Help ID Grandfathers WWII trophies

[solar411]

Hello gentlemen,

These were left to me by my grandfather who served as a first lieutenant in the infantry division.

I think the bottom one is a 2nd gen. Luftwaffe officers dagger and the top is a paratroopers? Any information would be greatly appreciated! Also what are the decorative thing that hangs from them?

Thanks in advance.

[not2sharp]

It looks like a very nice set of knives. These have been heavily reproduced over a long period of time. We will need a much clearer set of photos to be able to say anything about their authenticity. The decorative items are sword knots, a form of lanyard.

n2s

[anvilring]

Top: Fireman's dress bayonet complete with frog and the correct troddle (what not2sharp is calling a sword knot).
Bottom: Just what you said, and add to that the correct portapee (silver acorn knot tied around the handle) and the correct hangers. They both look quite original to me.

Who are their makers? what maker's marks are on the blades?

[solar411]

It looks like a very nice set of knives. These have been heavily reproduced over a long period of time. We will need a much clearer set of photos to be able to say anything about their authenticity. The decorative items are sword knots, a form of lanyard.

n2s

Thanks! Here are some higher resolution pictures. Also found the trophy certificate taped to the back of one of the frames. Pretty cool! I haven't taken them out of the frames yet so I don't have any pictures of the markings yet.

[Thomas Linton]

The 407th Infantry Regiment was part of the 102nd Infantry Division.

Formed in September 1942, the 102nd Infantry Division landed at the French port of Cherbourg in late September 1944, a few months after the Allied invasion of western Europe on D-Day (June 6). The following month, the “Ozark” division advanced through the Netherlands towards the German border. The unit crossed into Westphalia in November. In early March 1945, the 102nd captured the city of Krefeld and a few days later reached the Rhine River. Driving eastward, the division reached the Elbe River, less than 50 miles from Berlin, in mid-April.

On April 14, 1945, as it advanced through Thuringia toward Saxony, the 102nd Infantry Division uncovered the site of a hideous massacre of concentration camp prisoners outside the town of Gardelegen.

Casualty figures for the 102nd Infantry Division, European theater of operations
Battle Casualties: 4,922
Total Deaths in Battle: 1,088

Freedom isn't free.

[solar411]

The 407th Infantry Regiment was part of the 102nd Infantry Division.


Freedom isn't free.

Thank you for the great information!

[solar411]

Here are some details we transcribed of his time served for those who are interested:

First Lieutenant, United States Army, September 1943 - May 1946. 102nd Division "The Ozarks" - 407th Infantry Regiment - 1st Battalion - Company D - 4th Platoon.
I was assigned to a troop transport; six officers to a stateroom designed for three. As we sailed at night past the Statue of Liberty darked by the 'black out', a chill went through my body. I was Officer of the Day and had been the only one allowed on deck. We sailed in a convoy with three other transports and two destroyers directly to Cherbourg, France. The trip took 13 days. The 102nd Division (approx. 3000 men) was the first to land directly on the Continent. We were transported in trucks to St. Mere Eglese, north of Cherbourg, where we pitched our pup tents, lining them up in perfect rows. It rained for 27 of the 29 days we lived in the tents. Our tents were pitched on straw over which we laid our sleeping bags and foot lockers. Our leather boots never dried out, and we were thoroughly soaked for those 27 days. From there we rode in boxcars (the famed 40 & 8 train with cars barely big enough for 8 horses much less 40 men and baggage) to the Belgium-German border.

We traveled to Gardelegen where 1000 displaced Polish and Germans were killed when the Germans set the "death barn" they were locked in on fire. Our first military action was to relieve the British on the left flank of the First Army. I was commander of a 81mm mortar section and set my two mortars beside the British mortars. My first mission was to provide cover for Lt. Danielson and his platoon that was sent to review enemy territory ahead of us. When he called back for cover, I was to fire my mortars and surround him with mortar fire. This we did, but never heard if it was effective as they were all captured.

We were in Angern, Germany on May 8th, 1945, V-E Day. I was then assigned to be Salvage Officer to trace back over battlefields to recover any ammunition, rifles, clothing and anything else left behind. I commandeered a barge on the Elbe River to bring back cooking pots for a Prisoner of War cage. We were not allowed to cross the Elbe (on Eisenhower's orders) so we waited at the river while the Russian Army approached from the opposite side. About 200,000 Germans fleeing the Russians crossed the river to our side and became our Prisoners of War...that is the reason we needed the cooking pots and other supplies.

While waiting for the Germans to walk across the bridge to our side, I commandeered a German auto and painted a big white star on both sides. As I was driving along the top of the dike, some Russians on the other side thought they would have a little fun and started shooting a machine gun in front of me. I quickly drove down the protected side of the dike! The Russians then invited our officers over for a drink. I was Officer of the Day and had to stay behind which was fortunate for me. Our men were not familiar with Russian vodka which is about 160 proof alcohol. I had to send a detail of men to help bring back our drunken officers!

Mother died of cancer July 14th 1945. I received notification from my commanding officer that she was seriously ill and was given a 30-day furlough. (Dad had to Red Cross contact me, but they failed. He then went through Senator Butler who called the Secretary of War and finally got in touch with my commanding officer). I took a bus to Paris to fly home. By the time I arrived in Omaha, mother had died. I was to return to action in the South Pacific, but the US dropped the atomic bombs on Japan leading to an end to that war. I then reported to Camp Robinson in Arkansas.

A little off topic but Thomas Linton's post sparked an interest. Where would be a good starting place for some additional research with the details I have?

[Pipeman]

Hi there
You may want to get them out of their sheaths. If there is any moisture in the sheaths they could be rusting. Nice knives.

Best regards

Robin

[Thomas Linton]

http://407infantryregiment.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH2i5PbsJTg

http://www.lonesentry.com/407th_infa...945/index.html

http://unitpages.military.com/unitpa...t.do?id=101175

http://infantryozark.blogspot.com/20...tar-medal.html

http://ww2riflemen.com/index.htm

Google is your friend.

[braillediver]

What would the proper way to store / preserve them be? In sharing my ignorance- I'm concerned they're stored in the sheaths.

[Thomas Linton]

A light film of mineral oil would be good. (Metal sheaths are less risky than leather sheaths, which attract moisture and may containing tanning acids.)

[eisman]

Wax would be a better preservative than any oil. But even better would be one of the spray on dry preservative films.

[willseeyalater]

Thanks for the historical information on the 407th, way more interesting than the daggers, which are neat to look at. The cost to free Europe from facism means we must not let our freedoms or theirs be taken or granted.