Freikorps in Berlin - c1919

RON

RON

Well-known member
These 2 Postcards were posted in my WW1 PCs thread but I believe they're worthy of a thread of their own.

I'd actually like to learn more about that cannon on display in the streets of Berlin during the post WW1 revolution, the 'scary' tank in the background as well as that mortar in the 2nd card in Alexander Plaza...

FreikorpsinBerlin-c1919-1.jpg

FreikorpsinBerlin-c1919-2.jpg
 
Ron, the tank looks like a confiscated British Mark IV tank. The artillery gun is a German 77 mm gun.
See alos for the tank my website-page about Cambrai: http://pierreswesternfront.punt.nl/?id=548321&r=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
 
For more German 77 mm guns and the "heavy" mortar, see also a.o. my photo impression about Belleau Wood: http://pierreswesternfront.punt.nl/index.php?r=1&id=428743&tbl_archief=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .
 
Thanks Pierre! And your 'guided tours' are the complete opposite of being 'boring'!!

The cannon and mortar in the pictures above do resemble some of the pieces captured by the USMC at Belleau Wood in 1918.
As for the Tank, it might be as you say but I thought the Germans having lost the war were to return all their bounty?
 
Thanks, Ron, you are welcome! We are seeing here some pics of the German November Revolution, which lasted from 4 November 1918 until 11 August 1919. Freikorpse, composed of veterans often of the same units they served in, were fighting with the "Reds", as they would call it, in the streets of Berlin and other cities, using indeed in the early period their confiscated British tanks against other socialist and communist Germans. See for more details this lemma of Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Revolution_of_1918%E2%80%931919" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . The guys of wikipedia are better in explaining these things than I am. :) The German lemma contains even more detailed information.
 
P.S. the link to the German Lemma: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novemberrevolution" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . I have some digital photos of this revolutionary period in Berlin also with the confiscated tank blocking a street. I have been searching my collection , Ron, but until now I did not find these yet. In case I will find these, I will post the pics here, promised.
 
Hey Pierre,
Thanks for the additional info! I like my pictures even more now despite the fact they weren't used/mailed (I usually only collect mailed postcards).
I would love to see those similar pics of yours if/when you find them.
Meanwhile, could you help me translate what's written on the above cards?
I can guess parts but need to construct them into full/clear sentences...
 
Ron, the translation of these texts:
“Large street battles in Lichtenberg during the general strike. Prepared artillery and tank in the Simon-Dach street.”
and
“Large street battles in Berlin during the general strike. Heavy mortar at the Alexanderplatz.”

Still searching for "my" revolution pics. I request some patience here, :) .
 
Ron, and the other ones, who are interested in this period of the Berlin November Revolution of 1918, my first 5 period photos, or rather post cards, from this period. I must have somewehre else some 2 or 3 black & whites of this period. Still searching in my now rather chaotic collection.

berlinnovember1918001.jpg


berlinnovember1918002.jpg


berlinnovember1918003.jpg


berlinnovember1918004.jpg


berlinnovember1918005.jpg


berlinnovember1918006.jpg
 
Guys, I need help with pictures uploaded through ImageShack.
Although I am registered, I can't always see ImageShack photos and get the following: 'Domain Unregistered. To view, register at: bit.ly/imageshack-domain' :-k
 
This picture has been uploaded via Tinypic. If this picture is visible, let me know, and I will upload again the first other 6 pictures via Tinypic.
This one comes from a book, but I don't know anymore from which book, alas.
wujciq.jpg
 
It worked Pierre; thanks. Beautiful picture!
This is the first time I see the 'Turkish/Ottoman' Stahlhelm M18 variant. Had never heard of it before...
 
Pierre Grande Guerre said:
This picture... comes from a book, but I don't know anymore from which book, alas.
Click to expand...

Hi Pierre,
I think the book might have been the excellent Osprey Elite series book on the Freikorps, a nice introduction to the topic...
Cheers
Chris
 
Ron, I am glad this time it worked. When I have the time, I will look for the other black&Whites.
Indeed, Chris, that is the case. After some years I collected a whole bunch of these Osprey Series, on paper or digital, and with all the other books; sometimes I don't know anymore, where it came from. :)
 
Ron, Chris and others, I found another "new" picture of this anti-revolutionary period of 1918-1919, including a confiscated British tank in Berlin!
P.S. This photo has been made right of the Panzerwagen of above ( on this photo left in the background) . Concerning the equipment which these soldiers use, many stick hand grenades, a "Flammenwerfer", and the Totenkopf insignia on the Panzerwagen and the former British tank, we may perhaps conclude that these soldiers were former Sturmtruppe soldiers.

23r67w4.jpg
 
Another gorgeous photo Pierre :bravo: !

Maybe this is the same captured British tank you can see in the background of my 1st PC above? :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top