John Rieth

  John Rieth here.

    I am pleased to announce the release of the second edition of my book, Germany's Iron Regiment of the First World War: War Memories of Service with Infantry Regiment 169, 1914-1918.  The new edition is essentially a rewrite of the original that adds over 100 pages of text, maps and pictures to the 2014 publication.

     For those not already familiar with book, the Iron Regiment offers a rare, English language account of a Germany infantry regiment’s journey from the very first battles on the Western Front in August 1914, through its destruction by US Marines and Army tanks in the Argonne Forest in November 1918.  The book was inspired by a wartime journal written by my grandfather, Albert Rieth, an IR 169 veteran, who was wounded in the Battle of the Frontiers in August 1914 and at La Bassee, Flanders, in January 1915. 

     One of the central voices in the first edition from Otto Lais, an IR 169 veteran who in 1936 published a pamphlet of his experiences in the Somme.  For the new edition, I was able to acquire and translate key excerpts from two additional books that Lais wrote about his 1917-1918 service in IR 169.   Lais was an interesting fellow.  Only 21 years old by the War’s end, he fought as a machine gunner in the Somme and eventually earned a battlefield commission in 1917.  He went on to command IR 169 machine gun and rifle companies in the 1917 Aisne Campaign, the Spring 1918 Offensives, Bapaume and in the Meuse-Argonne.  In a stroke of luck, Lais survived IR 169’s annihilation on November 1, 1918 when he was transferred to a staff position two days earlier.  After the war, he became a teacher and well-noted bohemian artist in Karlsruhe.  Lais was recalled to active service in WW II where he commanded an infantry regiment on the Western Front.  His service in Normandy and the Netherlands earned him Germany’s Knights Cross for valor.   I have seen a number of posts over the years from members who were interested in learning more about Lais' experiences beyond the initial July 1916 assault at the Somme.  I think most readers will be fascinated by his accounts as a small unit commander through the very worst of the Great War’s combat.  

 

     Much more information on the book, as well as a Google Map of the regiment’s service and description of all new content, can be found at www.ironregiment169.com.  If you are interested in purchasing this on line, be sure to order the second edition, the book is available in soft cover and Kindle formats.

   

I greatly appreciate the many encouragement from WFA members who responded to my first edition.  Thank you for your consideration and welcome further comments.

 

Best Regards,

 

John