Unusual photos from my collection

[Tom W.]

Two Russian infantrywomen captured by the Germans in late 1916. These were combat troops.

[Tom W.]

Very young Swiss troops eating lunch. Note the new steel helmets.

[Tom W.]

German kids in Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 162, during the inspection stage (Inspektion-Etappen) of Close-Combat Techniques School (Nahkampfmitteschule) at Lockstedt in 1917.

[Tom W.]

Heavy machine-gun squad of Saxon Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 139 in Verdun, 1917. Note the captured British Vickers gun used without a tripod.

[Tom W.]

Infanterie Gruppe Reuder, named after the Unteroffizier in charge. A Gruppe appears to have been about eight men. These are equipped for an assault, armed with rifles, stick grenades, and sharpened spades. The respirator containers are in the "alert" position. The Gruppe was even smaller than the squad.

[Tom W.]

Bulgarian infantry photographed on January 1, 1917, armed with a French Chauchat M1915 machine rifle.

[Tom W.]

An American, a French, and an Italian soldier. Prisoners? United for an operation?

[Tom W.]

Three American brothers: James McMahon (left rear), John McMahon (right rear), and Simon McMahon, whose cap band reads "Naval Aviation."

[Tom W.]

Grenadier Augustine from Tacherting, Bavaria, decided to stand for his portrait in a filthy uniform, his wounded right thigh heavily wrapped in bandages beneath the huge bloodstain on his trousers, his face wracked with pain as he struggled to hold the dignified pose.

[Tom W.]

Bavarian assault trooper in full field uniform, posing with his wife or girlfriend. He looks ready to fight; she's serene and almost amused. Very odd image...

[Tom W.]

American father with his daughter, on his return from the war. Their expressions are unforgettable.

[Tom W.]

Unusually cheerful for a formal portrait. Seems a nice man. I hope he survived.

[Tom W.]

Men of the Danube Army: Bulgarian (left), German (center), and Turkish (right).

[Tom W.]

Austrian soldier giving a cigarette to his Italian prisoner, a machine gunner. That might explain the Austrian's complicated expression; machine gunners were not the most admired of the prisoners an army might take.

[Guest Rundberg]

Some really nice photos Tom, thanks!

Chris

[Tom W.]

Written on the back: "The widow. She is teaching [American Volunteer Ambulance Driver] Bill Moorehouse a lot of French."

[SiegeGunner]

The Gruppe was even smaller than the squad.

A Gruppe was indeed a unit of 8 men, usually led by a corporal. German unit orders often called for so many Gruppen to be deployed to a particular position, or for a larger unit to work its way forward under fire (usually when counter-attacking within their own lines) in Gruppen. It was also used as a rough and ready reckoner of the strength of enemy forces in small numbers. I have translated messages reporting events along the lines of "A party of Engländer has occupied a section of our front line trench in sector IIb. Approx 2 Gruppen have dug in at strongpoint Baden."

The photo of very young recruits in 1917 perhaps speaks volumes about Germany's impending doom, and goes some way to explaining the defiant attitude of elements of the German army after the Armistice. There were still many good quality units of battle-hardened troops left, who could have gone on fighting, but there were simply too few of them to go round.

[Tom W.]

Seeing brother off to war. Did they ever meet him again? Such sad, fearful, beautiful faces...

[Tom W.]

Family reunion, 1917. A study in dispositions, perhaps...

[Tom W.]

The happy young machine-gun sharpshooters.

[Tom W.]

May God bless him and bring him peace...

[Tom W.]

Baby stormtroopers. Shock troop (Stosstrupp) of the 10th Company, Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 133, January 31, 1918.

[Tom W.]

My brother fired a machine gun in the war...

[Tom W.]

"Mr. L. Squibb. Thanks for the letter and postcard. Very good of Fred. What do you think of me and George's brother? I will write soon. Busy briefing today. Love to all, Annie."

[Tom W.]

Men of the 9th Regiment, Latdivision, the first infantry division of the Red Army, formed in February of 1918. These men were recruited from the special company of Lenin's bodyguards.