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

Chip

Somers vol 3 pg 887.

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.

I was looking for this post...

I just read something really interesting in a book written by a german soldier fighting in the Argonne. He said they made Wicklegamaschen by shortening their greatcoats, leaving them with a Tunic/Greatcoat Hybrid.

It made me think of this old thread....

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

Eric,

I've seen these before, but did not know their purpose. The rod system you mentioned was for the attaching the shoulder braces to the pack, very similar to the Austrian pack system. What reference are you referring to? I looked in Pietsch and he only shows the back of the 1887 pack and mentions nothing about this pouch. I'm familiar with the 1912 Radfahrer Gepäcktasche (I have one) that looks very similar to this one from the front, but utilizes a should brace system similar to the M95 backpack with each strap attached to the pack with a type of metal toggle device.

Chip

I like the creamy center filling.

That is a fantastic carrying frame!!!! Have never seen anything like it!

....and that wood feels great just digging into your shoulders...

Exactly!

Just like the 'Black Skull' !!

Exactly...."Who knows...."

So I understand the important difference between both "L" is the crown now, correct?

Marcin,

That's an important difference, but only part of it. Every "L" was different. There are a few that are extremely similar (for instance the Luftschiffer and the Kürassier Rgt. Nr.2 "L"s), but there are slight differences. The following units also have an "L" cypher, I.R.47, 10.b.I.R., Dragoner Rgt.Nr.23. I have even seen a dealer trying to sell a "Luftschiffer" officer's shoulder board with a "T" from the Telegraphentruppen turned upside-down, which sort of looks like an "L".. The last straw is that the majority of officer cyphers have been reproduced and are readily available on some German dealers of reproduction items websites. You can literally get just about anything you want. They are not cheap, but you can get them. That's why it is always prudent to be skeptical of any officer piece until you check it out thoroughly.

Chip

Back to Marcin's question about Luftschiffer "L"s. I thought I would add an example for his future reference. In this case it is a Saxon Luftschiffer officer.

Chip

Chris,

They appear worn, but have no numbers....Garde Pioniere?

Chip

Thanks for your thoughts. Most appreciated.

Chip

This is noting exotic, but I thought someone could help identify what medals these ribbons might be for. I'm not a medals guy and only know the basics. Would this more likely be an officer's or an NCOs bar? Thanks in advance.

Chip