#field grey

[redarmyscreaming]

Prussian Uhlan.

[residesatshamecentral]

Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!

The CIA Officers to Gunther in Field Grey

[residesatshamecentral]

Shut up, you American! You Americans, all you do is talk, and talk, and say ‘let me tell you something’ and ‘I just wanna say.’ Well, you’re off to be interrogated by the KGB now, so shut up!

Bernie Gunther to the CIA agents in Field Grey

[paddelaters]

German Army Uniforms: A Journey Through History, Design, and Legacy

When we picture a World War I soldier, the image often includes the distinct silhouette of the German infantryman—spiked helmet, grey tunic, and leather boots. These uniforms weren’t just clothing; they were symbols of identity, rank, and adaptation in one of history’s most brutal conflicts. Let’s unravel the story behind the WW1 German Army uniforms, from their iconic designs to their evolution under the pressures of war.

The Pickelhaube, with its gleaming spike and brass fittings, is perhaps the most recognizable symbol of the German soldier in 1914. Originally designed in the 19th century, this leather helmet was both a status symbol and a practical headgear (though its "practicality" was debatable). The spike, often removable for parades, was intended to deflect saber strikes, a holdover from cavalry-centric warfare.

But trench warfare changed everything. The Pickelhaube’s leather construction couldn’t withstand shrapnel, and its shiny brass drew enemy snipers’ attention. By 1915, soldiers began covering helmets with cloth covers, and by 1916, the Pickelhaube was phased out in favor of something revolutionary: the Stahlhelm.

From Grey to Mud: The Uniform’s Core Components

German uniforms at the start of the war were a blend of tradition and modernity. The standard-issue Waffenrock (tunic) was made of durable wool in feldgrau (field grey), a muted color intended for camouflage. Each branch had colored piping—scarlet for artillery, blue for infantry—adding a dash of pride amid the mud.

Trousers & Boots: Soldiers wore straight-cut stone-grey trousers tucked into knee-high leather boots, practical for marching but ill-suited for trench muck.

Overcoats: Double-breasted greatcoats provided warmth, though their weight made them cumbersome in battle.

Gear: Leather belts with ammunition pouches, bread bags, and entrenching tools completed the ensemble.

As the war dragged on, uniforms grew simpler. By 1917, the tunic’s decorative piping vanished, and ersatz (substitute) materials like paper-thin leather or recycled fabric became common due to blockades and shortages.

The Stahlhelm: A Helmet for Modern Warfare

Introduced in 1916, the Stahlhelm (steel helmet) was a game-changer. Designed by Friedrich Schwerd and August Bier, its distinctive "coal scuttle" shape protected the head and neck from debris and shrapnel. The helmet’s ridge also allowed airflow—a small comfort in the stifling trenches. Over 8 million were produced, and its design influenced military headgear for decades.

Camouflage & Innovation: Germany’s Hidden Edge

While Allied forces stuck to single-color uniforms, Germany pioneered camouflage. In 1917, they introduced Buntfarbenaufdruck—a geometric pattern printed on canvas covers for helmets or cloth for sniper suits. This disruptive design broke up a soldier’s outline, making them harder to spot. Though limited in use, it marked the birth of modern military camouflage.

Gas Masks, Medals, and Identity

The horrors of chemical warfare (first used in 1915) forced armies to adapt. German soldiers carried Gummimaske respirators in metal canisters, a lifeline against chlorine and mustard gas. Uniforms also displayed identity through insignia:

Iron Cross: Awarded for bravery, often pinned to the tunic.

Rank Chevrons: Worn on the sleeve, indicating roles from private to officer.

Regimental Patches: Colored bands on the collar denoted unit affiliation.

Legacy: Where Are These Uniforms Today?

Post-war, many uniforms were repurposed or destroyed, but surviving examples are treasured artifacts. Museums like Berlin’s Museum of Military History and the Imperial War Museum in London showcase these uniforms, while collectors seek original Pickelhauben and Stahlhelme (beware of replicas!).

Conclusion: More Than Cloth and Leather

WW1 German uniforms reflect a nation caught between tradition and necessity. From the parade-ground elegance of the Pickelhaube to the gritty practicality of the Stahlhelm, they tell a story of innovation under fire. Next time you see a photo of a WW1 soldier, look closer—the threads of history are woven into every stitch.

[veryslowreader]

Field Grey by Philip Kerr

The Edge of Seventeen

[speeshblog]

Review: Field Grey - Philip Kerr

Review: Field Grey – Philip Kerr

5 of 5 stars

Series: Bernie Gunther 7

My version: Peperback Historical Fiction Germany Quercus 2010 Bought

Cuba, 1954

A man doesn’t work for his enemies unless he has no choice. So when Bernie Gunther finds himself forced to work for French intelligence, it was that or hang for murder.. His job is to meet and greet POWs returning to Germany, and to find a French war criminal who has been posing as a…

View On WordPress

[therips]

Field Grey: (just) internship as a secretary / pa, designer, office administrator & salesman

... And have a "confident telephone manor", because manor is what it takes to survive in London offices.

You will only be responsible with the following:

stationary orders, making sure the office is running efficiently and is clean and tidy, post, answering the phone (secretary)

making excellent coffee! (barrister)

Booking in IT help, logging IT problems (because it's normal in this position to know such stuff)

Logistics (because anyone can take care of this)

General office Administration including timesheet/data entry and filing, Diary Management, Day to day project activities required by the team (PA)

Contributing to sales calls, pitches and presentations, Database entry, Contribution to social media / Proposals and pitches (salesman, SEM)

Chasing suppliers for orders (this is why you wanted to become a fashion designer in the first place)

Responding to client queries and demands (customer service is included in the designer's tutorial package)

Researching for design presentations / Advance level user of relevant software including In-design, Photoshop, Illustrator, Excel, Word (graphic designer)

What you basically want is what they want: you must be eager to work in design and apply yourself in a commercial environment with all the above.

Do you want the cherry? Come one, you want the cherry, be truthful.

Here's the cherry: “Can do”, “will do” attitude. There's no "I want to be a fashion designer, I'm not making any coffee" or "how the hell should I know anything about sales or IT problems".

Congrats, you're a studio assistant.

Still, you have to look at the bright side: this is a paid internship. You don't get many of these in London.

[booksonlineread-blog]

New Post has been published on Online Read Books

New Post has been published on http://www.onlinereadbooks.com/a-review-of-the-latest-bernie-gunther-novel-field-grey-by-scottish-author-philip-kerr.html

A Review of the Latest Bernie Gunther Novel, Field Grey by Scottish Author Philip Kerr

Like many Gunther fans I was chomping at the bit to read it for this series marries my near obsession of all things World War 2 with hardboiled detective fiction. Bernie Gunther is a brilliantly drawn, flawed character whose story is played out in Nazi Germany, The Ukraine during the war, POW camps as well as post war Austria, Argentina, Cuba, France and Germany. Kerr is able to evoke the period so well, so cinematically, and his ability to weave fiction with real life events and characters really makes for a cracker of a yarn.

When the original trilogy was completed in the early 90s I was devastated for great thriller series don’t come around too often, even less so historical thrillers. Anyway my disappointment was displaced because Kerr went back to the series in 2006 and since then we’ve had four more novels. Another one, Prague Fatale, is apparently due out in the Autumn.

Field Grey differs in one key area from all the others in the series; there is no murder to solve. Rather, in this novel, Kerr concentrates on delving into the murky wartime past of Gunther himself, times that were merely brushed over in previous novels. The vehicle for this probe into his past is the story of Erich Mielke, a communist who Gunther saved from a beating by SA thugs in Berlin, who went on to murder two policemen, Paul Anlauf and Franz Lenck, in 1931 and eventually became head of the Stasi in post-war East Germany. A perfect example of how Kerr weaves Gunthers fictional life into the lives of real life characters.

The novel kicks off in sunny Cuba in 1954 with Bernie, ex-Kripo detective, reluctant SS member, wanted war criminal and unwilling spy for Cuban intelligence – he has to spy on Meyer Lansky, the Mafias accountant, who controlled the gambling concessions in Cuba under the Batista,regime – feeling increasingly vulnerable and tired of being on the run. He decides to escape by boat to Haiti however his departure is ill – timed and he’s intercepted by the US Navy. After time in Guantanamo prison he’s passed onto US intelligence. From New York he’s flown back to Berlin and exhaustively interrogated about his war time activities in France and the Ukraine. It is then that we start to learn of Bernies wartime activities and the atrocities he was part of on the Eastern front. As a result of the interrogations he is given a clear choice: help French intelligence identify a wanted war criminal or go on trial and face the consequences. Always the pragmatist, Bernie once again becomes the pawn in a larger game as his past catches up and threatens to overwhelm him.

However this plot device only serves to open up the unheard story of Bernies’ wartime experience and his relationship with Erich Mielke. It has all the bravado of previous books, the set pieces make for great reading and, as with the entire series, you find yourself immersed in the lifes of the characters and the history of the time. For someone like me this tension between fiction, fact and history is the singular achievement of these novels and Field Grey does not disappoint. Philip Kerr has done his research and although clearly exhaustive it is worn lightly on every page.

If you haven’t read any of the books in the series I urge you to do so. Now. You don’t have to start with ‘March Violets’ (his first one) just be sure you read them all. They make for perfect holiday reading. Especially on a gloomy, wet day when you don’t have to make an excuse to stay in and can instead curl up on the couch and jump straight into war torn Europe