Chris Boonzaier

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I did not know (to my shame) that there is a different sea and a land naval aviator badge (Blush) Or that the pilots Errinnerungs badge was only to be worn if an ex pilot had served as a flyer for 3 years before leaving flying duties ....

Not my field, but I thought these clear shots from a 1938 magazine may be of interest as I think they are phots of period pieces, not drawings...

"I have been wondering recently if Kev and Glenn would be up for doing a Lynn MacDonald-style book on the Romanian campaign. It was a masterpiece of German military efficiency and set the stage for 1940. There is NOTHING in English that is accessible (i.e. readable) out there.It is ripe for study-and scholarship. By the way Chris- I read your web site weekly. It is brilliant!! So do many others. " Hi, It is as PaulH1 pointed out to me last week.... the problem is... the money is On the Somme and in Flanders... The amount of takers for an Eastern Front book would be minimal... and in a way it is far more complicated as there was a lot of mobile warfare with pages and pages of place names that mean nothing to noone. Russian names, their German equivalents, translated into English... and at the end of the day, a 234th book on the Somme would find many more takers. Glad you like the site, I am trying to add some simple stuff about the Eastern front, it is needed for the guys who collect docs... just to add to the basic understanding. Averaging about 150 visits a day... so I hope some folks are finding it useful :-)))

Hi, here are a couple of things... Flamethrowers on the Mountain... http://www.kaiserscross.com/40029/78001.html And a bit of a history... http://www.kaiserscross.com/40047/41321.html Best Chris

Are you 100% sure that the box and the gun go together? The compartments in the box seem to be set up a bit different. Either way... a super find !!!!

Hi, i think there are leather and Cloth (A bit like the cloth straps for gasmask tins. Then there are Between the wars and those made in other countries for use of 08/15s used by them after the war. I have been looking for one for ages as well.... no luck :-( All the best Chris

For me the best part of that is the Harmannsweilerkopf entries :-) I have visited there a few times, you can spit on the top of the hill and hit the lines of the other side. Also a great unit to have !!

Anyone notice how noone is interested in the Eastern Front in WW1? Verdun, the Somme, Flanders, Arras, Ypres... drop those names and right away conversations start... Look through a list of Eastern front battles.... noone says or thinks diddly. Of coures, it may hang together with the fact that the average Brit thinks Somme, Flanders, the average Yank St Mihiel, Argonne, Verdun captures everyones imagination.... Of Course, on the western front the horrible champagne battles are very much neglected... it was after all a "French thing"... But Eastern Front? Of course, no books in English, confusing names... And this is with 70% of the smaller fights taken out to save space.. "The Division spent 1914-1915 on the Eastern Front taking part in many major battles. Gumbinnen, Tannenberg, The Masurischen Lakes, Warsaw, Lodz and from Mid December 1914 to the beginning of July 1915 the drawn out battle on the Kawka-Bzura. In mid July it was involved in the breakthrough near Przasnysz. From the 23rd of July to 3rd of August in the Battle on the Narew, the Orz River at Goworowo and much fighting in the battles that followed. In Mid September it was fighting along the Szcara and Jelnia rivers and it ended the month in the Lithuanian swamps" Will there ever be a serious interest from the side of Westerners? Even from the German side interest seems to be rather lacking...

I took the liberty of contacting a few magazines on Joe#s behalf. Farmers weekly is about as "Real" as it gets, but they said it did not fall into their readers interest field. GQ said the uniforms were too outdated. Playgirl said they would need a bunch of new photos added, of the kind with bathing German soldiers. A Historical review (who shall go unnamed) did not answer, but a nice intern I got on the phone who works there twice a month restocking the coffee machine says it is an incestuous little click of fuddy duddies who are only interested in publishing 1) either their own stuff or 2) stuff that they they consider "High Brow" ... main criteria being, it is sooooo boring that it just has to be "Good" ..ala "The role of 3rd cousins in ruling family of Jordan" or "Supply and demand of Horse nails and the effect on General Lees Raiders" and "Australian retailers and the effect on Lamb farming in the Northern Orange Free State". In Her opinion, Joe's Article would be better off in a Military magazine of some sort as believe it or not, even "Militaria" types may appreciate it... maybe more for its contest than its "I say Ponsby... HERE is one on a subject so obscure it MUST be good" effect, but appreciate we simple folks do. ;-)

HI, great article indeed!!! It is always a pleasure when the Imperial guys advance a step on the web, and this is indeed a great addition to the links.

It was a priceless bit of history. Funny something like this went for so little. I woulda bid a tad more (If I had seen it and had the money). However, many of out bretheren would roll out the "You buy the pieces, not the story" argument.

A nice set of threads. almost makes me wish Iwas back collecting WW2 stuf...

Just happened in to see what all the fuss was about.... All I can say is.... WOW! Nice find. Not my field, but a group i to would love to have.

Hi, lets not forget, a simply deputy of 1934, with the right connections and a bit of Party support... may have been something very, very, very interesting by 1939... or 43... or 45. I am sure many a Brigadef?hrer or high level Sipo, Orpo, dontknowwhato officer in the war years was the poor guy sighning docs in 1934 :-)

Hi, an unknown infantryman, was a postman in 1934. As I have said, over and over again.... The HK documents are boring dross, no units of the recipients included.... but the stamps of the various towns and the signatures of the men that signed them... many were high ranking party officials, high SA and high SS.... a totally overlooked collecting niche ;-) Thanks for the info, i really did not know all that.

I often say, the Hindenburg Cross documents have the most interesting untapped source of interesting stamps and signatures. No idea who this is, but he was head honch so must be to find... Graf?

Aaargh... 251 divisions has it as well, somehow I missed it while paging through all the pages. Thanks Chris

Why did I not automatically assume that ? ;-) If I can use it for the site, can you send me a scan on an green background? Thanks Chris P.S. any thoughts on a write up about gramps?

What did it go for !!!!!!!!!!! ?????????????????????