In October 1940 Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler traveled to Norway to inspect SS personnel temporarily stationed there to evaluate SS winter clothing in anticipation of the inevitable invasion of Russia. This primary evaluation led to the introduction of test Anoraks in December 1940. Further testing and design alterations occurred over the next couple of years resulting in the production of the fur lined anorak in January 1943. The early pull-over style anoraks proved unpopular with the troops as they were too heavy and hot without enough ventilation. As a result a new pattern anorak, with a full length, button up front closure, was introduced in early 1944, and manufacture of the earlier pattern was discontinued. With the fall of Germany’s Italian allies as a result of Mussolini’s deposition and imprisoned on July 25TH 1943 and the subsequent Italian unconditional surrender to the allied forces on September 8TH 1943 the Germans appropriated large stockpiles of Italian clothing and equipment, including camouflage material which they utilized in the construction of assorted garments including the winter anoraks.

World War II

The 97th Infantry Division was reactivated on 25 February 1943 at Camp Swift, Texas. Most of the initial recruits came from the 95th Infantry Division stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In February 1944 the division was moved to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for additional training. During 1944 approximately 5,000 soldiers were stripped from the division and sent as replacements to other units in Europe. Division strength was eventually restored when the Army Specialized Training Program was terminated and its personnel were reassigned to Army Ground Forces.

In July 1944 the division relocated to Camp San Luis Obispo, California. Under the supervision of the Navy and Marine Corps, the division began amphibious training and exercises at Camp Callan, Coronado Strand, San Clemente Island, San Nicolas Island and Camp Pendleton. In September 1944 the 97th was transferred to Camp Cooke, California for further amphibious training.

Because of the high number of American casualties during the Battle of the Bulge, several American units earmarked for the Pacific, including the 97th Infantry Division, were ordered to the European Theater of Operations for the final assault on Germany. The strength of the division upon deployment in Europe was 600 officers and 14,000 men.

• Overseas: 19 February 1945 for the ETO;
• Returned to U.S.: 26 June 1945, from the ETO
• Overseas: 28 August 1945, for the Pacific Theater, arriving 25 September 1945 in Yokohama
• Campaigns: Central Europe
• Days of combat: 41 (ETO)
• Prisoners of war taken in the ETO: 48,796
• Inactivated: 31 March 1946 in Japan

Casualties

• Total battle casualties: 979
• Killed in action: 188
• Wounded in action: 721
• Missing in action: 9
• Prisoner of war: 61
  

The stamped, sheet steel construction helmet retains about 90% of its age and usage darkened, field-gray over-paint with numerous small spots of white camo paint popping through. The right side of the helmet has an "SS" runic decal with black, angular runes on a silver shield shaped base with a narrow black bordered edging. Some of the runic decal has chafed off with only about 60% remaining. All three liner retaining rivets are intact. The interior of the helmet has an age and usage darkened, M31 tan leather liner. The partial liner shows moderate to heavy wear. The interior, reverse, neck guard apron has a stamped serial number 4780 and the interior left side apron is stamped with the manufacturer’s code and size "Q64" indicating manufacture by F.W. Quist, G.m.b.H. Esslingen, size 64. Also on the reverse of the apron is a name of a soldier but it is difficult to read.

The first "modern" steel helmets were introduced by the French army in early 1915 and were shortly followed by the British army later that year. With plans on the drawing board, experimental helmets in the field, ("Gaede" helmet), and some captured French and British helmets the German army began tests for their own steel helmet at the Kummersdorf Proving Grounds in November, and in the field in December 1915. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production began at Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, in the spring of 1916. These first modern M16 helmets evolved into the M18 helmets by the end of WWI. The M16 and M18 helmets remained in usage through-out the Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era and on into the early years of the Third Reich until the development of the smaller, lighter M35 style helmet in June 1935. In an effort to reduced construction time and labor costs minor modifications were introduced in March 1940 resulting in the M40 helmet. Further construction modifications were undertaken in August 1942 resulting in the M42 helmet. The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), the SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), the SS-TV, SS-Totenkopfverbände, (SS-Death’s Head Units) and eventually the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), were also allocated quantities of the assorted models of helmets through-out the war. Originally SS personnel didn’t utilized any helmet insignia until the first pattern runic SS helmet decals with silver runes on a black field were introduced on February 23^RD 1934, but were only worn for a short time by SS-VT personnel. On August 12^TH 1935 the black runic SS helmet decal on a silver shield shaped base and the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), party shield decal were both introduced for wear by all SS personnel. Regulations of March 21^ST 1940 dictated that the NSDAP party shield decal was to be removed from all helmets and further regulations of November 1^ST 1943 abolished the SS runic decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to. Of Note: The SS runic decal underwent a minor modification sometime early in the war with the runes being somewhat less angular.

Military belts and their corresponding buckles date back centuries and were initially designed for attaching swords and daggers. In 1847 a new innovative box buckle with a quick release catch and corresponding belt were introduced which resulted in a Prussian, Hauptmann Virschow, initiating a new method of carrying personal equipment with the belt and shoulder straps supporting the majority of the weight. This system, with modifications, remains in use in most of the armies in the world to this day. The Weimar era, (circa 1919-1933), Reichswehr, (National Defence {Force}), belt buckle was introduced in May 1919, for wear by EM/NCO personnel serving in both the Reichsheer, (National Army), and the Reichsmarine, (National Navy), with a different colored finish for each branch of service. Although introduced in May 1919 the belt buckle wasn’t widely distributed until 1921. The buckle retained the same basic design as the Imperial German belt buckle but replaced the Imperial crown with the newly introduced national eagle. The Reichswehr era belt buckles were most commonly manufactured in solid nickel/silver although steel buckles were also produced. Of Note: On January 24^TH 1936 a new pattern EM/NCO’s belt buckle was officially introduced to replace the Reichswehr belt buckles although both were worn concurrently for a short period of time. The new pattern belt buckles retained the basic design of the Reichsheer belt buckles with the addition of the new Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), style national eagle.

Beautiful condition, 513th parachute infantry regiment pocket patch. Embroidered on twill. Approx 4 3/8th" in diameter and does not react to Uv. light.

History

The 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment was constituted on 26 December 1942 and assigned to the 13th Airborne Division. It moved from Fort Benning to Fort Bragg before being assigned to Camp Mackall, North Carolina in January 1944, but was transferred to the Tennessee Maneuver Area and, in March 1944, assigned to the 17th Airborne Division, commanded by Major General William "Bud" Miley.

The 513th PIR was not sent overseas until after the D-Day landings, which took place on June 6, 1944, and was still in training in England during Operation Market Garden in September. During the crisis of the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, the division was flown into Reims, France and moved by truck into southern Belgium. In January 1945, the 513th Parachute Infantry was sent into the assault on Flamierge. During this fight, Staff Sergeant I.S. "Izzy" Jachman raced through heavy fire, picked up a bazooka from a fallen comrade and drove off two tanks, damaging one. His Medal of Honor citation concludes, "S/Sgt. Jachman's heroic action, in which he suffered fatal wounds, disrupted the entire enemy attack, reflecting the highest credit upon himself and the parachute infantry." Another Medal of Honor recipient from the regiment was Private First Class Stuart Stryker.

After the conclusion of the Ardennes campaign, the division was withdrawn in preparation for Operation Varsity. The regiment dropped with the rest of the division into Germany near Wesel in its only combat drop. In April 1945, units of the 513th were carried into action around Munster by British tanks from the Guards Armored Division.

After conducting occupation duty the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment returned to the United States on 1945-09-14 and was inactivated on the same date at Camp Myles Standish, Mass.