Dachau inmate uniform, and the story of "the train of death", 7909

[Jean-Loup]

Here, the headwear on both manikins seems to be fake...

[Jean-Loup]

Photo sent by Schonbeck last year showing an HBT set:

[Jean-Loup]

Some photos of fake tunics posted by Gaspar. After seeing all the photos I posted, I dont think anybody would be fooled by these...

[Jean-Loup]

an other fake

[Jean-Loup]

Photo with Gaspars original comment:

"I knew the man that took the photo. He knew the man that was standing there. He has said a few 'bolt's of original camp cloth survived almost every camp and that some was made into clothes first for displaced persons [which many refused to wear] and then later for reunions. Almost ALL original camp clothes that were worn were burned.. If they went thru the DP system in was mandatory! The guys uniform he's had since the late 50s! and wore it to many reunions,, and the family still has it! No doubt that if made available now it would probably pass for a standard period set."

Even from this photo taken from far away, it is apparent that the cap doesnt seem to have the proper shape; and the tripes on the collar are not oriented in the same way as on most period tunics.

[Jean-Loup]

I think I have posted about all the information I have about holocaust tunics.
The fact is that holocaust tunics do not obey clear cut rules like military uniforms do. There is great variability, probably depending on the date and the camp where the uniform was worn.
Needless to say I am convinced of the authenticity of my set, considering I have the extraordinary luck to have a period photo of the tunic, pants and cap.

As a final photo (from Gregory Koepp), here is a very young inmate wearing an HBT tunic. Let us all hope he was amongst the survivors.

[History]

It is great that you have that ! It is also great that you can display it and show it to us as it represents the other side of TR. Thanks for sharing.

[Vid]

Interesting.

Back in the 1970's we had a couple who lived next door that were liberated from the camps and they were friendly with my parents. The husband had his camp uniform in his closet, so he went so far as to bring his home to the State's when he immigrated. I was just a kid at the time but I remember they did have numbers tatoo'd on their arms. I thought that was so peculiar at the time and the reason he kept it was that it was his reminder. I would imagine if I had that uniform today everyone would be beating it to death as a fake.

Survival rate of these pieces is no doubt low, and fakes everywhere. I see them for sale on Ebay along with the yellow stars and wonder what type of individual would capitalize on such items. Its a thin line but I guess I can see where this would be an important part of a collection.

Interesting material.

Best,

Kris

[tazpants]

Amazing stuff JL.

[gregM]

JL,
A very interesting thread and VERY well presented.
It's really easy to get excited over a mint SS dagger or helmet but
we need be reminded once in a while the whole story behind these items.

I know there was a lot of debate when you first posted this BUT I can see that you have a done a lot of research and have pictures of the set being
worn by the original "owner". I have no problem in believeing that these
are original.

Well done.

[Chris Pittman]

I agree with Greg, this is the type of provenance I would want to see with an original uniform of this type.

[LDR]

Very interesting and well researched.

[Jan B]

Thanks for this thread JL, very well done as we are used to see from you!

Cheers

Jan

[LDR]

A couple more photos for you taken by me at Sachenhausen (same as photo a few posts up). However i took a close up shot showing the weave.

Hope these can be of use.

lewis

[Jean-Loup]

Thanks all for the interest and kind comments. It is really extraodinarily lucky to have a photo of the man when he came back home.
Lewis, all the HBT tunics that I have close ups of have 4 zig zags per stripe, just like yours. Here is one from the Belgien museum, also with a close up.