Eiserne Wehr's portrait corner.

[Eiserne Wehr]

Shown here are three Bavarians, two brothers and a friend with the surname Schwarzfischer. I believe the Unteroffizier on the left and the sailor of S.M.S. Koenig Wilhelm are the two brothers. The soldier on the right is of Königlich Bayerisches 2. Infanterie-Regiment 'Kronprinz'. There's a Michael Schwarzfischer from Landshut that is reported on the 23. october 1918 as missing in the Verlustlisten. Kgl. Bayer. 2. Infanterie-Regiment has their Garnison in München which is about 75 km. from Landshut. This photograph was taken by Hofphotograph Urban Zattler in Landshut(Niederbayern), Zweibrückenstraße 684. Hofphotograph means in the case of Bavaria that Zattler was granted by the King to use the Bavarian royal coat of arms and also provide the royals with his service. Sadly this photograph is not on a CDV with the logos but only has a simple print on the back.

[Eiserne Wehr]

On 21/01/2025 at 22:11, Eiserne Wehr said:

This very young looking lad is of 10. Württembergisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 180. This photograph is most likely made after 27. October 1916 because the numbers are removed from his Pickelhaube cover. On his back a Tornister with a blanket and Zeltbahn strapped to it. On his left side, next to his Grabendolch, sits a holster with his Luger 08 pistol on his belt. On his right side hanging from loops is a small flat pouch made from wool. At first i thought that it must be a pouch for a wire cutter but the size, construction and material seems too fine for such a tool. I am unable to identify this pouch, if you happen to have information about it, please share it here. In his right hand are his gloves, he is wearing corduroy trousers. The photographer or his assistant made the floor of the studio look as if it has snowed. The back is unwritten but there's print on it: Gebr.(Gebrüder) Schmid. Truppenübungsplatz bei Münsingen(Baden-Württemberg). The brothers Schmid strategically set their studio up on the main street that leads to the military training grounds of Münsingen. In the area south from the training grounds were many establishments to be found to cater the soldiers. Apart from the photography studio, a bakery, restaurants, a large scale butchery, a chemical dry-cleaner, even a lemonade factory to name a few. On 3. August 1895 King Wilhelm II. of Württemberg signed a mandate to evict those who lived in the area that was assigned for the location of the military grounds. From 24. October 1895 the training grounds were being used for training in marksmanship, two years later there were sleeping quarters created for the soldiers to stay on the training grounds. After the turn of the century two large observation towers were erected. Each year around 40.000 soldiers from the region finished their military training here. During the first World war there was also a prisoner camp for about 4.000 French, Russian, Italian and Serbian prisoners of war.

 

I discovered that i have another photograph of a soldier made by the brothers Schmid at Truppenübungsplatz Münsingen. This soldier also wears a Pickelhabue with a cover over it, has a Tornister on his back, a Grabendolch and Luger 08 holster on his belt. The pouch on his right is that of a wire cutters and from one of his tunic buttons hangs a Taschenlampe. He is wearing corduroy trousers with puttees covering his lower legs and part of his shoes. Sticking out from his left side is the wooden handle of his entrenching tool and the tip of his bayonet scabbard. He wears a ring on his right pinky. Comparing the attributes featured in both photographs makes me think there are definitely props at play here. The cover of both Pickelhauben is identical with it's markings and the way it sits on the Pickelhaube. The scabbard of the trench knife has the same scuff marks. I am still not convinced the first soldier has a wire cutter pouch on his belt but when i look at the other photograph and the fact same items are being used to dress up a soldier it probably is.

 

[Eiserne Wehr]

Photographed here is a Bavarian Leutnant of Königlich Bayerisches 15. Infanterie-Regiment 'König Friedrich August von Sachsen', he is a recepiant of both the Eisernes Kreuz I. and II. Klasse. The details of his Iron Cross, tunic buttons and Feldbinde-buckle are captured in this photograph. On his belt sits a trench knife with Bavarian Portepee.

[Jock Auld]

On 02/02/2025 at 17:50, Eiserne Wehr said:

 

I discovered that i have another photograph of a soldier made by the brothers Schmid at Truppenübungsplatz Münsingen. This soldier also wears a Pickelhabue with a cover over it, has a Tornister on his back, a Grabendolch and Luger 08 holster on his belt. The pouch on his right is that of a wire cutters and from one of his tunic buttons hangs a Taschenlampe. He is wearing corduroy trousers with puttees covering his lower legs and part of his shoes. Sticking out from his left side is the wooden handle of his entrenching tool and the tip of his bayonet scabbard. He wears a ring on his right pinky. Comparing the attributes featured in both photographs makes me think there are definitely props at play here. The cover of both Pickelhauben is identical with it's markings and the way it sits on the Pickelhaube. The scabbard of the trench knife has the same scuff marks. I am still not convinced the first soldier has a wire cutter pouch on his belt but when i look at the other photograph and the fact same items are being used to dress up a soldier it probably is.

 

Makes obvious sense! if the young men were wondering around on some free time, they may not have their full kit with them. I am sure the photographer was able to offer various options for potential customers, Retail is a cut throat business, so the dagge may have been useful. Even the reflection from the buckle crown look very similar, I would say these are one and the same set of belt order props? Good detective work!

Rich

[Eiserne Wehr]

A lovely photograph of a Prussian couple. His rank is that of Fähnrich, he earned both the first and second class of the Iron Cross. The ribbons sitting on the left and right of the Iron Cross second class ribbon on his clasp are too similar to quite a few Prussian medal ribbons for me to distinguish. He obviously favoured one of them above the Iron Cross second class. If you can identify these ribbons, please chime in. By the way he positioned his left arm provides us with a gimps of his trench knife and Portepee. I am unable to identify what type it is, the end is not visible but the groves in the scales are. This leaves a multitude of possibilities for what type or maker the knife is. Recently an identical photograph popped up and is described as him being of the 5. Lothringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 144.

[Eiserne Wehr]

A Bavarian Unteroffizier posing with his Jack Russell terrier at the bottom of a set of stairs that are carved out of a rock formation. He appears to have a scar on his left cheek, perhaps from fencing? His rank is unclear, he has Tressen in combination with rank buttons on his collar, wears the Bavarian style Portepee and the officer's Kokarde on his visor cap. So he's either a Feldwebel or Wachtmeister. He is the recipient of the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse and a Bavarian Militärverdienstkreuz. On the left of his light brown belt sits his Grabendolch with Portepee. The manner in which the sling of his Portepee is wrapped around the scabbard and trench knife makes it impossible to draw the knife out from the scabbard. This makes me conclude that during the time this photograph was taken he was not near the front. On his left wrist he wears the new type wristwatch that is relatively flat and has small leather straps. This in stark contrast to the bulky pocket watches worn in a leather wristband that can be seen in photographs in the early stages of the war. In his right hand a pair of gloves.

[Eiserne Wehr]

A fairly recent acquired photograph that instantly ended up in my favourites list, why you might ask. Firstly because it's a stunning studio photograph, secondly due to the fact he sports a Grabendolch with scales made from stag. The Iron Cross first class pinned on his tunic and his name that is written on the back are a nice bonus. Herbert wears the Preußen Feldbinde mounted to a black leather belt on which sits his trench knife with Prussian Portepee. Next to his EKI is his Verwundetenabzeichen pinned on his tunic. In his right hand he holds a pair of black leather gloves together with his visor cap, on his left pinky a finger ring. Although the date on the back states 1923 i think this photograph was taken during the first World war. On his shoulder boards are the cyphers 68 attached, which is theoretically of the 6. Rheinisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 68. This Regiment was situated in Coblenz, yet the photography studio of E. Schultze is located in Emden(Niedersachsen, North-West Germany) and on the back he refers to Baden-Baden which is south of Coblenz(about 240 km.). If you can shed any light on this matter to help find out his Regiment i would be very thankful.
The back reads:
S:* lb.(liebe) Herz** zur
stets netten Erinnerung
an frohe Stunden
in Bade-Bade(Baden-Baden)
Herbert
Weihnachten 1923

 

* Not sure what is meant here but it starts with an capital letter S.
** Short for Herzlein.

 

?? dear sweetheart for the
always pleasant memory
of the merry hours in
Baden-Baden
Herbert
Christmas 1923

[Eiserne Wehr]

Another lovely studio photograph made by a photographer who knew his trade very well. This Sergeant is of Grenadier-Regiment 'König Friedrich I' (4. Ostpreußisches) Nr. 5. Pinned on his tunic is his ribbon of the Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse and the Verwundetenabzeichen. Purposely positioned in full view on his belt sits his trench knife, interestingly without his Unteroffizierstroddel. He wears riding trousers with puttees and over the colour band of his visor cap is a gray cover band applied.
The back reads:
Meiner lieben Emma gewidmet
zur freundlichen Erinnerung.
von Deiner Dora Kluge.

 

My dear Emma dedicated to
friendly remembrance.
from your Dora Kluge.

 

There is also what appears to be the name 'Fritz' written on the back, different handwriting and in pencil but seems period.

[Eiserne Wehr]

Shown here in this studio photograph is Heinrich Rommelmann from Hahlen(Minden) of Infanterie-Regiment 'Prinz Carl' (4. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 118., 6. Kompanie. He wears a Pickelhaube with a cover that curiously has the not the number '118' but '40' applied to it. On his back a Tornister with a Zeltbahn strapped to it, fixed on his Mauser Gewehr 98 is an Ersatz Bajonett. On either side of his belt sit ammunition pouches and in between he placed his Grabendolch. Like what quite often can be observed is that the crown of the belt buckle is indented. The Mannschaftentroddel attached to his Bayonet frog is just barely visible on the left. Heinrich wears a pocket watch in a leather wristband on his left wrist and on his left pinky a patriotic ring. He died on 17. September 1916, possibly during the battle of the Somme. The back has writing on it regarding the commission of one large format photograph and nine CAB of this photograph. The text written in pencil are Heinrich's military details which indicate the commission is for memorial photographs.

The back reads:
Rommelmann 1 st.(stuck) 30x40
                        9 ?? Cab(Cabinet-Karte)
unterm Bilder
Musket.(Musketier) Heinr Rommelmann
6 komp Inftr Reg 118
gefallen am 17 Septb 1916.

[Bernd_W]

On 2/6/2025 at 1:49 PM, Eiserne Wehr said:

Is his crown also indented?

On 2/8/2025 at 5:07 PM, Eiserne Wehr said:

S:* lb.(liebe) Herz** zur

IMO its Seinem lieben Hirz

Its a last name, there is a dot for the i, and it differs a lot from the other e in the text.

[Nick]

update

 

[Eiserne Wehr]

In this photograph is a Prussian soldier with a man in civilian clothing depicted. The soldier appears to have no rank, his shoulder boards show no Regiment cyphers or Monogram. The printed text on the back reveals that the photography studio of Fritz Haase is situated in Görlitz. This could mean that the soldier is of Infanterie-Regiment 'von Courbière' (2. Posensches) Nr. 19. their Garnison was located in Görlitz. Going by his Model 1915 Bluse, this photograph is made at the end of September 1915 or later. On his belt sits his small revolver in a leather holster and a Grabendolch with a loosely fitted Mannschaftentroddel. Both the loop from where the scabbard hangs of the belt and the small loop going across the handle of the trench knife are made from webbing. In his left hand a pair of gloves. On the table lays a brochure of F. Haase showcasing the portraits he has made. The two men look vastly different from each other so i am not sure what the relation between the two is. F. Haase was a master photographer, his photography studio was located on Berliner Straße 29. in Görlitz. The building is still standing yet the studio is long gone.