Superb photo of Stormtroopers with Long P.08s

uhlster · 09-23-2022, 10:59 PM

Greetings all. It took a good bit of effort but brought this over from Germany. Came from a household sale in Kreuztal near Siegen Nordrhein-Westfalen. On the reverse is in a Latin cursive penciled mark from his mother in German translated, "In memory of your brother, Karl". Karl is identified on the far left, from his sibling, markings of which were removed digitally for this scan.

To remember Karl and his fellow soldiers, I uploaded this to Wikipedia Commons and now is in public domain. It is the clearest photo I have seen of this particular weapon being used in this time period. I hope you enjoy and let me know what you can gather from these men.

I see all have Iron Cross class 2, one has a class 1 pinned to chest; they were experienced when it was taken. No holsters present, but I heard they were hard to come by till the end of the war and usually ditched in the field. Thank you for the internet platform to present this photo.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormt...ery_Lugers.png

gunbugs · 09-24-2022, 01:12 AM

What a great photo. Thanks.

Major Tom · 09-24-2022, 09:23 AM

The man with the first class iron cross looks to have a 'pommel' hanging on his belt his left side. Pommels were used for daggers. Maybe he was awarded a dagger for his service?

Karl · 09-24-2022, 10:25 AM

It looks to me like they all have daggers in their belts. I find the lack of holsters/magazines strange and wonder if they all put their guns in their belts for a staged photo showing off the guns.

KFS

Schupo · 09-24-2022, 12:11 PM

All these men are wearing trench "daggers" in the form of Extra-Waffen Edged Weapons. The fellow with the Iron Cross 1st Class is wearing an Officer knot (Portepee) on his while the fellow to his right is wearing a NCO knot (Troddel).

Nice photograph!

ithacaartist · 09-25-2022, 02:15 AM

A great photo! ...although Karl's "trigger finger etiquette" leaves a bit to be desired. Also the guy on the other end.

DonVoigt · 09-27-2022, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl

It looks to me like they all have daggers in their belts. I find the lack of holsters/magazines strange and wonder if they all put their guns in their belts for a staged photo showing off the guns.

KFS

Yes, to the staged photo.

DonVoigt · 09-27-2022, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Major Tom

The man with the first class iron cross looks to have a 'pommel' hanging on his belt his left side. Pommels were used for daggers. Maybe he was awarded a dagger for his service?

Not a "pommel", but Portepee; a pommel is the upper end of the grip or knob on many daggers/bladed weapons.

lugerholsterrepair · 09-27-2022, 06:03 PM

The trooper with an actual iron cross on his tunic has what appears to be a bayonet? It has a button at the top.

The two the right appear to have trench fighting knives..they have wooden round tops with diagonal lines on the handles.

This photo is a little sanitary compared to a lot of trench raider photo's. No lanyards, stick grenades or pockets full of magazines..No dirt & mud..these guys in back look like newbies. GREAT photo though! Thanks for posting.

spangy · 09-28-2022, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karl

It looks to me like they all have daggers in their belts. I find the lack of holsters/magazines strange and wonder if they all put their guns in their belts for a staged photo showing off the guns.

KFS

This is an excellent photo ... the Artillery's stuffed in the waistbands and belts makes for a dramatic staged photo ... thank you uhlster.

Traditionally the LP 08 holster did not come with 'belt' loops but shoulder strap loops to wear the gun, holster and stock board from around your shoulder and neck. Wearing an entire LP 08 rig from your belt was too heavy and unwieldy.

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These shoulder straps could be simply threaded through the loops provided on the back of the holster or threaded though the holster AND it's shoulder stock board provided to make the LP 08 act as a carbine. The rig was much easier to carry around than the K98 rifle used by the Army.

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A few LP 08 holsters from my collection.

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Yakman · 09-28-2022, 05:16 PM

If one clicks on the link in the post the photo can be enlarged quite a bit, plainly showing the subjects, their pistols, and their awards.

Jack

09-23-2022, 10:59 PM	#1
uhlster User Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 42 Times in 6 Posts	Superb photo of Stormtroopers with Long P.08s Greetings all. It took a good bit of effort but brought this over from Germany. Came from a household sale in Kreuztal near Siegen Nordrhein-Westfalen. On the reverse is in a Latin cursive penciled mark from his mother in German translated, "In memory of your brother, Karl". Karl is identified on the far left, from his sibling, markings of which were removed digitally for this scan. To remember Karl and his fellow soldiers, I uploaded this to Wikipedia Commons and now is in public domain. It is the clearest photo I have seen of this particular weapon being used in this time period. I hope you enjoy and let me know what you can gather from these men. I see all have Iron Cross class 2, one has a class 1 pinned to chest; they were experienced when it was taken. No holsters present, but I heard they were hard to come by till the end of the war and usually ditched in the field. Thank you for the internet platform to present this photo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormt...ery_Lugers.png

09-24-2022, 09:23 AM	#3
Major Tom User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: S.E. Iowa Posts: 484 Thanks: 533 Thanked 227 Times in 124 Posts	The man with the first class iron cross looks to have a 'pommel' hanging on his belt his left side. Pommels were used for daggers. Maybe he was awarded a dagger for his service? __________________ I Build Custom Pistol Boxes

09-24-2022, 12:11 PM	#5
Schupo User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kansas City Metro Posts: 206 Thanks: 1 Thanked 102 Times in 47 Posts	All these men are wearing trench "daggers" in the form of Extra-Waffen Edged Weapons. The fellow with the Iron Cross 1st Class is wearing an Officer knot (Portepee) on his while the fellow to his right is wearing a NCO knot (Troddel). Nice photograph! Attached Thumbnails __________________ "You can't please everyone, so you have got to please yourself." Ricky Nelson

09-25-2022, 02:15 AM	#6
ithacaartist Twice a Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Atop the highest hill in Schuyler County NY Posts: 3,343 Thanks: 7,264 Thanked 2,576 Times in 1,364 Posts	A great photo! ...although Karl's "trigger finger etiquette" leaves a bit to be desired. Also the guy on the other end. __________________ "... Liberty is the seed and soil, the air and light, the dew and rain of progress, love and joy."-- Robert Greene Ingersoll 1894

09-27-2022, 06:03 PM	#9
lugerholsterrepair Moderator Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Arizona/Colorado Posts: 7,771 Thanks: 4,928 Thanked 3,124 Times in 1,434 Posts	The trooper with an actual iron cross on his tunic has what appears to be a bayonet? It has a button at the top. The two the right appear to have trench fighting knives..they have wooden round tops with diagonal lines on the handles. This photo is a little sanitary compared to a lot of trench raider photo's. No lanyards, stick grenades or pockets full of magazines..No dirt & mud..these guys in back look like newbies. GREAT photo though! Thanks for posting. __________________ Jerry Burney 11491 S. Guadalupe Drive Yuma AZ 85367-6182 lugerholsterrepair@earthlink.net 928 342-7583 (CO & AZ) Year Round 719 207-3331 (cell) "For those who Fight For It, Life has a flavor the protected will never know."

09-24-2022, 01:12 AM	#2
gunbugs Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska. Home of the best moose. Posts: 658 Thanks: 365 Thanked 1,176 Times in 393 Posts	What a great photo. Thanks.

09-24-2022, 10:25 AM	#4
Karl Lifer - Twice Over Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Savannah Posts: 520 Thanks: 0 Thanked 266 Times in 116 Posts	It looks to me like they all have daggers in their belts. I find the lack of holsters/magazines strange and wonder if they all put their guns in their belts for a staged photo showing off the guns. KFS

09-28-2022, 05:16 PM	#11
Yakman User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Indiana Posts: 119 Thanks: 881 Thanked 81 Times in 40 Posts	If one clicks on the link in the post the photo can be enlarged quite a bit, plainly showing the subjects, their pistols, and their awards. Jack