Gaswarfare !

[Chris Boonzaier]

I always think of the Gas war as the most terrible part of WW1. In fact, one of the Iron Cross award documents I treasure most (from a historical point of view) is one to a soldier from one of the specialised gas units.

But we are not there to read about him today... rather about R. Wahl, a landwehr man who survived about a month and a half at the front before being gassed at Verdun.....

[Chris Boonzaier]

I bought a group on Ebay, in it was his hard to read diary, his Militaerpass an award docs....

[Chris Boonzaier]

The paybook that was in his pocket when he was gassed....

[Chris Boonzaier]

The entry into his military pass

[Chris Boonzaier]

His description of the event... and the award document for his wound badge

22.05.16

Company service from 10am-1pm under constant artilleryfire on our positions. it was terrible, but god was with us.

At 10pm David Haustei was killed by French artillery just 2m's from me, without me noticing it. It was an strange occurance and unfortunately it must be said he was largely responsible for his own death. Inspite of numerous warnings he had spent the day outside the bunker, under direct observation of the french artillery balloons. He spent the afternoon of the 22nd in his undershirt, sitting in the trench, delousing himself. he had taken his jacket off. A salvo of artillery brought him into the bunker where I berated him. after the barrage he went to recuperate his jacket which it turned out, had dissapeared, either buried or destroyed by the artillery. At 10pm he went out to dig for it when a salvo landed. I jumped into the bunker, but Haustei was killed by a large splinter in the chest. We did not notice as we thought he had entered the dugout from the other side and we all lay down to sleep. Only when I called for the work detail did we find him, 1.5m from the entrance. The work details could not work in the barrage and the collased walls gave the enemy a great view of our positions.

23.05.16

My unlucky day!

At 6 am we were getting our mail. I had just recieved a package from Emilie when a shell exploded, then another, coming to about 30m-50m from the dugout entrance. At the cry of "Gas!!" the men poured down the stairs to get their masks. I had mine with me and put it on. In the dugout I took a cloth and waved it to create an upward draught as i saw the gas sink down the stairs. The dugout filled up and in the crash my mask was knocked off.. there I stood... what to do? I took a deep breath and holding my mouth and nose pushed my way out and made my way 60-100m down the trench, through the gas, collapsing when I arrived in our Sappe. After I came about I made my way to the doctor who send me back to the battalion aid station with 2 medics. Here I was immediately given oxygen which was a huge relief to my system. The relief was only temporaray and by evening I was having coughing fits. I was not evacuated that night and had to suffer till the next morning when two medics took me to the rear, my last sip of cognac doing wonders for me.

The oxygen given to me the night before had helped, but the injections I recieved that morning caused vomitting and pain. At the field hospital at Lac Feur I was used as a test case and they injected me with 3 double doses of Glyzerin (?) which caused immense pain. There was no medication to counter the effects of the French gas so the doctors tried all possible injections, which made the stay at Lac Feur very unpleasant... that and the stray shells that landed there.

[Chris Boonzaier]

His EK2 doc.....

[Chris Boonzaier]

Before the war he worked as a type arranger at a printing firm, ditto after the war. His Hindenburg cross doc from 1935 has him as "Owner of a printing firm" but the medal bar that came with it had a 25 year faithful service cross (3rd reich) I assume this cannot fit with the group?

[Gerd Becker]

Great to have a diary of this guy Nice group, Chris

[Kev in Deva]

Before the war he worked as a type arranger at a printing firm, ditto after the war. His Hindenburg cross doc from 1935 has him as "Owner of a printing firm" but the medal bar that came with it had a 25 year faithful service cross (3rd reich) I assume this cannot fit with the group?

Hallo Chris

Nice group, hopefuly you will show the medal bar too

I presume you mean his 25 year Cross is the nazi civil award, given for good work service?

From: A Collectors Guide To: WORLD WAR 2 GERMAN MEDALS AND POLITICAL AWARDS by Mr. Christopher Ailsby, page141......

"On Hitlers accession to power he perceived the necessity of drawing all the long service awards of the states and industry under one umbrella. This Nazi concept was to draw these awards into direct governmental control and was contrary to that employed by the Weimar government which, after Ww1, had developed government into the states (L?nder). . . . . .

"Early in 1936, the Reichsminister of the Interior initiated steps to establish such awards and on the 30.01.38 these awards were instituted to recognise loyal sevice to the German people.

"Consideration of the service time began when the prospective recipient reached the age of 18. Any break in service for duty with the military in the capacity of an administrator or on active duty, was allowed to count towards the total time for loyal civil service, as did service in the civil organisations of the Police and Labour Service.

This explains why the Cross can be found on WW1 veterans bars.

I hope the information I supplied is correct to answer your question.

Kevin in Deva

Edited September 6, 2006 by Kev in Deva

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hallo Chris

I hope the information I supplied is correct to answer your question.

Kevin in Deva

Hi,

indeed, but does WW1 service count towards it? he seems never to have a civil service position.

I think the bar was added to the docs in an "Ebay marriage"

[Kev in Deva]

Hi,

indeed, but does WW1 service count towards it? he seems never to have a civil service position.

I think the bar was added to the docs in an "Ebay marriage"

From my understanding of whats in the book, it was awarded for good work attendance which includes industry, so a factory worker in a printing firm and eventualy an owner of his own business would qualify. In this case without counting any Ww1 Service (I think the Reich only counted Wehrmacht service towards it pre 1938.)

"On Hitlers accession to power he perceived the necessity of drawing all the long service awards of the states and industry under one umbrella."

Maybe a few of the other gentlemen could offer their views too, Oh! Ricky, come out to play

Kevin in Deva.

Edited September 6, 2006 by Kev in Deva

[Daniel Murphy]

Chris,

As explained above the bar can indeed be his. Come on, lets see it!

Dan

[Chris Boonzaier]

assuming its his...

[Guest Rick Research]

The only NON Civil Service recipients were 50 year employees of the same private company.

And Nazi double-dipping cheaters who gave themselves retroactive seniority on jobs they "should have" had.

The MP awards line shows his EK2 and a Wilhelmskreuz with Xs.

Now about his time on the staff of the Officers Prisoner of War Camp at Ellwangen....

[Chris Boonzaier]

T

The MP awards line shows his EK2 and a Wilhelmskreuz with Xs.

.

Ahhh old eagle eye nails it. i missed that totally what the hell is a Wilhelmskreuz (Blush, blush, blush)

[Chip]

Chris,

Had our friend not been gassed, he could have been near the shooting (just some four months later) by our corporal Alvin York. It was Oberlt. Paul Vollmer of Landwehr Inf.Rgt. Nr.120 (1st Battalion commander) who talked 132 German soldiers into surrendering (with York's pistol in his ribs).

Chip

[Tom]

Ineresting topic Chris.

Does the soldier describe the place at the Verdunfront where they were?

[Chris Boonzaier]

Chris,

Had our friend not been gassed, he could have been near the shooting (just some four months later) by our corporal Alvin York. It was Oberlt. Paul Vollmer of Landwehr Inf.Rgt. Nr.120 (1st Battalion commander) who talked 132 German soldiers into surrendering (with York's pistol in his ribs).

Chip

Holy Shyte... you are right !!!! Check out the signature in the Militaerpass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From the guys diary he was in a unit of moaning old farts whose main occupation was complaining about being wet and cold and that the mail was not arriving.

Its a nice little group, but mainly because of the gassing, the rest of the diary makes him to be a "non warrior"

[Chris Boonzaier]

Ineresting topic Chris.

Does the soldier describe the place at the Verdunfront where they were?

Hi,

at avocourt-malancourt

best

Chris

P.S. see the thread about visiting Verdun in the Lounge.

[Avitas]

That is one nice helmet-gas mask set and docs Chris

I love finding out the whole story behind these items as well as it makes the piece that much more real and connected to history. Too bad about the "ebay marriage" though. I've had a couple of "sets" that turned out to be not originally together as well. Thanks for showing!

Cheers,

Pat

[Guest Rick Research]

SUPER KUDOS for the month (at least) to Chip for the UNEXPECTED Alvin York connection!!

(At least Vollmer got to be a "Major" in the 1941 movie version! ) He was commissioned a Leutnant dR in IR 120 on 16 November 1910 D12d. I only have the home establishment wartime promotions.

[Chris Boonzaier]

The only NON Civil Service recipients were 50 year employees of the same private company.

And Nazi double-dipping cheaters who gave themselves retroactive seniority on jobs they "should have" had.

The MP awards line shows his EK2 and a Wilhelmskreuz with Xs.

Now about his time on the staff of the Officers Prisoner of War Camp at Ellwangen....

Hi,

What is a Wilhelmskreuz with X's ?

[Claudio]

Hi Chris,

That's an easy one... it's the equivalent of a KVK 2. Kl. mit X given to W?rttembergs citizens or soldiers.

The picture was taken from Dave's very informative website.

Ciao,

Claudio

Edited February 4, 2007 by Claudio

[Chris Boonzaier]

Thanks Claudio,

I have to admit to large knowledge deficits outside of the EK field :-(

Nice looking medal !!

[Chris Boonzaier]

Chris,

Had our friend not been gassed, he could have been near the shooting (just some four months later) by our corporal Alvin York. It was Oberlt. Paul Vollmer of Landwehr Inf.Rgt. Nr.120 (1st Battalion commander) who talked 132 German soldiers into surrendering (with York's pistol in his ribs).

Chip

Just researching this doc a bit more.... what Wahl does mention is how all the officers in the unit seem to have no interest in being involved in combat, the front or the war.

He complains that you never see any of them in the trenches and dug outs...