member
Königliche Preussiche Fernsprech (telephone) Abteilung H (Haber)
patch on the left arm 'H'

he wears the Garde-Litzen because he had his formation at the Garde Telegraphen Bataillon I (Treptow)

attached to Pionier Bataillon 36

Ready to leave the barracks

crossing the Weichsel

Market place of Lowicz

Telephone station Vorwerk Karolew

Russian soldiers, shortly after been taken prisoner

Ruda (Russian Poland)

Fraternising with the Polish girls

Ruda

Looking for broking telephone cables

On guard in Borowy near Ossowiecz

Quarters in Borowy

The fortress of Ossowiecz has been captured
Russian flags are carried away

Traffic jam at Ossowiecz

Resting at Borowy

Borowy

Auf den Bauwagon

Still in 1915 Fernsprechabteilung Haber was moved to the Western Front, (Reims, Argonne, Flanders)

Regards,

Cnock

Thanks for sharing them with us. It is amazing that you have so many photos plus you've got the descriptions of where they were taken.

Well done!

Claire

Claire,

Thanks for the appreciation!

Regards,

Cnock

Excellent pics once again Cnock- the quality is impressive for photos from that era enlarged. What is the rectangular box the chap has hanging round his neck in posts 1 and 3 (I think it is the same man sitting on the floor on no. 3). A torch?

Much appreciated.

Mark

Hello Mark,

Yes, it is a torch.

Regards,

Cnock

Thanks Cnock. Do you know who that chap was and whether he survived? i'm guessing it is also him in post no. 9 - this time with a beard.

Mark

Hello Mark,

It is indeed him in post nr.9 and
post nr.15 at the extreme right, is the same person.

I don't know his name, but he survived the war.
He took most pics with a Kodak Brownie II, as he states in the photo album

In 1916 he went to Wafern 4 (Württembergische Armee Fernsprech Abteilung 4) beim AOKIV and got the EK.II on 27/1/1918.

Regards,
Cnock

Mark,

Forgot to mention,

Fernsprech Abteilung Haber was attached to Pionier Rgt 36, that released gas against the Russians on the Eastern Front. before it was used on the Western front for the first time on 22 april 1915

As the gas attacks depended from speed and direction of the wind, orders from HQ had to reach fast the 'Stinkpioniere', so they had members of 'Haber' with them in the trenches for a smooth communication with HQ and the meteorologists (so-called Wettermacher)

Regards,

Cnock

Of course - referring to Fritz Haber who pioneered chemical warfare in WWI. He also pioneered "The Haber Process" by which ammonia was produced from Hydrogen and nitrogen: an experiment that never worked in my A Level chemistry days!

It's interesting that a military effort (gas) relied also on telephone engineers and meteorologists to be effective.

Mark

Mark,

AT the Bzura.

Gaspioniere and members Fernsprechabteilung H

..sharing the same shelter.
See the rocket flare and stopwatch for the Wettermacher and the Draeger breathing apparatus.


Regards,

Cnock

Again-astonishing pictures! I appreciate all your efforts you do for this so very small German warfare interested community in this forum

Cnock

G'day mate

Once again I am fascinated by the depth of the pix in explaining the personal life of the individual as he begins his journey. It is just a wonderful window into this fellow's life and those of his comrades. Thanks very much for the time and effort you have put into presenting them and sharing the pix with us. I really appreciate the effort.

Cheers

Bill

Egbert and Bill,

Thanks for the appreciation!

Regards,

Cnock

Cnock

G'day mate

The pix at Post #25 actually looks like a group of mates getting together for a jug band jam. The fellow with the pole in hand looks like he is warming up on a one string tea case base, the fellow with the respirator looks like he is playing the jug, the fellow with the stop watch looks like he is holding a bottle of wine appears to be the clown character - just like Cletus the slack jawed yokel - while the fellow looking on appears as though he is holding a lagarphone in his hand. It is difficult to picture that they are actually holding parts of the mechanism of death. The lads look healthy and full of life and just about to enjoy a gig.

Cheers

Bill

Bill, excellent observation! I did not see the trees in the wood!!!!

Hello,

Second from left (holding the rifle) is the man of post nr.1

Regards,

Cnock

Error, correction :

Pionier Rgt 36 was in action at the Eastern Front in May 1915, AFTER the 1st gas attack at Ypres.

Cnock

I'm wondering why he has his bayonet fixed when they wouldn't have routinely had them in the trenches like that (?)

I agree with the excellent observation that it seems to be a small orchestra - the chap on the left playing the double bass....using a rocket (Tchaikovsky's 1812 perhaps? )

Mark

Hello Mark, I think that the chap with the bayonet fixed is acting as a drum major, or something like that.

Regards,

Cnock

Excellent photos, nice to see something a little different. Thanks for posting them

Arm