Eiserne Wehr's portrait corner.

[Eiserne Wehr]

A stunning photograph of a young soldier with on his belt a Grabendolch with Troddel, a Gibraltar cuff title on his right sleeve and a Maschinengewehr-Scharfschützenabzeichen on his left arm sleeve. I am not fully certain when looking at his shoulder boards but he might be of Infanterie-Regiment von Voigts-Rhetz (3. Hannoversches) Nr. 79. I really wished there was writing on the back to have at least a name to this face.

[Stogieman]

Nice to see an image of that cuff title. It’s actually a little scarce. Many, many years ago I had a tunic with it that came out of an antique shop of all places! At the time I had absolutely no clue what I was doing, I just thought it was “neat” and seemed a reasonable price. It was our old friend Rick Research who enlightened me after the fact!

[GreyC]

15 hours ago, Stogieman said:

Nice to see an image of that cuff title. It’s actually a little scarce.

I agree that it is a nice photo especially in the combination with the batch of the MG SS.

The cuff title is a little scarce with a fieldgrey tunic not so much with the Bunter Rock. 

Please remember that the cuff title was also worn by Jäger Btl 10, and IR 73. In the photo above it could very well be IR 73, too. The cuff title was granted on 24th January 1901.

Best,

GreyC

Edited Sunday at 09:56 by GreyC

[Stogieman]

Thanks for the additional details!

[Eiserne Wehr]

This photograph of a soldier of Königlich Bayerisches Infanterie-Regiment 28. was probably taken in Truppenübungsplatz Grafenwöhr(Oberpfalz, Bayern). He prefers to have his Grabendolch in his jackboot. Could the small striped and light coloured ribbon be that of the Militärverdienstkreuz?

[Eiserne Wehr]

A rather neat photograph of four Unteroffiziere of which two(that are visible) bare a Portepee, the man on the left has his attached on his Bajonett while the man on the right on his Grabendolch. The man on the right wears two ribbons on his tunic and has at least one lace stripe on his cuffs. The man on the left appears to have a slip on over his shoulder board and his mate sitting next to him has a piece of paper under his cuff. This photograph was taken in Brussel during a break of their attendence at the artillery school at the training grounds Beverloo.
The back reads:
F.A.(Feldartillerie) Schießschule Beverloo
II. Lehr Jahr

23. August 1917
Lieber Landsmann!
Endl.(Endlich) konne ich bei den vielen
dienst zum schreiben hoffentl.(hoffentlich)
geht es Dir recht gut. Ich habe mich
auch nach Toast umgucken doch
war mir 15 M(Mark/Reichsmark) für's necken zu happig.
Sonst geht es mir recht gut.
Das Bild ist in Brussel gemacht
findest du es nicht wundervoll?
Schreib mir auch bitte, wo die
Batt,(Batterie) steckt.
Für heute schluss Herzl.(Herzliche) Gruss
an alle.
Den Leo ??

 

An den
Gefreiter
Hernn W. Diete??orst
5. Batterie
Feld.(Feldartillerie) Regiment 267.
II Abteilung

 

Field Artillery Shooting school Beverloo
Second year

23. August 1917
Dear fellow countryman!
I finally have some time to write you after much duties.
Hopefully you are doing really well.
I too looked for means of celebrating(likely some Champagne) but 15 Mark/Reichsmark was a little too steep for me just for teasing/making fun of. Otherwise i am doing really great. This photograph was made in Brussel, don't you think it's wonderful? Please write me too, what is your Batterie up to. For now i stop, heartily i greet you all.
Yours Leo

 

To
Gefreiter
Sir W. Diete??orst
5th Batterie
Field Artillery Regiment 267.
Second Department

Edited Monday at 16:16 by Eiserne Wehr

[Bernd_W]

The one with the slip on over his shoulder board a Zahlmeister-Aspirant while the one with the (pay)book in the cuffs is a Zahlmeister? But Im not an expert. 

[Eiserne Wehr]

This Bavarian Unteroffizier, Kaspar Unützer, of Königlich Bayerisches 2. Infanterie-Regiment 'Kronprinz' has a Militärverdienstkreuz ribbon pinned on his tunic and a Grabendolch on his belt. The real eye-catcher however is the very rarely seen Maschinengewehr-Kompanie sleeve patch on his left sleeve.

[Stogieman]

Love the back of that image!

[Eiserne Wehr]

This photograph shows twelve men of the elite troop of Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 77., II Bataillon. They all seem to carry similar kit except the tall officer and leader in the middle, he doesn't bring a rifle but is ready for close combat. Some prefer to have their Luger 08 pistol attached to a lanyard and there are also those who opt to tuck their pistol in their tunic while having a holster on their belt. Some also bring a Grabendolch along, the third man from left draws his trench knife to display his intent.

The back reads:
den 16. august 1917.

Lieber Paula!
An du alles Haus was treibst du
dir in Berlin rum. Frü zt.schon(Frühzeitig schon) der
du dir gut amüsierts. Wir sicher
dann in der Heimat aus. Gedenke
im Oktober auf Urlaub zu kommen
Sonst alles beim alten
Er grüßt dich den Friz(?)

 

Aufgenommen in
Englos

 

Elite Trupp der II Batl.(Bataillon)
L.I.R. 77.(Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 77.)

 

The 16th of august 1917.

Dear Paula!
To everyone back home, what is happing in Berlin these days?
As long as you are enjoying yourself.
We are definitely moving out of the Homeland.
I will probably be on leave in october.
Furthermore, everything is as usual.
He greets you, yours Friz(?)

 

Taken(this photograph) in
Englos(Northern France)

 

Elite Troop of II Batl.(Bataillon)
L.I.R. 77.(Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 77.)

[Eiserne Wehr]

This soldier is not fully in focus when this photograph was taken but his Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse and Sachsen-Weimar Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen in Bronze are clearly visible. On his belt a Grabendolch with Troddel and a Bajonett. The back reads:
Friedrich Hartmann
Niedergebra(Thüringen)

[Stogieman]

Good Morning! Very nice image, it’s difficult to find any pictures of that Allgemein Ehrenzeichen! Thanks for sharing!

[Bernd_W]

20 hours ago, Eiserne Wehr said:

Lieber Paula!

Lieber Bruder.

Na du altes Haus

? das du dich gut amüsierst.

Wie siehts denn in der Heimat aus (?)

[Eiserne Wehr]

Thank you for your input, i had much difficulties deciphering parts of that text, like many writers they seem to use different styles simultaneously which almost looks like it's written by two persons. What is also very annoying is that some letters are very similar looking, a, e, r, k etc. Recurring words on the backs of these photographs like "Lieber", "Herzlich", "Dank" etc helps to get a baseline but it's not the answer to all that is written. I often use tables of Kurrentschrift but rarely they match like for like, the best method is tracing the writing in Photoshop as if i am writing the words myself. I use two layers so i can see the vowels for example traced by me but i can hide that layer so i immediately see the original.

[Eiserne Wehr]

A neat studio photograph of a soldier who collects patriotic rings, so far he has four of them. Pinned on his tunic are two ribbons and on his civilian belt he carries a Grabendolch with Mannschaften Troddel. He wears a pocket watch in a wristband on his right wrist. His riding trousers are covered up to his knees with puttees, on his shoes are spurs attached. On top of the beautiful and ornate table sits a patriotic picture frame with the text:'Auf dem Felde der Ehre gefallen'. I happen to own this photograph twice but sadly both are unwritten.

[Bernd_W]

3 hours ago, Eiserne Wehr said:

, i had much difficulties deciphering parts of that text,

Google Lens can be also helpful sometimes. 

[Eiserne Wehr]

This young lad appears to stand on military grounds when this photograph was taken given the fence in the background and sandy soil, in any case he is ready to be send over to the front. On his belt a Grabendolch in a leather sheath with metal chape on it's end and possibly a pistol holster next to it. He wears a Pickelhaube with Überzug on his head but without the Regiment's numbers thus this photograph is made after 27. october 1916. On his back a Tornister with a blanket and Zeltbahn strapped to it. In his right hand and pinned on his tunic a small bouquet, in his left hand a smoke. But what is that in his right jackboot, another Grabendolch!
When looking at his Pickelhaube cover there seems to be the ghosting of his Regiment's numbers, '85' or '185', there is nothing on this CDV that indicates a town or city. His Regiment could be that of:
- Infanterie-Regiment Herzog von Holstein Nr. 85.
- Großherzoglich Badisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 185.
Even if this photograph was crystal clear, both Regiments wore the same type of belt buckle so that too would have not helped pinning down his Regiment. Maybe there's writing on the back of the photograph but it's firmly glued onto the cardboard backing and i don't want to destroy it in the process.

[Eiserne Wehr]

In this photograph are six men standing outside of Reserve Lazarett I. Bautzen. The two men on the left are reading a Dresdner Anzeiger newspaper pulled from a large map of other newspapers that the man on the far left is holding. On the map is the text Krankenblätter, which translates to reading material for the patients. The two men on the right are going through some files. The two men in the middle are serving refreshments although i am not sure if you want to drink what is in the bottle of the man holding a glass bottle with a large label on it. Where is the Grabendolch you might ask, there's one placed behind the small sign sitting on the ground in between the two soup ladles.
The text on the sign:
am 9.9.16
Die Alten
Überreste
Res.Laz.I.Bautzen

 

Die alten Überreste translates to "The old leftovers", are they referring to the small box in front of the sign, the drinks or the patients?

On the back are the names of the men written down.

[Bernd_W]

1 hour ago, Eiserne Wehr said:

On the map is the text Krankenblätter, which translates to reading material for the patients.

These are the patient files: https://www.apotheken.de/medikamente/lexikon/k0437-krankenblatt-patientenakte

Most Lazarett pictures show patients, while there are more likely workers like Militärkrankenwärter or something similar IMO

Edited Thursday at 18:03 by Bernd_W

[Eiserne Wehr]

This Hessian soldier is of the Infanterie-Regiment 'Kaiser Wilhelm' (2. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 116. On his belt with the distinctive large Hessian crown buckle sits his Grabendolch. His trench knife is a brand new one, it even has it's small leather washer still on the knife.

[Eiserne Wehr]

This soldier of Feldflieger-Abteilung 7. is portrayed in a backyard with a woman that could be his wife or perhaps she's a relative. In either case, she wants to try out his tunic and hat to see how it looks on her. His Grabendolch has grips made from stag and the Troddel is that of the Mannschaften.

The back of one of the photographs reads:
Zum Andenken
an das Kriegsjahr
im Juni 1917

 

In remembrance
to war year
in June 1917