For King and Kaiser: Scenes from Saxony's War in Flanders 1914-1918 - Andrew Lucas and Jürgen Schmieschek

[bierast]

Pen & Sword 30th May 2020, 256pp, hardback

 

Our new book (our second in English) is seemingly out already on Kindle via Amazon, though the hardback isn't scheduled for release until the end of September. This revised and expanded English hardback edition of our German work von Armentières nach Langemarck features a beautiful new cover designed to visually complement our debut Fighting the Kaiser's War. Our cover artist at P&S chose to colourise of the many amazing shots taken in the trenches of Jäger-Bataillon 13 in late 1914 which form the basis of the first chapter. I'm delighted with the result, which strikingly illustrates both the Saxon uniform tradition at its most distinctive and the motley appearance of trenches and their garrisons during that first winter in Flanders!

 

For King and Kaiser expands on many subjects which could not be covered in detail in Fighting the Kaiser's War due to pressure of space. It includes a wealth of private photos and personal accounts newly discovered since the appearance of our first book, in some cases thanks to our erudite readers! While working on the English translation we made further discoveries which made their way into the text and the selection of illustrations. There are therefore photos in the English edition which do not appear in the German edition and vice versa - so our most enthusiastic fans will surely wish to own both... As ever, For King and Kaiser is a maximal 256 pages in length and contains over 300 illustrations (including fully indexed maps). The overwhelming majority of the pictures are unpublished private photographs, and the personal accounts have appeared only in pre-WW2 Saxon veterans' newsletters.

Full details including list of contents: http://www.royalsaxonarmy.co.uk/royalsaxonarmy/index.php/our-publications/23-for-king-and-kaiser

[bierast]

I've begun a weekly series of blog posts for Colonel Joe Robinson's Facebook group. Each will be based on an extract from the book - initially at least each post will introduce one of our featured diarists, with biographical details and a choice excerpt from their writing.

First up is Leutnant der Reserve Alfred (or Alexander) Pache of IR 182 at Wytschaete, to tie in with the recent excavations of German positions in that sector:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/743920426453003/

[bierast]

This week's post - Major (later Oberstleutnant) Alfred von Heygendorff arrives to take over RIR 245 at Becelaere during the First Battle of Ypres. The regiment had lost its original regimental commander and two battalion commanders by the time he arrived. Revered by his men, trusted by his superiors and highly decorated, von Heygendorff met a singularly tragic end at the Battle of the Somme in September 1916.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/749268872584825/

[bierast]

This week's post... a few Saxon Landsturm infantrymen with a machine-gun (and/or a Württemberg FLAK battery) bring down Roland Garros, the most famous French fighter pilot of his time.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/754555648722814/

These articles are now being given a permanent home on our site here: http://www.royalsaxonarmy.co.uk/royalsaxonarmy/index.php/articles

[EastSurrey]

Very interesting and well worth a look. 

Michael

[bierast]

The first three articles are now also up on our website here - I'll be adding future entries there as well after they 'premiere' on Facebook:

http://www.royalsaxonarmy.co.uk/royalsaxonarmy/index.php/articles

[bierast]

Today's article - a striking personal account of Saxon infantry singing as they go 'over the top' in the attack on Kruseik on 25th October 1914...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/759695424875503/

[bierast]

This week... a literal fourteen-year-old boy scout sneaks his way into the front line TWICE...

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/765116544333391/

[bierast]

For the past four weeks I've been working on my German great-grandfather's story. As many will have heard, he was a volunteer with Kgl. Sächs. Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr.48 (Field Artillery Regiment Nr.48, 4th Royal Saxon) from August 1914 until the armistice.

Part 1 (introduction, 1914-1915): https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/?post_id=770695990442113
Part 2 (Great-Granddad's photos from the fortified village of La-Ville-aux-Bois, April 1915): https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/?post_id=776711496507229
Part 3 (Great-Granddad's photos from the divisional 'rest home' at the Chateau de Belval, June 1915): https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/?post_id=782740235904355
Part 4 (1916-1917): https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/?post_id=787858825392496

 

The final part will follow next week.

 

In addition, all of my older articles are up on our website here: http://www.royalsaxonarmy.co.uk/royalsaxonarmy/index.php/our-publications

The book is still due out at the end of the month, I'm biting my nails with anticipation for my author's copies!

[bierast]

The series on my great-grandfather's story is now complete! Any and all likes and shares are very much appreciated.

Part 1: https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/770695990442113
Part 2: https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/776711496507229
Part 3: https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/782740235904355
Part 4: https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/787858825392496
Part 5: https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/794415958070116
Part 6: https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/800157020829343

[joerookery]

Is this is anything at all like your other books we should be standing in line! I look forward to seeing such a Great work.

[bierast]

The book is out now - pre-orders have been shipped and I have mine in hand! It looks splendid alongside 'Fighting the Kaiser's War' on the shelf.

Recent articles... rather a lot, as I've not updated this thread in a while!

 

The Jägerheim and Jägerfriedhof - Resting Places of RJB 26, 1914-1915:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/806318820213163/

 

A Saxon Cemetery on French Soil - the Soldatenfriedhof Quesnoy-sur-Deûle:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/812085562969822/

 

Old, slow and devastating - Mörser-Batterie 201 and 202 in Flanders, 1915-1916:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/818116272366751/

 

The Watch in the Saxon Mountains - Grenzschutztruppen of XII. and XIX. Armeekorps, 1914-1919:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/823796695132042/

 

The ‘Krug von Nidda-Heim’ and ‘Zum Fidelen Blindgänger’ - rear area oases of the 24. Infanterie-Division:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/830425211135857/

 

From occupied Belgium to Alsace and the Niemen - Landsturm-Infanterie-Bataillon Dresden XII. and XII.2
https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/836667603844951/

 

From Bautzen to the Białowieża Forest - Landsturm-Infanterie-Bataillon Bautzen XII.3 and Meissen XII.4
https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/843063379872040/

 

Edited 18 November , 2020 by bierast

[bierast]

This is a special one...

 

'For King and Kaiser' - a detailed look at our NEW book plus online-exclusive bonus material!
http://www.royalsaxonarmy.co.uk/royalsaxonarmy/index.php/articles/33-for-king-and-kaiser-a-detailed-look-at-our-new-book-plus-online-exclusive-bonus-material

Edited 21 November , 2020 by bierast
New link

[bierast]

We have our first review, posted by Pen & Sword on their website:

"This book is truly excellent. As a battle guide, I am happy spending hours walking the battlefields endeavouring to understand the nuances of geography and history in order to fully understand what happened. This book delivers the German / Saxon view of the ground and brings alive the world as they saw it. Essentially of course it was little different to that experienced by their British opponents. The images are excellent and really focussed on the men mentioned in the narrative. The maps and sketches are invaluable in understanding the ground and the authors have taken the trouble to identify locations and landmarks by both their German and British names, thereby making correlation of accounts much easier. Very highly recommended." - Michael McCarthy, Battlefield Guide

[joerookery]

Bravo

[bierast]

All my publicly articles are now linked from this page, either within the RSA website or on Facebook (all the Facebook articles are public and DO NOT require you to be logged in or even have an FB account):

 

http://www.royalsaxonarmy.co.uk/royalsaxonarmy/index.php/articles

The main page on the book has been updated with links to detailed information on the contents of each chapter (illustrated with additional web-exclusive pictures!):

 

http://www.royalsaxonarmy.co.uk/royalsaxonarmy/index.php/our-publications/23-for-king-and-kaiser

[bierast]

There will be a Zoom presentation by myself and Chris Dale (of 'German Colonial Uniforms' fame) on our books this Saturday evening. Details are all in the post below:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/german1914/permalink/911964992981878/

[bierast]

Just found a lovely review on Amazon by one Robert Neil Smith, who likely received a copy for Christmas given when he posted this...

Quote

In For King and Kaiser, Andrew Lucas and Jürgen Schmieschek return to the Saxon army in the Great War that they first featured in Fighting the Kaiser’s War. They narrate the story of the war those soldiers experienced, using their words and photographs. The result is an absorbing account of men at war.
The chapters are preceded by a useful commentary on the text and photographs to follow. This begins with the introduction of trench warfare in 1914 as the Saxons settled in for their long war. We soon join the fighting in Ploegsteert Wood and First Ypres complete with maps, drawings, and first-hand accounts, one of which relates the story of the Christmas ‘truce’. We are also introduced to some of the Saxon soldiers through brief biographies. Diary entries linked by explanatory text, take us into Second Ypres. Life in the rear areas is also given its due coverage. We enter 1916, which is signalled by the photographs of well-constructed German trenches, far removed from the desperate scrapings of 1914. Canadian sources are introduced as the Saxon opponents to provide a more rounded picture, and the authors add another layer to that by discussing the barren and depressing environment the men fought in as the war continued into 1917 and the Third Battle of Ypres. Our authors again visit the Allied lines during 1917 to enhance our view of the fighting, then we are into 1918 and the crumbling German war effort despite the best efforts of the Saxons. The book concludes, fittingly, with a survey of remembrance and how the German post-war cemeteries were established.

This is a book that could have been a dud; there are no combat photographs, and the authors are considering a comparatively small section of the German army along a quite narrow front. The authors, however, do a remarkable job of extracting a considerable amount of information from their sources. The photographs and personal accounts are judiciously chosen and full of fascinating details. Even the posed unit photographs are laden with poignancy through being marked with little crosses to signify those killed in action. In addition, the modern photographs attach current readers to the experiences of those who fought and died. As an enthusiast of military history told from the ground up, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned a lot from it.