Sturmabteilung, 239 Inf. Div.

[drakegoodman]

Letter on reverse authored 25.7.1917. Admin stamp from Sturmabteilung 239 Inf. Div. Postage cancelled the same day.

Sturmtruppen (Sturm-pioniere?) astride what the author describes on reverse as a "merry-go-round". The apparatus, constructed from a wagon wheel, axle and four long wooden poles is more likely to be a training tool rather than a plaything. Notice hardly any of the men on the thing are smiling. They are wearing leather reinforced trousers, puttees and lace-up boots, kit items favoured by assault troops.

Opinions are welcomed.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Interesting... company sports or testing an idea how to swing men over barbed wire entanglments?

Best

Chris

[IrishGunner]

Actually a bit bizarre. One of the "pushers" seems to be a civilian with a white wide-brimmed hat (woman?). And on the far right of the group, there is man in civilian dress.

I doubt it is training; seems to be a staged performance. The lack of smiling/laughing does suggest that it's not completely entertainment however.

Physical training of some sort? Punishment?