Chip

Chris, I think the one on the right could be called a simplified (circa 1915) M1907. The collar is the same color as the tunic (but it can't be a Bavarian Bluse!), you can't see if it has chest buttons or not, and the cuff conforms to either the Bluse or the simplified M07. So, to my mind, it has to be the simplified Waffenrock. Chip

Yeah, nice big white target! He would have to stay where the snow was, otherwise he would stick out like a sore thumb!

Chris, Here are examples of the second pattern Bavarian Wappenknöpfen. At the top are a pair of Sergeant disks, then a Gefreiter pair and finally two examples from the Friedensrock. Chip

The pair of collar disks are nice. Must be from the transitional period, before the Bluse was introduced for the Bavarians. Their new design disk came out in March of 1916. These appear to be painted steel or Kriegsmetall, but with the earlier pattern Löwe. I would expect to see this pattern on the simplified Waffenröcke. Chip

I think Behrends is a pretty common north German name. Plenty of them in Hannover and Ostfriesland. That paper tag does not look like a wartime label. Most imperial era private purchase caps that had manufacturer marks had them imprinted on the lining or embossed into the sweatband. Chip

Eric, The 14th was for sure, but how many regiments would have had fortress MG units? I can only imagine that the regiments that were garrisoned in or near towns that had fortresses would have provided these companies.But would every regiment have a need for such a company? Chip

You can delete your own posts for a period after you post them. Then the opportunity goes away. Down in the bottom right hand corner there is a faint gray "Delete" next to the "MultiQuote" box. Chip

It looks like it says "Gehilfsposten", which seems to make sense with the medic in the picture. But perhaps not.....

The construction of the boards is typical of private purchase pieces. I am a bit surprised that there is no backing material. Normally, the backing is in the same color as the tunic. As a shoulder strap collector, I can tell you that this is not unusual and I have seen lots of prewar private purchase boards that are poorly finished on the back side. They are not removable, so the thought is that no one would ever see the reverse. I have a few like this in my collection, though I prefer issue pieces. Your navy items are excellent! I collect wartime navy items, myself as well as navy insignia and sleeve ratings. Chip

Paul, It could be some kind of hybrid Bavarian Einheitsmütze, but I would guess it is some postwar veteran's organization or something like that. Chip

These are Nazi era binoculars, This is the imperial German (to 1918) forum. You would get better results putting your post in the WWII German section. Regards, Chip

As Rick says, most of us old timers have known Chris for a while and refuse to play this game he pulls out of his hat every once in a while.Those who get upset over it.....please let your hearts be still. It will be over in a month or so. In the meantime, don't complain. That just encourages him to keep going.

Joe, I noticed that. Never seen anything like it before. Reminds me of the back of a Western jacket. Chip

Joe, As I understand it, the addition of a fourth battalion to a few regiments caused the MGK to become the 17.Komp. (KME of 2.9.15). In most regiments, the 13.Komp. remained the MGK. Chip

I've never heard of this. Can you show it? The only enlisted pattern that might have cardboard would be a private purchase piece, but the cardboard would have been used inside as a stiffener. Perhaps yours is missing the backing cloth? Chip

Eric, I read that the earlier packs were retrofitted during WWI with the addition of a clothing compartment and the side ammo pouches, as on the M95 pack. Chip

Thanks for the clarification. Oddly shaped "R". Chip

Dedehanson, Nice officer's disk! Is that "J.R." or "J.B."? Looks like "J.B." to me. Chip

Joe, It looks like a transitional tunic (simplified) that was later modified by adding some 9/21/1915 features. The collar and shoulder loops have been added and the cuffs have been changed. I have a 1915 dated, XIII A.K. tunic and it has the pre-barrel cuff, i.e. Swedish cuffs that all Württemberg infantry units (that did not already have them) went to in early 1915. Chip

Eric, I would sure like to see how this attaches "under the flap" of the M1887 backpack. Does your pack have a provision for attaching this bag on the inside? Chip

Rick, I'm not so sure about your ID on the Bavarian Jäger. I'm fairly certain that all officer's of Jäger Rgt. Nr.3 wore a number "3" on their boards, regardless of the battalion. The enlisted men certain did. Chip

Chris, Nice shots! The guy on the right must be 1.b.Jäger Batl.

Chris, This is true, but they only cut off the bottom 10cm, so the coats still looked very much like a coat (nothing like the cut-down coat you have shown). I have a 1915 dated "Ersatz" pattern overcoat with this Winkelgamaschen shortening. I also have a field-made pair of Winkelgamaschen fashioned from overcoat material. Chip

Chris, All are singles with the exception of the 1.b.Telegraphen Batl., 1.b.IR Oberstlt. and the Assistenzarzt, which are from pairs. Chip

Rick, I have an identical armband. These were part of a large number of various German armbands brought back after the war by a doughboy. He must have had access to a depot, as he had multiples of various examples. I have others from this trove, including Armierungs Batl., Kriegs- Eisenbahn-Direction and Kriegsgefangener Wahn, There were items other than armbands, all in mint condition and all stuffed in a dufflebag. My example's ink stamp is equally difficult to decipher. Of interest is the alternate spelling of Lazarett (Lazareth), which I think is an older way of spelling it. I have seen wartime photos of both Germans and Austrians wearing this Maltese shaped cross on an armband. Chip