MajorBloodnok

Hello David, I just wanted to highlight that dates of promotion are provided. I have been trying to find the website that provides all the "Schematismus" ..., "Milit?rschematismus", but just cannot locate it. Perhaps you can ask Mark C. He mentioned it. So long! Mike I

Hi David, I have just acquired the "Schematismus" for 1905. As in most armies seniority of officers of the same rank is determined by the date of promotion. So the "Rangliste" in the "Schematismus" does give the dates of promotion! Kind regards, Mike

Hi Charles, I'm a k.u.k. enthusiast myself and have just spent a fortune on a couple of must-have books on the Austro-Hungarian Army. I suggest you try to get hold of: Lucas, James: The Fighting Troops of the Austro-Hungarian Army 1868 - 1914. It's available on AbeBooks.com for 88.52 $. Kind regards, Mike

Hello Sushil, thanks for your kind season's greetings and for recommending that great new publication which will be welcome by all Indian & Pakistani Army buffs. Kind regards, Mike

Hi Paul, I have been reading a lot and watched a lot of German tv, but I have never heard of anyone belonging in that category. Of course, this ain't proof they do not exist. Regards, Mike

Sorry! Correction: http:/de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilsa_(Adelsgeschlecht)

Hi, actually the "von und zu GILSA" are a famous noble family, rooted in the state of Hesse! Since the 17th century they have served as officers, often rising to the rank of general. http://www.org/wiki/Gilsa_(Adelsgeschlecht) http://www.gilsa-online.de/_sgg/m1m6_1.htm

Hi, thanks for enlightening me. Campaign Medals are not my forte I must admit. I was aware that the senior French Para regiments had been raised that early, but I was only aware of the Foreign Legion's stand at Bir-Hakeim. Toujours en pointe! Have a nice weekend! Mike [WOULD-BE Legionnaire]

Hi Bobkohima, as your nickname suggests you simply had to remind all of us of the 4th Royal West Kents and their heroic defence of Kohima. A certain tennis court played a role I believe. Have a nice weekend, Mike

Hi, I have only been able to trace a Mrs. Paukstat. http://bando.dijtokyo.org/?page=person_detail.php_id=335 Dr. just = Doktor (med.); Toni for Antonius! Actually still quite a few MDs named Paukstat around in Germany! Regards, Mike

Sorry! Devonshire and Dorset Regiment!

Hi Barney, I believe it was Kaiser Bill himself who is credited with this quotation. Ludendorf did not yet hold a prominent General Staff position at the start of World War 1 sufficient to be deemed worth citing. Regards, Mike #

Cheer up! To complete the confusion - we have quite forgotten about the Luftwaffe ground troops! "Fallschirm"-Panzergrenadier-Divisions 1 & 2 "Hermann G?ring" each had a "Fallschirm"-Panzer-F?silier-Batallion (1 & 2). Nil desperandum!

Hi, Airborne units in North Africa in World War 2? More likely during the Algerian uprising in the 50s. Well, what about the Troupes Coloniales? Regards, Mike

Hi Leigh, yes, the first company or squadron was equipped with bicycles. Regards, Mike

Hello, try this link. Potted divisional history PLUS sub-units. http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliede...ionen/4GebD.htm Hope it's helpful. Regards, Mike

Hi BJOW & Ed, Ed, I'm sorry but I have to disagree. I checked the relevant literature and this is the result: 1. F?silier-Regimenter (Fusilier Regiments) By OKH decree of 15th October 1942 all infantry regiments were re-styled "Grenadier-Regimenter". Those infantry regiments carrying on the traditions of Fusilier or Rifle Regiments of the old Imperial Army could apply to be named "F?silier-Regiment" or "Sch?tzen-Regiment". This resulted in the emergence of the following "F?silier-Regimenter": 22, 26, 27, 34, 68, 202, 230, 334 The named regiments "Feldherrnhalle" and "Gro?deutschland" received the honorary title of Fusiliers resulting in: F?silier-Regiment Feldherrnhalle; F?silier-Regiment-Gro?deutschland; Korps-F?silier-Regiment Gro?deutschland They retained infantry white as their Waffenfarbe plus their old regimental number. So their uniforms should not have changed at all. I checked "Davis" and could not find a distinguishing "F" for Fusiliers. There was no special sleeve cuff for Fusiliers. (Could not find one in "Davis" anyway.) 2. "Divisions-F?silier-Bataillone" (Divisional Fusilier Batallions) Now things are getting confusing! A restructuring of infantry divisions (n.A. 44 / new style 44) on the Eastern Front resulted in one "extra" divisional batallion. These "Divisions-Bataillone" were named "F?silier-Bataillone". The "Aufk?rungsabteilung der Division" (divisional reconnaissance unit) was either merged with this F?silier-Bataillon or when it did not exist upgraded to a F?silier-Bataillon. (26.07.1943) By decree of 1/9/43 these Divisions-F?silier-Bataillone were to be assigned the number of their respective division. Now it's time to get confused and baffled. We all know what Fusiliers are, don't we? By a decree of 23/2/44 the following 57 Divisions-F?silier-Bataillone were to by styled "Divisions- F?silier-Bataillon (A.A.) (= old style): 1, 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, 21 23, 24, 26, 30-32, 34.36, 45, 46 57, 58 62 65, 68, 69, 75, 94, 110-112, 121, 125, 134 168 170 171, 208, 227 254, 256, 257, 263, 269, 271, 299, 305, 329, 331, 333-335, 349, 352, 353, 356, 362, . 378. These Divisional "Fusilier" Batallions were assigned the tradition of former cavalry regiments! [A Divisional Fusilier Batallion was organised like a normal Grenadier batallion: 4 companies, including a heavy company.] This meant that these A.A. Divisional Fusilier Batallions were assigned the Kavallerie-Waffenfarbe Yellow! Consequently their sub-units were called "Schwadron" (squadron) and NOT Kompanie! Captains would be "Rittmeister" rather than Hauptmann and Feldwebel were called "Wachtmeister". To confuse us even more: The remaing Divsions-F?silier-Bataillone bore infantry white. But in addition 38 companies of these "infantry fusiliers" were also re-styled "Schwadrone" tasked with perpetuating the tradition of former imperial cavalry regiments! So "Divisions-F?silier-Bataillone" bore the number of their respective division. Their Waffenfarbe could be either white or yellow. The shoulder straps of the "infantry fusiliers" should have borne a distinctive letter to distinguish them from infantry regiments bearing the same number, perhaps "D" for divisional troops or their old "A" for Aufkl?rungsabteilung? The first company was equipped with bicycles. Questions remain. Kind regards, Mike

Hi guys, I have been trying to get hold of a book in English, German or French containing potted regimental histories of the Imperial Russian Army, in particular the dates when individual regiments were raised. Can anybody help? Spaciba! Mike

Hello BJOW, I fear you'll have to click on every single regiment or battalion in the list to find out. For example F?silier-Regiment 39 was re-formed after being annihilated in Russia and subsequently fought on the Western Front. Certain Infanterie-Regiments were re-named to establish a link with F?silier-Regiments of the old "Imperial Army" with the purpose of carrying on their regimental tradition. Also divisional reconnaissance units were re-organised as "Divisions-F?silier-Bataillone". Hope to be wiser tomorrow. Regards, Mike

Hi guys, a few more: 28th (North Gloucestershire) at Alexandria (1801) 3rd (Buffs) & 57th (Middlesex) at Albuhera (1811) 42nd (Black Watch) at Quatre Bras (1815) GUIDES at Delhi (1857) & Kabul (1879) 32nd (Cornwall Light Infantry) at Lucknow (1857) 24th (South Wales Borderers) at Isandlhwana [& Rorke's Drift] (1879)

Hi, as far as I know the "F?silier" title was a purely traditional honorary designation. See http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliede.../Infanterie.htm See Paragraph VII. Sonstige Infanterie-Verb?nde Maybe more details tomorrow. Have to check my private library first. Regards, Mike

Useful k.u.k. Links see "WEBSITES": Useful Links!

Hi guys, Everyone knows that the British let the Americans win the War of Independence, because the Americans had treatened to start crying if they didn't! [source: BBC's Little Britain USA] How are things in the colonies? Mike

Hi guys, welcome to the club. I was lucky to acquire an officer's shin-gunto in good condition at a reasonable price - 625 ?. That will have to remain my only acquisition as I already spend too much money on books! So long! Mike

Hello Harry, thanks a lot for your info! Any idea why the website was discontinued? Kind regards, Mike