Well, I can tell you this much about him:
He has been collecting for 60+ years (he started way back in the 1950s, when this stuff was relatively cheap).
He was based in NYC, ground zero for Militaria back in the day.
Lastly, if you ever saw the TV show "MadMen" on AMC, he was one of them for real (ie, a Madison Ave advertising exec).
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
Latest from CTF:
This is a rare example of the minimally converted Waffenrock to Piped Walking Out, post 1940. Prof. Kongeter had his Waffenrock made late July 1939, and evidently converted by him sometime after 1940, choosing one of the least required modifications (the cuff option).
He removed the armelpatten on cuffs to make Waffenrock “look like” the walking out. The breast eagle is originally applied – just the cuff decorations removed. Outline of armelpatten still lightly visible. This Waffenrock also has two extra vertical cloth panels between waist seam and under arm made at time of manufacture, to make this a more complex garment. Reason unknown. Note pips are zinc – never had any gilding.
Prof. Kongeter is a d.R. officer from I.R. 13, Ludwigsburg. I have checked every known reference for the name, but no information. Further research to be done.
Note the three original badge loops from W.W.I. on the Waffenrock. If you look at the Feldspange loops, they are by a different hand, so I assume Prof. Kongeter added Feldspange decorations, post 1939. Waffenrock mint.
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
This is a stone mint officer quality other ranks Ausgerock for Pioneer Battl. 1, Konigsberg. Judging by the evenly toned insignia and the first pattern the silver BeVo weave officer breast eagle (on light feldgrau), the date of this uniform is about March 1935. Obviously, this is the Obergefreiter’s best uniform.
Note silver Tresse on each should board indicating that the bearer is an NCO candidate. Interesting feature that I have only seen once before on a German uniform, is the three hook/eye neck closure for the tightest fit. Doeskin, with one set of badge loops. Uniform also came with a photo of the Pioneer Obergefreiter in this exact uniform.
Unfortunately, no name tag to further identify as this 1935 NCO candidate likely became an officer in the expansion of the Reich Heer to the Heer.
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
Hi, there is a professor Karl Köngeter mentioned on this page, also at the bottom of the page.
https://www.deutsche-digitale-biblio...REZ4PZ?lang=en
From the last Pomona show. Stone mint Veterinarian’s decorated feldbluse (Major rank), with all bright insignia matching, including the boards. This tunic was Major rank originally. I assume since an active duty Major, the two sets of badge loops would be from WWI.
I have seen many general staff Waffenrocks and decorated feldbluse, but fewer veterinarian.
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
Luftwaffe Reichsverteidigung pilot:
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
This Feldbluse, matching trousers, and overcoat, all unworn, were made for Ritter Kreuz Trager Paul Baumann of Grenadier Regt. 422. Oberfeldwebel Baumann was promoted to Leutnant in Jan. 1944 ,while an instructor at Schule VIII in W.K. IV (Dresden), as I interpret this information. Baumann was awarded the RK on Sept. 1, 1943, in the battles for Lake Ladoga (Sinjawino Heights). He ordered this complete uniform, evidently by supplying his measurements to the firm C. Louis Weber while at the Infantry school, in anticipation of his promotion to officer. The evidence for this remote ordering is the cuffed pants so they could be altered by his company tailor on personal fitting, and by the large paper sleeve measurement tag, still in place.
I was informed that the three pin back decorations (all correctly marked and mint) were supplied with the Feldbluse by C. Lous Weber when shipped. Note the RK tailor sewn hooks (in exact same color paint as the buttons) under each side of the fold down collar, as well as the tailor sewn I.C. and Russian Front ribbons. The Feldbluse has loops for the German Cross in Gold, but not with it.
This ensemble is unique, in that this is the latest date on a uniform label I have seen, as well as the fact that this is the best cloth quality C. Lous Weber could provide for a RKT in 1944. Feldbluse, trousers, overcoat all named/dated with the same type of sparce tailor label, and lined with a green sateen fabric. Linings for Feldbluse were long discontinued due to material shortages, so this lining feature confirms a special order for a RKT. The uniform cloth, interestingly enough, has a small percentage of re-cycled cloth.
The uniform was made on 4 Jan. 1944. On 26 Jan. 1944, Lt. Baumann was seriously wounded and died on 6 February, 1944 in Luga, Russia. RKT Baumann’s name was proposed for recognition in the Ehrenblatt, but this acknowledgement did not happen.
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
Specifically, a named general staff custom tailored feldbluse with trousers and documentation for Oberst Friedrich Unger. Tailor, Christian Schwarz, was a uniform purveyor to the royal Bavarian house who made the unforms for the King of Bavaria. One interesting peculiarity of Schwarz uniforms (I have three of their uniforms -one Imperial and two Heer), is that this tailor always pinked the inner fabric seam. This pinked detail is on all three uniforms. Nice custom touch is also the screw down posts for both shoulder boards, as shown.
Oberst Unger’s Feldbuse displays three badge loops on right chest with German Cross in Gold loops on the left breast. Trousers, made for this feldbluse by size and fit, are not regulation Heer material. The color (almost a dove grey), is an Imperial fabric used on Imperial officers overcoats pre 1914, Schutztruppen officer waffenrocks, etc. I suspect as regulation material became scarce in late 1942, Christian Schwarz used fabric they had in stock from Imperial times, hence this color doeskin.
The collar tabs are the new pattern ordered by OKH in the fall of 1942, removing the crimson background color and substituting mandated field grey, as in the OKH orders for this change to “promote greatly solidarity among all officers”.
The critical part of this set were the number of documents that stayed with the uniform. Original documents from Lt. Unger’s tissue field promotion to 1st lieutenant dated 30 June 1918 (in remarkable condition since this piece of paper is 105 years old), to his promotion documents to Hauptmann, Major, Oberstlt., and Oberst. Unger server in Czechoslovakia, Poland, E. Germany, etc. Then, assigned to the General Staff in Berlin, dated 26 June 1944.
There are three key documents with the set. The first two are promotion documents in the original gilt embossed folders. I have had a number of Heer officer promotion documents in their folders before – they are not rare. All I have seen are penned “Fuhrerhauptquartier with various dates. One of this type to Unger in included. The other however, is penned “Berchtesgaden den Dezember 1938”. New Years eve at Berchtesgaden in referenced in a number of W.W.II books as a major social and military planning event, with key military and Party luminaries in attendance. Evidently, Heer scribes were also preparing Heer promotion document’s in this place. If anyone else knows of a promotion document inscribed Berchtesgaden, I would appreciate details.
The visor is an Erel Kleiderklass, with zinc eagle and lighter gray cloth top. Dated about mid 1942/1943. Other documents include various medal awards and his German Criss in Gold preliminary document dated 18 March 1945. Remarkably, the unform and documents stayed together since 1945.
I am currently attempting to get his full Heer file.
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
Named Heer feldbluse to an officer who was both a Heer major (later Colonel) and an SS Obersturmbannfuhrer with a remarkable story. More to follow on the story.
The feldbluse: expertly tailored six button (post 1941) late war coarse wool by Krivanec in Salzburg. Named to Dr. Benno von Braitenberg. Pink piped boards/tabs, with a very elaborate padded Edelweiss on the sleeve. Besides the loops for a long Feldspange, there is a hole in the Feldbluse for the pin back Bulgarian order shown in the last attachment. Loops were not sewn for the Bulgarian order, but pinned through the fabric as an expedient.
His war time unit was: 2/Geb. Pz. Abw. 48. Not ever having seen a tunic by Krivanec, I asked Ray Embree if he was familiar with the maker. He had not. Note from the tailor label all three of the firm locations are alpine, so the evidence suggests the specialty of Krivanek must have been mountain troop uniforms.
The story: Benno von Braitenberg was an Austrian officer who served in WWI. He was severely wounded on the Isonzo front (lost foot and later the entire leg). After convalescence, he returned to the front and served through 1918. Post WWI, von Braitenberg was a member of Bund Oberland, and was awarded the Silesian Eagle in 1919/1920. He wears the Silesian Eagle in the attached photo.
In 1922, von Braitenberg joins the Austrian police and also joins the illegal Austrian SS. Following his involvement in SS sabotage and anti government activities (confirmed by his file), he is dismissed from police service and serves three months in jail.
In 1938, he is reinstated as Polizeidirektor of Salzburg by Heinrich Himmler. Heer Archiv files confirm that he was a major figure in facilitating the Anschluss in upper Austria. The nearly 50 declassified CIA files I have on this officer, confirm that he knew Himmler, Kaltenbrunner, Skorzeny, Seyss-Inquart, etc. For his pre war SS activities, he is awarded both the SS Honor Sword and the SS ring.
During WWII, besides being an officer in 2/Geb. Pz. Abw. 48, he serves in an SD role in Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, and the Balkans. Post the 1943 Italian collapse, he is responsible for spying on the Salo Republic.
In 1945, von Braitenberg is captured and interrogated by British intelligence and the OSS for his war time activities. He is later interned in Italy and Styria. Late 1945, he is brought to the Austrian de-Nazification trials and is considered an unrepentant National Socialist. His property is confiscated, and he is sentenced to three years confinement. From the documents (inherited from the OSS), he is watched by the CIA until 1952. He is described in the OSS documents as the “little Major with the wooden leg.”
I also have his named boots and a runic wood object he made in post 1945 captivity.
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
This is a rare rank for a Waffenrock.
Hauptfeldwebel was one of the most senior NCO ranks in the regiment, if he was not Der Speiss. GJ regiment 139 was garrisoned in three locations, with the regimental staff and 1st Battl. In Klagenfurt, where this Waffenrock was made. Three loops for badges, arm Edelweiss, and one of the nicest condition Narvik shields I’ve seen.
GB 139 fought in Navik and Trondheim, Poland, and heavily engaged in Russia from that time forward.
At this rank, a Hauptfeldwebel was entitled to wear officer cords on his visor, as shown. No name label in this high quality Waffenrock. The visor displayed with the Waffenrock came directly from the family of Ritterkreuztrager Karl Walter Lapp.
“Show me the regulation, and I’ll show you the exception.”
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