Bernhard H.Holst

Hello Jock. Infantry guns of 75 mm and bigger ( 105 or 150 mm ?) were components of each infantry regiment. Of course crews had to be well trained so they would not do in their buddies. Interesting material you always dig up. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. On the 20th of July, 1944 a group of conspirators mainly among German officers attempted to take the life of A. Hitler. Col. Count Stauffenberg had access to Hitler's headquarters because of his staff assignment in the Home Army H.Q. which required attendance at Hitler's conferences. On July 20, 1944 the opportunity presented itself to place explosives in the conference room. However only one charge was placed due to time constraints while the second one was kept away. If that one even unarmed would have been kept with the armed one, it would also have been set off. In that case no one in that room would have survived. As the saying goes: the rest is history. For those who may be interested in refreshing their reading on this subject, the several books by Peter Hoffmann who enjoyed good contacts to the Stauffenberg family and who has written extensively about the German resistance to the Hitler regime can be highly recommended. These books are available in both English and German language editions. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Hugh. I take it that you share my take on the Dalloz writing. It seems difficult to obtain itemized figures as to the origin or the affiliated formations of all those who died. In any case all those who served and had to give their lives regardless of the cause of death deserve our consideration and recognition as good soldiers. BTW: a note for all readers: all books by Bernard Fall are well worth reading Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: Bernard Fall in his book "Street without Joy" gives for French Union Forces as dead or missing 75,867 - for Indochina States 18,714 dead or missing. I do not know the exact differentiation , the total of 94,581 comes close to the 100,000 dead which is a total one sees oftentimes. The " Dictionnaire de la Guerre D'Indochine 1945 - 1954" by Jacques Dalloz has me somewhat puzzled by the following paragraph" Du cote des forces de L'Union francaise on peut donner des statistiques assez precises concernant les combattants non indochinois. Au sein du corps expeditionnaire, les morts se repartissent ainsi: 18,000 Francais, 9,000 legionnaires, 8,000 Maghrebins ( north-africans ), 2,800 Africains. Parmi les metropolitains, il s'agit dans la majorite des cas de tues au combat. Pour les trois autres categories priment les autre causes de deces ( accident, maladies, mort de suite des de blessures ou dans les camps). I read this as a statement that most of the 18,000 French dead, died in action which was not the case for the three other categories ( legionnaires, North-Africans and Africans ) for whom the main causes were accidents, illness, death of wounds or in prison camps). He gives the total of deaths as 100,000 including Indochinese personnel. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Hugh. Will look and post results. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. On the 20.July 1954 in Geneva the treaty between France and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to end hostilities was signed. The Republic of Vietnam and the USA were not part of this agreement which included a division of the country based on the 17th parallel. The losses to the French forces including those of the associated states of Laos and Cambodia were close to 173,000 of which 94,500 were killed in action or missing and not returned from captivity. Of the French or associated personnel who became prisoners ,or a total of 36,979 only 10,754 returned after the end of hostilities The highest losses were those of Vietnamese personnel of whom just slightly more than 9% only, returned.from captivity. Without wanting to get more into statistics the returned personnel to a very large extent required hospitalization . This writer was part of a reception detachment to render military honors to those lucky to return to Haiphong in one transport. The vast majority had to be removed from the transport ship on stretchers to be conveyed via ambulance to hospitals. Even though the above mentioned agreements made stipulations that no one wanting to relocate would be prevented from doing so, our unit was called upon on several occasions to give protection to Vietnamese civilians who wanted to relocate. I remember well entire village populations, some times with their priest at their head, boarding U.S. or French ships for the journey south. French forces left during 1955 for the south of Vietnam and left for France or North Africa in 1956. This short account is placed in memory of all French or associated personnel, military and civilian who lost their lives. Bernhard H. Holst deployed in Vietnam from 1951 to 1953 and again from 1954 to 1956

Hello Chris. I do understand because similarly I had a number of pictures sent to me going back to the early 1950's of my old unit in Vietnam. Some fellows looked very familiar others not. But names?? Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. On the 14th of July, 2014, the French National Holiday while nearly 100 comrades of his regiment paraded in Paris, Adjudant-Chef NIKOLIC, Dejvid of the 1.REG ( Regiment Etranger de Genie or 1.Foreign Engineer Regiment) died of wounds received during a suicide attack on his convoy in Mali. He is the 9. French soldier to lose his life in Mali. A.-C. Nikolic was 45 years old, he was born in Belgrade and had served France for 25 years. He had several deployments overseas including three in Afghanistan. His awards included the Gold Medal of National Defense. He had become a French citizen , was unmarried and had no children. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Veteran. It appears as such in its general outline ( faiseau des licteurs) . My last of the posted images reflects that. But it is not more detailed on the ring. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Ref. # 31 You did get the meaning across quite well. One can only wonder what went on in their heads even though befogged by alcohol that made them go out chasing the left over parachute silk from burned out flares. Ref. # 32 Dave, you must be surrounded by mountains of reference material. I am always astounded how you come up with results. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Veteran. Thank you for your kind comment and identification. Now on to a document.... Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. Perhaps to put any misconceptions aside which may have arisen. Chris never stated that Lt. Haverkamp was wounded while carelessly smoking. Lt. Juenger encountered him while Lt. Haverkamp and also Lt.Zuern ( who later died of his wounds as Lt. Juenger feared when he saw him) were evacuated and were then close to the collection and treatment point ( Verbandsplatz ) Lt. Haverkamp smoked a cigaret and had severe wounds in a leg and arm. The regimental history states: At the end of the Flanders deployment in early November, 1917 the regiment had lost 8 officers killed, missing were 6, wounded 13.. Other ranks: 80 killed, 260 wounded plus a large number of sick personnel and missing in action were approx. 300, how many of these were made prisoners could not be determined by the available records. Lt. Juenger and some of his comrades sometimes had a very youthful approach to warfare and seemingly dared fate, I believe the hard fighting in Flanders did not lead to attempts to collect parachute flares for the silk or similar jaunts into no-mans land. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Thank you for bringing this video to our attention. I knew of my old regiments change of garrison without getting details of the why's. Perhaps a lack of adequate training grounds for their armored vehicles. I see the regiment can still pull off a decent march past on foot as it showed last year in Paris during the 14 July parade. This writer in April 1952 had the honor of being in the escort of the regimental standard during its presentation to the newly formed Amphibious Group in the north of Vietnam. Bernhard H. Holst formerly of the 1.REC 1951 - 1953 and again 1954 - 1956

Hello Chris. Congratulations for this find. I have never seen a group belonging to a former member of one of the regiments entitled to the "Gibraltar " cufftitle. Thanks for showing it to us. And thanks to Dave Danner for a concise description how the "Gibraltar" cufftitle came to be and was reinsstituted by Wilhelm II. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andreas. As he kept several of the 3.REI he most likely spent a lot of time with that regiment and then the 5..REI. Both regiments served in Algeria after 1955. The paratrooper insignia may be just a souvenir like I kept some myself. The Bataillon de Marche probably after 1954 in Algeria followed by service again in 3.REI or 5.REI. That is how I see it. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andreas The location means nothing to me. It could be any of the more than 4000 villages in the Tonkin area alone and at anyone of which some engagement may have taken place. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andreas. Note the dark strip on the bottom of the insignia shown in the picture of Sgt. S. . The insignia of the 1.Bataillon de Marche du 1.RE has the dark strip on the top of the insignia. So my guess is that it is not the latter one that he wears. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andreas. I can be only of limited help here. These cloth insignia were introduced during the time of the North Africa conflict. They indicated higher echelon formations the different regiments belonged to. They were worn, I believe always on the right upper arm. This, the rooster I believe has a very French meaning ( fighting rooster?) but what it is escapes me. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andreas. The blank spot was occupied by the regimental crest of the regiment the wearer belonged to previously or which was the one the wearer was most attached to when serving in it at some time earlier. A tradition which carried on in the 1950'ies which the photo seems to show. The insignia appears to be that of the 3. REI ( 3.Regiment Etranger d'Infanterie ), the second highest decorated regiment of the French Army. Your man wears decorations of the Indochina and North Africa conflicts and he served beyond the five years original enlistment. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andreas. It is the insignia of the 7. Bataillon Colonial de Commandos Parachutistes renamed 7. Batailon Parachutistes Colonial in 1951. Deployed in Indochina and dissolved in 1954, was awarded two Palmes to the Croix de Guerre T.O.E. Saw reformation and different unit missions but was finally dissolved in 1992. This insignia was an early one when it was designated 7. B.C.C.P. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Just be careful !!! You seem to have a talent to find nice things. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. My imagination brought me to a guy just eating out of this lid when.. "Sie kommen" and he was out of there. And then you came, all these years later Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. My best shot and very tentative: Otto Hofsauer The writer must have missed classes in Schoenschreiben ( accurate handwriting ). Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. You are most likely aware that for some years following the war, the II, former German Kriegsmarine mine sweeper units continued the sweeping under British supervision. Bernhard H. Holst

Re. # 39. Jaeger 10 (Hann).Thank you. Bernhard H. Holst