Topic: Brokh. Heff. Bataillon No. 18?

MontyB · May 26th, 2012

Well I can help you with information on Panzer - Abwehr - Abteilung 25 and the good news is that it helps date your item.

Panzer - Abwehr - Abteilung 25 was formed as an anti-tank battalion, part of the 25th Infantry Division in Ludwigsburg on 1 Apr 1936.

However on the 15th of November 1940 the 25th Infantry Division was re-designated the 25th Infantry Division Motorised and Panzer - Abwehr - Abteilung 25 became Panzerjäger-Abteilung 25.

Then in June 1943 the 25. Infanterie-Division (mot) was restructured again into the 25th Panzergrenadier-Division and Panzerjäger-Abteilung 25. became the 125th Panzerjäger Battalion.

This unit fought primarily on the Eastern front and was destroyed in the encirclement of Minsk in July 1944, it was reformed Oct 1944.
It fought in France Oct 1944 - Jan 1945 and in eastern Germany Jan - May 1945. Most of the survivors of this division managed to surrender to western Allies.

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On to the next point, are you sure what you have is a dress sword?
It looks very much like a dress K98 Bayonet to me and according to the sources I have the "JOH. HILLER", "BAD CAANSTAAT" is the name and location of the retailer, there are two types of bayonet short which is 13 inches and long which is 16 inches.

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And last but not least... the blade should read
"Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit Panzer-Abwehr-Abteilung 25" which has a literal translation of "In memory of my service Anti-Tank Battalion 25" and since the text is on a frosted panel it can only have been made after 1938 (the frosted etch panel with the "potted plant" bookend borders was used after 1938).

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So to cut a long story short your item must by default be dated somewhere between 1939 and 15th of November 1940.

The source for this information was:
1) German Etched Dress Bayonets 1933-1945 by Wayne H Techet.
2) Wilhelm Schrode - Geschichte der 25. Division: Die Wiederaufstellung der 25. Pz.Gren.Div.

May 26th, 2012
MontyB	Well I can help you with information on Panzer - Abwehr - Abteilung 25 and the good news is that it helps date your item. Panzer - Abwehr - Abteilung 25 was formed as an anti-tank battalion, part of the 25th Infantry Division in Ludwigsburg on 1 Apr 1936. However on the 15th of November 1940 the 25th Infantry Division was re-designated the 25th Infantry Division Motorised and Panzer - Abwehr - Abteilung 25 became Panzerjäger-Abteilung 25. Then in June 1943 the 25. Infanterie-Division (mot) was restructured again into the 25th Panzergrenadier-Division and Panzerjäger-Abteilung 25. became the 125th Panzerjäger Battalion. This unit fought primarily on the Eastern front and was destroyed in the encirclement of Minsk in July 1944, it was reformed Oct 1944. It fought in France Oct 1944 - Jan 1945 and in eastern Germany Jan - May 1945. Most of the survivors of this division managed to surrender to western Allies. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On to the next point, are you sure what you have is a dress sword? It looks very much like a dress K98 Bayonet to me and according to the sources I have the "JOH. HILLER", "BAD CAANSTAAT" is the name and location of the retailer, there are two types of bayonet short which is 13 inches and long which is 16 inches. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- And last but not least... the blade should read "Zur Erinnerung an meine Dienstzeit Panzer-Abwehr-Abteilung 25" which has a literal translation of "In memory of my service Anti-Tank Battalion 25" and since the text is on a frosted panel it can only have been made after 1938 (the frosted etch panel with the "potted plant" bookend borders was used after 1938). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So to cut a long story short your item must by default be dated somewhere between 1939 and 15th of November 1940. The source for this information was: 1) German Etched Dress Bayonets 1933-1945 by Wayne H Techet. 2) Wilhelm Schrode - Geschichte der 25. Division: Die Wiederaufstellung der 25. Pz.Gren.Div. We are more often treacherous through weakness than through calculation. ~Francois De La Rochefoucauld Last edited by MontyB; May 26th, 2012 at 19:10..