| The E.Reitz uniformwerke was one of
the biggest uniform factories outside Germany. It was located in Merksem, a
suburb of
Antwerp, Belgium. In a former tobacco factory, the Germans installed a huge production unit for military uniforms used by the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe , Waffen-SS and Kriegsmarine. We have been able to find some interesting pictures and original items originating from this plant. Some of these are shown below. We would like to appeal to all visitors to help us in finding more information, documents, pictures or uniform items related to the E.Reitz uniform factories. An in depth study is in the making and we would appreciate all kinds of help ! Please note that all pictures have copyright to them and can not be used without prior concent of the webmaster !!! Werner Palinckx |
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| The factory as it was in 1925 when operating for the British American Tobacco Association. Note that the top levels weren't added yet and Canal on the left was the Kempische Vaart, before it was widened and renamed in the Albert Canal ! | |
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| The factory as it appeared shortly after the war in 1947. The main entrance gate was located in the lower right corner, about 2 cm from the bottom and right side of the picture | |
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| The factory in 2004 with the Belga logo still on top. The brown building in the front of the picture wasn't present in the 1947 picture above. In Juli 2005 Belga ceased all activities and the factory was sold. In 2007 the buildings were to be destroyed for a further widening of the Albert Canal. | |
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The main building on april 2 2007, just before the breakdown ! All signs of the tobacco company have been removed, the trees have been cut down. The newly added structure on the far right has already been demolished. |
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| The main entrance gate of the E.Reitz uniformwerke, the Albert Canal lies behind the building. | |
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| The same gate in 2004 with the logo "Vanderelst" right above the entrance and the "Belga" cigarette logo on top of the main building. | |
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| The gate on April 2 2007. The "Vanderelst" logo has been cut in half, heaps of rubble are just behind the gate doors. The buildings on the left are all gone. The rest of the factory is soon to follow ! | |
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| The back of the gate on April 2 2007. | |
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| Legitimation card of Eulalie Huys who worked at the E.Reitz factory in Gent. She had the employee number 138 and probably wore an armband with the same number. | |
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An advertisement in DeVlag magazine 1943. |
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| The belt buckle of the E.Reitz Werkschutz who were guarding the factory and its stocks. | |
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| Reverse of the Reitz Werkschutz buckle | |
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A female stitcher working in the Reitz factory wearing her armband. Clearly visible is the name of the factory "E.REITZ" and her personal employee number "98" |
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| Armband of a "band leader"
in the E.Reitz uniform factory.
The bandleaders controlled the women working on that band. |
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Employees working at the factory who got married, received a copy of the
Adolf Hitler bestseller "Mein Kampf". Most known examples are dutch
translations like this example of "Mijn Kamp" issued to employee "De
Landsheer" who got married on august 22 1942.
This copy also bears the original signature of Erich Reitz. |
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| A Fliegerbluse of a Luftwaffe Lieutenant, made by E.Reitz | |
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| A camouflaged hood in marsh 43 pattern produced by Reitz | |
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The factory stamp in the hood mentioned above. It says : "Uniformwerke E.Reitz Antwerpen-Merksem" Size stamp nr. 1 |
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| Same stamp splinter pattern hood, size stamp 3 | |
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| Notice the
rectangular stamp on he left side of the hood of this panzercommander. The
rectangle is flanked by two additional stamps, probably indicating the size.
This is how Reitz-made hoods must have looked like when worn white side out. |
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| Different stamp in a pair of camo trousers | |
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| Used pair of camopants in sumpfmuster 44 pattern, well marked with the rectangular stamp from Merksem and the typical size stamp | |
| Below are some known fake Reitz stamps
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Fake stamp in a sidecap. Except for the winter hoods, no headgear was produced at the E.Reitz factories. |
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| Fake purple stamp in a winter ski jacket | |
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| Very poor fake stamp on a fake winter hood. | |
