Chip

The American government had many of this pattern helmet that were brought to the States as war booty. They were handed out to state governments and used to raise money as premiums for war bonds purchases. I have the exact same Tschapka, unissued, but mine has a Gardestern and the Fangschnur toggle on top. Mine came without the chinstrap. Yours is very nice. Chip

Great photo! You don't see 3.Jäger guys wearing a Bluse that often. He is wearing the Prussian style shoulder straps rather than the Hellgrün Bavarian ones. My guess that his Landeskokarde is a Baden one. One of the regiment's battalions was predominantly drawn from Baden. Chip

Andy, Thanks for showing this! Very nice views of the Edelweiß. Chip

Tim, I have examples of all (except #29) the enlisted foot artillery numbers 1-30. I have had them for a long time and did not buy any from Collector's Guild. Here is a picture of my foot artillery examples. Chip

Chris, I have had one of these for many years. I think the "BAM 9 30" is possibly an accession mark from the Bavarian Army Museum (meaning that the frog is a good period piece) or it was made by their workshop. They do make reproductions when they have need for them for display purposes. A friend of mine that interned there had a pair of M1907 issue trousers made for himself in their shop. I'll have to dig my frog out to see if it has the same maker mark. I have not bought a bayonet frog since 1994 and all others in my collection were bought in the 1970s and '80s. Chip

Nice and unusual tag. I like it! Here is my latest from a fellow in the Hessian I.R.116.

I agree with Andy. It is nothing official. It's not a farrier's patch (horse shoe) or a Richtkanonier patch (bursting bomb). Chip

Just for grins.....

Some these men are wearing Blusen, so the insignia can't be the special Minenwerfer sleeve insignia that Andy has shown, as it was only worn for part of the year in 1915. Can we get a closeup of the insignia only? Chip

We know that at least one Austrian from Braunau am Inn joined the German army.

In memory of an old pilot Fried.Gullen Field Flyer Detachment 63 Russia 12.12.16

Hi Tim, There is little information available in English regarding the disposition of the foot artillery units. British and French intelligence documents were used by the AEF to produce some reference books that cover 1917-1918, but they only list units by sector, which is fairly vague. After trench warfare developed on the Western Front, foot artillery units commonly remained in a sector and moved only when the front had significant movement. Chip

Steel transitional Kochgeschirr circa 1915. Originally painted feldgrau and later over-painted in black. No manufacturer marks.

Aluminum M1910 Kochgeschirr. WILH.BERG 14 Aluminum Kochgeschirr. CARL.BERG A.G. Eveking.

Chris, I think once the war was over and there came a time when the army had need for more equipment to be made, the preferred materials were once again available. That's why I believe this first messkit you show is a wartime example. Is that zinc or zinc coated steel? Chip

The "UCI" mark is from United Costume Inc,. which was a provider of costumes to Hollywood. I don't think they did a retail business. Most of the WWI stuff in their inventory was acquired in the 1920s. So, this story of the tunic's history, is just that....a story. My guess is that a collector got hold of this tunic when UCI's stock was sold back in the 1980s. It probably had no insignia or buttons and they were added.

It was a battle in German Southwest Africa in December of 1905 between the German troops under Major von der Heyde and the Nama tribe (Hottentotts). Chip

Here are my patches. Quite hard to find. In the photo, a navy Bluse in the back. Imperial crown buttons on the pockets. Army style collar rank lace and if NCO buttons were worn, they were feldgrau imperial crown with anchor.

Charles, Examples of the insignia or the tunics? Chip

When the Matrosen Regiments got the feldgrau Bluse, enlisted men did not wear any shoulder straps. Their navy Laufbahn insignia remained on the upper left sleeve. Army style collar insignia. Period photos show both blue and gray backed insignia being worn on the Bluse. I have a couple of gray navy rates, but they are in cotton, not wool, so probably meant for the gray cotton jumper. I don't recall ever seeing a gray wool example. Chip

Bayern, Those "spurs" you mention are not spurs, they are "Marschriemen" (also, Fußschoner). They were used to tighten up the boot around the ankle to keep the foot from slipping around in the boot and to prevent the boot being pulled off in the mud. Chip

There's nothing in the regulations authorizing this type strap. Of course, not all troops would wear the same stuff. Private purchase straps were always available if you could afford them. Chip

Charles, These are either private purchase examples, or at worst, reproductions by someone who assumed the squared off button ends were carried over in 1907. Chip

Very nice! I've not previously seen this cypher. Chip

The sculpting on the German medal is particularly wonderful. Thanks for showing, Chip