Doppelfernrohr - (Dienstglas 6 x 30 Service Glasses) The German army used an extensive variety of optical equipment during the war, items such as the 6 x 30 power binoculars (6 power magnification with a 30mm diameter objective lens) were one of the most common types seen since they were the standard issue field optics utilized by all branches of service. These are generally encountered in a black painted finish and were typically constructed from zinc and aluminium alloy metal.
Late war (post 1943) manufactured glasses came in an ordnance tan paint finish often fitted with moulded brown Bakelite fittings and some encountered were manufactured entirely from Bakelite. The right lens usually has a horizontal reticle pattern with vertical bars originating from the centre, in increments of 10 degrees up to 40 degrees to each side. Standard markings on the body can normally be found on the left hand side, ocular body panel with the impressed designation, 'Dienstglas 6 x 30', (Service Glasses) along with a production serial number. The right hand ocular body panel is also often marked with the impressed manufacturer’s three letter code in this case being 'cxn' - the code for Emil Busch A-G, Optische Industrie, Rathenow.
Most service glasses came in either a leather or moulded Bakelite case to afford maximum protection during service life. Since the 6 x 30 power binoculars were of a relatively low magnification being well-intentioned for just general field observations, specialized troops such as Kriegsmarine, Artillery observers, Reconnaissance personnel, Flak & Searchlight personnel etc required far stronger optics and assorted larger more powerful binoculars were issued to these specialized personnel on a limited basis. Doppelfernrohr - Dienstglas 10 x 50 Service Glasses In 1934 the German OKW, Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), requested a mobile, multi-purpose, high power binocular with a wide field of vision.
The Emil Busch optical firm of Rathenow submitted a 10 x 50 power binocular which was found suitable and accepted for production. The 10 x 50 power binoculars were produced by assorted optical firms in three minor variants with the main difference being in the angle alignment of the prism and ocular lenses with a twenty degree angle pattern, a forty-five degree angle pattern and eighty degree angle pattern. This set is stamped 'blc', indicating that they were manufactured by Carl Zeiss. EM34 & EM36 Entfernungsmesser 1m - Range Finder When using any artillery or anti-aircraft guns effectively, accurately estimating range to the target is critical to the success of a direct hit on the target. Many armies around the world employed optical equipment specially designed for range finding and although most looked very similar in design, two schools of thought existed with one type working on the theory of coincidence and the other being a stereoscopic based vision system. The German’s like most other armies favoured the coincidence of images principal.
These Rangefinders using this coincidence theory work on the known principal of triangulation were by knowing the distance between two points which we call the base line (i.e. The two objective lens being 1000mm apart in the device) and the angle of these two points relative to the target, one can work out the distance by using trigonometry. In the R36 this calculation is worked out with a very complicated internal mechanical computer which reads out the data using dials and a split overlaid image reticule seen through the view finder which the viewer matches up and reads off the scale the distance to target. However to do this the operator must have extremely good eye sight to accomplish this accurately so candidates must be evaluated for suitability first. Worth remembering also is that the bigger the baseline the more precise the ranging is and to this end Germans employed range finding equipment frequently up to 4 metres in length specially developed for coastal and anti-aircraft batteries because of the typically large distances involved ranging ships and high altitude aircraft.
Naturally of course the limitations of accuracy reached are often dictated by air quality and weather conditions and then ultimately the curvature of the earth. The Scherenfernrohr S.F.14.Z.Gi. 1894 saw the famous German optics firm of Carl Zeiss introduce a new and unusual type of prism binoculars. Zeiss called its invention the Scherenfernrohr (scissors telescope) an 8 x 10 power device fitted with adjustable twin periscopic extensions connected by a hinge. An observer could position the tubular 'ears' upright and parallel to each other or splayed out horizontally for greater depth perception (stereoscopic vision), causing objects to appear in modelled relief, strongly distinct from the background and thus estimate the range. This hybrid between binoculars and a periscope enabled the observer to remain safely concealed in dug outs, behind walls or even tree trunks with only the objective lens visible to the enemy.
1905 saw the design refined further with an army-issue variant and a field artillery model being trialled and adopted. Naturally other countries produced their own versions of the scissors telescope and when World War I broke out both opposing armies all along the Western Front observed each other from their trenches using such equipment. By World War II the design remained virtually unchanged except for an upgrade in magnification to 10 x 50 and continued to be a useful tool in the Wehrmacht for general observation (in both vehicles and on the ground) and for artillery fire observation and direction throughout the war. Oddly the post-war West German Bundeswehr never use the Scherenfernrohr device at all, but East Germany's Nationale Volksarmee and other Warsaw-pact countries including Russia continued to do so long after the war ended. According to 'Der Artillerist, (1) Der Kanonier (1940) the SF was to be used for: 1) Observation and reconnaissance 2) Measuring angles of azimuth 3) Measuring angles of site and elevation 4) Measuring height of shell bursts 5) Establishing safety zones for advancing friendly troops 6) And to lay field guns. To aid ground infantry and artillery observers the Scherenfernrohr was used in conjunction with a tripod leg assembly.
It normally came with accessories such as the azimuth mount and spirit level, tripod, carrying case, and other items such as a battery powered removable illumination lamp kit and a trench mount (often referred to as a tree screw which was approximate to a sort of cork screw that could allow the mount to be imbedded in wood or the ground). The Scherenfernrohr S.F.14.Z.Gi was often seen employed in different roles such as in vehicles being specifically delivered as standard equipment in many German armoured fighting vehicles such as the StuG III, Jagdpanzer IV, Panther and on the King Tiger where it can often be seen poking out the commanders cupola primarily as a safe method for him to observe the enemy without risk to life. Most if not all Scherenfernrohr’s came equipped with a reticule grid pattern and were designated as such in their markings found on the base of the right tube as ‘S.F. Meaning 'Gitterplatte' (Grid Pattern). This can apply to models with either the grid or rarer L-shaped style reticule pattern. This grid pattern feature is used for ranging using lines graduated at 10 mil intervals where the H/6400 is a common artillery scale used by the Wehrmacht where the ‘H’ stands for Heer.
Program kerja osis mts. Also pictured is the Gestell 31 tripod, battery box, rain / sun shields and the spanner / screwdriver.
One of the most useful and important pieces of field gear for combat is the field glass, or binocular. Tying in to my interest in rifles with optics is my interest in binos and such. I would liketo build a collection of these. As you likely know, they evolved from commercially marked, and later had three letter codes for the manufacturers (e.g, blc, cag, etc.) Materials, finish, and configuration changed over the course of the war, but the design remained largely consistent.
The presence of a rangefinding/direction reticle is marked externally with the 'H/6400' marking, denoting angle increments in mils (360 degrees equals 6400 mils, a more accurate system which is used in artillery plotting primarially) Please post your German military binos, I think it would be a nice compliment for this forum. In that spirit, here is a set of E. Leitz, Wetzlar 6x30 Dienstglas binos with the H/6400 markings. Aluminum objective, leather grip, and bakelite eyecups.
(one of which is cracked, anyone have a replacement set?) Great optics, Lietz has a longtime reputation for quality optics. Jeff Last edited by ditch68; at 03:52 PM. Heres some I got from my grandfathers friend. His friend was in north africa and said he took these off of a dead german sargent. The optics are clear.and suposidly they had the neck strap and rubber eye cover on it.but my dad used to play with them growing up so along the way they got lost.
Interesting thing is that one complete side is made of aluminum and the other side is made of steel. Good example of wartime demand for steel. Mine are marked Dienstglas 6x30 334790 ddx.
Ive also included a pic of a pair thats not too far off from mine. Ive been looking for a leather neckstrap and a rubber eye cup cover for it.
Last edited by THunter; at 07:19 PM. Just what I was hoping for. BARQS19, I believe they are 1938 vintage, but I honestly don't recall. I will have to check my notes. I'm certain that the case, and so on, for yours are not original to the binos, but collectible never the less. Flakshield, Finn gear is just as interesting, I just had a good phone conversation with my uncle regarding Finn Nagants, etc., it has always been a peripheral interest of mine, thanks for posting. THunter, great binos.
And better yet, a story. Most people assume the 'gelb' tan paint to be desert or Afrika Korps, but we know it is just a later war generic ordinance tan paint finish found on many pieces of German equipment late in the war, but your set is clearly attributable to the DAK.
Great gear, guys. Keep it coming!
Jeff Last edited by ditch68; at 07:49 PM. Reason: I cant spel. I've got four differant type German bino's. 10x50 Dienstglas blc blue kaltfest + mark w/ leather case dtd 1942 2. 6x30 Dienstglas cag blue kaltfest triangle black bakelite case 3.
6x30 Dienstglas Voightlander H/6400 lightweight type (Aluminum?) 4. 6x30 Dienstglas cxn made almost entirely of brown bakelite material with some steel parts like the obj lens retaining ring and pivot fittings. I've only held one other pair of these and I'm told only something like 19,000 were made. I can e-mail pics to anyone who can post them. I also have a set of the long binos like bob u.
Mine came with a bit of paperwork that really made my day. I got the bill of sale to a civilian/civil service guy from an Army PX in Paris dated Dec 1946. It lists the binos by ser nr and allows him to bring them home without paying customs duty. Here is a couple of photos. I also have a pr of the bakelite binos as does a friend. Mine are a lighter color of brown.
Has anyone ever seen a case for these? They are to big to go in the standard 6x30 case, either leather or bakelite. I've got 8 sets of binos, most 6x30, but also 7x50, the 7x56s and 10x50.
![Dienstglas 6X30 Ddx Serial Numbers Dienstglas 6X30 Ddx Serial Numbers](/uploads/1/2/4/0/124044768/286563545.jpg)
2 pr ar Eagle M marked. The 10x50s I got from the vet who said he took them off a Lw Flak gun commander in an 88 unit they over ran. Yes, I do like binoculars, know of several other variants I'd like to get my hands on - to include a monocular, of which I've only seen one(1). My guess is a crapload of pissed off Russian Infantrymen and the front of a LOT of T-34/85s. All kidding aside, wow, that is a very interesting set of binos, Scott.
Any info on who the maker is, period, etc? I had no idea such an animal even existed.
This is turning into a very interesting and educational thread, with great contributions by all. JeffJeff, Roger that on the Russian's. I am researching these for my reference and will keep you posted. And yes - this has become a great thread. Highlights the need to occassionally stray from the G/K98 subject and touch on related militaria. Can any of you folks help with approx value of American Binos?
Like I said in an earlyer post I inherited two pair, so I want to sell one. It is marked: U.S. Navy BU ships mark 32 mod.4 N2. Anchor optical corporation New York, NY they are 7x50 and good glass quite clear. The case for them is a hard rubber and appears to be original to the glasses. Any Idea on value? I also have a newer pair of Ziess 8x56 that appear to be made out of a head rubber case as well they are post war as well, right now I am unemployed and there is a gun show comming up in Eugene OR and I want to just get an approx value.
Thanks in advance.
I have a pair of Dienstglas marked binoculars- Right hand side markings- Dienstglas 6X30 7588 M H/6400 Left hand side markings- Eagle with swastika and the letter M below Oigee Berlin Binoculars are Black with a textured plastic coating. The optics are very good and the right hand Reticle is present. General condition is quite battered, no case, strap is broken and left hand eye piece is cracked. The binoculars were brought back from Germany by my father in law (Ronald Morley) in 1945. Ronald was a radar technician in the RAF and landed in Normandy on D-Day +3. As the Allied forces advanced towards Germany he recommissioned captured airfields to help support the advance. Hi Xavier, Tried to write something here but was told to log on and lost everything.
I'd already logged on, so wonder how these bloody compooters are so clever. Anyway, here we go again and hope this gets through. My No.1 son pinched my binoculars (modern mini type) which I use when sitting on the patio and watching the birds at the feeding station, with a cold 'tinnie' at hand. I remembered I had an old pair under the stairs so got them out. I got them when we were clearing out my cousins house when she died. They belonged to her husband. I remember them from when I was in my early teens.
I also remember him having a pistol and knives. Apparently my cousin handed them in to the police when he died. Where he got the binoculars from I do not know, as, like my dad, he did not talk about his experience in the war. My father gave me a booklet called (I think) 'The Wanderings of the Black Cat'. I think it was about the route my cousins husbands unit took after 'D' Day. Unfortunately, before I had time to read it my father asked for it back as he wanted to show it to someone. Due to a family break up I'm afraid I have not got it now.
Dienstglas 6x30 Ddx Serial Numbers
Anyway, to the binoculars. Markings on them are as follows:- Right lense:- Dienstglas 6 x 30 + 23182 H/6400 It also has the reticule markings. Left lense:- bek KF They are in a canvas case which I believe to be British as it is marked M.E. It is strange that a pair of German binoculars fit perfectly in to a British case.
I look forward to any feedback. I assume they are nothing special, but I was wondering if there were records somewhere which showed who was issued with the binoculars. As an aside, I have a WW2 kukri which my father brought back.
He was stationed in Burma. I rescued it from an aunt who was using it to chop firewood. Unfortunately I ruined it by painting the scabbard black. I've tried to get an edge on it but can't. My dad said that the Gurkhas could get them sharp enough to slice paperLook forward to your reply, Geoff.
Xavier, I attached the following pics to answer your questions. Sorry about the poor quality of the pics, but an ancient Logitech Web Cam is all I have. There are no other markings on the binoculars -other than those I've already mentioned. I also did a drawing of the reticle -maybe you can tell me what was it used for (and how).
Dienstglas 6x30 Binoculars
Given the advanced state of wear of the binoculars (has some places where the skin is missing -not shown in pics) I tend to belive this binoculars was used by the romanian army long after WW2 ended ( I heard the Romanian army still uses german WW2 ordonance -evan Mausers and Walthers! Hope this helps.