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Post by oskar2ndchev on Mar 4, 2008 14:27:53 GMT -8
For all you AH types, I came accross this potential source for Austro-Hungarian equipment: www.militarie-repliky.cz/I can't vouch for the service, authenticity or anything else but I thought I'd put it out there. Cheers! |
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Post by fourdeuce on Mar 5, 2008 8:32:09 GMT -8
Is there going to be an Austrian unit? Appreciate the link anyway, but just asking. Austrian could be a neat impression. Just the "Good Soldier Schweik"... (c;
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Mar 5, 2008 8:36:22 GMT -8
That's kind of up in the air- there's been some interest expressed by a few folks. If there are enough people interested, it could happen. One of the biggest problems seems to be getting the right uniforms and equipment. The situation seems to be improving but it's going to require a lot of effort on the part of the invididual.
Personally, I'm not working on this impression myself but I find it interesting and I encourage those who are interested to pursue it.
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Post by scottlowe187 on Mar 5, 2008 9:15:16 GMT -8
Personally, there are those of us who actually oppose an Austro-Hungarian unit (at least at the trench battles). Primarily because we'd like to see the German side look like a unified front. It just looks better to have everyone be there same, rather than all of us doing our own thing.
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Post by Larry Dunn on Mar 5, 2008 9:23:57 GMT -8
Personally, there are those of us who actually oppose an Austro-Hungarian unit (at least at the trench battles). Primarily because we'd like to see the German side look like a unified front. It just looks better to have everyone be there same, rather than all of us doing our own thing. Don't want to be "shackled to a corpse" eh? ;D If there are British, French, Canadians, Americans and Australians on the other side of the line, shouldn't the other major Central Power be represented? After all, it was Austria-Hungary that dragged Germany into the war in the first place. -Larry |
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Post by devildog45co on Mar 5, 2008 11:09:00 GMT -8
Did A-H have major forces on the western front? If not, what units were there? I am just curious.....
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Post by devildog45co on Mar 5, 2008 11:10:15 GMT -8
And the Allied units present were there in at least Corps strength....
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Post by oskar2ndchev on Mar 5, 2008 11:20:12 GMT -8
The Austro-Hungarians had four divisions on the Western Front in late 1918: the 1st, 35th, 37th and 106th. They were not particularly strong formations and they wound up as speed bumps for the AEF during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
There were probably other divisions present at other times but I'd have to dig up the references when I get home.
So the short answer is yes, they were there in very small numbers but it's going to require some research as to the particular details.
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Post by devildog45co on Mar 5, 2008 11:40:39 GMT -8
Sounds like the A-H forces were indeed there in at least Corps strength  |
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Post by Larry Dunn on Mar 5, 2008 15:59:36 GMT -8
Sounds like the A-H forces were indeed there in at least Corps strength Yes, the AH XVIII Corps was sent to the Western Front in July of 1918, including the 1st ID. They were first-line units, but were pretty chewed-up by hard fighting on the Isonzo front prior to being sent to the WF. -Larry |
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Post by scottlowe187 on Mar 5, 2008 16:09:50 GMT -8
As Adam said, Austro Hungarians were there, but in small numbers. We try to portray the norm. In actuality, if we the Germans, looked over at the Allies, we'd see either Brits, French, Canadians, or Americans. We wouldn't see all them them in squad size elements coming at us.
On the German side it's easier to maintain the "one-unit" look because it was mainly Germans on the western front. For the Allies, they had a whole bunch of nationalities there.
Even you allies must appreciate the look of 40 Germans (the old JRT days... sigh....) all in uniform with each other, coming over the top. It would have been amazing to see all French, or all Canadians, or all whoever, come over the top at us.
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Post by devildog45co on Mar 5, 2008 16:59:59 GMT -8
Umm, yes, but I wouldn't unappreciate the look if there were A-H forces in the mix as well. I personally don't see a problem with an A-H unit, if they can meet club rules and guidelines, whatever they may be, for a new unit.
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Post by scottlowe187 on Mar 5, 2008 17:11:50 GMT -8
My problem is with "specialty" impressions. Let's keep it to just the main forces. Otherwise, every one of us can pretty much do any crazy impression that we want to. I know nothing of Bulgaria, but I'm sure there were at least a few on the western front. So maybe we can have a Bulgarian unit? There are many more examples like that. I just don't want to see the solidarity on the German side, fragment into little pieces.
Plus, people who don't look like the rest of us, can be an eyesore. It's best to blend in!
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Post by devildog45co on Mar 5, 2008 19:16:23 GMT -8
Scott, trust me, I see your point. I'm just being devil's advocate here.... If the same rule were to apply to the Allied side, we'd pretty much have to do away with the Marines, both US and Royal, as their numbers were but a tiny fraction of the US and British forces. And I don't think that A-H is a "specialty" impression, they were a major power with an entire army on the western front. I understand your wish for solidarity, trust me, with an Allied impression, I really understand! My point is, if someone has an enthusiastic attitude towards Great War reenacting, and can muster an entire unit according to GWHS by-laws and be authentically equipped and uniformed, why not? Anyhow, I hope that you take this just as an opposing view, nothing personal.  Where's Alvaro? Me and him were gonna do a Portuguese impression for fall...... |
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Post by scottlowe187 on Mar 5, 2008 21:11:30 GMT -8
Oh no Brian, I've got your number now! Kidding of course.
It wouldn't be so bad if this were coming up at a time when the Germans could field 60 guys, having 10 or 15 Austrians would be no problem. But for this last event we had 12 or less (I didn't exactly count), of which the IR23 only had a couple guys. We need the IR23 to be a solid unit first, then worry about other units.
More than likely, the guys that might do this new unit, would come from our existing ranks, not newcomers (maybe a mix). It's just a really bad time for us to lose anyone from the German side.
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