The German Army, The Somme 1916

1: Schütze, 1st Bavarian Machine Gun Marksman Detachment; Morval, September 1916
From September 1915, machine gun units usually wore infantry uniform. This No.5 in his crew, not in the front line, wears the M1916 Bavarian infantry uniform, with the new enlisted men's state cockade on the low visibility field-grey band fitted over the scarlet band of his field cap. His field tunic shows the Bavarian ‘collar cord', and the MG Marksman's left sleeve badge introduced on19 February 1916 for Bavarian units. MG crewmen were issued the P08 pistol; his M1898 bayonet is embellished with the 2nd Troop knot in white and red. Note the wartime model machine gun drag strap; the web sling of the M1916 gas mask hidden behind his body, and an ammunition box for two 250-round belts.

2: Sergeant, 62nd Infantry Regiment (3rd Upper Silesian); Hardecourt, July 1916
This section leader in the Prussian 12th Infantry Division defending Hardecourt is in effect the NCO in Plate C1 seen from behind. His assault pack comprises the M1914 shelter quarter wrapped around his M1915 enlisted man's greatcoat, the whole roll strapped around the M1910 mess tin, and attached to the M1911 cavalry pattern support straps passing over his shoulders. His M1915 belt holds, behind his left hip, the M1898 spade strapped to a M1898 bayonet with a 12th Company black and white knot; the M1915 gas mask case is attached at the rear, and behind the right hip the M1914 breadbag and M1915 water bottle. He wears the M1916 steel helmet, and M1915 field tunic with collar and cuff braid.

3: Rittmeister, 20th Hussar Regiment (3rd Saxon); Deniecourt, August 1916
This captain of dismounted cavalry commands the 4th Squadron, which suffered heavy losses with the Saxon 32nd Infantry Division on the Somme. He wears the M1915 cavalry officers' uniform: standard M1916 helmet, M1915 field tunic, waistbelt, and Hussar officers' cloth-reinforced breeches with silver Hussar braid, standard riding boots and officers' spurs. The shoulder boards bear the gilt regimental number between the two rank pips; his ribbons are the Iron Cross 2nd Class and the pale blue and lemon-yellow of the Friedrich-August Medal in bronze, and he displays the pin-back Iron Cross 1st Class. He carries civilian binoculars, a P08 pistol and M1912 map case.

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