Chip

Chris, For sure Bavarian. See the state cap cockades, not to mention the awards! Chip

Translation? :lol:

Thomas, Does anyone else in the photo appear to be wearing a similar sleeve patch? It is unusual to see insignia on the right arm. I can't make anything out in the close-up. Could it be a flaw in the photo? There is no photographic evidence that I know of for a sleeve patch for the Jäger Rgt.Nr.3 or Sturmbataillon Nr.3. Would a closer scan of the shoulder strap of the other soldier show anything more? An Infanterie-Geschütz Batterie would have the letters "IG" or "JG" underneath the bomb, with a unit number below that. Chip

Chris, von Stein's notes were taken in the archives, I believe at Karlsruhe. Chip

I don't have a copy, but I believe you can find this information in Kraus's book, "Handbuch der Verbände und Truppen des deutschen Heeres 1914-1918, Band IX Feldartillerie" printed by the Verlag Militaria. It follows the same format as does the volume on the infantry, in that it gives the associational history of the regiments during the war. It's available for purchase on the printer's website. I have the following from von Stein's notes, (1.Gd.Felda.Br.d.2.G.I.D., 7.6.1917 Heeres-Art. b. Her.Gr.Deutscher Kronprinz u. 4.Armee, April 1918 G.K.Sch.D.) Chip

He looks more like Boris Karloff! :speechless1:

I agree with Chris concerning the value. The condition is very similar to a dug example and the unit is not super interesting. Chip

Yes, this is a WWI era Erkennungsmarke. All I can make out is, Emil Appel - Hagen I.W. (im Westfalen)- born 28.2.93 - LDW.FUSS.ARTL.BATL.63. That's "Landwehr Fußartillerie Bataillon Nr.63." Heavy artillery. Chip

Chris, A nice private purchase one. Discovering the identity will take some real mining. Chip

Chris, I have a 1918 dated one with most of the original ammo still in it. So far, no rusting or discoloration to the bandoleer. But it is darn heavy. Chip

Alex, I believe you are thinking of the "Ober" as related to the Deckoffizier ranks. This is a regular officer, and the "Ober" refers to the pip, as in Oberleutnant. Naval engineer officers did not wear the crown and riband over the anchor insignia. Regards, Chip

I believe these are both post WWI photos, most likely from the 1930s. Chip

Chris, You come up with the most interesting stuff. Thanks for enlightening us. Chip

Timo, Nice items, as I have told you before. All are WWI vintage or earlier. The M15 FAR strap is not from the 12th regiment, as it was a cyphered regiment. I suspect it is either a munitions column strap or one from the Landwehr unit. The reserve regiment normally wore a metal unit number. The collar tab is from a Saxon grenadier overcoat. The Saxons changed from the old full color collar tabs to a gray or gray-green tab (depending on the branch) in April of 1908. Infantry units were red piped. The naval officer's board is also pre-1918 and is for the rank of Marine-Oberingenieur. Thanks for showing them. Chip

sef1962, The IR.31 was in the IX.Army Corps. The infantry regiments of this corps wore white straps with red numbers, as you surmised . If your number is white, what you have is an example of an enlisted man's shoulder strap from the 31.Brigade of a Landwehr-Bezirks-Kommando. If the number 31 is yellow, then it's back to the drawing board! Chip

Don, Left to right, M15 Oberstleutnant, Prussian VIII Army Corps, 36.Landsturm Batl. M10 Oberstleutnant, Prussian Landwehr Bezirkskommando Cöln. M10 5.Rheinisches Inf.Rgt.Nr.65. Garrisoned in Köln. All three pieces seem to be interrelated due to their Army Corps affiliation. They must have come as a group? Perhaps they even belonged to the same man. Chip

Freiwillige, Of course, Jens is totally correct about the photo being of a Jäger from the 1.bay.Jäger Batl. Unlike Prussian and other Jägers, Bavarian Jägers wore blue tunics with green collars and cuffs. Their green shoulder straps had yellow numbers. Chip

Thomas, Just for clarification, this man is wearing a simplified M07 tunic, which was introduced in 1915. The M1916 Bavarian tunic was the Einheitsbluse. Regards, Chip

Chris, I like to think it's the IR78. This was the "local" regiment for my wife's family, with her grandfather and several of his brothers having served in the regiment. Chip

Here is the armband he is wearing. Chip

Evidently, it was safe enough for the German to back off from his rifle and take the photo. Chip

Since when are bunkers wallpapered? The guy on the right looks like he just discovered some funny weed in his pipe! Here's the M15 strap they are wearing. Chip

Heiko, Yes, normally only the line regiment wore the Chiffre. So this man would be from one of the associated reserve units, as you have suggested. Chip

Here we call them "junebugs". Chip

Sorry, I meant Beamten. Chip