Eiserne Wehr

I am fully aware windmills were targeted, just like church towers, they are easy references on the horizon for the artillery to home in their shot placements and that they can be used as an observation post for the enemy. Even in 1914-1918 most of these structures were already historic and iconic to their villages and towns. This still doesn't explain to me why these photographs go for such high amounts of money. I am just really curious what reasoning collector(s) have to pay such prices.

Maybe someone can enlighten me why most of the photographs with Belgian Windmills sell for hundreds of euros per photograph, 200-300 euros is often the average. Even those who are blown to smithereens still fetch a serious amount of money. Take these two photographs, the first one sold for over 600 euros, the second over 450 euros.

Photographed here is a Bavarian Leutnant of Königlich Bayerisches 15. Infanterie-Regiment 'König Friedrich August von Sachsen', he is a recepiant of both the Eisernes Kreuz I. and II. Klasse. The details of his Iron Cross, tunic buttons and Feldbinde-buckle are captured in this photograph. On his belt sits a trench knife with Bavarian Portepee.

I discovered that i have another photograph of a soldier made by the brothers Schmid at Truppenübungsplatz Münsingen. This soldier also wears a Pickelhabue with a cover over it, has a Tornister on his back, a Grabendolch and Luger 08 holster on his belt. The pouch on his right is that of a wire cutters and from one of his tunic buttons hangs a Taschenlampe. He is wearing corduroy trousers with puttees covering his lower legs and part of his shoes. Sticking out from his left side is the wooden handle of his entrenching tool and the tip of his bayonet scabbard. He wears a ring on his right pinky. Comparing the attributes featured in both photographs makes me think there are definitely props at play here. The cover of both Pickelhauben is identical with it's markings and the way it sits on the Pickelhaube. The scabbard of the trench knife has the same scuff marks. I am still not convinced the first soldier has a wire cutter pouch on his belt but when i look at the other photograph and the fact same items are being used to dress up a soldier it probably is.

Shown here are three Bavarians, two brothers and a friend with the surname Schwarzfischer. I believe the Unteroffizier on the left and the sailor of S.M.S. Koenig Wilhelm are the two brothers. The soldier on the right is of Königlich Bayerisches 2. Infanterie-Regiment 'Kronprinz'. There's a Michael Schwarzfischer from Landshut that is reported on the 23. october 1918 as missing in the Verlustlisten. Kgl. Bayer. 2. Infanterie-Regiment has their Garnison in München which is about 75 km. from Landshut. This photograph was taken by Hofphotograph Urban Zattler in Landshut(Niederbayern), Zweibrückenstraße 684. Hofphotograph means in the case of Bavaria that Zattler was granted by the King to use the Bavarian royal coat of arms and also provide the royals with his service. Sadly this photograph is not on a CDV with the logos but only has a simple print on the back.

There is sadly nothing that indicates his Regiment or even of which state he is from, the back is also unwritten. The shoulder board is that of a Leutnant but i can't identify what numerals or possible Monogram is attached to it. He wears a M16 steel helmet and pinned on his tunic are two ribbons and the prized Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse. On his belt he has a trench knife in a traditional leather sheath with a chape on it's end made from metal. In his right hand are a pair of gloves.

This Bavarian soldier had to make due with a makeshift "photography studio" for when he wanted his picture taken. A partial torn blanket is draped over a stone wall as an improvised backdrop. The ribbon attached to his tunic reveals he earned an Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse, on his belt sits his Grabendolch. From his right jackboot protrudes a thin long object which appears to be made out of metal with scales of wood or bakelit, a straight razor perhaps?

A wonderful photograph of Bavarian Oberstleutnant Flösser taken in a densely wooded and hilly terrain. Looking at the five little loops on his tunic he must have an impressive medal clasp. Although he isn't wearing his clasp, he proudly displays his Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse together with the ribbons of his Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse and Bavarian Militärverdienstkreuz. The leather sling going across his chest is most likely that of his binoculars case and the canvas webbing that of a gas mask. On his right he carries a leather case for maps and documents on his belt. On his left a Grabendolch that is mounted in the frog of a bayonet which is wrapped with a Bavarian Portepee. He wears thin leather gloves, a pair of riding trousers that are covered at the lower legs with leather gamaschen. To his shoes are cleats applied. Over the years i stumbled on this photograph three times and bought them all. There is text written on two of them but they all differ slightly in quality, this is the sharpest of the three. These are two accounts of different soldiers who state that sir Flösser was a friendly, well liked commander and that they were saddened when they heard he was laid off. While the first soldier only briefly mentioned sir Flösser, the second dedicates the whole backside of the card to praise him. He obviously had a more personal contact with the gentleman.

Shown here is a Prussian soldier of Infanterie-Regiment 'Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande' (2. Westfälisches) Nr. 15. The Schwalbennester attached from the shoulders tells us unmistakeably that he's a band member. He wears an Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse ribbon and a Verwundetenabzeichen on his tunic. On his black belt sits his Grabendolch, in the background on his left sleeve can a mourning armband be observed. Note his visor cap that has the gray cover band applied to cover up the colour band of the cap, he also wears riding trousers.

Presented here is a fairly young Prussian Leutnant with his stormtroopers, an interesting assemble of characters if i may add. The Leutnant wears an officer type M 1915 tunic accompanied by a black leather belt with a Prussian Feldbinde buckle. On his left breast pocket flap sits his Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse ribbon. He appears to have no side arm on his belt but perhaps it's out of view. The majority of the men in this group earned an Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse, carry a pistol and a trench knife. The two men on either side of the Leutnant proudly show their Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse that is pinned on their tunic. This group of soldiers display two types of trench knives, one is with wooden scales that are fastened with predominant rivets, these stick out from the handle as small domes. The overall common trench knives with wooden scales have rivets that are flush with the scales. The other type is the in metal stamped Demag "crank-hande" knife. The soldier behind the Leutnant on his left has either a really bad sunburn or there's make-up applied to his face. The outline is quite clear and would match when wearing a toque. What is also noteworthy is the fact half of the men wear an early war tunic that shows the buttons and the others the M 1915 where the buttons are obscured. Some wear trousers with patches applied to the knees, both in leather and cloth, but they all wear the shoes with puttees combination.

A fantastic studio photograph of an Infanterist with his full gear. Although to me the eye-catcher here is his F.W. Backhaus trench knife on his belt, to others, the 43/44 Ersatz bayonet fixed to his Mauser Gewehr 98. Sadly there is nothing to deduce any further information about this soldier.

After a couple of tries and spending more time on it to decipher some of the text than i am willing to admit i would appreciate any input on helping me to fill in the blanks. Translation is not the problem just a few words that escape me, the fact a lot of words are faded isn't helping either.

A Bavarian soldier poses with an Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse ribbon attached on his tunic, a 11. Königlich Bayerische Infanterie-Division commemorative badge on his collar and a Grabendolch on his belt. The manner in which he has attached his trench knife to his belt is out of the ordinary. The leather loop that normally is attached to the scabbard seems to be replaced or modified. The piece of leather strip is buttoned together while the original would be a simple loop. The leather loop with the button that normally holds the trench knife up straight is too small to go around the belt. It might be the case that the larger loop tore apart and the smaller loop was used to bridge the gap. His trousers are reinforced with leather patches at the knees and over his long socks he wrapped puttees, his shoes are that of the mountaineer type. Alongside him, a walking cane made from a tree branch or small tree and a box of matches. In his left hand a cigarette. The back reads: Zum Andenken an meine Freund Franz To remember my friend Franz

Posing in this photograph is Bavarian Unteroffizier Josef Köglmeier, of Königlich Bayerisches 11. Infanterie-Regiment 'von der Tann'. He is portrayed with his earned Militärverdienstkreuz 3. Klasse mit Schwertern while having a smoke. On his belt a Grabendolch and a Bajonett. I happen to own this photograph twice, one has writing on it and the other just his name but that one includes also his first name. The back reads: Geschrieben den 4. januar 1917. Werte Anna! Ich bin im besitz von deiner Karte wofür ich dir herzlich Danke Ich mir dir ein Kleines Anlegen schicken Ich bin soweit gesund das ich auch von dir hoffe Es Grüßt dich Herzlich Köglmeier Grüß an Deine Eltern und Geschwisters Auf Wiedersehen An Fraul(Fraulein) Anna Schmid Rickatshofen Richt(Richtung) Oberreitnau Abs.(Absender) Unteroffizier Köglmeier 6 Kg Div 11 Inftr Regt 12 Komp (6. Kgl. Bayer. Infanterie-Division, Kgl. Bayer. 11. Infanterie-Regiment 'von der Tann', 12. Kompanie) Written on the 4th of january 1917. Worthy Anna! I received the Postcard you send me and i would like to gratefully thank you for it. Hereby i send you a small compensation for it. So far i am healthy what i also hope likewise of you. He greets you heartily Köglmeier Greetings to your parents and siblings Until we meet again. To Miss Anna Schmid Rickatshofen Near Oberreitnau Sender Unteroffizier Köglmeier 6 Kg Div 11 Inftr Regt 12 Komp (6. Kgl. Bayer. Infanterie-Division, Kgl. Bayer. 11. Infanterie-Regiment 'von der Tann', 12. Kompanie)

Although the photographer failed to put this Sachsen Gefreiter in full focus, the camera still picked up some of the details to determine to what Regiment he belonged. He is of the Königlich Sächsische 6. Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 68. On his tunic he has two medals, i believe the small round one is that of Friedrich-August-Medaille in Bronze which he regards of higher distinction than his Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse. On his belt on the right sits his holster of his pistol, the holster resembles that of the Dreyse manufacturer. On the left side he carries a trench knife. His right middle finger is adorned with a ring and on his riding boots are spurs applied.