Chip

I was reading "Education before Verdun" today and there was mentioned a Christmas 1915 gift to the men before Verdun from the Crown Prince. The author says it was a black lacquered cigarette case with a picture of the Crown Prince and a dedication on the back to the soldiers of the V Armee. Has anyone seen one of these? I am familiar with the other smoking gift from the prince to the V Armee, which consisted of a leather tobacco pouch with gold embossed cypher of the prince, and porcelain pipe with a picture of the prince and a similar dedication, but don't recall having seen the cigarette case. Chip

Pete, I was clearing out my inbox on the forum and ran across one of your messages. Before I clear it off, I just wondered what ever happened to you and the 27.J?ger shoulder strap? It was all quite a mystery to me as you never replied to any of my messages. It appears that you have dropped off of the forum too, as there have been no posts from you since last summer (2006). Anyway, I hope that I helped you in some small way. Good luck. Chip

Or maybe it was his hometown. Chip

Chris, On my corps map, there are no units stationed at Trostberg. Perhaps the map only represents line units and Trostberg could relate to some reserve type unit. I have no info on where non-line units would be located. Chip

Chris, Not the 1.Inf.Rgt.K?nig.... it was a cyphered regiment. It could be the reserve regiment (I assume one existed) or the 1.Pionier Bn., or 1.J?ger Bn., or 1.Train Bn., etc. Pretty hard to narrow down with no cuffs to look at. Chip

I trust these are good enough.

Kevin, How do you say "crap" in Romanian? Chip

Vodorosi, Interesting opinion. I have had this piece since 1984. Not many fakes being made back then (there was almost no market here in the U.S). Chip

Marcin, I was not sure about that "K" and did not want to guess, but I think your guess is a good one. Chip

Marcin, Ersatz Bataillon Fussartillerie (Rgt.) 11. (Training Unit) 3.Batterie K. (matricule) Nr.1723 Fussartillerie Kraftfahr Park Nr.7 (Field Unit) (matricule) Nr.43 Chip

Laurence, You are correct, you have two wartime enlisted artillery shoulder straps. The gray unpiped version is the pattern normally worn on the "vereinfachte" or simplified M1910 tunic. This pattern was also worn on the early war, light gray overcoat beginning in early 1915. The 201.FAR was part of the 101.Division and spent nearly the entire war on the eastern front. At the end of 1917 the division was broken up and I am not sure where the 201.FAR was sent. The 16.FAR was from upper Silesia and part of the I.Prussian army corps., 1.Division. It fought on both fronts, including a period at Verdun in the summer of 1916. Chip

Chris, I have never seen a German compass that I would consider an issued piece. There were some privately made compasses that used military-associated names, i.e., "Armee Model", etc. It is somewhat surprising there wasn't an issue compass considering how widely they were used. Perhaps the Germans felt that they were "officer" items and therefore had to be purchased along with the rest of the officer's kit. Chip

Dave, Dear Lord, that is a fantastic enlisted cap. I've not been able to find one in 40 plus years of collecting. Maybe I will end up having to dye my white top cap? Chip

Glenn, Thanks for the excellent information on Norman. Since Hugo's Erkennungsmarke came with his, am I to assume that Hugo is likely his father? If so, why is Hugo a Freiherr and Norman not? Could I ask if you have any additional information on Norman during the war? Your research ended with 1914 and I wondered if there was any wartime info. Thanks again, Chip

Dave, Wow! An impressive amount of information on a prolific military family. I'm afraid my poor Norman was not a Freiherr, as none of the four Erkennungsmarke that I have for him mention that. They do list the following unit associations, "Hauptmann u. Adjutant d. 11.Feldart.-Brig." (on a red/white Hessian cord) "Hptm. in Genstb. 109.Inftr.Div." (which is crossed out) and on the other side, just "Hauptmann i. Generalstabe" "Hauptmann und II.Generalstabsoffizier der 103.Inf.Division" and on the reverse, "Uniform des Feld Art.Reg.6." Included in this lot was an old pattern Erkennungsmarke with "Hugo Freiherr von Buttlar" Thanks for your effort and the information. Chip

Guys, I'm pretty sure that v. Gebsattel is wearing the Bavarian M16 Kleine Rock. You can see the darker collar patches with button. The Litewka were light gray as opposed to the Kleiner Rock, which was Feldgrau. The thin collar braid looks like the Bavarian Hoheitsborte to me. Mike's picture looks like it was taken pre-1897, while the other photo can be no earlier than 1916 and no later than 1918. Chip

Chris, Rick is right. Norman was not a general. All his Erkennungsmarke say Hauptmann. Chip

Chris, Is there a photographer's name or address on the cardstock? Chip

Chris, Any mention of Norman Treusch von Buttlar-Brandenfels? He was a staff officer with several divisions during the war. Don't think he held any bravery medals, though I could be wrong. Lots of other famous officers with the same last name. Thanks, Chip

Rick, Yes, they must have had a wealthy commander. It would be interesting to know what was originally used to suspend the medal. Chip

Rick, Thanks for the info. That explains my reference not mentioning the unit in late 1917. If this was indeed a Christmas gift to the troops, then it was given just a few weeks before the regiment was dissolved. Chip

I just acquired this medal and was wondering if anyone has seen another or heard of it. Curiously, my Oct.1917 reference lists only four pioneer regiments, none of which are "Bavarian". I am assuming that this regiment was broken up into battalions for service as divisional pioneers. The medal is 37mm in diameter and is heavy bronze. The sculpting is beautiful. Chip

Chris, Thanks for the tip. Per your suggestion, I bought a 1936 first English edition for $8.00. Looking forward to the read. Chip

Robin, Are you saying it was common for unit emblems to be painted on helmets during WWI? Here's a style of skull that I had not seen before. This cap came out of the woodwork in Kansas. It is marked inside "St.B.XIV" and "B.A.XIII 1916" I've wondered if it is a wartime storm battalion thing or just a postwar Freikorps insignia. Either way the cap was barely worn. Have you seen this style? Chip

Chris, Those don't look like living room displays to me! Chip