Chip

...and "Hoffungsbalken" on his shoulder straps. Chip

I think these caps were normally called "Schneeschuhm?tzen". They were worn by the W?rttemberg mountain troops, but also by members of the other Schneeschuh battalions and mountain artillery troops. Chip

Ulster, Bob's father was in the Garde Reserve Pionier Regiment, I believe. This was the unit that provided specially trained troops for offensive actions, training purposes, etc. The Flammenwerfer sections were parceled out as needed and other troops lent their expertise to regular infantry units and often went into action with them. Chip

Mark, Thanks for adding that one! I don't recall seeing a pioneer example before and with a ribbon color combination normally seen with artillery unit bars. Regards, Chip

I find it interesting that he actually cut a slit in his tunic in order to thread the ribbon through. Normally, when you see a ribbon worn on a Bluse style tunic they are just sewn-on at an angle to look like a ribbon looks when worn on a Waffenrock with buttons. Chip

Thanks for the replies. So are these faked? If so, what is your evaluation of this piece? Good? Chip

Hello all, Can anyone tell me which veteran's medal this style of bar is for? The background looks pebbled, but it is actually a sort of crosshatching. I don't think it is for a Kyffh?user medal, but I know there were several others that had "campaign" bars. Any advice would be appreciated. Best regards, Chip

Well, Charles, it looks a lot better now doesn't it? Chip

Can you imagine, even in these early war days, how difficult it would be, not only to gather the names, but to find pictures?!! Chip

Theodor, Do these men represent both I and II class Iron Crosses or just first class? Chip

Yes, I don't understand J?rgen Kraus. He keeps producing new books, but I think it would be a lot cheaper to reissue a book that basically sold out in two years. There is a lot of pent up desire for this book (and why not, it's great) and I am sure he could sell a lot more. Time will tell. In the meantime, if you have any questions, just ask, I have a copy. Chip

I think more a novelty rather than a necessity.

I am also interested by the "rank" of Gendarm Stellvertreter. Was this an official Gerndarmerie rank or just a temporary assignment, similar to being made a temporary deputy? Nice document, by the way. Chip

jj08, Landsturmpflichtige ?rzte other than Bavarian wore no shoulder insignia. The collar insignia indicated the medical specialty (?skulapstab). The rank, as you say, was denoted by (pips/Sterne). See attached photo. Chip

Thanks Stephan. Here is the M15 version from the regiment. Chip

Stephan, I would say in English it would be German silver or nickel silver. In Germany it is referred to as Neusilber or Alpaka. Maillechort, I believe, is an alloy in this family, but it has zink in it. Chip

Hardy, Even with the extra set of boards in the set, the officer is still Prussian. The other pairs do offer some clues as to what is going on here. If the Garde boards belonged to the same person, my guess is that he was transferred to the higher numbered unit after it was formed and kept his earlier boards. I have a similar board from the 426.IR. It is a M15 with the new unit number superimposed over the regimental cypher of a grenadier regiment. Somewhere, I have the AKO that authorized this. jj08, Nice examples. The Bavarian Landsturm medical doctor is a particularly difficult one to find. Here's my example. Chip

Dante, That is an incredible number of pouches. It looks like they have been multiplying or cloning themselves! Congratulations on putting together such a nice grouping. Of course, the Hussar tags are great. I think I have only one example from the Hussars. Chip

Stephan, That is a very nice set. While on the subject, you might like to see the very plain M07 shoulder strap from the same regiment. Chip

and the Leibgarde I.R. 115

Nice example Stephan. Here are my three Kammerst?cke. Chip

Hardy, The I.R. Nr.457 was Westphalian, not Saxon, and thus the Prussian colored darts on the board. The problem with this strap is that it is a model 1915 with red piping, which would indicate field artillery. I suppose this officer could have come from an artillery unit, though that seems an unlikely branch change. Could you show the back of this board? Regards, Chip

Rick, I am fairly certain that the first cockade in the third row is a Bavarian officer's M16. The color of the middle is a blue/black. I don't think the Prussians ever used this pattern of cockade. Chip

Charles, In 1897 along with the introduction of the Reichskokarde came a reduction in the number of state cockades with only a few distinctive smaller "state" examples left unchanged. The reduction came mainly by units changing to the Prussian cockade. To my knowledge, those cockades continued unchanged until the end of the war, with the exception of the Bavarian cockades, which had a change in their configuration (not color) in 1916. So besides the larger state cockades that everyone knows, there existed a number of exceptions as traditions cockades. The list is a bit long to type here, but if you like I can scan the pages in "Das Deutsche Heer" for you. Regarding the shoulder boards, I assume you are refering to officer boards when you say that the earlier patterns were larger. The standard form and size of Leutnant and Hauptleute boards that we are used to seeing were introduced in 1888. Up until this time, the narrow M1866 pattern with its pointed end was worn for these ranks. I am not sure at what point the size of the boards (for the ranks of major and above) were reduced. It may well have been in 1907 or 1910 with the introduction of the new field uniforms. Chip

The subject of regimental medals is a vast one in itself and deserves a separate thread, should there be enough interest. I think many of these subjects have been covered in the past, but those old threads may well be on the WA forum from the days before this one became so popular and many of the most knowledgeable members moved here. Chip