Chris Boonzaier

Hi, This Jäger probably died from complications to his wound... can anyone read between the 2.9.19 an ++++krampf Gestorben" ? Thanks Chris

As chance would have it, I just received a collection of 650 death cards yesterday, I was not looking specifically for the word, but read them all and "Spital" jumped out on one card. I do agree that it would have been used in Germany, but I am supposing by the beginning of the 20th century it is mainly regional? The German card in question was from a guy who lived very close to the Austrian border. Language/Dialect/Words are seldom stopped by a border, so would I be right in thinking that by the beginning of WW1 it was mainly in use not only in Austria etc, but also still comman in border areas?

Hi, looks like a nice piece

Hi, granted, I have not noticed it used but I have not looked. I cannot remember seeing it used on a German death card though...

Is Spitale an Austrian only word for Hospital? I have not seen it used on German Death cards?

Hi, we visited it a couple of years ago, going to the village where the division crossed the river.

It is a common name, but that looks like a very possible candidate! You will recognize the terrain? ;-)

Hi Jeff, it was my understanding that Depots would sell to officers, but they converted Other ranks to officers? Does it have a Soldbuch Pocket?

Unfortunately not... I guess these were 2 things hanging on the wall, the paper is discolored from the frame... I assume the rest of his stuff was in a drawer and got separated....

I am a big "fan" of the 10th reserve Division, they were very prolific at Verdun, and in May were the spearhead in the advance over the Chemin des Dames, to the village of Bourg where they were fighting to cross the Vesle River on the 28th of May 1918. Unteroffizier Max Müller earned a Divisional commendation for his fighting with his MG08/15, suppressing French Machine Guns, revolver canons and Armoured cars....

I do not think it is a Werkschutz of any sort, not with that kind of equipment

I recently picked up this great pic of the 7th SB, better said, the SturmAbteilung of the 7th Army before the SB was formed

This was an interesting find, the sheet music to the Battalion song.....

An R3 is always a nice find.... I remember a time when dealers did not even notice an R3... it would be in a box with 20 or 30 or 50 other EK2s...

Nice! I wonder what a Heimat Fakbatterie was doing in Krakau?? A bit far from the Heimat methinks?

I was wondering if it was a possible way of explaining why it is on the extreme right of the bar, 2 possibilities I could think of 1) As a Schwarzburg native, maybe he had it extreme right so it would be first if he wore it with a Frack? 2) Maybe he wore the bar in this form on civilian/SA/Redcross occasions but with the schwarzburg cross in the buttonhole (in the same way bavarian Bravery medal did) and added it late in life after removing some vereins medal 3) or maybe it is just because some things cannot really be explained, people simply do crazy sht.

Hi, just to help finishing a write up.... was the Schwarzburger Kreuz one of the awards which could be worn in the buttonhole?

Brevet military Professional Elementry, 1st and 2nd class

HI, The CIB can be awarded to foreigners attached to the US if I am not mistaken. In the FFL you cannot wear stuff awarded before you joined the legion, unless it was regular French army awards. If I remember right he was awarded the CIB for actions with the yanks in Afghanistan. Only a small number of them got it because they were directly involved with the US troops

Hi, sorry, I explained wrong. The award can be given to a unit, but that does not mean the individual soldier gets the cross... The individual soldier only gets the cross on his medal bar when he has a personal citation. If it is a unit award the colors of the unit get it, and the guys serving in the unit get the Fourragere once the unit has gained the right. Hi, there are Bronze, silver and gold. BMPE, BMP1, BMP2... Usually the rule of thump is a Cpl gets the Bronze about 6 months after his Cpl course. The Silver is for a Sgt or Chief Cpl who is qualified to carry out a Sgt or squad leader duties and the Gold for higher NCOs qualified as Platoon leaders. The official regulations are probably different, but that is more or less how it is in an Infantry company.

If I understand correctly, thgey were kind of a watch fob, worn on the pocket watch, or on the pocket watch chain. As they do not seem to be very praticle, I assume they were more of the keepsake....

Hi, the cross is always an individual award, not a unit award. The highest level is the palms, then Gold star, silver star and Bronze star.

Hi, He was cited at Army level. Best Chris

Pretty cool collection right there on his chest..... He is with the REP GCP

This is a pretty cool pic......