stephane_avesnes
New member
Thanks to all of you for this interesting study ! I own myself 1 or 2 items, with EFJ tag and particularly this JB 14 Mecklemburg Tshako, unit stationed in Colmar (Alsace)
concerning the possibility for a volunteer to get free uniform, my opinion is that it has been obviously the case. Why ? Some contributors already came with quite interesting historical sources and my point is more, let's say "practical" or "social". I was myself a "volunteer" some 30 years ago, and I was given a full kit for free with the obligation to give it back at the end of the 2 years cadet school. I could not afford paying for this equipment at that time... In the German army, EJF were usually students, that could benefit of a shorter compulsory duty. They were not all rich, and I'm quite sure that regiment commanders had the legal capacity to decide to lend ordnance items to EJF in case they could not pay for it. May be it was also the result of a negotiation prior to join the unit, but I have no concrete material to proove it. What I mean is that in prestigious units, EJF had great difficulties to be admitted and could certainly not negotiate a free clothing... while in much less prestigious units, JB 14 or JR 153, regiment commanders were certainly happy to enlist young, clever and motivated soldiers and had to find a solution when the family could not pay for the kit .... Sorry for coming with so "unscientific" analysis but that's my own military experience that speaks
again, thanks for these excellent contributions, I learnt a lot !
concerning the possibility for a volunteer to get free uniform, my opinion is that it has been obviously the case. Why ? Some contributors already came with quite interesting historical sources and my point is more, let's say "practical" or "social". I was myself a "volunteer" some 30 years ago, and I was given a full kit for free with the obligation to give it back at the end of the 2 years cadet school. I could not afford paying for this equipment at that time... In the German army, EJF were usually students, that could benefit of a shorter compulsory duty. They were not all rich, and I'm quite sure that regiment commanders had the legal capacity to decide to lend ordnance items to EJF in case they could not pay for it. May be it was also the result of a negotiation prior to join the unit, but I have no concrete material to proove it. What I mean is that in prestigious units, EJF had great difficulties to be admitted and could certainly not negotiate a free clothing... while in much less prestigious units, JB 14 or JR 153, regiment commanders were certainly happy to enlist young, clever and motivated soldiers and had to find a solution when the family could not pay for the kit .... Sorry for coming with so "unscientific" analysis but that's my own military experience that speaks
again, thanks for these excellent contributions, I learnt a lot !