German Infantryman Portraits

[WWGeezer]

The Blue Max Project | A "Work in Progress" by WWGeezer (http://thebluemaxproject.wingwalkers.org/)

Added some interesting images on the blog that I gathered of young german soldiers posing for portrait shots before they head to the trenches. My goal was really to create some resource files for uniforms and gear to assist me later. But these images stopped me in my tracks.

[G Sting]

The Blue Max Project | A "Work in Progress" by WWGeezer (http://thebluemaxproject.wingwalkers.org/)

Added some interesting images on the blog that I gathered of young german soldiers posing for portrait shots before they head to the trenches. My goal was really to create some resource files for uniforms and gear to assist me later. But these images stopped me in my tracks.

Yes, sir. Very sobering. So young... yet loved by someone.

[Barry Hickson]

:( Yes all so young & innocent ready to fight for the Fatherland.
Little did they know what lay ahead.
I just wonder if any of them survived.:huh:

[sator]

They were just fuel for that meatgrinder they called the front line.

[Epee]

I notice that the fellow on the bottom row, far right appears to be some sort of cavalryman. He's wearing spurs and is carrying some sort of pole but is not wearing a ulan tunic, guidon perhaps? Or perhaps he is a rider in the artillery?

[frontflieger]

I notice that the fellow on the bottom row, far right appears to be some sort of cavalryman. He's wearing spurs and is carrying some sort of pole but is not wearing a ulan tunic, guidon perhaps? Or perhaps he is a rider in the artillery?

He is from the Saxon Light Infantry Bataillon (sächsisches Jäger-Bataillon) No. 12. Most of the shown soldiers are from Saxony.

Frontflieger

[Viggen]

It is really haunting images.They looks so young possibly just around 20. One almost feel like giving them a hug and send them back to their mothers. I wonder how many of the 10 soldiers on these photos who survived the war.
one of the reason for the mass casualities was that the weapons tecnology was 20th century but the military tactics were still 19th century
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Anna-Karin S

[WWGeezer]

Good point Viggen

Military tactics were 19th century and perhaps so were societies understanding of what kind of war their boys were going to.

I don't think any parent understood what trench warfare was or what their sons would experience.