Dolomites Relicts 1915-1917

[Dietrich Maerz]

Inspired and encouraged by Mayorpayne's display I would like to show my collection of battle field debris of the Dolomitenfront. During the years 1980 - 1999 I was visiting this front every year. The concentration of my research was in the area of Mt. Piano/Mt.Cristallo/Drei Zinnen. In numerous hikings based on old maps, books and accounts I was able to find out (and more important start to feel and experience) the unbelievable endurance and hardship of this front. There's not much in literature in the english world about this part of the Great War which is very unfortunate.

The height of the front line (normaly above 6000 feet till 9000 feet in this area) and the remoteness makes for unbelievable finds and sights. I have been in caverns with beds, boots and mess kit still on the table (in 1985). On both sides (Austrian/German - Italian) the fight against nature was as tough if not tougher than the fight against each other. If one sees the numerous caverns, caves, barracks and trenches one can still experience first hand the experience of the Great War. This area (and other areas) is still quite untouched and is only subject to the slow decay over the years.

If somebody wants to see more pictures ore more explanations I'm more thna willing to help in any way possible. This part of history is something that I have emerged myself deeply over the years.
I apologize for the bad picture quality - I'm still battling with my camera.

Please enjoy!

Dietrich

[Dietrich Maerz]

Some Grenades

Attached some of the Handgranades I found over the years. The weather and the cold really preserves the wood also. As one can see, the wood is grey - a sign of age in sun and cold. The metal also holds up quite good.
The ammunition was found like that, i.e. in the clip holder. I not only founf numerous unspend amunition, but also numerous spend i.e. fired bullets (and cartriges also). As a sign of the intensity of the fight, I found also a lot of "Kartätschen" Kugels, the little lead balls inside of artillery shells, some even tied together with very small loops and hooks.

[Ralph A]

Wow!

Keep on! What are the edged weapons?

[Dietrich Maerz]

Other stuff

It is by far not only military stuff that can bee found. This picture shows shovels, mess kit, cigarette etui and other items of the hard life of those heros.

I keep these items as well as I keep my medals and I have at least (if not more) respect for those.


Dietrich

[Rick Research]

Amazing! But surely this must be even MORE dangerous from untouched live explosives than still-lethal areas like Jens has been to in France!

For a survivor's account of fighting in this mountainous rocky terrain, my favorite WW1 memoir is Emilio Lussu's "Sardinian Brigade."

[Dietrich Maerz]

Edged Weapons

Ralph,

the middle bayonet is from the Dolomites. As far as I can tell it is Italian, Model 1891. I found that inside a half collapsed trench at the Rauchkoffel - alittle mountain that was part of the very important front sealing of the access to the valey leading to Toblach. Thru this town ran the most important railroad connection to the Isonzo Front.

The other two bayonets are German, Second World War and I found those in the small river near my Greman home town.

Dietrich

[Dietrich Maerz]

Dangerous?

Rick,

I saw several and never went close to really big calibers. Those have the tendency to roll down temporary rivers during the spring melting. In late summer (the only time when there's no snow at the north side of those areas) you can find them. If you approach from above you normally let loose some stones which might turn into a small "avalanche" This were always pretty nice moments to see this avalanche approaching the shell (in slow motion-of course). I always was very carefull and - more importantly - respectfull with live amunition.

But the most dangerous part is not the amunition - it is the nature up there. You have to take a lot of equipment with you (warm things and so on) and you have to be equipped properly. More than once I was surprised by a weather change which really comes fast and furious. You always have to be prepared to stay overnight outside, something which I had not to do (fortunately).

But this experience (foolishly a lot of my tours I did alone in the pre-cell-phone-area) just adds to the understanding of the area and the fighting up there.

Dietrich

[JensF.]

Just found this thread I missed. Very good!

[Brian S]

Great work, I missed this thread also. Wonderful display.

[Dietrich Maerz]

Thank's a lot, guys. I'm really proud of my collection of rusty pieces. The study of the alpine warfare between 1915 and 1917 especially in the Dolomites is so much rewarding. The nature there is the most beutifull I've ever seen in my live and I've been really around the globe a lot!

[gregM]

------Great display.
I'm jealous !

[paddywhack]

great pics Dietrich,did you take any pics of the battlesites will you were up there?

[Dietrich Maerz]

Here are some pictures.

This shows the general area which is called Sextner Dolomiten after the Austrian town Sexten.
The picture is taken from the "Sextner Rotwand" and shows the "Elfer" to the far left, next the Drei Zinnen and the Monte Cristallo to the far right. Height is about 3000 mtr. for the peaks.

[Dietrich Maerz]

These are the remains of Lager Würzbach, a supply depot for the front lines behind. The mountain is the Sextner Rotwand and it's top is filled with caverns, shooting holes and such ..

[Dietrich Maerz]

This shows a far more remote Stellung near the Rauchkoffel. One has to go up at least for 3-4 hours to find this Austrian outpost. Note the wood (black) in the front.