"German Naval Troops in Norway" Topic

I recently saw a photograph in the old Time/Life series on WW2 about the Scandanavian Countries. In one photograph it showed Geramn troops marching through a town in Norway with what appeared to be standard issue equipment but with blue (hard to tell with b/w photo) uniforms and helmet. Any idea where I can find a colour photo or description of what looked to be from photo/description either armed sailors, Marines, or perhaps a naval landing party? It wasn't just a couple guys so perhaps a specific unit?

The troops in question were probably from one of several Naval battalions formed from the crew of ten (10!) destroyers that were sunk in the fjord by the RN. I'm disappointed to hear that they wore the standard helmet though; I was looking forward to troops in the standard naval cap. As they fought with the 3rd Gebirgsjager Division, they were apparently given the nickname of Kriegsmarine Gebirsgjager see link
Somewhere I read that they were equipped from a depot, and the impression I got was that it was a Norwegian one – as I can't find where I read that, I can't justify the statement. I'd be interested to know if anyone can tell me whether they had the standard allocation of LMG's and heavier support weapons.
I'd also love to see the photo in question – do you have a reference?

This site in spain has color drawings of german sailors in landing party uniform.
link

When did German-nazi sailors stop wearing the round, flat top, classical naval enlisted man's hat and switch to the "overseas" fore and aft style cap?

I have also read in a number of places that the naval units in Norway had been rearmed with Norwegian weapons. I not sure what proportion had such equipment or how they were organized.

I'm talking about the naval units formed from the ship-wrecked destroyer crews

I'm not sure about the sidecaps vs the naval ratings hats, but the pics I've seen from Norway show a number of men with the ratings hats with ships titles, etc.

Some more links and references to the 'gebirgsmarine' troops:
feldgrau.com/norwegian.html "re-armed with captured Norwegian arms"
nuav.net/1940.html "Survivors of these ships, about 2600, join the land forces as "Marinebattallion Erdmenger", and fight in Norwegian uniforms equipped with Norwegian weapons. Several Germans are executed when captured in these uniforms."
nuav.net/bildberichters.html picture of gebirgsmarine in captured uniform

This leaves the precise identification of troops in helmets and blue uniforms uncertain, if the majority of these sailors were re-equipped from a Norwegian depot. Did destroyers carry a marine detachment, who may have retained their equipment? If so they may even have been detached from their ships before the destroyers were sunk.

After much (surprising) interest in my question about German Naval Troops, I checked out the afore mentioned book so that I could get further clarification. The book is Time/Life Books: World War II series. The title is "Battles for Scandinavia." copyright: 1981 ISBN 0-8094-3397-4. So there. The page is 60-61. The scene is German naval troops in *Denmark*. The caption reads: "Freshly landed at Korsor on the west coast of Zealand, a company of German Naval men forms up underneath a sign that advertises a brand of Danish margarine. The landing party soon took possession of the port."
The photo shows a column 4 across (indeterminate length). All have dark uniforms, like the reference noted from a contributor above. The jackets are double breasted. The helmets are lighter coloured (grey? fieldgreen?). All troops except the lead officer have slung rifles. All look loaded for bear! The soldier on the far right has 2 grenades in each boot! The soldier on the far left has at least one in each boot and 2 tucked in his belt. Although no MG is present in the photograph, the soldier on the far right again carries 2 ammunition cans, as do other soldiers.

More difficult, if not impossible to determine is

1: The colour of the collars…any thoughts?

2: The piping or colour of any shoulder boards.

Any additional thoughts on turning a casting of a marching German into a passable version of these guys?

@Gneisenau

1. Dark green as per M34 Army tunic with gold buttons.
2. No piping or strap, if coastal gunners then the shoulder strap is KM blue with gold insignia.

'Any additional thoughts on turning a casting of a marching German into a passable version of these guys?'

It's all in the painting…….

se :)

Bob and his dog
When did German-nazi sailors stop wearing the round, flat top, classical naval enlisted man's hat and switch to the "overseas" fore and aft style cap?

They and We (Bundesmarine) never did. It depends on which dress order you are in.

No 1s 2s and 3s (3s basically defunct today), all had the "Matrosenmütze" (The flat unpeaked cap), as did, do 9s and 10s (Tropical 1s and 2s).

8s (working clothes), had, have, the schiffmütze (Schiffen), for ALL ranks, including officers.

Whilst at sea "Pirate dress" is allowed, which means you can wear your Grannies tea cozy if you want.

I am pretty sure even in WWI they had the Schiffen. I will check my links and get back.

Aye. Illustrations in "Die Deutsche Flotte. Ihre Entwicklung und Organisation" Von Graf Raventlow. Fr. Lehmann's Buchhandlung 1901. Shows the Schiffen in use both in navigation/gunnery exercises and by small boat crewing (rowing/life boats), and by coaling.