Chris Boonzaier

ahh.. OK, he was posted to the 1st Copany of the IR162 after his time at the Ersatz Company. All the best Chris

On the 3rd post on this page is more info... http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/3770-italy-orders-decorations-and-medals/page-6

Hi, there are awards apparently stamped "D. Cravanzola & Fratelli Borani - Roma" which would have been an interim phase?

Hi Emil Baars (name) Gadebusch B. Grevesmuhlen (born/Living in) 15. 9. 87 (date of birth) Ers. Batl. J.R.162 (he started out in the ersatz battalion of the Infantry Regiment 162) Are there any other marks wwhere he was posted afterwards?

Hi, I am by no means an expert on these, but the latest dated one I have seen is 1924, so maybe they were phased out some time just before WW2 ? I cannot remember reading any mentions of them in WW2. Best Chris

Hi, I am certain that incidents did occur... maybe more than in European occupied areas, but just how objective that coin is I am not sure. Having seem Pre 1930s Anti Legion German propaganda... I think they set no limits when it comes to laying things on thick...

Germans with a captured "Coupe-Coupe"

The Tirailleurs had a fearsom reputation, the Germans hated them, but if they were known for (on occasion) not taking prisoners it can only be said that they themselves were often not taken prisoner. One German memoire describes how a soldier in the authors unit in 1914 was so "insulted" that a colonial would dare be on the battlefield that he hacked those surrendering to death with a pionier axe. On top of that... their own commanders willingly threw them into the worst fighting.

... or cut-cut, however you choose to translate the words "Coupe-Coupe"... We often read of the fear the Gurkha put into their enemies when they pull out a kukri.... Germans in WW1 had a certain unsettled feeling when the French Colonial troops were in front of their lines..... This is the famous Colonial "Coupe-Coupe" with a German bayonet for size. The one without the Sheath is 1916 dated and comes from Verdun...

Hiya Doc! Nice find indeed.... have had one on my wants list for ages... but the money has just never been there at the end of the month... someday...

Just picked up this Leitfaden for the MG08/15, the original owner also had a handfull of notes about the contents of all the various boxes in the back of the book.

Hi Andreas, sharp eyes!! Yes, I got it on ebay a couple of weeks ago. For some reason I thought the medal on the right looked like it was mounted in the Austrian way. Thaks for the Info! Best Chris

Can anyone take a stab at what this Bavarian is wearing?

I think a pit of paint remover and leave the scabbard plain steel. I think the saws were removed wartime, so it is a legit piece as is. Not a bad find at all!

I am not sure why they are mounted in that order but with the ribbon bars it looks very convincing indeed!!

Interesting, in retrospect a Bit like Gulf War 2.... the "conventional" part was over pretty fast.... then the guerilla phase took over.... this must have been made just after phase 1....

Here is my question.... can I turn any box into one that takes the prongs on the side? http://www.ebay.de/itm/Etui-fur-EK-I-mit-Gegenhaken-von-Godet-Berlin-/201075606436?pt=Militaria&hash=item2ed10a43a4

Hi, How many of the captured weapons were the same kind that the Legion was using at the time, or had French Weapons become the Norm by then? Best Chris

I am guessing there is a huge price span there.... depending on the unit...

"Back to that subject, where are all these items from PB2 mentioned by you guys???" Ages ago I posted a unit stamped bayonet... but I can no longer find the post :-(

hi, not all clubs. if this was a straight metal or wooden one it would be ok, as soon as there is a spring or "bendy" material it becomes a "Totschläger" and is forbidden. Best Chris

I was screwed over... when they arrived they were empty...

Hi, I had picked up a few over the years, then got a few more last month. Instant collection!!

Last trench club like tht I saw went for a fortune... but they are forbidden in Germany :-(

Hi does anyone know of any possible avenues of research for this? The Malay Peninsula must have been mid 60s so he was not as old as i thought he was....