Today on Gus’ Gear I am going to wander back to the German corner since this page focuses on WWI German history. It is obvious that Joe is not going to fire me for getting off topic so I just as well get in line for a week or two. I will show the German impressions found in the German Corner of the collection.
This is an un-named grouping from a German seaman who served on the S.M.S. Lothringen which was the fifth and last of the Braunschweig class battle ships in the German Kaiserliche Marine. The S.M.S. Lothringen was commissioned in 1906 and participated in the early attacks on the British coast at Scarborough, Whidby and Hartlepool on the 16th of December 1914. The Lothringen was taken out of active service in 1917 and used as a training vessel until the end of the war. The uniform consists of a white cap with an S.M.S. Lothringen talley, white jumper, trousers and neck scarf. The jumper has the patch of a signalman on the left sleeve.
Drillich uniforms were issued to all branches of the military, to be worn while engaged in menial labor, such as maintenance, coaling and any type of work that would cause excessive wear to the regular uniform. This uniform consists of a drill jacket and trousers of heavy linen construction. The cap is an example of the dark blue Marine Mütze. It also has a Reichs cockade and a Tally to the 8. II Matrosen Division. This would have been worn by a sailor who was based on land and it would be worn while on work detail rather than dress because the condition is poor.
This is an impression of an early Prussian infantryman, with a felt ersatz Pickelhaube with brass fittings and Überzeug. The M1915 Mantel has the name Brünner inked into the liner in the back. Around his neck is a ammunition bandoleer used to carry extra ammunition to the front. These bandoleers were one of the most numerously produced items, but one of the hardest to find. This one was sent to me by Tore, who has been a great friend in the collecting community. The ammunition pouches are M1909 three pocket pouches that carried three stripper clips per pocket for a total of 90 rounds, the scabbard is for the M1898 nA quill back bayonet with a Troddel for the 2nd Company.
This impression shows full marching kit, with the overcoat rolled and strapped to the back pack and the mess kit on the back (it should be strapped with the lid to the right). The M1895 water bottle hangs from his M1887 bread bag with an M1895 cup clipped to the water bottle. The helmet is an M1915 Pickelhaube with Überzeug and the gas mask is an M1915 Gummimaske. The rifle is an M1898 Gewehr with an M1898 nA bayonet. The tunic is a 1930s studio reproduction of the M1915 Bluse and the breeches are M1910.
This represents a Bavarian soldier, wearing an M1915 overcoat with the collar constructed of grey wool and Bavarian rampant lion buttons. The M1916 steel helmet has a cloth Überzeug. Cloth was found to harbor filth that could be carried into wounds if a projectile penetrated the helmet, these were not used long in the trenches. The gas mask is an M1916 leather mask with the carrying canister at his left hip. The ammo pouches are M1887 with an M1895 bread bag strap to support the weight and are on an M1895 belt with an M1895 brass Bavarian buckle with the motto “In Treue Fest.”
This shows an M1915 Gumimaske with canister, the Mütze has a camo band to cover the red band. The Bluse is a studio made example that was used in the original film “All Quite on the Western Front.” The trousers are M1910 Steingrau Hosen with red piping for infantry and the boots are originals that were modified and rebuilt by Robert Fisch to use in photographing the WWI collection at West Point.
This impression has a Stirnpanzer mounted on the ventilation lugs of an M1916 steel helmet and has a Grabenpanzer over an M1915 overcoat. All helmets had distinctive lugs on the sides, they were designed to attached an armor plate to the front of the helmet. The Stirnpanzer (frontal armor) shown here, is heavy, weighing just over 2 kg (about 5 lbs) and was attached to the lugs with a leather strap around the back of the helmet. Only about 50 thousand were made as they were uncomfortable to wear for any length of time. Compared to the number of helmets made (approximately 7 million) these are not often encountered.
The Grabenpanzer (trench armor), shown in this photo, was designed to provide ballistic protection to the torso and was effective but uncomfortable to wear, making it only suitable for stationary sentries. The armor was made in four section that were connected with straps to allow flexibility. There were wool felt pads between the sections to reduce noise.
When the first design was introduced in 1916, it was found that it was difficult to fire a rifle while wearing the Grabenpanzer, so in 1918 other patterns were made. One had a cutout on the right shoulder and another with a sheet metal angle that was checkered to provide grip. The pattern also had belt hooks and a leather strap at the lower corners of the top segment to secure the armor to the soldier. This is usually referred to as the second pattern. A few of the first pattern Grabenpanzers have been observed with the waist strap. This is an example of the first pattern (M1916) Grabenpanzer.
The gas mask is an M1916 leather mask and the bayonet is an M1905 with a Troddel for the 7th Company.
This artilleryman has a Mütze with a black band and red piping of the technical troops. The jacket is a drill jacket of durable linen as are the trousers, these were worn while involved in heavy work to save wear on the uniform. The belt is an M1915 belt with an M1915 buckle with the Prussian motto “Gott mit Uns.”
An important part of the German Army’s clothing was the convalescent clothing that was issued to soldiers who spent time in hospitals recovering from wounds or illness. The convalescent gowns and trousers were made from a gray/blue and white stripped herringbone cotton or linen cloth, chosen for its durability. In our part of the world it is commonly referred to as pillow ticking. This garment is the standard Lazarettkleid, with a single button at the top, a tie at the collar and a simple belt that could be tied at the waist. There is a single pocket on the right hip for the soldier’s personal items.
The trousers have a 4 button fly, a tie at the back to adjust size, buttons at the waist for suspenders (braces) and a single pocket on the right hip. The cap is a model 1917 Einheitsfeldmütze (standardized field cap) it has a band and piping in Abzeichentuch in Resedagrün, the same material used on the collars of the M1915 Mantel and was issued to all branches of service without the branch color piping. This served two purposes, first it made supply simpler and second, it eliminated the need for a separate camouflage band to cover the bright colored bands that were used by the different branches of service. These were issued to all branches of service although the M1907 was in use throughout the war.
And for Sabina, a picture of a kitten.