Russians on the Western Front.

[rsm2ndbtnlf]

Welcome Clayton!

I don't think you have started any discord.. you've just come as a great surprize to quite a few.. myself included. The Russian Legion is a very little known instance in the turmoil of the Great War as whole.

I'm certain that once you have gone through the process of forming your battalion, meeting the GWHS criteria for new units, you'll become an integral part of the GWHS.

Personally, I'm now going to fill the void within my own WW1 knowledge, and read up the Russian Legion.

What battalion were you thinking of putting together?

Patrick.. is thee any chance that you could retrieve any of those photographs that you mention of the Russian Legion, and post them here?

Seph

[1886lebel]

Remember that the first Trekhlineinaya Vintovka obr.1891g were made at Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Châtellerault (MAC) from 1892 to 1895 (503,539 total) so that having ammunition was no problem ;D
As to blank ammo ... this has been a problem for years for most reenactors ... getting the right blanks that work correctly.
I understand Atlantic Wall and Swanson makes blanks in 8x50Rmm but I have never used them so I can not say how they work. I heard they are not to great and do not make a BIG BANG
I make my own which I reload over and over as I got lucky many years ago to get a ton of blanks that were made by Remington that were made for the movie industry and function as they should. Mine make a nice BIG BOOM as I can put in a decent powder charge behind a cotton ball to hold the powder in place.
I will have to look for the pictures ... they are probably on the main computer and it is so full of stuff in it and will probably take me weeks to sift through it. If I find them I will post them up.
Patrick

[oskar2ndchev]

Clayton-

Not to worry, I think that most of our difficulties have been due to a lack of communication on a lot of fronts. It appears that we're on the way to fixing that and I urge everyone to keep an open mind and be patient. I encourage all efforts here and I'd love to see a Russian Legion organized in the proper form. I'll leave the research to others, I've got enough on my plate right now. ;D Besides, there doesn't appear to be any cavalry! ;D

If there's enough interest, I might be able to convince our Supreme Intergalactice Commander to open up a section on the board devoted to this. All I ask is that somebody bring a samovar and give me some tea now and then! ;D

[rsm2ndbtnlf]

Thank you Patrick.. Appreciated.

A point on safety. If your putting anything other than powder in your blanks, please do not point them at anyone!

Seph

[1886lebel]

A point on safety. If your putting anything other than powder in your blanks, please do not point them at anyone!
ABSOLUTLEY CORRECT ... Never, Never point at someone with any type of blank including just powder, aim way above or off to the side of the person
Patrick

[darth]

Hello all,
i know i am very late on this topic. I am the other russian chap at the last event. To be clear about our intentions, we only wish to have fun with our friends who share a mutual interest in history and re-enacting. My apologies for not consulting anyone earlier. I know many of you have questions so here is a brief explanation... Many of my friends and I have been active with the GWHS, forming the bulk of the french forces at jack rabbit trail. When the site was lost it took most of the french forces with it. And with that, many of the members (like myself) sold off their very expensive french uniforms and equipment.
When the new site became active we were excited to return to the front. At the last event there were 3 russians and we were attached (naturally) to the 1 (and only) french unit commander. I hope our impression was satisfactory for most. We have researched extensively in this area and we do not wish do create a rift in anyway. We only hope to enhance the experience by lending numbers to the dwindling french forces. I thank you all for your time and patience. D-

[oskar2ndchev]

Hi Darth!

Thanks for reporting in. Please be sure to register for the forum here. I find it to be the most practical way to get information out- the Yahoo Group is very clumsy.

Sounds like you guys have something going here- excellent!

Now I'll have to ask for a Russian section. Stay tuned!

[Platon Karataev]

Since the 2nd Brigade of the REF was sent to Macedonia, and the Russian Legion (the remnants of the 1st and 2nd brigades following the Russian Revolution) was joined to a Moroccan Division, it would seem logical to create a unit based on the 1st Brigade of the REF which landed at Marseilles in 1916.

That is, if you had to have something down on paper. The only insignia worn by these forces were "the large, stiff shoulder boards, which for the expeditionary corps were khaki, sometimes piped in white." (Mirouze, Laurent. World War I Infantry in Color Photographs. (Europa Militaria No. 3) Crowood Press, London.

[rsm2ndbtnlf]

Clayton, that pic is what we were after... superb! So, you chaps are part of the 1st Brigade... and yes, its very important to have your battalions history .. as you say it.. down on paper. This verifies your units credability.

Would the Russians have been known soley as the ?? Brigade, or would they have been known by their commanders title, or battalion title?

Seph

[ofitzer]

Sorry, for the prolonged absense from the forum. Thank you Clayton for alerting me to this discussion. As original Russian at GWHS, I should have piped in earlier, but was beaten to the punch and very well at that. I am entering my finals week here at Naval Postgraduate School, so I am not even sure if I will be able to make it to this event. In any case I will be posting more info after my finals.

Ilia

[Platon Karataev]

I'm putting together an outline of the structure of the REF division and wondering to what degree a GWHS unit should be resolved. Should it be as specific as company, or battalion?

[oskar2ndchev]

My suggestion would be to pick out a specific company of a specific batallion. This can be as simple as picking one at random or picking one because there's something notable about it- your choice there.

Also, it would probably be a good idea to pick a company/battallion that remained in existence throughout the 1917-18 period. Your research should help you nail that down.

[Platon Karataev]

Ah, because the AEF was not in France until 1917, and so would not have served with any Russian units disbanded before that time, is that your thinking there?

[rsm2ndbtnlf]

The AEF has nothing to do with the choice of the Russian Legion your being asked research for your portrayal. The GWHS portrays the Armed Forces of WW1 (Western Front) between 1917/18. In order to be recognised as a bonafide battalion, your being asked to research a Russian Legion unit that was in existance between the above stated dates.

No catch, just straight forward authentication research.

No connection is meant for any other nationalities Armed Forces.. American, British, French.. whatever. Its purley the unit that you wish to portray and form for inclusion to, and recognition of the GWHS.

Seph

[oskar2ndchev]

Just to clarify, true the AEF and the Russian Legion had no offical connection whatsoever. I was only giving a suggestion on where to begin. Whatever turns up in the research is going to ultimately govern what you do.

Just by way of example, there was nothing unique about choosing Co. G, 364th Infantry. We could have just as easily have chosen Co. A, B, C, D, etc.

There may be something compelling that you find in the research for portraying a specific company or not. It's your call. My only other point was you probably wouldn't want a company/batallion that was disbanded somewhere between 1917 and 1918.

So the thing now is to see where the research takes you. Good hunting!