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High Quality WW1 Photos - Central Powers


Gildwiller1918

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Here is an interesting photo, showing different types of gas mask and breathing apparatus. A lot of experimenting was going on to see which mask offered the best protection, however the types of gases used was ever changing, and was hard to design a mask that would protect from all hazards. Some of the mask pictured here are no doubt just for show but all seem to be 1915 and earlier. 

The first soldier on the left has a Drager respirator, I have not been able to find much about this model, however I seen similar models used by the allies in the tunneling efforts. 

The second soldier has something similar to the British PH hood model, with the carrying case on his chest, although I have not been able to identify the exact model yet. 

The soldier 3rd from left is wearing the M15 Gummimaske, which closely resembles later models. However this model had a longer face mask and a much wider base plate for the filter to screw to, later models, the plate was about the same diameter as the filter. 

The last soldier on the right has what looks like a simple cloth that may have been impregnated with chemicals to offer protection. 

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Here is a nice clear picture of a German anti-aircraft gun, the Flak M14 37mm, which was very similar to the British QF 1 pounder. Note they all seem to have the later model gas masks on. On the left side of the gun you can see a spool, this is where the 37mm rounds were held in a cloth bandolier that feed into the gun. Most of the troops seem to have knee high boots on and their uniforms look to be in very good condition. The gun itself seems to have no protection either, so possibly a staged or training photo. Second photo you can see the bandolier with the ammo going to the weapon, but instead of the spool, the ammo is coming from a box instead. The 37mm round was used by all sides and had different types of projectile heads for certain applications such as armor piercing or shrapnel. 

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37cmMaschinenKanone.jpg

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Interesting photo of an Austrian aircraft gunner with a battery of Mauser C96 pistols. It is hard to tell his rank as the 6 pointed stars could be for a korporal if they were silver or a Oberleutnant if they are gold colored. I wonder how effective the pistols were, obviously they did not have much range versus a rifle caliber. 

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Here is a nice photo of a Stosstruppen regt. Most likely during or after training. Note the grenade sacks that hang on the sides of the body that held stick grenades. Most if not all the grenades pictures appear to be the smoke type with the holes in the can. All the rifles look like the G98 also, which were much longer than the Kar98A that was typically issued to these units. 

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Nice early image of a German Cavalryman. Calvary use in the war did not go as the planners thought, the use of machine guns and artillery rederned the horse charge somewhat obsolete, however in areas like the middle east and the Russian theater where there was much more open space, they played a vital role. This lancer looks very well equipped. Note the Kar 98A carbine just visible over his left shoulder, which was an ideal weapon for mounted units. Hard to tell his unit, possibly an 18 on his shoulder boards. 

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Nice image of a German Sanitäter, he has a luger pistol on his belt and his canteen is visible also. In these photos you can see a 16 on his shoulder boards, also visible is his bayonet and troddel. The photos were taken in Belgium and developed in a shop in Strasbourg. In the second photo, the man on the left looks like he has a shotgun, possibly a sentry and with a sword as well. 

 

 

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First photo, rank is Gefreiter, he is wearing the so-called "verstärkte Feldmütze mit Schirm" - these were issued where no helmet was available.
Second photo, the person in the middle looks like a Belgian cadet or pupil of a military school. He was possibly caught behind German lines with
the shotgun. He may be treated as a "Franctireur", despite his age. The man on the left is wearing the outdated darkgrey greatcoat, and is wearing elegant laced ankle boots with set spurs and Ledergamaschen instead of the regular boots. He is most certainly from a second-line unit.

I remember reading many years ago of a Belgian boy, who had been caught by the British behind their lines in the Ypres area. He was caught red-handed with a Lee-Enfield and was in possession of 17 British identity tags. The British had wondered for several weeks, where the sniper fire had come from and the mysterious losses. There was no court martial held, two men held him by the arms over a shell hole and an officer shot him with his pistol. I believe that was 1917. The boy never gave any explanation for his sniper activity.

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Interesting story Fritz about the boy. I will have to see if I can find out any more information. 

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Can't remember which book that was (a library book on loan), must at least 45 years since I read it, as far as I remember, it was somewhere in the Ypres area, at least the person was Belgian.

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The cavalry photo is Königlich Sächsisches 2. Ulanen-Regiment 18, based in Leipzig. The shoulder straps  clearly have the number 18. Normally the uniform had Gardelitzen on collars and cuffs, often later omitted on the fieldgrey uniform, piping was crimson coloured, the buttons silver.
Saxony had 3 Ulanen-Regiments, 17, 18 and 21.

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Epaulettes, U.R.18 on peacetime uniform, backing was light cornflower blue.
Number was introduced on the fieldgrey uniform

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Thanks Fritz, you must have eagle eyes. I thought it was 18, but was not completely sure. 

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You can magnify the photo - then it is clear, also the number on the helmet cover begins with a "1". The shoulder pieces are not the first issue pear-shaped type.

Many cavalry units were transferred as from mid November 1914 to the Eastern Front.

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The Landsturm Fußartillerie crew of an older Krupp 15cm Ringkanone shown at the breech of their canon, most likely from 1915 or 1916. The 15cm Ringkanone of 1872 (below) and the lange 15cm Ringkanone of 1892 did not have a recoil system. They were both fortress guns designed to be fired from behind parapets of the annexe batteries at enemy siege batteries. Note the powder charge in the mans arms just below the breech. 

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Interesting view of fortifications on the Eastern Front, near Minsk. Since the terrain is marshy, the fortifications are elevated. However they are little more than barricades to stop infantry attacks and would not hold up under heavy guns. However take note of the sentries guns, they are using the 20 round magazine extensions on their Mauser rifles. Not an often encountered piece of kit. And the fact that their are not many sentries suggests this is a possible quiet sector.

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Nice early war (1915) photo of a German Pionier troop. This soldier was from the Kgl. Sächs. 2. Pionier-Bataillon Nr.22.  Nice view of his gear to include ammo pouches, bayonet with troddel, pickaxe and carrier, pack and cloth covered helmet. 

 

 

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Here is another view of the 20 round magazine extension for the Mauser rifle, seen on the left side of the photo. The magazine extension did not increase the rate of fire, and in general was not well liked as it added extra weight and made certain firing positions difficult. The soldier holding this rifle is also next to a trench periscope, these were used by all sides, and came in many different shapes and sizes. The soldier on the far right has a flare (very) pistol in his belt as well. Note the difference in headgear. 

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Nice photo showing troops in Africa, specifically Askari soldiers in Eastern Africa. The war in Africa, is something that is often overlooked compared to the fighting in Europe, but was no less savage. Troops often faced greater threats from disease than from the enemy, and with little to no infrastructure to support them. These troops in the picture below are wearing a khaki colored uniform with five plain silver colored buttons on the tunic, which also had no pockets, khaki colored epaulets and a stand/fall collar. The trousers were also the same khaki color as the tunic. The cap they are wearing is called a Tarbush which was a khaki colored cloth wrapped over a wicker frame which had an attached neck shade. On the front of the Tarbush was a white metal colored eagle, which was worn after 1896, although in numerous photos you can see company numbers used instead. 

The soldiers are wearing the M1895 equipment and ammunition pouches, the belt buckle at this point was a plain brass piece. The rifles shown are the Mauser Jägerbüchse '71, which was a 11mm rifle. This rifle was quite outdated by WW1 standards, most notably because it used black powder still, which resulted in a great puff of smoke upon firing, which gave the shooters position away. The S71/84 bayonets were used with this rifle, however just before WW1 started, the G98 and related items started to arrive to replace the older gear. 

The ranks used by the Askari troops was that of the Ottoman system, for example Ombascha/Gefreiter was for one chevron, or Bet-Schausch/Sergeant with three chevrons. 

doa target practice.jpg

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A long forgotten war, it was not possible to supply them in any way due to the Allied blockade, and the incapability of the German navy against the fleets of the great powers, they were self-sufficient under the leadership of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and never surrendered, until they were told that the Armistice was one week ago.
Many Askaris wanted to go to Germany, but that was not possible. All the German colonies were divided up between the winners. Portugal, Belgium, France, England and South Africa profited from this. The far east colonies went under Japanese rule until they lost these in WW2.

Heja Safari! Heja Askari! The German heritage and language carried on for many years in the former colonies, especially SouthWest Africa - there have been some massive changes recently, they no longer feel "German", and have even sued for compensation! Of all the colonial masters, the Germans were the most lenient, apart from a few exceptions: Hereros in the Namib Desert, 1904-06.

Bildergebnis für deutsch südwestafrika"

Bildergebnis für deutsch südwestafrika"

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I have read about Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, great example of guerrilla warfare, living off the land and his enemies. It was amazing how much resources the allies put in to catch him. 

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Here is another good photo of a Schutztruppe askari wearing the khaki uniform and tarbush with imperial eagle. He carries an imperial German flag as flown from German bases in the colonies and carried by Schutztruppe marching columns. However he is armed with a Gew 88 rifle.

Bundesarchiv_Bild_105-DOA6369,_Deutsch-Ostafrika,_Askari (1).jpg

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They had mostly second-rate and obsolete firearms. However, they used everything from Poruguese, Belgian, English and French sources.
The Gew. 88 and 71/84 were also widely used on the Western and other fronts till at least 1916.

The German press is nowadays full of headlines such as "Der Völkermord an den Hereros..."  Making the entire population of a country forever ashamed.

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I was always amazed how he and his forces scavenged the artillery from the SMS Königsberg to use in the fight. Nothing wasted, all resources used to fullest potential.

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There was no alternative - it was a matter of life and death - there were a large number of colonists, also women and children, males im "wehrfähigem Alter" were expected to take up arms, which they did - civilians were later interned in "Concentration camps" until repatriation, but many died (!) That is the truth.

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Another nice detailed early war photo. The three soldiers on the left are in the process of throwing grenades. The soldier in the foreground on the left is holding what looks like a Kugel grenade. This I believe is the Model 1915 N/a with the 1913 traction igniter. The 1915 model looked more spherical that the Model of 1913 which had a serrated look which was similar to a Mills bomb. It is very rare to see these grenades being used in photos. The man right behind him is using the Model of 1915 stick grenade, which is distinguishable with its wooden rounded bottom handle. The last men throwing the grenade (farthest away) appears to have a Kugel as well. The riflemen on the right may be using the G88 rifles, hard to tell as the rifles are mostly obscured, but from the shape of the rear receiver and bolt, it looks like the correct shape for the G88. The soldier firing in the foreground appears to have a corduroy type material for his tunic. 

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Another nice early war photo, these men are listed as belonging to a Bavarian unit. The second and fifth man (left to right) are carrying the G88 rifle, while the others have the Mauser 71/84 rifles. It was not uncommon for armies to use weapons and gear from previous wars, especially with rapid mobilizations and increases in troop levels. Note the difference in footwear as well. 

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