Eiserne Wehr's portrait corner.

[Eiserne Wehr]

This soldier with a rather unusual facial expression of the 8. Ostpreußisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.45. poses with his full kit. Going by the stamp on the back (S.B. 1./IV. B. Infanterie Ersatz Truppe Beverloo), this photograph was taken while he attended a training course in training camp Beverloo, Belgien. On the bottom is written '21. years old', given the handwriting this seems to be written by another person.
The back reads:
Beverloo der 20. Marz 1917
1000 Grüße und ein Bild
von mir sendet Bruder und
Schwager und Onkel Georg.
Sonst geht es mir noch gut. was
ich auch von Euch hoffe, sind
aber immer noch hier wer weiß
wie lange noch?
Dein letzte Karte habe
ich auch dankend erhalten.
Mein 1000 Grüßen
Georg

He sends not once but twice thousand greetings to his family and also this photograph.
He talks about his health being alright and wished likewise to his family. He also states he's still here(Camp/at war) and questions for how long. He also mentions that a postcard was gratefully received.

 

[Eiserne Wehr]

A beautiful studio photograph of Alfred with his F. W. Backhaus Grabendolch on his belt and a smoke in his right hand. The back reads:

Andenken

am deinen

bruder

Alfred

[Eiserne Wehr]

This drummer wears a M16 Stahlhelm, a backpack, and a gasmask cannister. On his belt hangs a drum and next to it are not his drum sticks(presumable out of view) but his Grabendolch. The distinctive hook in the shape of an eagle from where the drum hangs of the belt is turned around. His belt buckle has seen better days. He appears to wear two patriotic rings on his left hand ring finger. Sadly as it happens too often, the back is empty so no name, unit, date or place.

[TracA]

Eiserne Wehr,

 

Fantastic thread and amazing photographs as well as descriptive write-up. Please keep them coming!

 

All the best and Happy New Year.

 

Tracy

[Eiserne Wehr]

This soldier can go without his rifle, Bajonett, backpack, water bottle and gas mask cannister but he always carries his Grabendolch where ever he goes, even when being home visiting his family. The Photographer is situated in Braunschweig so this photograph is most likely made in Braunschweig.

[Eiserne Wehr]

In this photograph an Unteroffizier of Reserve-Infanterie Regiment Nr. 233. is posing with both a Grabendolch and a Bajonett on his belt, note the three reinforcement pins in his belt next to his buckle. He might not have any medals when this photograph was taken but he's a good marksman since he wears a Schützenschnur 2. Stufe on his tunic.
The text on the back:
Der 2. Marz 1916

Lieber Onkel!
Vielen Dank für die Karte, freut
mich dass es Euch noch gut geht was
bei mir auch noch der Fall ist.
Herzliche Grüße an Euch alle sendet
August

August(the man on the front) thanks his uncle for the postcard he received, is happy to hear the family is okay and he too is fine.

[Eiserne Wehr]

A striking photograph of a Husar with, sadly, a partial obscured Grabendolch.

[Eiserne Wehr]

A rather neat photograph of a young looking officer with two ribbons attached to his tunic, a Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse. ribbon and Militärverdienstkreuz 3. Klasse ribbon? Over his shoulder hangs a map carrier from a strap and on his belt sits a Grabendolch with Portepee. In his hands he holds a riding stick and a pair of riding gloves. He wears a patriotic ring on his left ringfinger. His riding trousers are hold together by leather gaiters and on his boots are spurs attached. I wish his horse was standing next to him when this photograph was taken.

To compensate the lack of a horse in the previous photograph. 😉

[Eiserne Wehr]

A fantastic portrait of a Bavarian Unteroffizier adorned with his Militärverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern, Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse a Grabendolch on his belt and a smoke in his right hand. The backside is empty except for the mentioning of the Studio Schröck situated in Laufen-Tittmoning(Oberbayern). I am not sure about his shoulder board but he might be of the Königlich Bayerisches 3. Infanterie-Regiment „Prinz Karl von Bayern“.

[Eiserne Wehr]

This photograph is of an Unteroffizier of Maschinengewehr-Schärfschützen-Trupp 168. XIV. Armee-Korps, 29. Infanterie Division. From his neck hangs a Fernglas 09, probably made by the company C.P. Goerz(Berlin). Pinned on his tunic are two ribbons, an Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse and a Württemberg Tapferkeitsmedaille(?) ribbon. On his right arm a Maschinengewehr Scharfschützen Ärmelabzeichen(machine gun sharpshooter's badge). These were handed out to well trained and qualified machine gunners. On his belt sits a Grabendolch in a leather sheath with a metal chape on it's end and a Troddel wrapped around the loop of the sheath and his belt.
The back reads:
Mein Lieben!
Ich sende Euch allen noch herzliche Grüße
aus dem Westen. Ich hoffe und wünsche,
dass Ihr alle besser gesundhet seit.
Ich bin ebenfalls besser gesundheit und
geh noch immer gut. Sende Euch ein
Bildschen ist gerade nicht ganz gut, doch kann
und muss man ich hiermit begnügen.
Nochmals Gruß
Eure Ludwig

 

Ludwig sends warm wishes to his family from the West(front).
He hopes and wishes everyone is in good health and states he's doing good and still walks fine.*
He then proceeds that he sends this photograph of which he isn't fully satisfied but needs to accept it for what it is.**

 

* This can either be interpreted as him being in good health and not being wounded or he previously reported he was wounded, recovered and is walking again and affirms with this postcard that he is fully recovered and walks without problems.
** The question is, was he not happy about the photographer's work or that his facial expression came out to be a bit too serious?

 

 

 

The little information about Maschinengewehr-Schärfschützen-Trupp 168. i could find, from the Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg:

[Bernd_W]

Its 

Quote

und geht noch immer gut

Its: Im still fine. It has nothing to do with walking. 

[Eiserne Wehr]

I tried my best, his handwriting gave me a headache.

[Eiserne Wehr]

This photograph shows a group of soldiers outside their underground shelter during the summer of 1916. Going by the Pickelhaube resting on the pole, they could be Sachsen. Some took off their tunic because of the heat which gives a not often glimps of soldiers in their under shirts. The man resting on a walking stick on the left has his Erkennungsmarke(Dog tag) hanging from his neck, a pocket watch in a leather wristband and on his thin belt hangs a Grabendolch. The Unteroffizier has a Schützenschnur I. Stufe hanging from his shoulder board. In the right bottom corner you can see their rifles at the ready in a self-made rifle rack. On it's roof multiple gas mask cannisters and parts of a mess kit. On the table in the back sits a small wooden box with the label torn, most likely they are smoking the contents of said box.
The back reads:
der 4. Juni 1916
Liebe cousine! Umstehend sende dir wieder ein paar
Bilder. Sind davon fur dich, und für ? ? ?
und für Tante ? ? Der nicht genügend
große Couvert schicke sie alle dir. Du muss dann
so gut sein und die andere bruder mit der besten
Grüßen übergeben. Mir geht es den umständen
noch gut.
Mit den besten Grüßen für dich und
Familie dein Cousin Fritz

 

Dear Cousin! I again send you a few pictures. These are for you and for names.
and for aunt name. While the envelopes are not big enough i will send them all to you.
Be so kind to send the other brothers my best wishes.
Given the circumstances i am still doing good.
With the best wishes for you and the family.
Your cousin Fritz

[Eiserne Wehr]

This photograph shows two young Bavarian soldiers from 19. Königlich Bayerisches Infanterie Regiment, 6. Kompanie. They both wear a M16 Stahlhelm, have their Bajonett fixed to their Gewehr 98 and wear a Grabendolch on their belt. Although the soldier on the left has his Grabendolch at the back next to his left ammunition pouches and is thus harder to see for the casual observer, the soldier on the right has his F. W. Backhaus Grabendolch in full view. The soldier on the left wears jackboots and prefers to use a bread bag strap for holden up his ammunition pouches, the one on the right wears Schnürschuhe(boots with laces) and Gamaschen(puttees). Under his left puttees he appears to have another Grabendolch tucked away. The strap over both their right shoulders are most likely that of a gas mask.

The backside was quite difficult to decipher due to his handwriting, the large written:"Zurück da vermißt" covering most of the text didn't help either.

 

Nord Frankreich der 13. april 1917
Lieber Georg!
Deine Brief am 8. erhalten
besten Dank. Bin soweit noch
gesund, hoffe es auch von dir.
Neues kann ich dir nicht viel
schreiben. Der Tommy(?) ist bei uns
zur Zeit ruhiger. Heute immer
schlechtes Wetter und gibt viel
Wasser bei uns. Lieber Georg bei
mir ist einer Mannes Bundörfer
aus Königshofen vielleicht kennst
ihn er ist in Bechhofen in Vieh Arbeit
beschäftigt gewesen Besten Gruß Wilhelm(?)

Northern France the 13th of april 1917

 

Dear Georg!
I received your letter on the 8th, thank you very much.
So far i am healthy, i hope you are too.
I can't really write you anything new.
The Tommy are currently calm. Today there's only bad weather with lots of water.
Dear Georg with me is man from Bundorf(Bad Königshofen)
maybe you know him he was working in Bechhofen in a cattle farm.
Best wishes Wilhelm

 

An
Infanterist
Georg Straßner
10. Königlich Bayerisches Infanterie Regiment 2. Kompanie

 

This Photograph was send to Georg of 10. Königlich Bayerisches Infanterie Regiment, 2. Kompanie, who appears to be missing at the time this Photograph reached his unit. Georg might be the writer's brother or a schoolmate perhaps?

Under the photograph on the front is also some writing but is very difficult to read due to the fading of the pencil markings.
"Abs.(Absender) Infant.(Infanterist) Bayerisches(?) ? ?
? 19. Infanterie Regiment 6. Kompanie"

 

I found two entries by the name Georg Straßner which could be the soldier this photograph was send too, both are stated to come from Kaudorf(situated about 5. Km. north of Bechhofen). Probably it's the same individual they refer to.

[Eiserne Wehr]

This soldier with piercing eyes is of Infanterie-Leibregiment Großherzogin (3. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 117. He has a Taschenlampe fastened to his tunic buttons and tucked a small flower bouquet inbetween his tunic. The unmistaken Hessian belt buckle with it's large crown is accompanied by a Grabendolch.

The information i could gather from the back is very limited.
Mainz 17. januar 1916
Liebe Eltern und Geschwister(?)
Die besten Grüße sendet
.. .. Dich und
.. Joseph
.. .. Wunderschön(?)
.. Musketier ..
.. .. 1. ..
Infanterie Regiment Nr. 117 ..
Mainz .. ..

[Eiserne Wehr]

On this CDV you can see an etatmäßiger Feldwebel of Landsturm-Infanterie-Bataillon VI 18. Ratibor(Armee-Korps in Breslau) and a Leutnant(standing). They could be brothers of which the eldest is sitting in the chair or a young looking father with his son, they look to be related.
The Leutnant has an Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse pinned on his tunic and a ribbon bar. I presume the first ribbon is that of the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse, if you know more about these four ribbons, the identification would be much appreciated. On his belt, fastened with an officer’s buckle(Preußische Feldbinde für Offiziere), he carries a Grabendolch, type Demag "crank handle" with a stamped in metal handle and a Portepee. Note the Stiefelhose he is wearing.
The etatmäßiger Feldwebel holds an Offizierdegen with a Portepee. They both seem to hold one leather glove in their right hand, is there significance to this?

 

 

 

 

[Eiserne Wehr]

This Photograph shows a Sergeant of 3. Lothringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 135. with his prized Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse pinned on his tunic. On his belt sits a Grabendolch with Portepee. It's not very practical to have your trench knife so far back(even past his belt hook) but my assumption is that he did so because he didn't want it to steal any attention away from his iron cross yet still show he earned his Portepee. On his lower legs he wears leather gaiters.
The back reads:
Im Felde den 29. Mai 1918
Lieber Willy und Ida!
bestätige dankend den
Empfang das Paketchens(?)
zurzeit befinden wir uns
noch dem Vormarsch dort
verfolgen den geschlagen
von Gegner sonst
alles wohl
Mit vielen Grüßen
Ewald.

 

In the field 29th may 1918
Dear Willy and Ida!
Thankingly i hereby confirm the reception of your small package.
Currently we are on the move forwards while we are followed by the firing of the enemy.
Apart from that is everything fine.
With lots of greetings Ewald.

[GreyC]

By the time he sent the photo it was quite outdated, as when he wrote the card he was already Leutnant der Reserve of 6th coy 135th infantry regiment.

GreyC

[Eiserne Wehr]

This Jäger with a Grabendolch on his belt and number "1" on his shoulder board might be of Jäger-Bataillon Nr.1. "Graf Yorck von Wartenburg"(Ostpreußisches).
The back reads:
In Freundschaft Hugo
In Friendship Hugo