Really great Navy Luger Postcard on Ebay

[Douglas Jr.]

Nice indeed.
But this kind of picture always get some high bids.
It took me a few years to find one in an affordable range.

Douglas

[sheepherder]

There's been similar cards posted here, most seem to be from the Torpedo Division...

Was the 'Torpedo Division' a school???

I'm guessing that the pics are some kind of graduation picture, like from a school or training class of some kind...

But I'm curious as to what the Torpedo Division would have to do with sidearms??? Were torpedomen considered auxillary 'infantrymen' when an armed escort or boarding party [VBSS?] was required???

I can imagine that on a sub, everyone would wear many 'hats', and duties would be doubled or tripled...But why specifically a torpedoman???

And why not a rifle???

[Norme]

Your right, Rich, this photo and others like it are a sort of graduation picture. They were taken on completion of what the Germans call infantry training and we call basic training. Torpedo men served on torpedo boats, of which there were several hundred in the Imperial German Navy. In addition to near suicidal attacks on larger more powerful vessels, they acted as the German equivalent of our Coast Guard. Regards, Norm

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by Norme

Torpedo men served on torpedo boats, of which there were several hundred in the Imperial German Navy.

I didn't think of MTBs...I suppose because I've never read about them (in WW I)...

On an unrelated topic, it wasn't until I read Deighton's Winter that I even knew the German Navy had Zeppelins in WW I...Many of them...That attacked England in packs...