Bernhard H.Holst

Hello readers. I came across a copy of the St.Henry Knights Cross award document to the Lt.d.Res. Karl-Vincent KROGMANN dated 5.April 1916. The reference book on the St.Henry lists him as commander of 2.Battery, Kgl.Saechs.Feld-.Art.Rgt. 115. He was born on 3 March, 1889 in Hamburg and was a merchant by profession. The action for which he was decorated took place on 27 Sept. 1915 on the Eastern Front with the 58.Inf.Div.. He acted as forward observer and gave valuable information which enabled the German artillery to place fire in a way to collapse the Russian attacks. The rear guard could then separate itself from the enemy without contact. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. I believe the Iron Cross was used and also abused in many ways utilizing a popular article. So this padlock could well be of the period 1914 - 1918 or even later. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Sad subject this. For those readers whose language skills do not include German, these document pertain mainly to the death in action on the Russian front of a member of an artillery unit. Notification of his family, inventory list of personal effects and other. Thanks for showing this. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Kenneth. Pictures are indeed available for viewing. However I am unable to link anything ( have not yet "mastered" that science). But here is an address to use in which the album can be seen which I mentioned: http://www.ingolstadt.de/dmm/ or here http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/roentgenbilder-aus-dem-ersten-weltkrieg-fotostrecke-117881.html Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. The German news magazine Der Spiegel recently published an article concerning the use the German military made of the fairly recent discovery of x-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen. Already in 1901 Bavarian military doctors wrote to Bavarian garrison hospitals that x-rays were a compelling necessity. W.C.Roentgen never applied for patents for his invention. He received the Nobel Prize in 1901. The prize money he gave to a university. The article mentions the case of a Ludwig Bergmann who was wounded early in the war through a bullet in the left lower leg. X-ray found the bullet's location in the heel.This was not visible to the naked eye. The bullet was extracted but complications caused a permanent limp. Current exhibitions contain x-rays of that period which experts consider quite exact. Cases of wounds to internal organs like the lungs now became visible to the surgeons. Even more mobile x-ray machines were improvised with the help of motor vehicles power supply. The Bavarian duke Carl Theodor who had a medical degree in eye science and was married to Maria Josepha, the daughter of the exiled former king of Portugal had founded an eye clinic meant primarily for less fortunate patients. After his death in 1909 his widow continued the clinic which she transformed into a military hospital after the outbreak of hostilities..In 1916 patients of the hospital had assembled an album with x-ray pictures dedicated to her on her birthday. It contained a total of 81 x-ray pictures with detailed information on the patients. It may be interesting to hear of x-ray application on the allied side. Bernhard H. Holst.

Hello Jock. Another harvest of interesting documents. In Post # 2: the very first one pertains to nation-wide collection of clothes etc which were then utilized as raw material in the manufacture of new uniforms etc. Note the date ( 1942) so past that destructive winter 1941/42 in the Soviet-Union. The German military were able to furnish winter resistant clothing for the coming winter campaign. But they certainly stumbled into the first one unprepared thinking a swift campaign making any winter preparation unnecessary? The following documents all have sad connotations as they are directed towards Heroes Remembrance Day. Thanks for showing these. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. That desk has a real "lived-in look". That I must show my wife to convince her mine can stand up to scrutiny after all. Is that VW on the computer screen a screen saver? BTW: I used an inkpen after graduating from a slate. In school ink wells soon became a mess with stuff hanging from the pens and such... Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. The name Bronsart von Schellendorf is a prominent name. The 1913 rank list contains many including one who held the rank of General d. Infanterie. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Interesting book you retrieved. Ernst "Putzi" Hanfstaengl whose name appears as the "author" was an early confident and favorite of Hitler until he fell out of favor. Belonged to a prominent German family, attended Harvard and managed the U.S. branch of the family business and resided in Germany later. Fell out of favor with Hitler and during WW II assisted the U.S. government. His later publications should be taken with a grain of salt. Thanks for showing this. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Brian, Rick and Mervyn and all other commentators. Growing up on the other side of the fence, so to speak, I must say how much my childhood resembled the recollections given above. Realities however set in once the war ( WWII ) was on its way what with air-raids, separation from family, losses experienced but not close to family until later. After the war I elected to actively participate in one conflict which I deemed justified and a following one not so much. Managed to stay out of a continuation conflict by arranging early discharge never regretted since. All the above made me an observer and somewhat of a pacifist. Someone once said that the greatest of those are to be found in foxholes? As stated in this forum : Wars are easily started but not ended. In the 1950's a French colonel, Col. Trinquier I believe it was, wrote a book : Modern War about revolutionary warfare. We have heard other terminology such as counter revolutionary warfare, war on terror ( please ), and so on. In the 1990's when the Great Socialist Camp came undone my hope was up for a beneficial change in the world. Did not last long, that hope. Too much rambling of my part should just follow this thread. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andy. Ref.# 3. All that on the subject Marne. You must have a huge library to also accommodate the rest you must have. It seems you keep a catalog of your books. Impressive! Bernhard H. Holst

I share the sentiments expressed above. I can think of a reason not much attention is presently given to the matter. The USA after all did not enter the war as a true participant until April, 1917. Bur then this thinking may be charitable considering society being much more interested in celebrities ( so called ) or other " talents" than important matters. . But then we here are clearly biased by our general interest in history, many times by being or having been a part of events. Bernhard H. Holst BTW:: I read having the leisure time to do so, German newspapers, British and French ones. This subject is certainly not buried. Based on clippings sent by my youngest sister who remained in Germany even their local paper has periodic articles about this subject, interesting extracts from local grammar ( grade) schools' diaries. These were apparently kept by statute and give a good impression of the going- ons . For example sale of horses was disallowed, reserve soldiers were given their call-up notices in a staggered fashion. This after secret instructions were retrieved from each post office vault upon a code word. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. My guess and it is only a guess is that this K.M. sailor was transferred or drafted from the Merchant Marine into the navy. As a merchant mariner he was of course at liberty to have tattoos applied. I would doubt the K.M. rejecting him from service because of tattoos. . Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Yes, emotions were high and anti propaganda was in high gear. As an aside: As recently as 20 years ago I was asked what my "Vergehen" ( offense ) was to flee into the Legion. In 1956/57 I lodged with another Sgt. who worked in the section reviewing the past of new enlistees whose contracts had already been authorized. He told me there was a time span of four months during which the contract could be rescinded should some negative background pop up. Those who did not make that cut were escorted to an applicable border and handed to the tender care of local authorities. The Legion had more than enough applicants not to be bothered with probable iffy elements to try and whip into shape. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Rick and Jock. One must keep important documents, of course. Perhaps some day one may have to prove one's existence. That I have to do once a year for the French Social Security to continue to draw about $ 150/month.( for 6 years French military service and what I paid into German social security for the few years I worked there). That aside we have begun to shred in a serious way to get rid of stuff. Will make it easier later. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Thanks for the explanation of " egg banjo". Now I quite understand. I see by your other posts that you continue to be successful in finding articles. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. And what pray tell, are "egg banjo's"? Personally I am no longer able to perform chores of the smallest kind. Just able to drive myself and the other half of the management to appointments and such. But it could be worse.... Wishing you a decent week-end never the less, Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Of course but you have the talent of finding the unusual. Good Luck! Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Since my last post I had a look at the 1944 German Army Ranklist because of the peculiar last name and did not find any one with such name. As to the Honor Roll Clasp: the clasp itself was instituted only in early 1944. Before that it was simply an inscription on the Honor Roll of the army. ( Navy and airforce had their separate ones) without any "outer" distinction. It never became obsolete just rarely awarded ( about 4,000 or so). The German Cross i. Gold was instituted in Oct. 1941 and did not rank between the Iron Cross 1.class and the Knight Cross as often assumed. Oftentimes when a proposal for a Knight Cross was received by the reviewing authority at the Personnel Office and was deemed inadequate for that level of award the Honor Roll or the German Cross was instead recommended. This could have been the case with our officer here. BTW: the one assignment to IV.Abteilung shows he was a "heavy" qualified officer. It seems there is no other trace of him unless any division or regimental history contains mention of him. Keep this type of material coming. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Again an interesting find. I located the following information regarding who I believe this officer to have been, namely: Bruno Jucknies, Obstlt. DoB 17.05.1905, died of wounds 24.10.1943 at Sanitaetskompanie 2/251, motorisiert HVP ( Hauptverbandsplatz ) Novo Alexejewska; a grave site has not been established as yet. Information per Volksbund. He was apparently decorated with the Honor Roll Clasp after death with date of 27.11.1943 as Oberstlt. Art.Rgt.7; Received the German Cross i.Gold as Major, IV./Art.Rgt. 256 on 05.Apr.1943. I am quite certain that it is him because of the rarity of his last name, his arm being Artillery and all his shown assignment were arty. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. I hear you loud and clear. Also it is said that anyway the best of plans usually do not survive the first day of battle. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The one gentleman also served in Indochina as his many decorations testified. Their origin from the mountains of Morocco made them particularly able to operate on Corsica and other regions. One Tabor was destroyed in the debacle of RC 4 in Tonkin in October of 1950. Our unit never operated with any Goum because of the different modes of deployment in the field ( amphibious vs mountainous environment). But they were well known! Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Possibly a lot was recalled from WW I campaigns in the East. Apart from the army the airforce also had to learn in a hurry. BTW: I always had the belief that the Israeli Defense Force was always up to date because of its nearly permanent involvement in military action. The present events in the Gaza operation seems to indicate of their being up against some unforeseen obstacles and very regrettably high losses. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Interesting information. After blundering into the campaign against the Soviet Union and exposing the soldiers to a terrible winter the army appeared to have learned some bitter lessons in winter warfare. So in August 1942 these instructions were issued. They seem on the surface to be sound instructions but I am not one to judge that in any way not having been exposed to that kind of warfare. Bernhard H. Holst

Chris, thanks for showing this. The hearse with its escort of the Republican Guard crossing the Alexander III bridge on the way to the Invalides . That is where the funeral service was to take place. Bernhard H. Holst