Hello all I just got a fairly decent album from the western front and am curious if it can be determined if the photos were taken in Belgium or not. Thanks in advance for the help!
Mike
Mike
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Are these Belgian POW's? I dont see the long type collars like the French had. so am curious. -
colonial troopsComment
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the architecture seems to feel that it is not French. At least to my untrained eye.Comment
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close up of the statue in front of the building. Maybe this will help place the location.
Thanks all!Comment
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Hi Mike,
Do you know what German unit is being shown? Identifying the unit is probably the best step to figuring our if the photos show Belgium.
JasonComment
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The whole scenary looks French to me.
I would be very surprised if the monument in #1 is in Belgium. It looks more like a WW1 monument at the Somme or Verdun perhaps? The castle in #4 looks French as well though that's pretty hard to say.
The colonial troops in #3 are of course French. There was a presence of French troops in Belgium as well but it would be safe to assume this photo is taken in France.
I'm having a hard time with #2 myself as I'm not very much into allied - even Belgian - uniforms. If you can make out a lion's head on one of the helmets, they're Belgian. The faces look French to me, but perhaps someone could help us out.
Also, I agree with Jason. A regiment's or division's identification would be a great help.Comment
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Hi Mike,
Do you know what German unit is being shown? Identifying the unit is probably the best step to figuring our if the photos show Belgium.
Jason
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Jason, The only possible unit ID is the emblem on the vehicles which is an antler. I have not been able to ID it thru the usual links I have for these.
I have a photo of a large cemetery place in a huge field which I am guessing is WWI. Might be adjacent to the big Monumnet...Originally posted by Tim De Craene View Post
I knew there was a difference on the helmets, couldn't remember what it was! Thanks! Unfortunatley I can't get a clear enough scan of the helmets but one does appear to have something there so am hoping these guys are Belgium.
thanks again guys for the comments!
MikeComment
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Hi Mike,
Carefull: it's not because you can see an emblem on the helmet that it's Belgian.
Belgian helmets always have this lion's head on front:
French helmets also have emblems, depending on the branch. This is the infantry emblem, found on most - but not all.
Comment
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Hello,
The pow in picture #2 are French.
What I can see of their equipment and uniform is all French.
Good clues are: the canteen (typecal French canteen), the shirts worn under the overcoat (Belgian troops had no shirt but a tunic-jacket under their overcoats).
You have French troops in Belgium and Belgian troops in France, but this picture series is taken in France of that I'am 100% sure.
A good reference-book for this subject-matter is "Blitzkrieg in the west" then and now by JP Pallud.
Cheers,
PeterLast edited by peter u; 04-25-2007, 12:11 PM.Comment
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thanks peter and Tim for the additional information.
I sure was hoping it was a belgium photo album but such is life
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I still would love to know where that monument is. I have done a bit of searching on the net but as of yet still no clue.
MikeComment
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Hello Mike,
It puzzles me a bit:
- Why as an American are you intrested in a westfeldzug photoalbum with picture taken in Belgium or of the Belgian army?
It is always nice ofcours if foreigners are intrested in my local history.
Cheers,
PeterComment
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Hi Mike,
The memorial in your photo is the Navarin Farm Ossuary Memorial, Souain France.
Here's a pic from an Inf. Rgt. 19 album.
Cheers,
LarryComment
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The Ossuary Memorial as it looks today.Comment
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Thanks Larry! I really appreciate your help.Originally posted by Larrister View Post
Sure hasn't changed much in 60 odd years
MikeComment
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