An old mystery solved

[Robert]

Robert,

I think D stands for "der" which is a common abbreviation, particularly because it is printed a bit smaller.

With respect, I think that is totally implausible. Notwithstanding the lack of any precedent for such an abbreviation on an helmet cover, the abbreviation for "der" is written in lower case.

Regards
Glenn

Hi Glenn,
they did not use lower case on that stamp as you can see and there are a lot of other examples, such as this stamp from a Generalgouvernement ("M.G. KOMP. D. GEN. GOUV. ). Do you have a different idea what it stands for in this context?

Robert

 

[Glennj]

Hi Robert,

I take your point in regards to the stamp you show (and in fact everything is in uppercase in this example) but I don't believe you can can have an abbreviation that does not point to anything. The "der" must be relative to a given thing and not of (der) nothing??

I think in any case the identity of this particular helmet cover now seems clear: Marine-Division as we know that this particular Artillery Munitions column belonged to the Marine-Divison.

Regards
Glenn

 

[Robert]

The "der" must be relative to a given thing and not of (der) nothing??

Yes I had proposed that the stamp means in full "Leichte Munition Kolonne der 1. Landwehr Feldartillerie Abteilung", i.e. "Light ammunitions detachment of the 1. Landwehr Feldartillerie Abteilung".

Rather trivial and I do not insist on it.