Chris Boonzaier

Small world ;-) ... I have the very one in my binders :-)

I do indeed like that one!!

Hi, My Guys are Major Bayer and Hauptmann Burchhardt (Going from memory... i am on the road and not sure of the spelling of the latter)

I have the EK2 documents to a Battalion commander and Company commander of IR27 who were there for the action. Have not been able to find out their part in the battle just yet....

I once read that many of the forts were destroyed by explosives just after te battles, and then used to scare the allies as if the guns had been 100% responsible? On this thread there is a signed print of Ludendorff leading the chargs... http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/49350-ludendorff-an-underated-man/?hl=ludendorff

Nice! I looked in the seems of mine, it seems always to have been a light color, not grey....

Can you post a clearer shot of the red devil badge? So... were there bragging rights amongst girls back then? " I have a "I'm shaggin a captain" badge, julie only has a 1st LT Bar!"

Hi, interesting, the 50th Horse Depot of the 50th ID... Awarded during the 10 days they needed to move from the Champagne battlefield to join the battle at Verdun. an "Oberveterinär"... I guess that is a Vet in Oberleutnant rank ? Nice find!

Hi, Some things are online, but only regionally readable due to copyright. (Even if the copyright no longer exists, !) So some books you can call up online in the states, are not from Europe :-(

I had already sent a message home requesting that they forward my Feldgrau jacket, boots and binoculars from my service days. On the 31st of July I was on my way to work with my colleague Lenz. As we passed the Paulinus Printing press we saw preparations in motion. I gave a loud “Hurra!”. Mobilisation would surely follow in 2 or 3 hours. A quick handshake and I left my friend as I hurried home. I changed into my Feldgrau and packed up my civilian clothes in a parcel to be sent home... I waited for the mobilization call… it did not come. At midnight I lay down. All through the night I thought I heard the call “Alarm”, but it was only my imagination. The next morning, to my big disappointment, I had to put on my civilian clothes again. My landlady was waiting for me with coffee. The teasing and jokes made over my eagerness are best not mentioned. The day passed slowly. I could barely work and thought only of the coming war. From time to time I took out my Militärpass and reread the mobilisation instructions. “Report as soon as the mobilisation order is given”. Indeed… but the order had still not been given. This day, too, passed by…. At 6:00 pm it happened. I hurried to the printer's with my colleague Hoffmann. There was still no news. In the marketplace in front of the main post office there was a throng of people. Here there was no news either. Suddenly, at 6:15 a ripple went through the crowd… “Mobilisation!” A sudden silence, then cries of “Hurra!” His full diary, up to his first wound is here.... http://kaiserscross.com/167501/170643.html

It was a bit abstract before... I only realised how good it was when I had it in my hand.

Hi, bought it on Ebay... by the bigger battles only divisions are mentioned as all sub units are included, however, in smaller actions it goes into more detail.

It goes chronologically, pointing out, sometimes to Regt Level and below, the units involved in all battles, skirmishes etc 1914-18

I did not know this existed... cannot believe I lived so long without it... published in 1919 Die Schlachten und Gefechte des Großen Krieges 1914 - 1918

Up the ante Sascha.... show some "old stuff" !

I agree that the individual battles will probably be the rallying points... The Somme for the British, Verdun for the French (and everyone else)... The formal ceremony at the Hartmannsweilerkopf had apparently one deficit.... French and German Authorities... but not enough space for the members of the French and German members of the Hartmannsweilerkopf ;-)

A self portrait by the artist Willy Reinhardt

They still exist today... some swiming associations still award thwem

I can only say good things about Holger H. Herwig's book "The Marne, 1914"... it includes a very interesting introduction as to the causes of the war, and mobilisation. Cheap on Amazon and worth every penny!!!!

I saw that one as well... also forgot to bid :-(

I agree, Ebola in the wings, Gaza on the stage, Ukraine hanging in the air ... too much here and now drawing attention to "Back then" ... :-(

Thats actually quite unusual... he is way ahead of the times!!

Muchos Grazias! Thats what I needed to confirm it....

Hi, Now that I look... I can not find.... Did Gunners work their guns in Drillich? http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/63213-drillich-jackets/ I seem to remember seeing photos....

One of the many German "Anti-Legion" publications for the 1st half of the 20th Century...