Unseen World War I Photos: German Trenches

boingboing ^ | Dean Putney

[nickcarraway]

The following photos were taken from 1914-1918 by my great-grandfather Lt. Walter Koessler during his time as a German officer in the first World War. They're part of a collection of over a thousand photos, stereographs and their negatives that my family has been saving for a century. This is an unusually large and complete collection, and I've taken on the task of preserving it and printing it so other people can experience this history too.

These photos have never been published before.

[nickcarraway]

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[TheRhinelander]

Thanks for the link!

[nickcarraway]

You are welcome!

[nickcarraway]

You are welcome!

[american_ranger]

Thanks for posting these great shots.

I once invited in to my Civil Air Patrol Cadet Squadron a veteran of WWI. He was a German veteran. He told several great stories about life in the trenches. One that I remember was when he was leading a brand new Lieutenant through the trenches out to their unit. They heard an incoming artillery shell and the Lieutenant dove to the bottom of the trench. This experienced guy just ducked down a little and leaned against the trench wall. The shell landed and blew their trench walls in. Rescuers dug him out in time but the Lieutenant, lying at the bottom of the trench, was dead by the time they got him dug out.

He also handed around his Iron Cross. He said that it was a real Iron Cross, not like the ones given out by the Austrian Corporal.

[Travis McGee]

That looks like fun.
Not.

[Lx]

He also handed around his Iron Cross. He said that it was a real Iron Cross, not like the ones given out by the Austrian Corporal.

That's weird, Hitler won two iron crosses, one 1st. class and one 2nd. class and they were both legit.

Maybe he means ones Hitler gave out during WWII since it does say, "...given out by the Austrian Corporal". There's no doubt that Hitler gave them out to reward people but most were earned.

You should have asked him why he didn't shoot the b**tard when he had the chance?

[allendale]

Very sad when you reflect a bit on those priceless photos. European culture has never been the same since WW I. That war killed off the very best of Britain, France, Germany and Russia. Those genetic losses can never be replaced. The catastrophic Russian revolution occurred and it led directly to WWII with even greater losses. And for what and why? As the centennial of that carnage approaches, our politicians should reflect carefully before they send brave young men to distant shores.

[cripplecreek]

I got the history of the 113th Antiaircraft Artillery Gun Battalion (WWII) from my uncle today. My grandfather wrote the the history of Battery D (Dog Battery). I put it on scribd because it came to me as a 76 page pdf.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/158942992/113th-Antiaircraft-Artillery-Gun-Battalion-History-All

[Chainmail]

Ping for later

[mass55th]

Thanks for posting. My great-uncle was with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces in WWI. Killed in action in France. He’s buried in a British Military Cemetery there. I’ve got a picture of him in uniform on horseback.

[gorush]

VERY nice. Thanks.

[The Antiyuppie]

“European culture has never been the same since WW I.”

I read that 50,000 British were killed in ONE DAY during WWI, not with firebombings or an A-bomb, but with shells and bullets - and generally, they had their officers (i.e., the upper class) at the front of the line, not the back. Given the population of England and the world at the time, this is mind-boggling.

[ZinGirl]

Thank you so much for this.

My daughter had the opportunity just this past spring to tour some of the WW1 battlefields for a college course. She took some tremendous pictures but said the pix didn't do it justice...the experience was quite moving.

[Hebrews 11:6]

Forty-five years ago I often golfed with several WW1 vets, a couple of whom had been gassed in their trenches. I made sure they knew I appreciated them and their service.

[SnuffaBolshevik]

Thanks for the photos.

My grandfather was in the 307th Ammunition Train of the 82nd Division. Although late to the front, they were hip deep in the Meuse-Argonne offensive.

The 307th was split into truck and horse units and Pop, being a farmer, was not in the automotive portion.

He told stories when I was young-like delivering artillery shells to the guns then being run off by the crews because the resupply wagons would draw enemy fire.

The worst was when he was running down a road with an officer when he came upon a poor dying soul (of unknown origin) crawling across the trail with his intestines out.
He wanted to stop to help but the fire was coming ever closer and the officer turned the whip on Pop forcing him to run over the man to get back to safety.

This bothered him greatly to his dying day.

What a sad thing was this war.

[Leaning Right]

Forty-five years ago I often golfed with several WW1 vets, a couple of whom had been gassed in their trenches

Here's an interesting bit of trivia. The great character actor Walter Brennan had a very distinctive voice. Brennan got that voice from being gassed while serving in France during WW 1.

[RedMonqey]

He said that it was a real Iron Cross, not like the ones given out by the Austrian Corporal.

I interpreted his meaning the Iron Crosses awarded in "The Great War" were untainted compared to those awarded in WW2 to those soldiers who no doubt ranked an such an honor but were done in association with horrible war crimes.

Either directly or indirectly.

It was the old Gent's way of distancing his generation from the following generation's medal earners...

At least that's my take....

[TheRhinelander]

Yes, you’re right about that. It was truly the end of an age. I’ve read extensively about that war and the period leading up to it.

It all could have been avoided so easily.

[EternalVigilance]

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