IrishGunner

Amazing stuff. I'm really enjoying searching out the unusual WWI post cards; it's quite interesting to see what someone thought worthy to photograph rather than some stock photos.

Unfortunately, in another 110 years our ancestors will not have this pleasure - email, e-cards, instant messages, twitter etc have all but replaced post cards. Can you imagine combing through someone's Facebook page in 110 years to glean what life might have been like? I suspect it won't be the same as spending a couple hours trying to decipher a soldier's hand-written note to his wife or parents; sitting in front of the fire with a glass of whiskey at hand.

But then again, those soldiers from WWI might laugh at me spending all this time with their scribbles. :rolleyes:

Thanks for the additions, Hardy; so, it seems these ausweis could have looked like almost anything the unit wanted.

Here is the officer's signature close-up:

Here is a photo of an ausweis (ID card) for an Uffz. Emil Jacobsen, with the 2. Ersatz Abteilung, FAR 9, at the Itzehoe Garrison. Has anyone ever seen something like this before? If someone has the regimental history, any chance there is mention of Jacobsen?

I'm also looking to decipher the Oberleutnant and Adjutant's signature; and of course, any info on the officer would be great.

BTW: the ausweis folds in half like a booklet; the outside is blank.

Anyone have a photo (even from a book) of a German Matrosen Artillerie gun - 10cm Küsten kanone L/50?

Maybe Russia is moving back in more ways than one...

June 1916 - January 1917; 251 Divs has the 21. Res. Div at Verdun - leaving the Verdun front "very much exhausted" on 11 Jan 1917.

Quick Google says 21st Reserve Division. I'm checking 251 Divs now.

Update; 251 Divs has the 221 MWF starting in 1916

Hello I.G.,

The older guy is wearing the cross on his cap, because he was probably in the reserve before the war, the other crew members are most likely wartime recruits and therefore did not get these. At least that would be my explanation.

I think the first word is "Ostzug" and "5/Res.3" is the 5th battery of the regiment. The regiment was raised in August of 1914.

Chip

Enough corroboration for me - thanks Chip! Now to see if Reserve Fuss-Artillerie Regt. 3 was on the Eastern Front in April 1915.

Another and the caption

Close-ups

Ok, what I do know: Fuss-Artillerie with a 15cm sFH 1902, #3 on the shoulder straps, "Res 3" and "Apr 15" in the caption.

So, I believe these guys to be Reserve Fuss-Artillerie Regiment 3, wearing the 1907/10 feldgrau tunics (obviously posing for the picture).

I haven't gone further into the confusing - albeit interesting - world of Fuss-Artillerie history until I get some corroboration. Also, would be nice to get some help deciphering the rest of the caption. Nothing written on the back to help.

Curiously, the man sitting in the lower right has a Landwehr cross on his lower cockade to his feldmutze. I couldn't get a good scan/blow-up, but you can see it clearly with a 3x6 magnifying lens. None of the others seem to have the cross. The #3 can be seen on almost all the straps. Scans below.

Eerily looks like a Polish officer I know... :unsure:

Those are some confident looking warriors. Are those a couple liter steins in the middle? Well deserved beers, I'm sure.

Chip, you are correct; the artillery had its own observers and commo - that's why I expected to see an artillery shoulder strap. Surely this is a posed photo; it doesn't look like he could "observe" much from this position. So, I wasn't really expecting a great story. C'est la guerre; c'est la vie. It still is a good card because it's caused me to "study" some more. And that's what it's all about for me at this point.

Thanks, Chip. I thought you might have some insight to the shoulder strap. I knew this was probably a post-war series - a lot of those type cards floating around.

Hmm, Telegraphentruppen, huh? So, despite the caption, possibly nothing to do with artillery at all. Guess now I have to read about the Telegraphentruppen.

Closer view of the shoulder strap:

I need a little help understanding this photo post card I received today. I bought it because of it's caption: "Artillerie-Beobachtungsposten mit der Batterie in telefonischer Verbindung" = "Artillery Observation Post connected to the Battery by telephone"

I thought it an interesting shot of how an observer might communicate with his battery. Upon receipt, I was able to recognize that the objects on top of the dug-out are two shakos. Of course, this made me go "huh?" Then I could see closer the shoulder strap and it looks nothing like the expected artillery strap.

So, what do you all make of this...especially does anyone recognize the shoulder strap? Is this artillery observer supporting Jagers or Schutzen because of the shakos? Anyone able to give me the nomenclature for the telephone?

BTW: the back is blank except that it was printed in Berlin.

Hi,

Personally, I ALWAYS have a problem with bars that have shiny new ribbons.

Regards,

Sam

Even for single medals I like the tatty old ribbons. Maybe it's a false sense of security, but makes me think they truly were held by the recipient at one time.

I agree with Hardy; the order immediately put me off this one. And that 1898 Jubilee.

Hello IrishGunner!

Well, at least I was partially right, no brigade or battalion patch! I have a bunch of patches myself that I have vague to no ideas at all what they may represent, however my Bundeswehr patches are mostly embroidered with unit designations down to companies, or from larger units known to Wikipedia! Maybe we should start a thread together?

/Jonas

My contribution would be very short - just that one patch! And a couple pocket badges - one for the Fuehringsakademie and one for the General Staff. That's about it for my Bundeswehr insignia.

Now I do have a Slovenia patch I'm pondering what it might be... :speechless:

I stand corrected!

Sorry, it shows how out of touch I'm.

" You're out of touch...." (remember, Hall and Oates)

Nah... just shows that we can't know everything. If it weren't for the velcro, I would've thought more along the fantasy lines too.

Okay, here is a photo of a BW soldier wearing the patch! And now I'm pretty sure which officer gave me this patch!

Well, if wikipedia is to be believed; I've found it!

Verteidigungsbezirkskommandos 65 - vicinity of Munich. Part of the territorial forces.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wehrbereichskommando

Gordon; reverse of the patch. It's a velcro attachment and includes the piece to sew on one's sleeve. The left side id the patch itself and the right is the part for the sleeve. It's this velcro attachment that leads me to believe this is an official uniform patch (vice a fantasy piece). I am almost certain I received this from one of two Bundeswehr officers I've known - both from Bavaria; but can't remember exactly when, where or why.