170 - Flamethrower squad in Verdun (1916)
4 teams of Kleif model 1915 flamethrowers. 2 soldiers per team + a leader + 2 companions with the grenades to ignite the flaming jet. One can also see artillery lugers with the wooden butt for shouldering.
Photagraphed by Werland, Münster (Westfront) photograph der Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 13.
I was not able to found some other photos around this number (170) maybe some additional great postcards.
hardpapier give us a presious information :
The regimental history can be downloaded here:
digital.wlb-stuttgart.de/purl/bsz502018348
Looking at the history of the RIR13 and the atmosphere of the photo, it is probably the first days of the Battle of Verdun in February 1916. I couldn't find the word "flammenwerfer" in the RIR13 history but I don't really read German.
On the other hand, RIR39 is mentioned several times. But I already have a set of photos of the RIR39 with flamethrowers (III. Garde-Pionier-Bataillon). The forest and the climate are very similar to what is visible on the other postcards of the Bois de Haumont.
Several things make me think this is a combat situation:
- the photographer is not known to shoot too far from the action
- you can see debris typical of what you see after a fight
All additional information is welcome.
REF: 80-120-10-GFP
170 - Flamethrower squad in Verdun (1916)
4 teams of Kleif model 1915 flamethrowers. 2 soldiers per team + a leader + 2 companions with the grenades to ignite the flaming jet. One can also see artillery lugers with the wooden butt for shouldering.
Photagraphed by Werland, Münster (Westfront) photograph der Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 13.
I was not able to found some other photos around this number (170) maybe some additional great postcards.
hardpapier give us a presious information :
The regimental history can be downloaded here:
digital.wlb-stuttgart.de/purl/bsz502018348
Looking at the history of the RIR13 and the atmosphere of the photo, it is probably the first days of the Battle of Verdun in February 1916. I couldn't find the word "flammenwerfer" in the RIR13 history but I don't really read German.
On the other hand, RIR39 is mentioned several times. But I already have a set of photos of the RIR39 with flamethrowers (III. Garde-Pionier-Bataillon). The forest and the climate are very similar to what is visible on the other postcards of the Bois de Haumont.
Several things make me think this is a combat situation:
- the photographer is not known to shoot too far from the action
- you can see debris typical of what you see after a fight
All additional information is welcome.
REF: 80-120-10-GFP