Fact or fiction? Stuff from the internet about imperial German

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

I read the following sentence about ski troops....

The green embroidered 'S' on collar inspired the nickname 'snake hunters'.

Was this nickname period, or a collectors jargon?

[Chris Boonzaier]

Another thing I remember reading.....

By 1918 the Sturmbataillon 3 had taken over as the main tactical innovaters, and Sturmbataillon Rohr Nr.5 was more into technical innovation...

Is that true? How was it quantified?

[Chris Boonzaier]

Another Rohr thing....

The first reunion was in 1937... full of Heil Hitlers and Hitler Youth escorts, thanking the Führer etc. etc.... then it faded away and there is little mention of Rohr in the Tradition of the army...

I read somewhere that he was half Jewish... oh the Irony!!!!

Can anyone confirm that Hitler had to swallow the fact that one of Germanys finest Stormtroopers was not an Aryan? Maybe it is also to do with that that it took 25 years to make Major? Even the Kaisers army was slightly Racist...

Best

Chris

[ccj]

Hi,

I read the following sentence about ski troops....

The green embroidered 'S' on collar inspired the nickname 'snake hunters'.

Was this nickname period, or a collectors jargon?

I don't think it was a period name. I guess nobody knows which seems odd on this forum.

[IrishGunner]

I'd be surprised if "snake eaters" was a period term for WWI "ski troops."

First of all, snakes are dormant during winter - so that connection seems dubious at best.

Second, I believe the term "snake eater" had its origins in the 60s with US Special Forces - eating snakes as part of survival training. It has expanded to all special operations forces.

So, why would ski troops "eat snakes"? Survival? Again, tough in winter. And I've only been a temporary resident in Europe, but I never considered snakes a ready enough source of food in Europe (unlike the swamps of North Carolina where SF train).

I'd chalk this up to "snake oil" from online collectors. Perhaps because they have equated "ski troops" with "elite troops" - and by extension, special operations forces. Thus, snake eaters. Kind of like calling Manfred von Richtofen - "Top Gun"

PS: Don't believe everything you read on the internet.

Edited December 30, 2012 by IrishGunner

[dond]

PS: Don't believe everything you read on the internet.

But you can't lie on the internet.

[ccj]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Chris Boonzaier" data-cid="524397" data-time="1356813130"><p>

Another Rohr thing....<br />

<br />

The first reunion was in 1937... full of Heil Hitlers and Hitler Youth escorts, thanking the Führer etc. etc.... then it faded away and there is little mention of Rohr in the Tradition of the army...<br />

<br />

I read somewhere that he was half Jewish... oh the Irony!!!!<br />

<br />

Can anyone confirm that Hitler had to swallow the fact that one of Germanys finest Stormtroopers was not an Aryan? Maybe it is also to do with that that it took 25 years to make Major? Even the Kaisers army was slightly Racist...<br />

<br />

Best<br />

Chris</p></blockquote>

I had never heard this but there are discussions elsewhere. ID like to know the facts myself.

http://www.thephora.net/forum/showthread.php?t=40335

[Chip]

Rohr was partially Jewish. I think he had a grandparent that fit the bill. I'm sure it chapped Hitler that hero, Rohr was not pure.

Chip

[Chris Boonzaier]

I'm sure it chapped Hitler that hero, Rohr was not pure.

I love it! Not only did he command the unit, but it was NAMED after him!

I always wondered why there was so little about them in 3rd Reich era literature...

Must have been surreal for his wife and kids to be escorted all over by HJ and party people at the first reunion...

[Agrianes]

Another thing I remember reading.....

By 1918 the Sturmbataillon 3 had taken over as the main tactical innovaters, and Sturmbataillon Rohr Nr.5 was more into technical innovation...

Is that true? How was it quantified?

I dont suppose you remember where you read it or you wouldnt be asking...do you have an idea of where a good starting point is? Maybe I can help sift through some literature. It is a very interesting concept, it certainly seems as though they started out doing both (Rohr that is). If one were participating in more combat engagements and the other was taking on more of a teaching role that would definitely explain it-the other factor, from what I saw as a Green Beret, is that units which had better funding focused more on better or new equipment, while those with less funding had to innovate the harder way. It is more of a subtle trend but it does exist.