Naxos

Hi Humberto, have you tried these? http://www.kaisersbunker.com/gtp/Litzen1.htm http://www.kaisersbunker.com/gtp/Litzen2.htm http://www.kaisersbunker.com/gtp/Litzen3.htm Regards, Hardy

Rick, we must have posted this at the same time (great minds..... )

Rudolf was a commercial employee and his father by the same name was a "R.B. Ang." = Reichsbahnangestellter (railway employee) Hardy

That's what I thought as well - he was a very tall man and the DK in silver was awarded to him on January 20, 1945 - very likely he never had the loops put on your tunic. In the picture he is wearing a different tunic Hardy

Stogie, my sentiments exactly - I think that those clips alone will not hold that Bar on the tunic for long - bending down, the slightest jump, dancing, rubbing up against your partner or even just taking off the tunic will unhindge that bar. If it was ever worn, the bearer was probably confined to a wheelchair. Hardy

Danny, all it says besides his name is: first lieutenant in a recce battalion of a tank division Hardy

Sold last weekend on ebay for a lot of money - besides being butt-ugly - is it a period piece? http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...A:IT&ih=006

The Ersatz-Bataillon RIR93 consisted of ten coys Nachrichten-Abteilungen were numbered 1,2 or 3 and not organized in Kompanien. Interesting is that, on top of the Machine-Gun company in each the three battalions, there was a regimental machine gun company (M.G.-Kompagnie des Rgts.). Could it be a badly written small r, making it r.M.K. regiments Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie or regiments Minenwerfer-Kompagnie? Regards, Hardy

Hi Chris, the first letter of the Abbreviation is definitely not a "u" since a S?tterlin "u" always has a line over: It could either be an "e" or more likley a "n". Signal units were on Regiment levels always in -Abteilungen or -Trupps. Here is the breakdown of Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment-93

Kevin, you are right it is a civil shooting club, hence the attire - small correction, your badge is of course from the veterans association of W?rttemberg not Baden. Hardy

Hello Troy, I think the meaning is "Vereins Meister Klein Kaliber Sch?tzen Abteilung" 1932 Cliub Champion Small Caliber Rifle Section. The SCO must stand for the Club's initials. Hardy

Gefreiter from the 5. Westf?lischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr.53. The board would be blue with red cypher, the Brandenburg cuffs have white piping. Barmen is located about 50km from K?ln the Garrison of the IR53. Hardy

Congratulations Christer, sometimes the real story turns out to be incredible and far more interesting. Regards, Hardy

Hello Christer, the Rank on the picture is that of a Vize-Feldwebel or Feldwebel and it appears he has the volunteer Paspel around the shoulder boards. Hardy

An interesting note regarding the Raid in May, 1917. The group of 15 men threw a total amount of 150 hand grenades in less then 8 minutes. The light machine gun, placed to the west of the raid in no-man's land, used 500 rounds to suppress French reinforcements trying to rush to the scene. The grenade-throwers fire a total amount of 80 grenades.

Thank you for your interest - I hope it all makes sense, I'm translating from books and my notes as I type - let me know if anything needs further explanation. There is lots more to come, stay tuned! Regards, Hardy

Thanks for the kind words, it takes me some time to bring the different sources together and then translate it into English, please bear with me. If anyone can provide more information on Lnt dR Fritz Rombach please do so. Regards, Hardy Part 2 of this GMIC Exclusive: The Raid Leader Leutnant der Reserve Fritz Rombach a middle school teacher from Freiburg was one of the most successful raid leaders of the Regiment. He led a previous Raid near Juvincourt in Mai 1917. The previous Raid, Juvincourt May 1917 In late April 1917 increased enemy activity in front of the I.Batl.169 had been noticed. The French were heavily improving their wire obstacles in no-mans land and driving their dugouts deeper in the ground ? Rombach's mission was to leave at night, lay in no-man's land and wait for a French wire detail then grab an enemy soldier and return the prisoner for questioning. Leutnant Rombach chose 15 men and a light Machine Gun crew for the task. All volunteers from the 1./169. No Artillery preparation was to be used the only support will come from the Regiments grenade throwers and machine guns. The grenade thrower crews were advised to start to fire on the given targets immediately after the first hand grenade detonation was heard. The men lead by Rombach left the trench as soon as it was dark, armed only with pistols and hand grenades. Rombach divided the group in a Stosstrupp of three men led by him that would take the prisoner and two hand grenade Trupps consisting of three men each. The two Trupps will be on the flanks of the raid holding down the enemy on either side. A third Trupp consisting of the remaining seven men, placed behind the Stosstrupp, will throw their hand grenades in the first French trench in front, this last Trupp is also in charge of lighting up the raid area with Leuchpatronen. The Machine Gun is placed slightly to the west of the raid outside the German trench. The men made it through a pass in the German wire and laid in no-man's land at the French wire for nearly two hours until a group of French Sappers worked themselves close enough. At a distance of six meters Rombach blew the whisle to attack ? hand grenades were thrown between the French Poilus ? Rombach yells for light (Leuchtkugel) so they can see the terrain in front. They grab one of the stunned French Sappers and with the hand grenade Trupps covering their retreat, they return. All of Rombach's men make it back. Unteroffizier Ruhmann armed only with hand grenades, held back the French counter attack long enough for the Raiders to make it back. Unteroffizier Ruhmann was the only wounded of the group (rifle round through the upper leg) he was carried back by the Orderly Jung. Ruhmann received for this action the Iron Cross first class and Krankentr?ger Jung was awarded the Iron Cross second class. The 52. Division mentioned the Stosstrupp in a Divisionsbefehl on May 20. 1917.

German text: Butte de Mesnil. Stosstruppunternehmen. Unter Leitung des Leutnants u. Kompagnief?hrers der 1./169 Fritz Rombach Arbeiten zwei Leutnante (Lnt. Schwarz und Lnt. Trefz), zwei Feldwebel, sechs Unteroffiziere und einundf?nfzig Freiwillige Infanteristen des I.Batl.169, sowie ein Unteroffizier und neun Pioniere der Div.Pi.Komp.104 Befehl f?r den 14. Dezember 1917 1. ANGRIFFSZIEHL ist die feindliche Stellung von den Blaupunkten 74 bis 205 bis 207. Karte 1:10 000 Ripont, D2, Stand Oktober 1917. Das Unternehmen wird durchgef?hrt durch f?nf Stosstrupps in St?rke von je einem F?hrer, einem Stellvertreter, neun Infanteristen und zwei Pionieren sowie zwei l.MG-Trupps, in St?rke von einem F?hrer und vier Mann. 2. AUFTRAG f?r die Stosstrupps: Es rollen die franz?sischen Gr?ben auf: Stosstrupp 1 von Blaupunkt 74 bis 205 Stosstrupp 2 von Blaupunkt 207 bis 205 Stosstrupp 3 von a bis b Stosstrupp 4 von 83 bis b Stosstrupp 5 st?sst bis vor b durch, haelt dort durch Handgranaten die voraussichtlich nach b und weiter nach 205 ausweichenden feindlichen Posten auf, sprengt das dort als sehr breit festgestellte Hindernis und stoesst bis Punkt 205 durch, einmal zur Verst?rkung der Stosstrupps 1 und 2, dann, um allen ?brigen Stosstrupps bei b einen R?ckweg zu schaffen. 3. SICHERUNG: Jeder Stosstrupp, mit Ausnahme von Stosstrupp 5, l?sst an seiner Einbruchstelle drei Mann als Sicherung zur?ck. Die Sicherer der Stosstrupps 1 und 3 ?berwachen die Grabenkreuzungen von 77 bis 74. Die Sicherer der Stosstrupps 2 und 4 von 81 bis 207. l.MG-Trupp 1 ?bernimmt Flankenschutz von a nach Westen und Nordwesten. l.MG-Trupp 2 ?bernimmt Flankenschutz von 83 nach Osten. 4. FEUERSICHERUNG: Je zwei Granatwerfer schiessen von der Schmidt-Sappe und Bassewitz-Sappe aus auf Punkt 73, 79 und 213. INDIREKTSCHIESSENDE MG.: Nest Lahr mit Entfernung 1700m auf Punkt Z. Nest Freiburg mit Entfernung 1800m auf Punkt 203. Nest Konstanz mit Entfernung 1600m auf Punkt 190. Nest Mannheim mit Entfernung 2000m auf Punkt 91. Je zwei direkt schiessende MG. in E1 und E2 halten unter Seitenlattenbegrenzung links und rechts des Kampfstreifens den Gegner nieder. 5. RESERVEN: In E1 der 1a-Linie bei den Tunnelausg?ngen wird eine Reserve von einem Offizier und vier Infanteriegruppen (32 Mann) als R?ckhalt und etwa erforderliche Unterstuetzung bereitgehalten. 6. BEREITHALTUNGSPLAETZE f?r die Stosstrupps: Stosstrupp 1 vor Blaupunkt 27. Stosstrupp 2 vor Blaupunkt 81. Stosstrupp 3 die Schmidt-Sappe. Stosstrupp 4 vor Blaupunkt 31. Stosstrupp 5 zwischen Blaupunkt 27 und 31 in einem ausgebauten Trichter. l.MG.-Trupp 1 die Schmidt-Sappe l.MG.-Trupp 2 die Bassewitz-Sappe 6. GEFECHTSGLIEDERUNG DER STOSSTRUPPS: Voraus die zwei Pioniere mit Sprengladungen. Dicht dahinter der Stosstruppf?hrer mit zwei Mann als Handgranatenwerfer und zwei Mann als Handgranatentr?ger = zureicher. Diese sieben M?nner gehen a u s s e r h a l b des Grabens vor, der Rest des Stosstrupps geht im feindlichen Graben vor. 8. BEWAFFNUNG UND AUSRUESTUNG: Jeder Mann tr?gt 8 Stielhandgranaten und 6 Eierhandgranaten. Schusswaffe Pistole 08 oder grosse Mauser (C 96) Geraet: 3 Drahtscheren je Stosstrupp, die F?hrer tragen: Stoppuhr, Leuchtkompass, Signalpfeife, Signallampe. Der Sicherungstrupp besteht aus einem Gewehrtr?ger und zwei Pistolentr?gern. Handgranatenaustattung dieselbe. Ger?t: eine Drahtschere. Die l.MG-Trupps haben 750 Schuss Munition in Trommeln. Jeder Gewehrf?rer tr?gt Leuchtpistole, hat 20 Leuchtpatronen, mit denen er aus den Flanken den Ablauf des Unternehmens beleuchtet. Ger?t: Drahtschere und Leuchtkompass. 9. MUNITIONSEMPFANG am 14. Dezember, 3 Uhr morgens, im Tunnelausgang West. 10. FEUERVORBEREITUNG der Artillerie und Minenwerfer: Dauer zwei (2) Minuten, dann Feuerglocke um die Grenzen des Unternehmens. Besonderer Auftrag fuer die schwere Artillerie. Niederhaltung der starken franz?sischen St?tzpunkte (OUVRAGE). 11. START DER STOSSTRUPPS: 0 plus 120 Sek. 12. RUECKKEHR DER STOSSTRUPPS: 0 plus 30 Min.,das heisst die Stosstrupps befinden sich in diesem Zeitpunkt wieder im ersten franz?sischen Graben, warten dort unter Sicherung das feindliche Sperrfeuer ab und gehen einzeln in ihre eigene Stellung zur?ck. 13. AUFFANGGRUPPEN: Die Gruppenf?hrer der Reservegruppen erhalten namentliche Listen aller Teilnehmer des Unternehmens und streichen jeden zurueckkehrenden Stosstrupp und Einzelg?nger mit Rotstift durch. 14. KENNWORT: L A H R. KENNZEICHEN DER STOSSTRUPPS: Stosstrupp 1 und 2 weisse Armbinde am linken Oberarm. Stosstrupp 3 und 4 weisse Armbinde am rechten Oberarm. Stosstrupp 5 und l.MG-Trupps weisse Armbinde am linken bzw. rechten (MG) Unterarm. 15. Meldung nach der Rueckkehr bei Leitung im Tunnelausgang West. Gefangene dorthin! 16. UEBER DAS UNTERNEHMEN WIRD NICHT GESPROCHEN!!! Das Unternehmen wird diesmal ohne Flammenwerfer durchgef?hrt, da bei den letzten drei grossen Unternehmungen die Verluste der Flammenwerfertrupps hundertprozentig waren. Angeforderte und zugesagte Brandr?hren zur ausr?ucherung der feindlichen Unterst?nde wurden nicht zeitlich geliefert. Was sich empfindlich beim Ablauf des Unternehmens bemerkbar machte.

Butte de Mesnil. Trench Raid December 14. 1917 Part one: Leader of the Raid is Leutnant d.R. Fritz Rombach, company commander of the 1. Komp. Infantry Regiment 169 (Baden). For this mission he has to his disposal Lt. Schwarz and Lt. Trefz, two Feldwebel, six Unteroffiziere and fifty-one volunteers of the I.Bataillon IR169, as well as an Unteroffizier and nine Sappers (Pioniere) of the 52nd Division's Pionier Komp. 104 14. December 1917 Mission: Attack the enemy positions from points (Blaupunkt) 74 to 205 to 207 destroy the enemy positions and bring back prisoners. Map: 1:10 000 Ripont, D2 October 1917. The mission will be executed with 5 groups (Stosstrupps) each consisting of: a Leader, a second in command, nine men of the infantry and two sappers. Each of the five groups will also include 2 light machine-gun sections consisting of one commander and four men. 2. Mission of the Stosstrupps: Clearing of the French trenches: Stosstrupp 1 from Blaupunkt 74 to 205 Stosstrupp 2 from Blaupunkt 207 to 205 Stosstrupp 3 from a to b Stosstrupp 4 from Blaupunkt 83 to b Stosstrupp 5 moves to b from there they will hold up, with hand grenades, the enemy trying to move to b and further to 205. Stosstrupp 5 will then destroy the large obstacle observed there and advance to Blaupunkt 205 in order to first reinforce Stosstrupps 1 and 2 and ensure the return of all the Stosstrupps. Cover: Every Stosstrupp, with the exception of Stosstrupp 5, leaves at the starting point (Einbruchstelle) three men as cover behind. The Cover groups of Stosstrupp 1 and 3 cover the trench crossings from point 77 to point 74 The cover groups of Stosstrupp 2 and 4 cover from point 81 to 207 Light MG section 1 covers the flank to the west and north-west. Light MG section 2 covers from point 83 to the east. Fire-cover: Two grenade throwers from the Schmidt sap and two grenade throwers from the Bassewitz sap will take points 73, 79 and 213 under fire. . Indirect Machine Gun fire.: Gun position Lahr with distance 1700m on point Z. Gun position Freiburg with distance 1800m on point 203. Gun position Konstanz with distance 1600m on point 190. Gun position Mannheim with distance 2000m on point 91. Direct Machine Gun fire: Two guns in E1 and two guns E2 will hold the enemy to the left and right of the raid area down Reserve: In E1 of the 1a-Line near the tunnel exits will stand-by the reserve, ready to assist. They consist of : one officer and 32 men in four Groups (Infanteriegruppen). 6. Starting points for the Stosstrupps: Stosstrupp 1 infront of Blaupunkt 27. Stosstrupp 2 infront of Blaupunkt 81. Stosstrupp 3 in the Schmidt Sap. Stosstrupp 4 infront of Blaupunkt 31. Stosstrupp 5 between Blaupunkt 27 and 31 in a prepared bomb crater. l.MG.-Trupp 1 in the Schmidt Sap l.MG.-Trupp 2 in the Bassewitz Sap Battle grouping of the individual STOSSTRUPPS: In front two sappers with explosive loads. Immediately behind are the Stosstrupp leader with four men, two as hand grenadethrowers and two as hand grenade carriers. These seven men will move outside the trench while the rest of the Stosstrupp will move inside the enemy trench. 8. Weapons and Gear: Every man carries eight Stick-handgrenades and six egg-handgrenades and a sidearm, either Pistol 08 or Mauser C96 (9mm) Gear: Three Wire cutters for each Stosstrupp. The leaders carry: stopwatch, luminous compass, signal whistle and signal lamp. The Cover trupp will have one rifle man and two men with sidearms they will carry the same amount of handgrenades and have one wire cutter with them . The MG groups will have 750 rounds in their drums. Every rifle man carries a signal-pistol with 20 rounds (will light up the raid from the flanks) Gear: one set of wire cutters and one luminous compass. 9. GEAR AND MUNITIONS will be handed out on December 14, at 0300 hours at the tunnel exit West 10. ARTILLERIE AND MINE THROWER PREPARATIONS: Duration two (2) Minutes, then flank and front cover fire for the mission. Special mission for the heavy Artillerie is to suppress the french stronghold (OUVRAGE). 11. START for the STOSSTRUPPS: 0 plus 120 Sec. 12. Return of the STOSSTRUPPS: 0 plus 30 min meaning the Stosstrupps will be at that point in time in the first French trench, they will wait there under cover for the enemy suppression fire to subside and then return individually . 13. Reception Groups: The leaders of the reserve groups have a list of the names of the raid members. They will cross out the names as they return to the line 14. Parole: L A H R. Identification of theSTOSSTRUPPS: Stosstrupp 1 and 2 white ribbon on left upper arm. Stosstrupp 3 und 4 white ribbon on right upper arm. Stosstrupp 5 white ribbon on left lower arm. Light MG-Trupps white ribbon on right lower arm 15. After return report to Tunnel exit West. Take Prisoners there! 16. Nobody talks about this Mission This time the Raid will be executed with out flamethrowers (Flammwerfer) since we lost the entire Flammwerfertrupps in the last three missions. Requested Flame tubes (Brandr?hren) to flush out the enemy shelters did not arrive in time for the raid.

In my Grandfathers books i found a very detailed account of a trench raid that took place on the 14th of December 1917. The raid was lead by the Baden Leutnant Fritz Rombach of the IR169. My Grandfather was in the same Regiment but did not take part in this raid. Over the next weeks I will try to post the entire raid: training, preperations, execution and outcome. I will start with the original Order and details of the Stosstruppunternehmen I hope this will interest some of you Regards, Hardy

Don, nothing that I know is published for a regimental history. One more interesting point: from Nov 17, 1917 to Feb. 2, 1918 the 27. W?rttemberg Division was engaged in Stellungsk?mpfe im Oberelsa? (trench fighting in upper alsace). Before, the Division took part in the third battle in Flanders. Here is a link to a partial History of the 27. Division: http://www.1914-18.info/erster-weltkrieg.p...nterie-Division Hardy

The IV. Batailon (W?rtt.) Fuss-Art-Rgt Nr.13 is in 1918 part of the W?rtt-Artillerie-Kommandeur Nr.27, attached to the 27. Division (2. Kgl. W?rtt.). Hardy

Hi Don, all I could find out is the name of the Commander of Fussartillerie-Regiment Nr.13. From Dec. 17th, 1917 to the end of the war it was K. Pr. Major Caesar. Regards, Hardy

BH Mayer is still in business: Steubenstra?e 21 75172 Pforzheim, Germany phone: 07231 92310 http://www.identity-sign.de/ Hardy