Feldgrau.net

Here are a few funny stories from a book I got recently. “Drei, Vier, ein Witz!,” page 111, “Good Eyes” “Read what’s written on that eye chart on the wall,” said the staff doctor to the inductee. “What chart?” asked the young man. “I don’t see any chart on the wall.” “Excellent, because there isn’t ...

“VB-Feldpost #3,” page 95 entitled “Dead End.” The Unteroffizier asks one of his soldiers: “What would you do if you were in the woods under chemical attack, and your rifle was contaminated with Mustard Gas?” Answer: “I would wipe it down with a decon wipe.” Uffz. : “No more decon wipes are availabl...

Panzermahn: I don't recall exactly where it was, but I've seen pictures of firing parties at German World War II funerals. I can't say whether it was as common a practice as in allied forces, but it definitely existed. The German version of Taps, or Last Post was also played at funerals. It is still...

“VB-Feldpost #3,” page 31 entitled “Tactical Question,” by Oberleutnant Lösch In the home garrison about a year before the war, the plan of the day called for tactical application of assault against a bunker. The exercise was conducted with enthusiasm by the Schwadron under the watchful eye of the R...

VB-Feldpost #4 pg 71-72, “The Recruit.” A lonely train station somewhere in the East. On the main track, a troop train rolls in and comes to a stop. The replacement battalion receives chow from the kitchen wagon. On the sidetrack sits another troop train — cheerful greetings. In one of the goods wag...

“Ein Tornister voll Humor,” page 62

Fritz reports to the battalion surgeon for sick call. The doctor asks peevishly, "Would you report to me for this minor ailment in peacetime?"

"No, sir," replied Fritz, "I would call you to come make a house call."

Excellent! Well done, Hiltraut.

Hello Eddie: Here is a go. It is really hard to decipher some of the old script on this post card, but here is what I come up with, leaving underlines for words I can't figure out. Werter Pg. Richter! Sind 1/2 ___ hier in Hamburg eingetroffen und dann auf dem Schiff eingeteilt worden.Habe soeben ein...

The symbolism of the military funeral with honors goes back far into the past. Many of the traditions you asked about go across national boundaries. The use of a gun carriage to carry the casket of a deceased high ranking officer has also been practiced in the US Army. It brings to mind General Patt...

Thanks a lot for the feed back, Sebastian. Here's a funny little story that shows how the best intentions can backfire. “Lachendes Feldgrau,” pgs 101-102 “Potato Soup” Recently there had been some complaints about the soup: It was too thin. But the captain had personally eaten three bowls and found ...

“Da Lacht der Soldat,” page 31, “Advance in Galicia, 1915.” Requisitioning was absolutely forbidden on Austrian soil. As the battery reached a bivouac site after a 30-km road march, gun section leader Habermas appeared and reported the following: "Reporting to Herr Feldwebel , that we ran over ...

“VB-Feldpost #3,” page 92 entitled “King Soccer,” by SS-Hauptsturmführer Alfons Benz Before promoting a group of NCO candidates, the commander wanted to double check their knowledge of current affairs. I was given the task of asking the men questions about the world’s leaders. I asked the assembled ...

Here's a cute little story from a book I just picked up. It was printed in 1940 by Verlag "Die Wehrmacht." “Frontsoldaten Lachen,” pgs 115-117 “The Smiling Private,” by Heinz Steguweit It was 1939, in the days when no one knew with certainty, but one intuitively sensed certain things. War ...

Not sure whether or not that's an original bag, but it technically isn't coffee. Ersatzkaffee, sometimes called "Muckef###" and other names, was a replacement for real coffee with chicory, malt, and other grains in it. It was sold widely and supplied to the armed forces too, since coffee w...

Here are a couple of short stories from “Da Lacht der Soldat.” Both are on on page 28. This first one is “Instructional Hour.” The Jägerbataillon enlisted a number of new volunteers. During the course of instruction, the Unteroffizier explained the workings of the rifle. "This is the stock, thi...