German Dugout

[Frajohn]

Hi

I am trying to locate the position of a German dugout. It is pictured on a stereoview card and captioned as being in Martinpuich. The only clue I have is a German sign alongside the dugout. I have scanned and enlarged the sign a hope that someone might be able to translate the German tex.

Many thanks

Kind regards

John

[pugaree]

Hi

I am trying to locate the position of a German dugout. It is pictured on a stereoview card and captioned as being in Martinpuich. The only clue I have is a German sign alongside the dugout. I have scanned and enlarged the sign a hope that someone might be able to translate the German tex.

Many thanks

Kind regards

John

I have a German collegue here who kindly had a look at this post. He feels that this is 'old' German or a Bavarian Slang. Anyhow his thoughts were

Heirein - close to the current German word Heir rein for enter here

Pfierde - also close to ferde meaning horse

Werken - close to the current word for works or factory.

So, Enter here for Horse Works.

I hope that helps a little.

[Jack Sheldon]

Hmm. Tricky one this. The writer was not very literate. There are two spelling mistakes in three simple words and Pferdewerke should probably be written as one noun or, if split, because of lack of writing space, hyphenated. Pferdearbeit (lit. horse work) means drudgery, so I suspect that the sign was scribbled with a bit of black humour and probably conveyed the message, 'Enter here and work your nuts off' or similar words. I hope that a few more opinions will be forthcoming.

Jack

[SiegeGunner]

As Jack says, a tricky one. For someone who is evidently not very literate, the writer forms his letters rather elegantly.

'Pfierd' is apparently an alternative rendering of 'Pfirt', the German name for 'Ferrette' in Alsace. 'Pfierde Werke' might therefore mean 'Pfierd Works', whatever that means — and then again, it might not ...

Hopefully Adrian will be along shortly to give us the right answer.

[Frajohn]

Thank you Gentlemen for the replies, your input is appreciated.

Siege Gunner, who is Adrian please? Maybe I can send him a PM for his advice?

Kind regards

John