Staged photo card of German soldiers at Fresnes-Mazancourt in september 1916 (during the battle of the Somme). The sector has been totally devastated. The last british line in November was stopped in front of this village. There was therefore an important fight between September and November 1916 which explains the presence of the rare trench clubs. At the time of the photo, the front had not reached the village since the soldiers were not all wearing gas masks.
A photo that seems humorous but not that much two soldiers are quite heavily equipped for a quiet area. They are probably sentries, the one on the left with the grabenkeule hanging from his belt, a hebel flare launcher in his belt with the appropriate cartridges (by the way I am not sure that the belt will hold if he removes the hebel). He has another hebel in his hand. The second is the one with the gun and the ammunition. It carries a large number of ammunition with the additional ammo bandolier. We must add the 6 grenades that they probably carried before sharing the equipment with friends for the photo.
The soldiers seem to be working to strengthen the sector (hence the axes, planks and the tool for wood).
Little additional word on the "caps", they seem that the Germans use them to represent the French during attack simulation. These "hats" are in my opinion little food bags. In this photo it is so mixed that I do not perceive who is who.
There is also an adrian helmet. I have no idea what the symbol on the entrance represents.
Text by xiphophilos :
"Gefechtsübungen im Ruhelager
Fresnes-Mazancourt (Somme)
September 1916"
REF : 66-150-10
