Guard landsturm?

[joerookery]

Here is another odd unit. I need some help with. Here we have a group of landsturm with Filz guard helmets and uniforms. Who are these guys? Why is there a guard landsturm unit? Help me Mr. Wizard! Maybe I'm looking for too much information these things.

[AOK4]

Joe,

Just like all other army corps, the Guard Corps also had its Landsturm Battalions. And just like other Landsturm Battalions they had wore the badge of their state with a Landsturm cross on it on their pickelhauben.

Regards,

Jan

[joerookery]

Jan,

Thanks! I went and looked it up and you're absolutely correct. I guess I sort of thought, because guard landwehr was not deployed nor gathered that the same would be done of landsturm. But thanks to you I looked at the relative reference, and there were 15 battalions! I have to recalibrate my thought pattern here. Thanks again, I guess I just needed to be slapped.

On another note, which head gear was worn -- -- I still have much to learn. The nice idea about landwehr crosses on issued pickelhauben just does not add up. I wrote a few paragraphs on it here:

http://www.coljs.com/articles/cross2.htm

I'm learning, give me a few more decades, and I'll get there!

[Cnock]

Hello Joe,

Not all Landsturm units were equipped that way, some had to wear old shakos and caps.

I think they are well equipped because they are guards.

Regards,

Cnock

[joerookery]

Thanks Cnok! It took me a while but I am now convinced that landsturm wore all sorts. Been working on Uberzug markings like this landsturm guy.

[AOK4]

Hello,

The wearing of pickelhauben had to do with the duties of the Landsturm unit, if it was guarding rear areas, they wore more a Tschako, if they were engaged at the frontline (three Landsturm battalions in a Landsturm regiment), they had pickelhauben and later steel helmets.

Regards,

Jan

[Cnock]

Hello Jan,

What was first, the Pickelhaube or the duty/mission? (just kidding).

Are the weapons the Landsturm were carrying not a better indicator for their dutys, missions?

In this pic the Guards have Gewehr 98 rifles,

many rear Landwehr units had Mauser 1871/84 or Gewehr 88 rifles, and even revolvers Mod.79, and obsolete bayonets.

Regards,

Cnock.

[AOK4]

Not necessarily, some frontline units on quiet fronts used Gewehr 88s (even on quite active fronts) or Beutewaffen.

[P.B.]

Not necessarily, some frontline units on quiet fronts used Gewehr 88s (even on quite active fronts) or Beutewaffen.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A very good point.....for example, the regimental history of Magdeburgisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr 66 records that they were armed with Gewehr 98s until 1916 when they were replaced first by ex-Russian Mosin-Nagants and secondly by Gewehr 88/05s before another consignment of Gewehr 98s appeared.

Cheers

Paul.

[joerookery]

Thanks for all your responses, and I'm not trying to be difficult, but I keep running into headgear problems.

A group of rear area folks in Belgium.

.

I have several like this where the leaders seem to be wearing a pickelhaube.

.

Perhaps I am tripping over mouse droppings. It just seems to be a very confused matter. I have been unable to place them firmly into a box such as duty requirements. The search continues, and you have all been so helpful. Thank you.

[Cnock]

Hello,

It remains a difficult exercise, and I am still not convinced, about duty being the major indicator for headdress.

The example that Paul gives has nothing to do with Landsturm.

When I have more time, I'll try to look it up again.

In attachment, foto of Landsturm in Belgium in 1914.

Regards,

Cnock.