Chris Liontas

Hi,

5th Division, 7th engineers.

It was won as he and a group of engineers tried to set up an infantry bridge across the Meuse on the 4th of November 1918... have tons of documentation, will do an article for the site about it in a few days... and maybe visit the exact spot on the GMIC tour in June´....

Wow!! I did not expect the diamond division!! Awesome find Chris!! Going to read up on this engagement right now :)

NICE Chris!!

Any idea what division he was from??

WOW!!

Talk about a guy who was there! 'Grats Chris!

front

AH HA!! I knew I saved a photo!!

This is A. Oeller, Kath Div.-pfarrer 1 Bayer. Res RGT

Hi Rick!!

Happy New Year!!

I had an Epson actually....and I stepped on it (long story)

I am going to post the remaining photos this week. The portrait shot IS named to a fellow who ended up being listed in Chris B's book on the Bavarian Chaplains in WWI. I had a loose photo of him, the exact one in the album, but I sold it and never wrote down the name I will look at the one in the book, fairly sure his name is there.

The problem is, I cant identify him in the rest of the album, unless he is the guy with the beard. Let me check again and post the rest of the photos. The photos of the trench works are impressive

Nice shot of Von Hindenburg

How often have you seen your priest in a gas mask?

The first photo is comprised of all Bavarian Chaplains. Fairly interesting to see the difference between the crosses on the visors.

Shot of the chaplain and some nice field service photos. The man in the black vestments could possibly be a Franciscan as he is never shown in a uniform. He obviously has rank on the other chaplains in the photos

I got this album years ago. After seeing Chris' photos from the Boer War, I went through some of my old albums. This photo album starts in 1918. It contains some neat photos, not usually associated with the Chaplain service.

Hi Keenan,

I totally agree... an excellent display! Keep up the great work!

Brian... methinks "real" honest to goodness surplus stores have nearly become "old guy talk" too! I remember when you could still find some WWI gear for next to nothing and tons of WWII material. Now so many of these places it's nearly like walking into Kmart.

It's sad but the good ole days are long gone.

Dan

Nice display!!!

I too make my own mannequins. I got so sick of paying for ones that never seemed to fit right. This one looks great!!!

I agree with you 100% Dan. I have so many fond memories of going to pawn shops and surplus stores and going through all sorts of material. I went to my old haunts this year, and they are all gone. The surplus stores are worthless, and the pawn shops are all gone--or selling crap. It's too bad--but Ebay has become the local pawn/surplus store of yesterday.

Really neat photo. The 27th Aero squadron's mechanics and ground personnel returning from France 1919. The Signal Corps guideon is fairly neat--I have never seen one like it before.

Hi,

I am not sure about the baddies in 1. but the goodies in 7 have the Orange Free State Artillery badge ;-)

Here is a sensationally rare pic, was not in the original album and set me bach a pile of money.... but worth it....

Hi Chris!

Why so rare?? I dont know anything about the conflict, so what makes this one so rare?

How do you store your old photos?? Any problem with fading?

I have to disagree on Rommel.

While an outstanding general in every way, he lost one major battle that no one gives him credit for. His decision to defend the beaches of Normandy against overwhelming Allied Naval and Air superiority was a catastrophe. He wasted millions of hours of manpower and massive amounts of resources defending a single line in the sand, rather than a defense in depth (as the Russians did at Kursk). He was warned by men like Von Rundstedt, who had been against allied invasion fleets before, that a single line of defense was insufficient against an untouchable allied fleet bombarding the shore with impunity. Within 24 hours, the Atlantic Wall was breached, and only insufficient American training, the topography of Normandy, and the German feldwebel kept the break from being a rout!

I wonder what would have happened, if Rommel would have withdrawn from the beaches and defended France in depth, rather than all at the beach as Kuribayashi did at Iwo Jima.

Patton is a great character---not a great general. A good general that did what was needed, but not a great tactician.

weird. I had a wonderful 16th Pioneer LT uniform with one braid on it, which I thought denoted company. Three cords are beyond me. Neat straps none the less!

WOW!!! Amazing photo and great work Rick!! :cheers:

Naxos hit that one, a very VERY nice Litweka, to a very good unit. The 5th Guards actually opposed the US Divisions in the Argonne Forrest with much success.

The condition looks outstanding!!

I am busy doing a write up on this action, but in the meantime, a Croix De Guerre document to a man who was 2nd in command of a Saint Chammond tank. He recieved the CdG for an action in mid 1918....

SWEET!!!!

Chris how were French Tankers organized?? Were they allotted to Infantry brigades as attached units--or were they permanently attached to the Division? Many experiences I have read of Americans in the Argonne talk about attached French Armor, but they never go into detail of what French unit or how they were attached at the company level. Did HQ allot the tanks at each attack?? Or was it a system of attaching an Armor company to an Infantry company for each action?

WOW! I just saw this thread, Amazing items with great history!!! :cheers:

Hi,

I forgot to check Tony's sight.

I will probably try to trade this away, so will mail him and ask if he has any wartime stuff to get rid of.

Best

Chris

Tony has an awesome site--that Tschapka is beautiful.

Here is a Reserve Officer's Helmet to a Rittermiester, Hanoversches Ulanen-Regt. 14 before they were allowed to change the wrappen

Weimar era, and missing the Reichsadler and wreath.

Awesome!! I was thinking either Weimar or Riechwehr, but I was not sure. Either one, a very nice and rare hat. I am always surprised how little fuss is made over hats from this age, even though they are much more rare than most Imperial or III Reich hats. A super find, as always, Chris!! :cheers:

Impressive artwork Chris!! Thank you for sharing.

Looks like a Waffen SS Unterscharfuhrer (Sergent I think). M43 tunic with Russian Front ribbon and looks like the KvKII with swords. Possibly a rear echelon troop in one of the Waffen SS Divisions.

A very nice photo

I think the first guy is definitely Landstrum. I have a photo of a guy in similar uniform. Interesting rifle though...never would have placed that one :)

OOO!!!

A nice find to a very good unit!! That could not have been easy to find!