Chris Liontas

Here's is quick shot of the opened box. I figured I would take photos as I went, as we all, I am sure, love the expectation of opening a new box. I feel like a kid on Christmas when something comes. The first photo I just got it opened, I always get nervous when I open the box. I've never damaged what is inside, but I've come close in my haste to get inside. Second photo is the inside after I removed all the French newspapers, the tunic is visible.

Just got home and got everything settled, kid to sleep and a well worn copy of Snoopy and the Red Barron read. Downstairs I found this waiting for me. After a little concern, the box looked to be in good shape. Was really excited, Laurent Mirouze told me about these groups several months ago. Thankfully he held them for me so I was able to organize and grab them. One group is going to a friend who collects American Volunteer stuff (hint to what is coming) and one piece was for me. A huge thank you to Laurent and Jean-Laurent for all their help and explanations since my French is terrible.

No, unfortunately no Oooh la la....I tired ordering that once from Paris, and when it arrived, my wife locked herself in the bathroom....

I'm pulling a Boonzaier here!! I just got a call from the wife (who I am surprised is speaking to me) and my box from France arrived!!! Totally cant wait to get home. More to come!!

Great post Brian!! Really makes you question if a thing was avoidable. I always wonder what kind of information was available to people in the 1905-1914 time frame. We are so used to instant news, either on the television or newspaper (anyone else still read these? ) If anything happens in the world, we all know about it, fairly accurately, the same day. How did the people in 1910 get their news of current events. Were they even able to get news accurately. I am assuming that small hamlets in France, Germany, Britain, and Russia (let alone the Ottoman Empire) had no way of getting news about what was happening in the world, and were therefore were unable to make an informed opinion. That's were the propaganda came in, which bred distrust. I honestly don't think the world could have avoided WWI, unless the leaders would have pulled back (which in 1914 was impossible). There are a lot of parallels with Europe in 1914 and the US Civil War and the first Battle of Bull Run. People were expecting a "splendid little war" and had no idea what was coming. I think the next big question should be, once it started---could it have been stopped? Could true American neutrality or cool heads in London/Berlin have stopped the war? (I leave out Paris as France had foreign armies on its land and would have had no choice to keep fighting after the Marne. )

Wow Chris!! Nice group from a nice RGT. You've got the magic touch. Is he mentioned in Junger's book??

beautiful photos!!! The priest with the white miter is the Patriarch of Moscow isn't it?

The BBC had a report that they are doing a reenactment of the Arch Duke's assassination, but no in Sarajevo for political reasons. I couldn't get a good grasp if it was a political group or historical group doing the reenactment.

A very nice one!!! The inside is a killer!! I am surprised the leather is in such great shape!!!

This post was fantastic!! Great advice, I hope the younger collectors take heed. This post honestly should be mandatory reading for anyone starting "collecting" whether gallantry trios or pez dispensers. " A non practicing vegetarian" made me laugh out loud....sending that to a vegan friend of mine

'Grats Robin!! Interesting propaganda from 1870. It was really hand colored?? I cant believe the condition after over 100 years!!!!

Don't give up hope Chris!!! Ive had several things like this happen, and you can be surprised what happens later. Make sure he has your info, so if something he wants more comes up on auction/sale he can call you. I've had to wait up to three years, yet I still got the items I wanted from a split up group!! Don't give up!!

Nice cross Chris. Too bad about the polish. Still looks good from the photos!!

That helmet is amazing. A real samurai helmet from an early era. I cant imagine there are too many of those still around!!!

Anything new on this?? I had to put off ordering it due to about 900 other books I want Would really like to get this, but I want to know what real IC collectors think about the information. There is so much discussion of ICs over the past 10 years, I really want to know if this is the current information.

I never got a high school ring. I had enough money to buy a ring or a letter jacket, so I opted for the jacket. I got a ring from the Air Force Academy after some convincing from my wife. I never really wore it, except for special occasions. One day I noticed my three year old was wearing it, it looked really cute and I thought "what can she do to it?". Well that is the last time I have seen it It is somewhere in the living room, kitchen, family room, or laundry.

Hey Joe!!! How did I miss you wrote another book??? My head really has been buried in the sand.....or my 4th point.... Going to order this tomorrow!! Thanks for the heads up!! Love Verlag's stuff!

Outstanding Chris!!! Just amazing work!

I'll second that. The references and info on the KC has changed so much since the late '80s. Honestly all that was old is new again...gives me a heck of headache trying to keep everything straight now. Kudos to all those who collect these and keep everything straight. I cant that is for sure.

Love it!!! Thanks for posting!! I had a photo of a chaplain with a non combatant IC 1870 that I wish I had not sold...... These photos are what make the hobby I think!

WOW!!!!......just WOW!!!! Scott Kraska has a small collection of Belleau Wood Marine uniforms, I bet he would love to see this!!! JUST WOW

WOW that is all fantastic!! Thank you for posting!!

Hi Brian!! I worded that last sentence poorly. Was trying to do three things at once. From what I have read, 1915 was slipping into 1812 all over again between the United States and Britain, The British definition of "contraband" to Germany from American manufactures including almost everything by 1916 (including cotton--America's large export). The British Government was telling the United States what it could, and could not export to Germany; and what would be seized if it was shipped. American companies were forced to sign trade partnerships where they would sell nothing to Germany if they exported anything to Britain. Even Wilson was positively irritated by this in 1916, only the Commerce Secretary was able to convince Wilson not to do anything since the allies (the general feeling) were going to win anyway. The US by 1916 was exporting millions of pounds Sterling wroth of good to the Allies while ignoring Germany (I have read up to 40% of all war material for France and Britain plus millions in loans from J.P. Morgan. However I have never seen actual documents, so I am skeptical of the numbers). The efforts of the British Wellington House secured America's financial backing very quickly, while effectively isolating a near inept (comparatively) German foreign department. If America has stayed neutral, and threatened to stop supplying all belligerents, I think it would have effected the tone of the war effort. You cant fight without credit, and if the US had stopped supplying it, the war would have been over. It would have been economically dumb, but it would have had the effect Wilson originally wanted in promoting peace. The United States talked peace, while attempting to buy off and secure the winner. Germany knew this, and knew there was no way to win while we supplied the allies with everything we could sell. ****ok quick change of pace. Would it not have been better for Ludendorff to seize Ukraine in 1918 rather than attacking the Western Front? The Ukraine could have supplied all the grain Germany needed to continue the war and feed its people. The Russians/Whites/Reds could not have offered serious resistance the way the British and French armies could on the Western Front.. **** My comment on the attack was just to say, it seemed, all things considered, that America would militarily see the Royal Navy and the enforced restrictions on our trade as more of a threat in 1916 than Germany. (how's that for a run on sentence However after a glass of brandy (or two) last night, it didn't quite come out as well as I thought

What were the root causes of the war? Personally, I believe that France and Germany were on a continual collision course that began with Napoleon's destruction of Prussia. 1808, 1870, 1914, 1940 were all continuations of the same struggle. France was worn out by 1940, and Germany finally was worn out in 1945. Until those times, both countries seemed to have continuous scores to settle with each other. I think Alistair Horne eludes to this so well in his book, To Lose a Battle, France 1940. I wrote out a very long reason why I think the war started, but it boils down to this: no one knew what was coming. Much like the American Civil War, no country could visualize the trenches of 1918 in 1914. In the American Civil War, people marched off expecting a few shots, a parade, and the war to be over by sundown. Shelby Foote notes that Europe was sickened by news of the Battle of Shiloh in the West caused 24,000 casualties....and didn't have any real strategic value. Battle like this were horrible and didn't really decide the war, or even the war in one theater. Europe in 1914 was just like Virginia before first Manassas in 1861. After the Marne, no one had any idea what to really do. Attack, counter attack, gas, machine guns, bombs, indirect fire, counter battery fire, were all blind punches thrown in a blind fight to try to find some strategy. Taking the conversation to another realm. I believe the war was the United States' first major political blunder. If the US had stayed neutral, and threated embargo on the belligerents, the war would have ended after Verdun, The great failure of the US was not to take advantage of the above situation, and pressure each country to come to the negation table. Due to British propaganda, we took sides well before 1917. If the United States had used its influence, I think millions of lives would have been saved. (honestly I still don't understand why the US didn't attack the Royal Navy in 1915/16)

1,500?!?! WOW those went up. I used to have three. Contact Bill Shea, he might still have one available, He had both WWI and WWII at one time -- both named