Question for you document collectors...........

[gew98]

Being an "imperialphile" myself I have noted a lack of german technical documentation - TM's and such for arms and equipment. Do any of you fellows come across such documents, and if so can you post pics of them ?. I am always looking for views of period TM's and Pams on oddities such as nightsights for the gew98 , scharfschutzengewehrs ,flammenwerfers ,hande grenaten , Stahlhelms , and most any neat combat issue device.
I mainly ask this as I have a decent collection of imperial rifles , bayonets and accessories and have so little to nothing on any original "how to care for and use" documentation that was surely supplied with them originally.
Thanks in advance.

[Bob Lembke]

Flammenwerfer Manual

"gew98";

I and a writing partner have been writing a book for years on Flammenwerfern, and I have poked about in the British Library London), Austrian National Library, and even a Slovene war museum for info in the last year, plus buying dozens of books, etc., etc. I have had great cooperation from German libraries by e-mail and mail, so I have not had to go there. (Leaving next week for Croatia and Turkey for research on another book, plus fun, of course.) My partner has obtained French manuals, German and Swiss flame-thrower patent applications, etc., but we have never even heard of a German manual. But of course it was a secret weapon. On the Somme they even went into combat with blocks of explosives strapped to them to blow them up if they were at risk of being captured. Probably the new Wex model.

However, a Oberleutnant (Christian first name, I think) Theune wrote a book of about 256 pages entitled Flammenwerfer und Sturmtruppen (posibly the other way about; I'm too lazy to look) with about 50 pictures in 1919. It is basically a manual on the care and feeding of the FW, and also on the special tactics to employ them in combat, and FW unit organization. The book is quite scarce, but not as much as some other materials we have found. For example, the British Library (modestly calling itself the world's greatest library!) and I believe the Library of Congress both have it. The former will not allow you to copy it.

Medal collectors: Theune won a "high award" for a great flame attack at Verdun, July 1, 1916 I think, where he led a hugely successful attack after a 42cm short shell fell on his own men and demoralized them, as you may imagine. Is it possible that the "high award" was the Pour le Merite? I think not, but don't know, probably more likely the EK I. Would love to know that, have no medal documentation. He probably was "d. Reserve", have seen his first name given as "Chtn." or something, suggesting "Christian", you understand the first name problem.

gew98: This will sound queer, but I have a manual for either the "hande grenaten" or the gas mask in the wreckage of my office; haven't seen it in two years. Sorry. Dates to about 1924, but was essentially a WW I model. Can't remember which!

After the rush of my book-writing is over (short dead-line) I can possibly be more helpful.

If someone has a manual, I would be interested very much, and a friend who has a German FW (never mind who he is!) and wants to try it, after pressure testing, etc. would be very interested. Theune has data on the types of flame oil used (5 types) but not perfectly specific info.

Bob Lembke