Von Fauster Posted January 10, 2002 Share Posted January 10, 2002 How do. Being an old CM fan and not knowing where else to turn, I figured the fine folks here might be able to help me out. A co-worker of mine was recently given his uncle's photo album from WWII. His uncle was in the Heer and the album covers his training in '39 up to his death in '44. There is even a letter from his commander explaining the circumstances of his death (grenade, Eastern front. I think he was in Army Group North- but I'd have to check that). My co-worker and I are trying to figure out what sort of field piece his uncle was responsible for. It looks like he hauled the same gun all through France and right into Russia. It's sort of small, definately close up Infantry support, short barreled. Maybe a 75mm IG 37? Does anyone know where I can find some pictures on the web of Infantry support/light artillery field pieces to compare with this fellow's album? Your help would really be appreciated. S! von Fauster [ 01-09-2002: Message edited by: Von Fauster ]</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted January 10, 2002 Share Posted January 10, 2002 Check your email inbox. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conscript Bagger Posted January 10, 2002 Share Posted January 10, 2002 I think the best way - no, the only way - to find out what you want to know is to scan that entire album and post a link to it here... Pure grog-porn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Von Fauster Posted January 10, 2002 Author Share Posted January 10, 2002 Wow. That was fast. Thanks Andreas! That was exactly it. 75mm. Thanks for sharing. Offwhite- grog porn? I like it! I'll check with me friend and see if he'll let me scan a few of the pictures. But it's his family's history...so if not, I'm sure you understand. I'll let you know if I can do anything. Thanks again guys. I love this game, and this community. von Fauster [ 01-09-2002: Message edited by: Von Fauster ]</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jshandorf Posted January 10, 2002 Share Posted January 10, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Andreas: Check your email inbox.<hr></blockquote> Hey, you better check to make sure Andreas didn't slip a couple nudy pictures of himself next to some Kublewagon in with those field pieces, otherwise you might be treated with a picture of Andreas's "field piece". He is known for stunts like that. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted January 10, 2002 Share Posted January 10, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Von Fauster: Wow. That was fast. Thanks Andreas! That was exactly it. 75mm. Thanks for sharing.<hr></blockquote> No problem, that's what it is there for. Please note that I am not 100% sure whether it is actually the IG75 of the game, since both pictures are from 1937/8, so there may have been a later model, or this one could have been superseded by mortars. Having said that, if your friend's grandfather has shoved one of these around north-western Russia, I think it must be the very one. The name 'Leichter Werfer' is what confuses me. If your friend is alright with scanning just one picture, you can always email it to me, so that I can have a look at it. Do you know which unit he was in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted January 10, 2002 Share Posted January 10, 2002 Von Fauster, If you'd care to E-mail me a scan of the photo (kettler@relaypoint.net), I'd be happy to ID it for you. I have a first class reference here covering all German artillery: WEAPONS OF THE THIRD REICH, by Terry Gander and Peter Chamberlain. I faithfully promise no secondary distribution if that is your desire. Besides, I'm so Internet clueless I don't know how to post a photo. Regards, John Kettler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted January 10, 2002 Share Posted January 10, 2002 John, you've got mail. Instead of waiting for von Fauster to scan, I just emailed you a link for my grandfather's pictures, which he says show the same gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Von Fauster Posted January 10, 2002 Author Share Posted January 10, 2002 Thanks for continuing to look into this guys. I think Andreas' solution will be fastest, though I am meeting with my co-worker again today to go over the album, and if I can, I'll see if I can get any scans. Also, there is some paperwork in the album and I'll see if his unit is mentioned. Regards, von Fauster <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Andreas: John, you've got mail. Instead of waiting for von Fauster to scan, I just emailed you a link for my grandfather's pictures, which he says show the same gun.<hr></blockquote> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Von Fauster Posted January 11, 2002 Author Share Posted January 11, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Andreas: Do you know which unit he was in?<hr></blockquote> Still working on getting the picture, but the records refer to a 13./I.R. 220. It's also referred to as 13 (J.G)/I.R. 220. There are some pictures of graves which refer to 13/220. He appears to have been a Obergefreiter. Also, there is a picture of a ceremony in what looks to be a cemetary, and on hand labeled caption (which is a little hard to read) refers to a General von Graffen. S! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offtaskagain Posted January 11, 2002 Share Posted January 11, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Von Fauster: Still working on getting the picture, but the records refer to a 13./I.R. 220. It's also referred to as 13 (J.G)/I.R. 220. There are some pictures of graves which refer to 13/220. He appears to have been a Obergefreiter. Also, there is a picture of a ceremony in what looks to be a cemetary, and on hand labeled caption (which is a little hard to read) refers to a General von Graffen. S!<hr></blockquote> I just looked around Feldgrau.com for I.R. 220. Grenadier regiment 220 was a part of the 58th Infanterie-Division. According to this page 58 infanterie was a part of AG North as you have said, in the 18th Army 54th Corps, which fought at Leningrad. The 13 part of 13./I.R. 220 stems from his being in the infantry gun company which was number 13. Hope this helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Von Fauster Posted January 11, 2002 Author Share Posted January 11, 2002 That helps a great deal. Thank you so much. Here's that gun. <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by panzerwerfer42: I just looked around Feldgrau.com for I.R. 220. Grenadier regiment 220 was a part of the 58th Infanterie-Division. According to this page 58 infanterie was a part of AG North as you have said, in the 18th Army 54th Corps, which fought at Leningrad. The 13 part of 13./I.R. 220 stems from his being in the infantry gun company which was number 13. Hope this helps.<hr></blockquote> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offtaskagain Posted January 11, 2002 Share Posted January 11, 2002 <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Von Fauster: That helps a great deal. Thank you so much. Here's that gun. <hr></blockquote> No problem. Another good message board to try is the one on www.feldgrau.com. I just did a little more looking and have found a little more stuff on 58. infanterie. A Generalleutnant Karl von Graffen did command the division from 2. Apr '41 thru 1. May '43. From the looks of it General von Graffen was KIA and was replaced by General der Artillerie Wilhelm Berlin, until 7 Jun, when Generalleutnant Curt Siewert took over for the rest of the war. All taken from here. The divsion participated in the invasion of France and was transferred to AG North in December '41. It remained there until it was temporarily sent to AG center from Oct '43 thru Jan '44. It returned to AG north in January and stayed until June, when it was sent to AG center, most likely to try to slow Operation Bagration. It remained in the central sector for the rest of the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmatt Posted January 11, 2002 Share Posted January 11, 2002 If you ever get permission to scan those pics I know we here at Battlefront.com would LOVE to see them all! If it is permitted please send them to matt@battlefront.com, they look great. We understand if that is against the families wishes of course. Madmatt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted January 11, 2002 Share Posted January 11, 2002 Also, the Deutsch-Russisches Museum Karlshorst did look for pictures from the Great Patriotic War, taken by ordinary soldiers, a while ago. It is a good museum, and well worth supporting. Maybe if you scan them, it would be an idea to send some of the more interesting ones to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kettler Posted January 11, 2002 Share Posted January 11, 2002 Von Fauster, And the answer is... 7.5 cm leIG 18, early pattern with spoked wooden wheels for horse traction. According to Gander and Chamberlain in WEAPONS OF THE THIRD REICH, p. 283, this version began to be replaced in 1937 by a later one with metal disc wheels and pneumatic tires. The principal ID feature for this gun is that wavy piece of armor which moves in elevation with the gun, itself distinctive in its wavy shield outline intended to make the gun blend with the ground and the stubby protrusion of the barrel from its apparent armored housing. Page 284 of that reference has a nice shots of both the early and later versions of the gun in action. GERMAN INFANTRY WEAPONS, Vol. 1, edited by Donald McClean and published by Normount Armament Company in multiple editions from 1966-70 has an entire section (pp.136-149) devoted to the gun, including tech specs, photos and firing procedures. The early version of the gun is shown under horse traction, in action, and being dragged. You'll find the photos of the latter to be remarkably similar to the ones Andreas sent me. Hope this helps. Regards, John Kettler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted January 11, 2002 Share Posted January 11, 2002 Thanks John, great stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Von Fauster Posted January 11, 2002 Author Share Posted January 11, 2002 Thank you all very much. I will forward this information to my friend. He was very excited to learn where his uncle fought and what sort of equipment he hauled around. The pictures go from Belgium in 1940 up through the about December 1943 in Russia, and he seems to have dragged that gun everywhere. I'll try to find out today about getting more pictures, and what his feelings are about sharing them. There are a number of really interesting photos, but there are two that really stick with me: one appears to be a knocked out T-26. I'll see if I can post it here to make sure. It might be something else. The other is a shot of a gunner sitting exhausted behind an MG-34 or 42 (again not sure). He is absolutely buried in spent brass. At a glance you can tell he just spent the worst morning of his life. MadMatt: If I can send you the photos, what format would you prefer and hi-res or low-res. I'm using Photoshop to scan them and can create one zip file with the photos if you would like. If I can get my friends permission, it would be my pleasure to share with BTS and friends, especially after all the happy hours you and your co-workers have provided me via Combat Mission. Regards, von Fauster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panzer_Meyer Posted January 11, 2002 Share Posted January 11, 2002 Count me in too, I want to see some photos. My grandfather also fought in the war, in the 12th SS. He doesn't have any pictures, at least not that he can find. He does have an official picture of himself taken, but not during a battle. And I think it's taken even before the war. Anyway, I would love to see some photos also. Thanx! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Carter Posted January 11, 2002 Share Posted January 11, 2002 While we are on the off topic subject of war photos..I went to the estate sale of a Colonel a few months ago . I bought his snapshots of the ceremonies in a town during the liberation of the Phillipines. There is one in particular of an entirely black platoon at attention. Anyway, I was wondering if there is any historical society that archives these, or would want them - it seems as if they have priceless historical value, and if I didn't rescue them would have ended up in the trash...BTW the colonels book collection was awesome, and I couldn't afford to buy all the great stuff there - tactics books from the 20's and 30's, etc, as well as his calvary uniforms, riding boots, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Posted January 11, 2002 Share Posted January 11, 2002 John, von Fauster, I have amended the text. John if you could have a look and let me know if that is alright. If you notice anything else on the pages, your comments would be most welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmatt Posted January 12, 2002 Share Posted January 12, 2002 von Fauster, the highest resolution with the least amount of compression the better. I am not constrained on file size. Madmatt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Von Fauster Posted January 12, 2002 Author Share Posted January 12, 2002 Sir,yes Sir! I have selected a number of photos for my friend to review. Upon his approval, I will send them to you. He as given me tentative authorization, I just need his final nod. We're probably looking at Monday on that. Until then- von Fauster <blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Madmatt: von Fauster, the highest resolution with the least amount of compression the better. I am not constrained on file size. Madmatt<hr></blockquote> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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