Chris Boonzaier

So, this arrived today.... anyone want to hazard a guess why this document is fantastically interesting? You may of course google.....

Hi, I am working on a section on the somme for the next Kaisers Cross update. I would say the 180th was one of 4-5 Infantry Regiments that helped shut down the 1st day, but in the fighting in the weeks that followed Jack Sheldon in his book on the Germans on the somme rates them as maybe the best unit in the both, all sides included.

0 - 0 - 1 I think? I think we probably need to go by Division as opposed to the Corps as a whole? :-)

Thanks, thats my guy!

Hi, there are definate wartime examples.... and this is also suspect....

Hi, Its not "Sander".... can anyone guess what his name is? The first letter I dont get....

From what i see, the Blue uniforms were still worn by recruits in training. I have seen 1917 photos of bavarian Jäger recruits still wearing the Blue tunics. I guess the Field Grey and Friedensrock were not availible to all. Check these pics out.... http://www.kaiserscross.com/69501/517101.html

The glass is never half empty, always half full! You old optimist you!!

The bavarian 1st, 2nd and 2nd Reserve Jäger served together in the same regiment from the formation of the Alpenkorps.... there is no indication that any of the battalions was better than the others.... but you will never convince me that the 2nd battalion was not the best :-) And its the same if I said sweaty girls with copius amounts of underarm hair were the best... it is not really easy to prove me wrong... However, maybe the best indicator for divisions is seeing how the germans used them, and who the neighbours were. Alpenkorps, 10th Reserve Division, 1st garde Division... always rushed where the heavy combat was.... Naval divisions... holding the line next to landwehr divisions. For them to be the best we would have to believe the Germans had simply overlooked them when they needed the combat studs! ;-)

Here you go.... http://www.vlib.us/wwi/resources/germanarmywwi.pdf It has the allied rating of the units Makes no difference though, I would love to have the tunic and tschako. Even lower rated divisions went through hell we cannot imagine today...

I like my Naval infantry unit documents, but there are a number of Divisions who were really the "bruisers"... Divisions which were earmarked for offensive operations and were sent to fight at Verdun, Champagne, the Somme and Flanders. I think the Marine Divisions were largely static?

A very tough call for the 13th comapny RIR99, In june the IV battalion was commanded by Major Rettberg, on the 1st of August by Hauptman Leiling, There is no major on the June or August list that fits.. :-( v. Schilgen fits for the other one, thanks Dave!

The Bavarians and Prussians seem to have had an acute dislike of each other, less so the other states. I remember reading a book in which a Prussian soldier landed in a bavarian Field Hospital. He was mobbed by the other wounded and was badly treated by the medics, until he claimed he was actually a Saxon.... then all went well.... It really hit home when I saw the redesigned Iron Cross on the award document... http://www.spiegel.de/international/backward-southerners-frigid-northerners-germany-s-real-divide-a-407053.html even on an official level.... 1898

ooooooohhhhh.... dangerous claim!!! :-)

Hi, possibly even more so, but also in wartime photos. I even have a WW1 period Iron Cross award document for the 20th Bavarian Infantry regiment which has an Iron Cross at the top... with oakleaves instead of the "W" !

I saw a nice one on ebay about a year ago, I was stupid and did not buy it :-(

I think it is a pocket watch box that the cross just happens to fit in. All the best Chris

I have quite often noticed photos of Bavarian soldiers mounting their Iron Crosses backwards. I have also had a few Bavarian bars with the Iron Cross mounted backwards. I have often read of an active dislike between bavarian and Prussian troops, and always wondered if that was the reason they wore the EK with the Leaves facing outward.... Any thoughts? Best Chris

Guys, guys,,, simmer down, go have a beer and visit www.bigandbouncy.uk.com for a half hour or so. Occasionally I want to go full out against bar breakers, but remember, not everyone sees things the same as we do.

Man, you are really Mr. Eclectic in the flesh!! :-)

Hi, can anyone help with these RIR99 signatures? Best guestimate? Thanks Chris

That is a sad fact that is true... goes for some dokument groups as well.

Wow.... that was barbaric! :-(

I am going to go out on another limb and pose a theory that late in the war many new arrivals did not even get one of these. I have seen quite a few photos over the years where a good portion of the men in a group are not wearing a title. Does anyone else have the feeling that Ersatz troops shuttled to the regiments probably or may not have recieved them?

... then this is for you.... http://www.lb-oldenburg.de/pdf_oldenburger_jahrbuch/25_1918.pdf