The Prussian

Hi Chris! I don?t think, they were the "cream" of the german army. Some people might think so, because in the past years, the name "Sturmtruppen" had become a legendary name, like the french foreign legion... Have they been trained better? I don?t know. Fact is, they had a better equipment than a regular infantry unit. They didn?t use rifles, they used carabines. The first Sturmtruppen were pioneers. Major Calsow from the Pi.Btl.15 first formed a experimental troup, depending of 2 pioneer companies with shields and 1 detachment with 20 guns (3,7cm). They first operated at the front of Loretto. They failed. The rest of those units came to the Armee-Abteilung Gaede. Now came the well-known Hauptman Rohr (Garde-Sch?tzen-Bataillon). He didn?t use the shields. Rohr trained them in well-done comunication of machine-guns and artillery. As "Sturmbataillon der Armee-Abteilung Gaede", they re-concered the "Hartmannsweiller Kopf" brilliant (dec., 22./23. 1915). Early in 1916 the Sturmbataillon Rohr came to the 5th army. In 1916 the following Sturmbataillone were founded: The J?ger-Batallion 3 became the Sturmbataillon 3 (july, 8th. 1916) The Sturmbataillon Rohr became the number 5 (still a Pioneer unit!!!). The name Sturmbataillon Rohr became official in 1917 (feb.2nd) and 8 Sturmbataillone, belonging to the Infantry. Those bataillons came into action in december 1916. They were shared to the differnt armies. They consist of 2-3 "storm-companies", 1 MG-company and 1 mine-sweeper company and a flame-thrower troup. Early 1918 existed the Sturmbataillone 1-12 and 14-17. N? 13 and 18 were only companies. The 13 became in march part of the 12th bataillon and the N?18 became the new bataillon 18 in august 1918. Disbanded were the Btl.9 (may 1918) ; Btl.17 (august 1918) and Btl.12 (october 1918) Each bataillon of the btls. 1,2,4,6,7,8 and 16 had missed 1-2 companies in 1918. They also had a special uniform. The 3rd batallion wore the J?ger uniforms, the 5th batallion wore pionier uniforms. The rest wore infantry uniforms. The mine-sweepers of all bataillons wore pionier uniforms with the shoulder straps "M.W." The artillery detachment of the 5th btl. wore the artillery-uniform with a grenade upon the shoulder straps.The flame-throwers of the 5th btl. wore the uniform of the "Garde-Reserve-Pionier-Regiements" with laces at the collar and a skullhead upon the lower-arm (left). To come to an end, here again the Sturmbataillone and the date of set-up) 1916: N? 1 ; N?2 ; N?3 (J?ger) ; N?4 ; N?5 (Rohr) ; N?6 (bavarian) ; N?7 ; N?8 ; N?9 ; N?10 ; N?11 ; N?12 ; N?15 (bavarian) ; N?16 1917: N?14 ; N?17 1918: N?18 ; If we have one bataillon for one army, I don?t think they were the cream og the german army. What could they do in any strategic questions? Nothing. They were brilliant in tactical solutions on regimental, maybe on divisional level. Nevertheless I think, the were the forefathers of modern small, tactical units, who are used more and more in our times.

Hello Gentlemen! Does anyone have an idea to ID this men from the X.AK? Probably it shows the General staff from 1905 The Photo is dated: 15.6.-29.6.1905 Thanx a lot in advance

Well, I haven?t beemn in school 1943 (born 67), but I think, I?m as weird as you, mate... The proper S?tterlin ain?t no problem, the problems start, if they wrote it fast. In Germany we say, "he writes like a doctor writing your prescriptions" That means, no one else could read it, but himself...

Hi 0009! Thank you for your answer. That?s a blame to me (german), not able to read this... Now I?ll have to look, which units were there

The shoulder strap

The flyer to the regimental music

Here is the inner side

Here my little collection o fht eInf.Rgt.95 A cap with regimental stamp ; a "flyer" for the regimental music and a shoulder strap

Hi Sef1962! To precise, the 242nd were a reserve-infantry-regiment, like all the other regiments in the 200 series The R.I.R.242 was formed in oct. 1914 in Zittau (I.Btl. - formed from the Ers.Btl./saxon Inf.Rgt.102), Bautzen (II.Btl. - formedf from Ers.Btl./saxon Inf.Rgt.103) and Kamenz (III.Btl. - formed from Ers.Btl./saxon Inf.Rgt.178). It belonged to the 53.Res.Div. and it was composed of 75% volunteers.

That?s right. L.I.R.78, set up in Braunschweig (Staff; III.) and Celle (I. + II.) It belonged to the 38.mixed Landwehr-Brigade

Hi Rick! Tghank you very much for your help! Me, german born, I have problem with that "S?tterlin" script. If it?s written clearly, it ain?t no problem, but sometimes... no chance... Thanx a lot again!!!

the backside

Hello gentlemen! I?ve got this nice photocard. Does anyone knows, who they are and what the text on the backside says? Thanx a lot in advance!

Hi! I think the 1st picture shows a sign from the RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst)

No idea for the young Ulan??? (Picture #137)

I?m not quite sure, but maybe you can find those informations in the "Milit?r-Wochenblatt". The official affaires, like manoeuvres became official since 1867 in the "Armee-Verordnungsbl?tter". So I think, before 1867, you?ll find them in the "Milit?r-Wochenblatt"

I?d like to introduce two well-known people of the german history... The photo says: "Der (am Hals erkrankte) Adolf und Josef auf der Wilhelmstra?e in Wiesbaden (1934?) The (taken ill at the throat) Adolf and Josef on the Wilhelm-street in Wiesbaden (1934?)

Hello Robert! Thanx for solvin the problem... I thought I?ll get a headache, thinking about the Freikorps in 1916... I?ll remember the emoticon, so if you come the Ruhrpott or I will come to Bavaria, you can pay the first drink... :rolleyes:

?Hello gentlemen! I?ve got a nice photo of an Ulan-photo, taken in the Reichswehr-time.The Ulan in front is wearing the Hohenzollern House-order. It?s the Reiter-Regiment Nr.11. This regiment was the tradition-unit of the Ulan-regiment 15. Note the tradition-badge upon the upper arm of the soldier in the Reichswehr-uniform! Can anyone identify the owner of the order?

Hi Daniel! Thanx for the informations! That?s the explanation, I?ve been looking for! So we can say, the photo was taken between 1919 and 1939. Rick said, if you come to the holy "Ruhrpott", you can have his drink. Don?t forget... :beer:

Hi Rick! Can you please tell me your source, where is noticed, that he was Generalmajor? In the "Ehrenrangliste" he was Oberst a.D. and I couldn?t find him in the 1st Reichswehr Rangliste from 1920. The Photos are post-war, and at that time he didin?t wear a General?s uniform. I?ve read it in Wikipedia (the Pour-le-M?rite owners - 18.7.1918 for Gruson), but I think it?s wrong. I?ve read another article about a civil company, where he was the last chef. In that article stood, that he closed the company down in june 1945 as Oberst a.D. Gruson. http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:Y-Jn4...=clnk&gl=de

Wonderful! Many thanx a lot!!!!! That must be the one!! If you guys will ever come to Germany, you?re invited for a lot of drinks! A few more infos: In 1914 he was captain as the company-chief of the 12./Inf.Rgt.165, later he commended the Inf.Rgt.72 and just after the war he joined the "Heeres-Friedenskommission" (Army-commission of peace)

Hello Rick! I was afraid of that answer... but the picture is originaly only 5x6cm, so it was clear, that it?d be impossible to recognize that man. Thank you for your answer, Cheers, Andy

Hello gentlemen and happy Easter! I?ve got this photo of a high decorated german officer. It must be a late photo, because in the background I can see some Reichswehr or Wehrmacht uniforms. Unfortunately I?m not a specialist for orders. Can anyone identify this man, please?

Sorry, I can?t get it better. I only can get a maximum of 12kb...