Yo, homies! Da troo origins of subway grafitti

[Rick Research]

A foot artillery regiment prepares to embark for the front at Bingen am Rhein, 1914.

Left to right Julius Gölz, Johann Haas, Ludwig (Zurg?), Wilhelm Desoi, Philipp Dauer, and Bernhard Collmann

[Rick Research]

check it oooooooout, homeboys!

"Belohnung 1000 Mark für den Nikolaus ob tot oder lebend" and "Auf nach Wesel, du Esel!"--

"Reward 1,000 Marks for (Tsar) Nicolas, whether dead or alive" and "Hit the road for Wesel, you A--shol!"

[George Stimson]

At least they're not wearing their Pickelhauben backwards....
(Doesn't "Esel" translate to "ass" -- as in "donkey"?)

George

[Rick Research]

Ja, but it rhymes in German, which is the "flavor" of my "translation"

[JensF.]

Their weapons are interesting. They got the Karabiner 98a with the long 98/05 bayonet.