Uniform/Rank Identification

[Rheinwächter]

Hi everyone, I am new to this website and signed up hoping to find some information on one of my ancestors.
I recently got these photos and was hoping someone could tell me something about him.
He is my grandfathers uncle on the mother's side and died on the eastern front when he drove over a landmine.
Someone told me he was a Leutnant, I wasn't able to find anything on the stripes on his shoulder though.
Any information would be greatly appreciated, thanks so much!

[von thoma]

Pictures are during different stages of his military career:

The first picture, shown your relative as a Bandsman Musiker ( Enlisted men ), in an uniform of Weimar period.
The second uniform with Leutnant rank officer uniform, III Reich period.
And the last, with Unteroffizier rank ( Non-commissioned officer) musician uniform , III Reich period.

Regards.

[Rheinwächter]

Thanks so much!
Bandsman Musiker makes a lot of sense in the context of this other picture I found of him.
He's the second one from the left.

[Rheinwächter]

I also found this picture with him in it.
Is there anything you can tell me?
Thanks for the help!

[John G.]

He's wearing an EM/NCO visor hat and belt and buckle...... looks like some kind of "document" stuck in his cuff, could be "Der Spriess" (Top NCO) but I don't see a "double ring" braid or any evidence from what little I can see on the shoulder straps...

Normally EM wouldn't be mounted unless a "Mounted unit" (Cavalry, etc.) but might be a possed photo or "captured" horse... notice the saddle blanket?

In a previous photo he's wearing a ribbon bar with a War Merit Cross w/swords, a Wehrmacht 4 Yr. service medal, and what appears to be a "West Wall" medal.

Hope this helps...
John G.

[Rheinwächter]

Thanks thats very helpful.
On which picture do you see those merits?

[Ian Hulley]

On which picture do you see those merits ?

The one with him as Leutnant. The last ribbon could also be the Social Welfare medal as the ribbons look the same in black & white.

Ian