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  1. The wreck of Admiral Graf von Spee's Flagship SMS Sharnhorst. sunk during the Battle of the Falklands Islands in 1914 has been recently found off the coast of the Falklands. During the Battle the Sharnhorst was sunk first with the Admiral aboard, his sons on the Gneisenau and the Nurnberg also went down with their ships, the Leipzig was also sunk the only ship in the South Seas Squadron to escape was the Dresden.
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  3. Here are images of the 5 Ships of the German South Seas Squadron. All images from other sources.
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  5. Here is my Deactivated WW1 Lewis Gun, this particular version was made for the Belgian Army, under contract from the Birmingham Small Arms Company (B.S.A.) in Birmingham, England. Although the Belgians did have a factory (Armes Automatiques Lewis Company at Liege) they did not make very many as most of Belgium was overrun by the Germans. The British could make 6 Lewis guns for the time and cost of making a single Vickers Machine gun. B.S.A. produced a total of 145,397 Lewis guns during World War I. The sling is a modern reproduction as real slings are extremely hard to come by. Original slings had the padding made from asbestos, so this one has a synthetic padded area that simulates the look. This weapon weighed in at 28 pounds and a fully loaded 47-round magazine was 4 pounds. Still a relatively light weapon compared to the static mounted machine guns like the U.S. made vickers (M1915) which weighed 42 pounds for the gun and another 56 pounds for the tripod. Maxim Machine guns weighed about 75 pounds as well. The big advantage of this weapon was its portability, it could be operated by a single soldier, and keep up with the infantry advances. These light machine guns were prized by the Germans who often would capture them and use them against the Allies.
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  6. Many copies available such as these caps, tunics, trousers and many other items are also now being copied on a mass scale, they are getting better than ever. Such as this M.34 infantry sidecap with M.38 insignia, however the bottom ends of the soutache are rather ragged. An officer side cap, just needs the right insignia... This M43 cap could be rigged to deceive. Watch out for the Erel and Robt.Lübstein marks! Copy LW sidecap, can be fitted with insignia to go... here the eagle insignia is not too good, also the sloppy applied insignia is an obvious hint, could be improved on.
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  7. I refer to your posts "Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner Regiment Nr. 17" (English Version) and "Dragoner-Regt.17 - Casualties, 1914-18." Among the casualties listed there is the following: Dragoner THIELKE Otto [died] 12.08.1914 [battle] Haelen 1. Feld-Esk. I have recently acquired (in the U.S.) a German military/cavalry beer stein that bears the name Otto Thielke and I would like to know whether the name on the stein and your list correspond to the same man. For reference, I am including below the lines on the stein. Unfortunately they are are hard to read because she characters in German script are faded way. Wer treu gedient hat seine Zeit dem ein voller Krug geweih... (?) Stolz zu pols die Kavallerie, auf dem Posten Spät und Frük Ein Kühler Trunk , vom Menschen sein Schmeckt uns nochmal to rein Es lebe hoch das Regiment, das Majestät die Perle neunf Uber Hecken und Bäune dem Feind kein Pardon Soweit un Sturm die 4. Eskadron Zum Andenken n. m. Diensfzeif 1. [or 4. perhaps] Garde Reg. Folsdam 1905-08 The stein includes three cavalry scenes, a pewter lid with a dragoner, and a lithophane depicting a young man. I could send you pictures via email. My assumption is that the Otto Thielke was a member of the regiment described on the stein (1905-08) and became a member of the Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner Regiment Nr. 17 before WWI. How the stein in question ended up in the US remains a mystery. Fernando
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  8. Hi Fernando, I have moved your stein into it's own topic for you, very nice stein indeed. If you need any more information just let us know .
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  9. I have seen this guy before, he found a rusted solid luger, he oils it heat it up, wire brushes it, put a steel rod down the barrel & starts hammering it to free the toggle action, turns out it's still loaded , he manages to get the round out the chamber, & chucks it into his wood burner ! & yes it does go off. https://youtu.be/w_SE5FuuIg8
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  10. You can make a new topic in the history section, no problem, not difficult.
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  11. Welcome to the Forum - - would you care to place your information on a new topic - as this article is stictly only about Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment 17? Your Text: Wer treu gedient hat seine Zeit dem ein voller Krug geweiht... (?) Stolz zu Roß die Kavallerie, auf dem Posten Spät und Früh Ein Kühler Trunk , vom Liebchen rein Schmeckt uns nochmal so fein Es lebe hoch das Regiment, das Majestät die Perle nennt Über Hecken und Bäumen dem Feind kein Pardon So reitet im Sturm die 4. Eskadron Zum Andenken a. m. Dienstzeit (an meine Dienstzeit) 1. [or 4. perhaps] Garde Reg. Potsdam 1905-08 I have corrected some of the wording, which I have underlined and in bold print.. The Regiment here is 1. Garde-Ulanen-Regiment (4. Escadron of the Regiment, cavalry regiments each had a total of five Escadrons) For Names lists , best to check the regiment histories. There have been no reprints. Many of these were published by Verlag G. Stalling & Co., Oldenburg. These histories were written individually. There are the older books published up to 1914, the newer histories were, as I mentioned often published by Stalling-Verlag, these usually list casualties of the Great War squadron by squadron. Another site to view is: http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/2014/vl_3.garde-ulanen-regiment-im-1.weltkrieg.html Above is for 3. Garde-Ulanen-Regiment (Potsdam). They also have other regiments, not sure if 1.G.U.R. is included. Further online research and the regimental history would be recommended. For losses, 1870/71: http://www.denkmalprojekt.org/verlustlisten/vl1870-114.html N.B.: 1. and 3. Garde-Ulanen-Regimenter formed a combined cavalry brigade - 2. Garde-Kavallerie-Brigade, which meant that they mostly operated together. They served in the West until about November 1914, and were then transferred to the Eastern Front. Often personel, who had served pre-war, when called up, were drafted to a different regiment, whether this is the same "Thielke", it would be hard to say, but possible. The Lithophane of "the young man" at the base of the mug is of Kaiser Wilhelm II., a younger portrait. How the object came to America, is hard to say. It could have been found by an American soldier at the end of WW2 and brought back as a souvenir. However, since the postwar years, there is an enormous militaria trade worldwide, and dealers travel to militaria fairs also to USA and throughout Europe, there are also international auctions with many bidders and visitors from overseas. - If Thielke served 1905-08 in 1. Garde-Ulanen-Regiment, it is very likely that on mobilisation in August 1914 he was sent to a different regiment, could be the same man, but you would have to research further. Judging by the fact that on serving 1905-08, he would have been born around 1887. Try and get some genealogy information to see if it is the same man. Perhaps lancing a question to the Militärgeschichtliches Forschungsamt in Potsdam, may give some information, although many of their records were destroyed in February 1945. Records up till 1867 are said to be complete, but from 1868-1945, it is a matter of luck.
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  12. Here is a NSKK great coat, this coat has the same yellow piped shoulder strap as the tunic listed above, however the collar tab shows 2/17 which meant 2nd company of the 17th standarten, in this case Gleiwitz, which fell under Motorgruppe Oberscheisen. This is correct for the period of 1934-1941, and no numeral was worn on the shoulder button. As stated earlier, similar colors were worn by different groups however they were distinguished by the numerals on the shoulder board buttons. As the war dragged on, some groups were consolidated into others. This coat has the RZM tag located in the interior pocket flap. The rank is that of Truppfuhrer which was considered a NCO rank similar to a Feldwebel or Staff Sergeant. The coat has the the sleeve eagle, drivers badge and party armband, and is in excellent condition.
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  13. A veteran's meeting in 1987 of the HIAG - Hilfsgemeinschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit, an Association for and with veterans of the former Waffen-SS. In the good old days, these men could meet wthout any issues. In later years, the press and other "liberal" organisations set out to make these meetings more difficult with protests and insults, etc. The last few meetings after 2000 proved more difficult to organise and carry out, and finally they were banned. For years meetings also took place in the Rathauskeller in Hamburg, but the owners there became less cooperative. The HIAG was finally disbanded just a few years later. Their journal and newssheet was known as "Der Freiwillige", 1956-2014, also no longer published. Old issues can still be found. Original founder members of the HIAG were Paul Hausser, Felix Steiner and Kurt Meyer.
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  15. Most people have heard of the Memphis Belle, maybe not it's pilot so much, Robert Morgan. The Memphis Belle gained fame in WW2 by being the first US bomber in England to complete 25 missions and return the US. The Memphis Belle, a Boeing-built B-17F-10-BO, manufacturer's serial number 3470, USAAC (United States Army Air Corps) Serial No. 41-24485, was added to the USAAF inventory on 15 July 1942, and delivered in September 1942 to the 91st Bombardment Group at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine. She deployed to Prestwick, Scotland, on 30 September 1942, moving to a temporary base at RAF Kimbolton on 1 October, and then finally to her permanent base at RAF Bassingbourn, England, on 14 October. Each side of the fuselage bore the unit and aircraft identification markings of a B-17 of the 324th Bomb Squadron (Heavy); the squadron code "DF" and individual aircraft letter "A." Morgans crew flew a total of 29 missions, however on 25 were flown in the Belle. in which they were credited with 8 enemy aircraft shot down. Upon the return to the US, the Belle and her crew embarked on a war bonds drive to help fund the war. Afterwards, Morgan, newly promoted to Major, went on to command the 869th Bomb Squadron in the Pacific Theater. He flew the B-29 name "Dauntless Dotty" named after his third wife Dorothy. On November 24, 1944, he led the first mission of the XXI Bomber Command to bomb Japan, 110 aircraft of the 73rd Bomb Wing to Tokyo, with wing commander Brigadier General Emmett O'Donnell, Jr. as co-pilot. He completed 26 missions over Japan until being sent home on April 24, 1945. Interestingly enough, after handing over the B-29 to a new crew, the "Dotty" crashed 40 seconds after take off, slamming into the ocean, killing 10 of its 13 crew. The three that survived were thrown from the craft upon impact and spent nearly an hour in the water before being rescued. After the war, Morgan continued to fly in the Air Force Reserves, and eventually retired a full Colonel in 1965. At least 10 US aircraft have since carried the name "Memphis Belle" or some derivative. After spending decades sitting outside, the Belle was starting to deteriorate, however in 2003 was disassembled and taken to a storage facility to begin its long restoration. In May of 2017, work was completed and the plane was put on display at various museums. It now resides at the US Air Force museum in Dayton, Ohio. Robert Morgan also wrote an autobiography of his exoperices, it is very honest and brutal, but a very good read. It is titled: The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle: Memoir of a WWII Bomber Pilot. Below is an autograph I got when I met him at a military show in Dallas Texas in the mid 1990's.
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  16. Yes, of course the number of mission required to go home only increased as the war dragged on. Unfortunately for the Germans numbers and raw materials were not in their side.
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  17. That was the difference to the German side of the story. The Americans could be withdrawn after the said 25 missions etc. On the German side it was different, you had to fly or fight till you fell, there were also no more replacements coming from home.
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  18. Awesome, thanks Fritz!
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  19. The silver was for Unteroffiziere (see last picture). The gold was proficiency and there was even a nice document to go with it. Example: For drivers
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  20. Another question on the LW badges, I have seen some with gold braiding around the edges, sometimes silver as well, is this for a proficiency level?
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  21. You don't often see them in photos, just certain types, such as Flugmeldedienst, also some of the badges of the Flakartillerie are frequently seen, esp. top right.
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  22. WW1 German Stick grenades, especially the M16/17 types would come in packing crates such as the one below. Crates such as these are rare today, as most were broken up and used in the trenches.
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  23. Als geballte Ladung bezeichnete man seit dem Ersten Weltkrieg ein Hilfsmittel zur Panzerbekämpfung. Im militärischen Bereich bildete man eine geballte Ladung durch Aneinanderbinden mehrerer Handgranaten an ihren Töpfen, um eine gleichzeitige Detonation zu bewirken. Mit der so verstärkten Sprengkraft konnten schwächere Panzerungen oder Mauern durchschlagen werden. Dieses Behelfsmittel wurde auch noch im Zweiten Weltkrieg gegen gepanzerte Kampffahrzeuge eingesetzt, bevor andere Panzernahbekämpfungsmittel zur Verfügung standen (Wikipedia short explanation - comprising a combination of several handgrenades) A "Landser" with a "geballte Ladung" "Panzerbekämpfungsmittel" Here is a WW2 period photo, however, these are the Kugel type - and the photo is probably staged for a training manual
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  24. Here is an example of the Kugel mounted on a stick grenade.
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  25. A great admirer of the Führer and a friend of Germany: James Duff, Alderman (Ratsherr) of Belfast, two photos, one is dated 9th Sept.1937, at the seafront in Bangor/Co.Down. He was also managing director of the Belfast Patents Company and a successful businessman, and travelled to Berlin to meet the Führer several times. After the war broke out, my aunt had to help burn all the business papers and correspondence associated with his visits. The only correspondence that has survived, a long letter dated 6. June 1936 to his secretary at the company, along with 2 postcards, stamped, but unwritten of the Berliner Rathaus and the Berliner Dom with Schinkelplatz. Hotel Bristol, Unter den Linden, seems like a noble address. An earlier image of the the British Hotel, same address, later Bristol Hotel
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  26. Normally they were of smooth leather, black for nco's and brown for officers - but as this is a late example, could be of same embossed leather as the cartridge cases this being less likely to scratch. The leather looks the age. The East German Army had similar leather cases postwar till 1989, usually brown, but you can see the difference in the leather, the fittings and stampings. I would think this is a genuine period piece. The Kurvenmesser looks a bit new, also the instructions look very new, the type of print and text looks like for civilian use and travel, what are the details on this? The slide ruler may or may not be military, not sure if this is period, possibly a civilian item?
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  27. It's great doing the research, I agree, you really feel that you know them, especially as I only knew one of my uncles, the other two passed away before I could meet them. My uncle Tom was in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, he was in command of a Lewis gun section. I always feel I am banging on about him on the forum, as he won the VC, but I think he deserves a mention again being a Lewis gunner. His last visit to the UK in 1968 for the The VC and GC Association in London, along side the two other winners of the VC from Carluke, William Angus VC and Donald Cameron VC. This was the last time my mother saw him as he passed away the following year.
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  28. It is indeed 14-18, my Great Uncle was a Lewis gunner during WW1 and he used it to full effect, welcome to the forum
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  29. This particular photo is inscribed: Weihnachten 1914. A Christmas photo, all in different uniforms and from the IX. Armee-Korps. They are very likely a group of young war volunteers directly from a school class, enlisting in different regiments. The man in the centre is clearly a volunteer in Mecklenburg Dragoner-Regiment 17 (Ludwigslust), very fine quality uniform. All but one are wearing peacetime uniforms, as fieldgrey was in shortage. Those remaining from left to right can be identified as Füsilier-Regt.Königin Nr.86 (Flensburg) Infanterie-Regt. Hamburg Nr.76 (no shoulder straps, but cockade "Hanseatic") Mecklenburg Grenadier-Regt.89 (Schwerin) Feldartillerie-Regt.45 (Rendsburg/Altona) Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment 17 Prisonnier de Guerre D. Griem No.249, Le Mans (Sarthe) France, zum Andenken an deinen lieben Cousin, Richard, Juni 1918
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  30. Yes, nice examples, beginning to get scarce, until a few years ago silver and gold dealers were melting them down for the metal, that has put the prices up considerably. Strange to note that the 1 Mark piece was only minted with the old Weimar eagle, never with the eagle and swastka, no new type was produced, these till about 1940 or 1941.
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  31. Yes I picked these up a few years ago with these German silver coins.
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  32. we have a regular who is a retired policeman and he said in all his years in the force he has never came accross any knife crime which involved a collectors item always without exception it was a domestic knife of some sort.
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