Thomas W

I have a photo of "Heinz" and its crew before it was destroyed. I don't want to post the whole photo, because I'm using it in my upcoming book German Assault Troops of World War I: Organization, Tactics, Weapons, Equipment, Orders of Battle, and Uniforms, which will be published by Schiffer. It'll have about 400 photos and will cover all the German assault formations, including trench raiders, regimental shock troops, company shock troops, assault battalions, attack divisions, assault artillery, tanks, flamethrower units, mortar units, machine-gun units... EVERYTHING! Here is "Heinz" with the name written in a slightly different style.

It's an American joke. That number was written in chalk by an American soldier. It refers to a famous steak sauce produced by the F & J Heinz company, which was also famous for tomato ketchup and the advertising slogan "57 varieties." The Heinz company began using that slogan in 1896; the steak sauce called "Heinz 57" became incredibly popular in America in 1913. Every American soldier would immediately think of Heinz 57 steak sauce when he saw the name "Heinz." Therefore, a passing American soldier must have added the number.

"Heinz" was Tank 207 of Sturm-Panzerkraftwagen Abteilung 14, commanded by Leutnant Heinrich Köhler. On June 1, 1918, it was hit and disabled by French shells when inside German lines, near Fort de la Pompelle. The crew continued the firefight with the 57mm gun and machine gun on the side that faced the French lines, while important equipment was unloaded on the other side. The tank was then hit by two more shells and caught fire, forcing the Germans to abandon it. From The German A7V Tank: and the Captured British Mark IV Tanks of World War I, by Maxwell Hundleby and Rainer Strashein (Hayes Publishing, 1990).

Here's an Unteroffizier of Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 89 who won the Military Merit Cross. Since there were so few of these awards given out, I'm assuming someone can probably identify him. The postcard is dated 1917, so he won it in that year or before.

Schneeschuh-Litewka, I believe.

FRD does indeed stand for Feldrekrutendepot. http://www.grande-gu...ent.php?num=179 However, the men of the assault companies of Sturmbataillon Nr. 1 were recruited from Jäger Ersatz Bataillon Nr. 3; the machine gunners were recruited from 2. Ersatz-Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, III. Armee-Korps; and the men of the mortar company were recruited from Pionier-Ersatz-Bataillon Nr. 28. There wasn't one Feldrekrutendepot for the assault battalion, so...

Isn't it weird how back in the day, they would pose with prisoners like big-game hunters posing with the lion they'd shot in Africa? You can't do that today, if you follow the protocols of the Geneva Convention.

And now so am I! Thanks, Chip. The "M" morphed into an "111" right before my very eyes.

I didn't think of Roman numerals. That opens up all sorts of possibilities.

Here's an enhanced view. Looks very "emmy" to me...

Is this an "M"? If so, does it stand for "Musketen-Bataillon"?

Shako, riding boots, Brandenburg cuffs, and Kar98AZ carbines. Any idea who these guys are?

I saw that. I assume, therefore, that German infantry regiments had three battalions of four companies for the entire war. To say that in 1917 the German infantry regiment had two battalions of three companies each is a mistake.

I saw that. I assume, therefore, that German infantry regiments had three battalions of four companies for the entire war. To say that in 1917 the German infantry regiment had two battalions of three companies each is a mistake.

I found the same claim in the second chart here: http://www.worldwar1...sfgermreorg.htm The chart "Infantry Division Combat Units January 1917" shows two battalions per regiment, and three companies per battalion. German infantry battalions generally had four companies, right?

I was pretty sure there were three. I wonder why that illustration from Stormtroop Tactics shows only two battalions per regiment?

This illustration from The German Army Handbook April 1918 shows a typical infantry regiment with three battalions in 1918.

According to this illustration from Gumundsson's Stormtroop Tactics, the typical German infantry regiment had two battalions in 1917. Am I misinterpreting the illustration?

Thanks for you help, Bernhard. I appreciate it.

Here's the front of the card. A lot of work with my scanner seems to show a "3" on his shoulder strap.

Thanks. Bernhard. Which Garde unit, though? Can you read his rank?

Third Company, R.N.A.G., or K.N.A.G.? Or...?

Thanks, Chip. Could you send me low-res scans so I can see what they look like? Check your PM for my e-mail address.

Does anybody have a photo of the Skoda 7.5cm Gebirgskanone M15 that I can use for a book I'm writing on German assault troops? I'll give you a copy of the book in exchange. I prefer a photo with the shield. Thanks, Thomas W.

Well, I thought the first letter of the second name is an "S," since it looks like the first letter of the first word, "Sturm." The photos do show a German-taught assault course...