Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

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Timm Haasler
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Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#1

Post by Timm Haasler » 19 Sep 2010, 20:29

I recently bought this picture showing German soldiers near the "Bataillonshaus" in the Dietrichsweg. In the back the houses next to the shore were located at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ufer road. Judging by the building density the picture was most likely taken between 1903 and 1907. As the soldiers with the Pickelhauben were no members of the 3rd Seabattalion I presume they belonged to the East Asian Occupation Brigade. Maybe Chris can identify the unit!?

Thanks and best regards
Timm



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Chris Dale
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#2

Post by Chris Dale » 27 Sep 2010, 22:12

Great photo, thanks for sharing it. They're from the East Asian Occupation Brigade. Judging from the shoulder straps, I'd say 1st East Asian Infantry Regt.

Interesting use of ammunition pouches too. The East Asian pouches looked similar to the army's later 1909 pouches but were individual pouches rather than grouped in threes, therefore they could be worn bunched along the front like this- just never seen it done before...

You're probably very accurate with the dates, this style of felt Pickelhaube with imperial eagle was brought in in 1901 and discarded in 1909.

Hope that helps,
Cheers
Chris


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Xavier
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#3

Post by Xavier » 27 Sep 2010, 23:15

love you guys...:) ( just kidding)
I guess with a little more info you two could tell which day, and hour the photo was taken, the name of the sons and lovers of the firs line of men, etc etc... :lol:
great work you both Chris & Timm
Xavier
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Chris Dale
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#4

Post by Chris Dale » 28 Sep 2010, 10:21

Well Xavier, they seem to have very faint shadows behind them, in the direction of the harbour. If that's the East facing Grosserhafen in background it'll have to be early afternoon.... no sorry it has gone too far now! :roll:

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Chris

Timm Haasler
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#5

Post by Timm Haasler » 28 Sep 2010, 18:31

Hi Chris,

I knew that I could count on you! Thanks for the information about the unit and the special information regarding the uniform. There is only one thing where I have to disagree: You are not looking east but south in the diretion of the Arcona island. The Tsingtau bridge is barely visible on the extrem right side of the picture. The building on the left is the one of the "Shantung Bergbau-Gesellschaft" - Shandong Mining Company. :D :lol:

Thanks again and best regards
Timm

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Chris Dale
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#6

Post by Chris Dale » 28 Sep 2010, 18:38

Hi Timm,

In that case it must be about midday... :lol:

Cheers
Chris

Timm Haasler
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#7

Post by Timm Haasler » 28 Sep 2010, 19:10

High Noon! :lol:

Timm Haasler
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#8

Post by Timm Haasler » 28 Sep 2010, 19:20

BTW, I think you like that one too! Picture taken at the barrack yard of the Bismarck-Kaserne.


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Chris Dale
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#9

Post by Chris Dale » 28 Sep 2010, 21:51

You're right I do like that one! Thanks for that.... I wonder who the two officers with Picklehaben and Swedish cuffs are? Must be from the East Asian Expeditionary Corps...

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Chris

Timm Haasler
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#10

Post by Timm Haasler » 28 Sep 2010, 22:17

Sorry, no further information on the back of the picture! :(

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Timm

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Chris Dale
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#11

Post by Chris Dale » 29 Sep 2010, 12:27

The shadows are well defined and we know which direction the mountain is from the barracks... I think you could make a good guess at the time of day :lol:

Thanks again for these photos...

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Chris

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A1Coyote
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#12

Post by A1Coyote » 23 Jan 2011, 07:10

Timm

The top photo is absolutely fantastic. I am not very familiar with German Naval uniforms. The fellows at the back formation, are they Seebatallion or Kriegsmarine troops? Heck of a nice photo! Thanks for posting it.
http://commissionrifle.multiply.com/

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Chris Dale
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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#13

Post by Chris Dale » 23 Jan 2011, 13:13

Hi Coyote,

The chaps at the back are regular Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial Navy). The term Kriegsmarine wasn't used unti Third Reich times (1935 onwards I believe). These chaps are probably crew from the Naval Artillery Batteries that defended Tsingtao.

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Chris

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Re: Pickelhauben in Tsingtau

#14

Post by A1Coyote » 23 Jan 2011, 16:35

Kaiserliche Marine!

That is even more amazing than if they were S.B.III. I had posted a photo of S.B.II. men outside the German Legation in 1900, what I believe was prior to the attacks by the Boxers. Those men were armed with Gewehr 88 rifles and S71 bayonets.

Now this fantastic photo posted by Timm shows Kaiserliche Marine troops also armed with Gewehr 88 rifles. What makes this fantastic is that conventional wisdom is that the Imperial German Navy never bought or armed their men with Gew 88 rifles, but the Gewehr 71/84 with Hirschfanger 71 bayonets, and starting around 1901 the Gewehr 98 with S98 bayonets. So for me at least, this is an exciting photograph indeed.
http://commissionrifle.multiply.com/

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