GreyC

Thank you spasm,

your contributions are very helpful for me.

GreyC

Hello Spasm,

interesting designs. Thank you for sharing these. Te semi-circle designs resemble the ones on the photo somewhat, indeed. Should the trenches depicted on the aerial photo serve the same purpose i.e. strong points for defence, do you think it could be the Somme region (29th July 1916) ? After all the British went out to attack from 1st July. Or is this some place else?

GreyC

Hello Coldstream,

thank you for your thoughts which seem plausible. However I do think that the photo was not taken by the Germans. Which does not rule out that the British or French might well have taken photos of their own lines. The Germans did so anyway. To substantiate my theory here a few observations:

To specify the differences between German and Allied inscriptions/notations (what´s the right word?) on aerial photographs here are the main differences:
German dates were written with dots inbetween as in: 29.7.16. Never with "-" The time (?) 17H is not German. The time was written in the 12 hour format plus V[ormittags] to indicate a.m. or N[achmittags]=p.m..
The square format was only used by very few German army field flying units and was more often used by German Naval Squadrons (which can be counted out here, I think).
A good source for infos concerning German aerial photography are the books by Helmut Jäger, a former recon expert of the Bundeswehr.

GreyC

Hi,

a Friedrich Wilhelm Voss / Voß of the Kyffhäuser Kameradschaft Kosel celebrated his 92nd birthday in November 2016.

GreyC

...so it´s between 1908 and 1912 if source quoted is correct. The medals he won for his craft seen on the reverse could be helpful, too. They should be dated so that you´d get a "not before" date.

GreyC

Good morning gentlemen,

First:

Dear Alwin,

Father was happy to receive your letter

Back:

Parcel arrived here in good shape. Many thanks.

I am delighted, that Hedwig is with you. I am well.

Many greetings...

2nd:

Card has combined birthday and Easter greetings. Nikolaus (sender) wants to know if letters and parels have reached their destination and states that Easter parcel contains shoenails.

GreyC

To specify the differences between German and Allied inscriptions on aerial photographs here are the main differences:

German dates were written with dots inbetween as in: 29.7.16. Never with "-" The time (?) 17H is not German. The time was written in the 12 hour format V[ormittags]=a.m., N[achmittags]=p.m..

The square format was only used by very few German army field flying units and was more often used by German Naval Squadrons. Hope that helps a bit.

A good source for infos concerning German aerial photogrphy are the books by Helmut Jäger, a former recon expert of the Bundeswehr.

Hi Patrick,

I have no knowledge when it comes to British navy uniforms. Sailors of the German Navy had different stripes on their sleeves to indicate what watch they belonged to. There were also badges on large warships to indicate what "Division" of that ship (like a company in the army) they belonged to. Don´t know if this is a possiblility.

GreyC

Hi Don,

the first picture in #1 is the full size picture the 2nd pic is a detail out of the 1st.

GreyC

Hello Peter,

thank you for your opinion. The latter explanation seems to have a lot going for it.

Thanks for sharing your insights.

GreyC

Hello Gentlemen,

This aerial photography caught my attention because of the trench design perfectly visible in this aerial photo. I have seen quite a few trench systems on photos from the air, none in this form though. It reminds me of the outline-design of old fortresses to avoid blind spots. Unfortunately no information on place or photographer. Only the date that seems to point to the battle of the Somme. The way the information was written on the photo seems to indicate a none German origin.

Does any of you have any idea of the idea and function of this design, by what country it was built and maybe the place where this was?

Thank you!

GreyC

Hi,

I don´t know anything about Bulgarian orders and medals but I sure like your page dedicated to the Royal ones!

GreyC

Hi!

Not beeing supplied with data could have to do with him not beeing dead long enough for that. There is a ban on personal data of people to those not directly related to them (if I remember correctly) of 30 years if the person in question is not a significant figure in history.

GreyC

Hi,

I´ll keep my fingers crossed.

GreyC

Hi,

that was unusually quick for the WASt!

And the news are good.

Herbert Göbel survived the war and died 1993. His wife died in 2002. The lady from the agency also states that there not only is a surviving daughter, but that she contacted her and forwarded her your contact information. So if she is interested, she will contact you.

Congrats!

GreyC

Hi,

it looks like it is from VII th AK, because the cuff´s piping is white and the shoulderboards blue.

If you have the jacket at home, look for a stamp in the inside lining. It is a peacetime uniform so there should be a stamp in any case.

GreyC

Hi,

sorry I seem to be visually impaired. What Regiment/Battalion are you looking for?

There were K. Gremmels in at least IR 77, RIR 81, RIR 203, RIR 215 and 1.GResR.

GreyC

Ah, Newcastle!

Love that place and the region!

Was able to spend some time there.

GreyC

From my experiene it can take up to 6 months, but you should hear from them in any case.

GreyC

Hi,

these traditions were not only upheld by the Wehrmacht as dedehansen rightly writes, but earlier from the Reichswehr, too. Usually the units that took over the tradition of an old regiment were somehow related to the old unit (if only by sake of use of same weapon).

However, this need not be the case always.

GreyC

Hi,

they tell you that your query was redirected from the Red Cross to the WAST (Wehrmachts-Auskunft-Stelle).

They started research on it, but as it takes time no news yet. if they find anythink, they´ll contact you again.

Best,

GreyC

Hi,

Stab d. I. Batls = Stab des ersten Bataillons = staff, 1st Battailon.

The "s" as you presumed has grammatical significance. It is the genetive "s".

GreyC

2 minutes ago, GreyC said:

Hi,

Stab d. I. Batls = Stab des ersten Bataillons = staff, 1st Battailon.

The "s" as you presumed has grammatical significance. It is the genetive´s (partitivus) "s".

GreyC

You´re welcome!

GreyC

Here you go the German text with all its original mistakes etc.:

Diese Osterr. Tapferkeitsmedaille hat am

28.VI.1866, im Gefecht bei Soor, Wilhelm

von Knobelsdorff, nach seiner Verwundung

einem gefallenen, ganz zerschossenen österr.

Offizier von der Brust genommen.

(Wilhelm= d. spätere GenMaj. z.D., Oberhauptmann.

GreyC

Hi there,

here is the translation which makes this an interesting piece:

On the 28th June 1866 during the battle of Soor, Wilhelm von Knobelsdorff , after being wounded, took this Austrian medal of bravery off the chest of  a killed, totally dismembered Austrian officer. (Wilhelm= later GenMaj. z.D.; Oberhauptmann)

GreyC