Fam. Wouters
Fine quality CDV showing a Flammenwerfer-pionier, ca. 1918.
CDV made by Otto Hoeffke, a photographer in Berlin, without question the favourite photographer of the Garde-Reserve-Pionier-Regiment.
The regiment was formed in April, 1916 by merging the III. and IV. Guard Pioneer Battalions, respectively having 8 and 2 companies. Two more companies were created, making the unit Regiment sized. Pictures of this specialty unit are only scarcely met and it's members can be recognized by the Totenkopf sleeve patch, which was introduced late July, 1916. An insignia exclusively worn by these "Flammenwerfer Truppen" or flame-thrower troops. In fact they were indeed flamethrower pioneers indeed, as the German army was the first to introduce the new weapon in battle. Many of the men serving in this elite regiment were once fire fighters, or soldiers handpicked from other pioneer units that experimented with flamethrowers. These pioneers were also trained in stromtrooper tactics, as they advanced together in the first attack wave, to take out enemy strong points.
The CDV is dated 1918 and the soldier is wearing his M1915 Friedensrock or peacetime jacket in field gray, with black collar and cuffs, with white litzen. He did of course make sure that his dove-grey greatcoat is not covering the skull and crossbone patch on his sleeve. He is also wearing the leather spiked pioneer helmet with Guard eagle wappen and star. They were authorized to wear a black Haarbusch for parade purposes.
I'm pleased to have this one.
Fine quality CDV showing a Flammenwerfer-pionier, ca. 1918.
CDV made by Otto Hoeffke, a photographer in Berlin, without question the favourite photographer of the Garde-Reserve-Pionier-Regiment.
The regiment was formed in April, 1916 by merging the III. and IV. Guard Pioneer Battalions, respectively having 8 and 2 companies. Two more companies were created, making the unit Regiment sized. Pictures of this specialty unit are only scarcely met and it's members can be recognized by the Totenkopf sleeve patch, which was introduced late July, 1916. An insignia exclusively worn by these "Flammenwerfer Truppen" or flame-thrower troops. In fact they were indeed flamethrower pioneers indeed, as the German army was the first to introduce the new weapon in battle. Many of the men serving in this elite regiment were once fire fighters, or soldiers handpicked from other pioneer units that experimented with flamethrowers. These pioneers were also trained in stromtrooper tactics, as they advanced together in the first attack wave, to take out enemy strong points.
The CDV is dated 1918 and the soldier is wearing his M1915 Friedensrock or peacetime jacket in field gray, with black collar and cuffs, with white litzen. He did of course make sure that his dove-grey greatcoat is not covering the skull and crossbone patch on his sleeve. He is also wearing the leather spiked pioneer helmet with Guard eagle wappen and star. They were authorized to wear a black Haarbusch for parade purposes.
I'm pleased to have this one.