Freies Arabien sleeve patch -- fake??

[StG45]

I have had this for over twenty years and still don't know for sure. it passes the "burn test" -- most fakes are synthetic material which will melt -- this one just singes away which is a positive -- BUT... Blacklite is inconclusive -- It doesn't seem to glow IMO. Opinions?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Sorry it is a fake.

Originals have a very different weave and the backing cloth should always be green and not black.

I know Bob Hritz has an original example in his collection.

Cheers, Ade.

[NZMark]

Very Close to originals, but Ade's correct. I have several very clear wartime photos of the patch in wear and in each case the backing is clearly a lighter colour...
Regards,
Mark

[StG45]

Not really suprised. I don't even remember where I got it. I always thought the lettering looked a wee bit distorted.

[ObKrieger]

its my dream to have one of these : (

[NZMark]

...and almost a death sentence to be taken as a POW wearing one.
Mark

[ObKrieger]

really? why?

[NZMark]

These men were mainly Palastinian volunteers so therefore legally British subjects - ie: traitors in British eyes.
The French executed the Tunisian and few Algerian Arabs who served in units raised by the Germans. Tunisia was a French colony, and thus the Arab population were French citizens.
Mark
I might add that the war in Africa was not always the 'clean' war it seems to be popularly portrayed as. I do know of NZ troops stopping French (probably ex Vichy) 'soldiers' executing German POW's...

[StG45]

Wait a minute here -- is the green backing PART OF THE PATCH or is the patch sewn to the green rectangular backing and THEN to the tunic. Sure looks that way in those photos IMO. The black part in the far left photo looks like it goes off the backing at the top. Wish those photos were a little clearer.

[Adrian Stevenson]

The green backing is part of the patch.

Cheers, Ade.