Chip

Robert, That badge on his left pocket might be an Austrian Red Cross award. I am not an medal/badge specialist, but it looks Austrian to me. Chip

Charles, Send the tunic to me and I will take care of any effects you want to create. Chip

The large EK motif standard in the background is for an 1871 Kriegerverein. The clothing is no later than the 1920's and I would vote for earlier.

Vielleicht!

Rick, The Saxon 2.Feldartillerie Regiment Nr.28 received the Namenszug Kaiser Nikolaus II von Ru?land on the same day that he became the Chef des Regiments on June 19, 1914. The title was withdrawn in 1917, when the names of all enemy regimental Chefs were withdrawn. Chip

It looks like the man in post #8 is wearing this armband with its large stamp.

Ulsterman's last photo is a Catholic priest, judging from his neck cross. He is wearing a smaller than regulation cross on his cap and what appears to be a regular non-combattant armband instead of the normal clergy armband with its purple central band. Chip

Rick, I'm fairly certain that the sailor is an Austrian. There were several navies that wore those gondolier's striped shirts. Chip

I wonder why they bothered to paint that on. They were wearing German uniforms after all. I have seen a few uniforms with this stencil painted on, but they don't garner a lot of interest. Most collectors aren't interested in doing prisoner of war displays. Chip

Rick, Thanks for the enlargements. I have seen other non-regulation Sturmtrupp patches, but normally the heads of the Stielhandgranaten are at the top. Always a pleasure to see previously unknown variations of insignia. Chip

What do you think? Are they inverted, crossed stick grenades or something else? I've never seen this patch before, especially with the dark border ring. Chip

Definitely some make-shift alterations going on there. I don't see anything that would indicate a date after the fall of 1915. I do think that I see a "P" on the lower chest of the soldier who is seated. Chip

Yes, and Rick could you do another close-up on that Sturmtrupp insignia on the sleeve?! Chip

I know nothing about the dating of the ribbon bar. Just trying to help with the unit ID. Chip

Kevin, My eyes are not any better than Rick's, but I think the regiment is the 70.FAR. The "1" I believe is a crease and the two numbers seem to be centered under the flaming bomb. Besides, there would be no Dunkelblau tunic with a wartime numbered unit on a full color strap. I have never seen this done. If the photo is identified as to location, you might be able to confirm my assessment. Chip

Very cool Chris. Super work. Chip

Very nice to see everyone. So many great guys. Chip

Rick, He might have been part of a naval landing troop, which were normally made up of Matrosen, who were outfitted with fieldgear, weapons, etc. Chip Dave, I was the one that bought that picture that you showed. It was expensive.

Naxos, Yes, neither is easy to find, especially the N.G.B.. In over forty years of collecting German WWI shoulder straps I have found only the one and it had had everything but the bomb device removed. Chip

The Matrosen regiments were formed from the Seewehr, the navy equivalent of the Landwehr. They wore navy uniforms in the field until the Bluse was adopted in September of 1915. From that time forward they began to refit with the new uniform. The tunics were identical to the army version with the exceptions that no shoulder straps were worn by enlisted men and the army style collar rank disks had the crown and anchor motif rather than any state Wappen. Navy rates were worn on the left upper sleeve. To my knowledge, the infantry part of the naval divisions, consisting of the Matrosen Regiments and See Battaillone, stayed in the same sectors for the majority of the war. I believe some units were temporarilly detached for emergencies or to take the place of troops required for offensives. Photos of sailors in Blusen are not common, but not rare either. Chip

L 20/17

Guys, My information says that N.G.B. 218 (Bayr.) was established by AOK 1 and was disbanded on July 12, 1917. I have examples of both the Nahkampf=Gesch?tz and Infanterie Gesch?tz shoulder straps in my collection. As was the custom when one was transferred or reassigned to a similar unit that wore the same branch shoulder strap, the letters N.G. and the number 241. have been pulled out of the N.G.B. example. According to the German achives, the N.G.B. originally used Feldkanonen 96 n.A.. At first, the I.G.B. were outfitted with 37mm guns or captured Russian 7,62 cm guns. Later, they were supplied with cut-down 7,7 cm guns. The batteries which were reinstitued in May/June of 1918 were outfitted with Austrian 7,5 cm Skoda mountain guns. I have some history of the bayr. Infanterie Gesch?tz Batterie Nr.2 from the unit history of the Sturmbataillon 1, to which it was attached. Here are the two guns that are mentioned and pictured in the history. Their original Russian gun and their "new" Infanterie=Gesch?tz L20/17 with caisson, which replaced the Russian guns in the summer of 1917. Here below is the Russian gun and in the next post the L20/17. Chip

1.Oberrheinisches Infanterie Regiment Nr.97. Garrisoned at Saarburg, XXI Army Corps. Founded in 1881. Could have been a gift, or purchased from a shop. There are lots of senarios. This one is in average condition (owner's name damaged). I don't keep up with current prices, but a guess would be the vicinity of $300. Chip

Schade. Chip

Not trying to be a nit-picker, but just for informational purposes, the button on shown on the shoulder strap is a hip pocket button. Technically, the button should be a painted M15 version, but you do occasionally find M15 shoulder straps being worn on the M10/15 simplified uniforms. However, these uniforms would have had left over brass or painted steel company numbered buttons, not crown buttons. Of course, anything is possible in wartime, but this would not have been regulation wear. Chip