In addition to this it could be awarded for being wounded (which would make soldaten eligable for the Verwundetenabzeichen , "Wound badge"). Or as the nickname that was given to the medal "The Frozen Meat Medal" wounds relating to frozen limbs would make soldaten eligable for the award. The Ost medal could also awarded posthumously. The Kanonier can be seen without a Woundbadge, from this we can tell he was lucky enough to survive the harsh winter and fighting conditions without being injured.

In conclusion this is a crisp photograph that was likely taken at a time in which the Kanonier was back home from fighting on the Ost front, possibly early 1943 due to the M43 Cap. Despite the suggestion being 1943, the M36 tunic being commonly known as an early war tunic the Kanonier is seen wearing this crisp M36 Tunic as a form of "walking out style tunic" whilst wearing the M43 cap to conform with current regulations of required headware. This phorograph clearly shows a simple yet smart Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 worn as a feldspange. Future information is unknown for this Kanonier and his name and if he survived the war is not known but like many of the photographs we share he is remembered and respected. A crisp photo highlighting the details of the award and feldspange in wear.