Sure, I have posted about berets used by the Nazi's before, but up till now, I had no idea that the
infamous Condor Legion used "Spanish style" boinas for their uniform.
"From 1936 to 1939 the German Wehrmacht (Armed
Forces) committed air and ground forces to assist the Spanish Nationalists
during the Spanish Civil War. This beret was worn by soldiers attached to the
German Panzergruppe "Drohne," which was
primarily a training group that mentored their Spanish allies in tank warfare.
The beret is made from black wool in the Spanish style. It features a metal totenkopf (death's
head) and swastika badges on the front."
And for the record: wasn't it Condor Legion Luftwaffe pilot Horst who killed Antoine de Saint-Exupéry...?
Photographs ©WHRC
Hello Daan,the german pilot pretending(in 2008???)killed Saint Exupery is Horst Rippert.You can find more informations on Google,but in France we think that this man is a lyer (menteur).I have no trace of him in the Condor legion luftwaffe,i think he was too young(born in 1920 or 1922 selon sources)The mystere of Saint Exupery death continue.....
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if you've already addressed the argument (in that case, excuse me) but talking about military berets it's probably worth noting the large, apparently traditional (txapela) style berets used by the Swiss Guards. When he lived in Rome I noticed a lot of times these guys in what I thought was their "fatigue" uniform (renaissance style, but plain and blue), with nice berets on their heads.
ReplyDeleteNo badge, quite large (not as the ones of the Chasseur Alpines, but larger than many other berets in military use) and "flight" to the right.
Ciao!
Paolo
Being curious, I typed "swiss guard" and "guardi svizzera" and looke with attention at the images...
ReplyDeletewell, their beret lacks the "txortena", is folded in quite peculiar way, and seems realized in two parts (one upper and a "circle" on the base), though I'm not sure of this;
anyway, the official site of the Vatican says, in italian, that their beret is, well... a beret ("basco" in italian), and so beret it is.
The guards sport rank insignia (those who have a rank above enlisted, at least) on their berets, in the place that other armies reserve for the specialty or regiment badge.
Ciao again!
Paolo
Two years ago, Aug. 27, 2009, I posted some pictures on the Pope's berets: http://beretandboina.blogspot.com/2009/08/garment-below-is-advertised-as-black.html.
ReplyDeleteQuite amazing uniforms indeed...