Interesting WW1 German military photos

DavidJayUden · 11-06-2009, 10:35 AM

Here is a web site assembled primarily for the Maxim gun crowd, but interesting regardless.

http://www.kaiserscross.com/76001/56722.html

Enjoy.
DJU

Ice · 11-06-2009, 10:57 AM

Thats a fine site. I will enjoy it very much. Thanks!

Charlie

Ron Smith · 11-06-2009, 11:22 AM

A few more.

mauro · 11-06-2009, 11:54 AM

DJU,
If you want to see some of the P08 and LP08 historical pictures in my collection, you can have a look at my web site and visit the historical picture page.

It is only a subset of my entire collection but it is nice I guess.

Cheers,
Mauro

Douglas Jr. · 11-06-2009, 03:00 PM

This site was made by Chris Boonzaier, a well known militaria collector from Germany. He is also interested on WWI machine guns and MG crew teams stories - hence the site.

A nicely done job.

Douglas

Ron Smith · 11-06-2009, 03:12 PM

Flame thrower "Totenkopf" section. Re: DH Lugers?

http://www.kaiserscross.com/40029/76401.html

Ron Wood · 11-06-2009, 05:37 PM

Ron,
Thank you for the link! It still hasn't been determined what unit or organization had the DH Lugers. For the longest time the most likely explanation was that the lazy "S" over the skull and crossbones represented the sweep of a flamethrower and the guns were carried by a flammenwerfer unit. The wide range of dates on the surviving examples and the rudimentary detail of the chamber marking suggest that they may have been utilized by a Freikorps unit during the Weimar era. Here is a photo of an armored car and flamethrower taken during the Kapp Putsch.

Ron Smith · 11-06-2009, 05:57 PM

Hi Ron,

I just thought it was a strong argument for Flamethrower units. I've bounced back and forth between Freikorps and Flamethrower, leaning toward Freikorps. Not so sure now.

I wish I had the "Clipped / De-Billed" helmet in that photo.

Ron

Ron Wood · 11-06-2009, 06:41 PM

I lean toward a Freikorps Falmmenwerfer unit, which turns out to be both your choices in one. I am under the impression that is what is in the photo.

suum cuique · 11-06-2009, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Wood

Ron,
Thank you for the link! It still hasn't been determined what unit or organization had the DH Lugers. For the longest time the most likely explanation was that the lazy "S" over the skull and crossbones represented the sweep of a flamethrower and the guns were carried by a flammenwerfer unit. The wide range of dates on the surviving examples and the rudimentary detail of the chamber marking suggest that they may have been utilized by a Freikorps unit during the Weimar era. Here is a photo of an armored car and flamethrower taken during the Kapp Putsch.

Please note the very rare "Turkish contract helmets"
Just a few thousand were made and not shiped to Turkey due the end of WW1, some of them were used by Freikorps.

suum cuique · 11-06-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Smith

A few more.

Ron, the group photo near the bottom, it looks like they are soldiers of a Garde Gren. Regt.
Can you identify the shoulder straps?

Ron Smith · 11-06-2009, 11:36 PM

Andy,

If I recall, it is a Garde Grenedier Regt. I no longer have the card. It was sold along with several others I had.

Ron

Ron Smith · 11-07-2009, 10:15 AM

I've added two more photos above.

Here's one that is kind of interesting. A German Fliegerabwehr (Anti Aircraft) unit with two captured St. Entiene 1907/16 French machine guns at La Ferte. Fliegerabwehr units were formed in early (Jan.) 1917 for static defense against air attack. This card is dated May 1917.

I have a 1917 Erfurt marked to the 17th Section 3rd Company Flamga Abteilung 912. This is a very rare unit mark applied after unit marking was ordered to cease. I wish I could determine which unit is in the photo. This very Luger could have been in one of those holsters.

Augsburger · 11-07-2009, 10:40 AM

Ron...wow... what a wonderful Erfurt to have. Really impressive. Were the St. Entienne guns the weapons notorious for jamming? cheers

Ron Smith · 11-07-2009, 10:57 AM

Glen,

The St.Entienne was basically a variation of the Hotchkiss built by the Gov't arsenal. The one you are probably thinking of is the "Chauchat". It was literally a POS, jam-o-matic. Parts didn't interchange, the magazine was open on the sides and would clog with mud and debris.

They were issued to U.S. Troops as the latest and greatest. Most were left laying in the mud or thrown away when they jammed.

Augsburger · 11-07-2009, 11:00 AM

My few remaining limping grey cells kicked in with your reply. Chauchat was the one. Thanks Ron.

suum cuique · 11-07-2009, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Smith

Andy,

If I recall, it is a Garde Grenedier Regt. I no longer have the card. It was sold along with several others I had.

Ron

That's what I thought it is.

BTW, I collect KAGGR1 stuff. If somebody has to sell KAGGR1 items, pls. send me an email. Thanks.

11-06-2009, 10:35 AM	#1
DavidJayUden Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 4,047 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,414 Times in 887 Posts	Interesting WW1 German military photos Here is a web site assembled primarily for the Maxim gun crowd, but interesting regardless. http://www.kaiserscross.com/76001/56722.html Enjoy. DJU

11-06-2009, 11:22 AM	#3
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	A few more. Attached Thumbnails __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said... Last edited by Ron Smith; 11-07-2009 at 10:07 AM.

11-06-2009, 11:54 AM	#4
mauro FIREARM HISTORIAN AND AUT Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 106 Thanked 350 Times in 129 Posts	DJU, If you want to see some of the P08 and LP08 historical pictures in my collection, you can have a look at my web site and visit the historical picture page. It is only a subset of my entire collection but it is nice I guess. Cheers, Mauro __________________ Mauro Baudino - www.lugerlp08.com www.paul-mauser-archive.com Mauser Company and Firearm Historian - Mauser Parabellum Certification Service.

11-06-2009, 03:12 PM	#6
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Flame thrower "Totenkopf" section. Re: DH Lugers? http://www.kaiserscross.com/40029/76401.html __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

11-06-2009, 05:37 PM	#7
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	Ron, Thank you for the link! It still hasn't been determined what unit or organization had the DH Lugers. For the longest time the most likely explanation was that the lazy "S" over the skull and crossbones represented the sweep of a flamethrower and the guns were carried by a flammenwerfer unit. The wide range of dates on the surviving examples and the rudimentary detail of the chamber marking suggest that they may have been utilized by a Freikorps unit during the Weimar era. Here is a photo of an armored car and flamethrower taken during the Kapp Putsch. Attached Images __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

11-06-2009, 10:57 AM	#2
Ice User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 552 Thanks: 13 Thanked 69 Times in 57 Posts	Thats a fine site. I will enjoy it very much. Thanks! Charlie

11-06-2009, 03:00 PM	#5
Douglas Jr. User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: South America Posts: 948 Thanks: 598 Thanked 584 Times in 254 Posts	This site was made by Chris Boonzaier, a well known militaria collector from Germany. He is also interested on WWI machine guns and MG crew teams stories - hence the site. A nicely done job. Douglas

11-06-2009, 05:57 PM	#8
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Hi Ron, I just thought it was a strong argument for Flamethrower units. I've bounced back and forth between Freikorps and Flamethrower, leaning toward Freikorps. Not so sure now. I wish I had the "Clipped / De-Billed" helmet in that photo. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

11-06-2009, 06:41 PM	#9
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	I lean toward a Freikorps Falmmenwerfer unit, which turns out to be both your choices in one. I am under the impression that is what is in the photo. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

11-06-2009, 11:36 PM	#12
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Andy, If I recall, it is a Garde Grenedier Regt. I no longer have the card. It was sold along with several others I had. Ron __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

11-07-2009, 10:15 AM	#13
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	I've added two more photos above. Here's one that is kind of interesting. A German Fliegerabwehr (Anti Aircraft) unit with two captured St. Entiene 1907/16 French machine guns at La Ferte. Fliegerabwehr units were formed in early (Jan.) 1917 for static defense against air attack. This card is dated May 1917. I have a 1917 Erfurt marked to the 17th Section 3rd Company Flamga Abteilung 912. This is a very rare unit mark applied after unit marking was ordered to cease. I wish I could determine which unit is in the photo. This very Luger could have been in one of those holsters. Attached Thumbnails __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

11-07-2009, 10:40 AM	#14
Augsburger User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tejas Posts: 160 Thanks: 17 Thanked 14 Times in 5 Posts	Ron...wow... what a wonderful Erfurt to have. Really impressive. Were the St. Entienne guns the weapons notorious for jamming? cheers __________________ Wilder Eber

11-07-2009, 10:57 AM	#15
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	Glen, The St.Entienne was basically a variation of the Hotchkiss built by the Gov't arsenal. The one you are probably thinking of is the "Chauchat". It was literally a POS, jam-o-matic. Parts didn't interchange, the magazine was open on the sides and would clog with mud and debris. They were issued to U.S. Troops as the latest and greatest. Most were left laying in the mud or thrown away when they jammed. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

11-07-2009, 11:00 AM	#16
Augsburger User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tejas Posts: 160 Thanks: 17 Thanked 14 Times in 5 Posts	My few remaining limping grey cells kicked in with your reply. Chauchat was the one. Thanks Ron. __________________ Wilder Eber

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