Know Your WW1 Weapon’s History: The Flammenwerfer

January 20, 2023 by The Tactical Hermit in Firearms History, Historical Study, History of Weapons, History Remembered, History Roundup, Know your History, Know Your Weapons, Military History, Military News, Military Weapons from the Past, Military Weapons History, Strategy, Studies in Warfare, Tactics, Tales from the Battlefield, Tank Warfare, Warfare, Weapons & Ammo, World War I History, WW1 Era Weapons and tagged Battlefield Tactics, Flamethrowers in WW1, Flammenwerfer, German Weapons in WW1, Historical Study, Know your History, Strategy, Tactics, Warfare, Weapons History, WW1 History

Flammenwefer — World War I German Flamethrowers

It appears the first flamethrower of modern design was patented in Germany by Richard Fiedler in 1901. During the same year, the German army funded his continued work on flamethrower designs. Fiedler, a private citizen, designed several flamethrowers models and presented a working product to the German army in 1905. Based on the feedback he received, two versions of the flammenwerfer were delivered to the army in 1908.

Around the same time, a multi-talented man by the name of Bernhard Reddemann began his own experiments in designing flamethrowers. Reddeman was an officer in a German Pioneer battalion until 1903. At that time, he transitioned to a reserve officer and stayed in a Pioneer unit. Pioneers were specialist troops frequently responsible for the demolition of fortifications, engineering strong points and using specialized weapons.

Know Your WW1 History: Medieval WW1 Trench Weapons

October 23, 2022 by The Tactical Hermit in Combative Mentality, Combatives, Studies in Warfare, Tales from the Battlefield, Warfare, Warrior Tech, Weapons & Ammo, World War One, WW1 Era Weapons and tagged Close Quarter Weapons in WW1, Clubs, Combative Mentality, Historical Study, Improvised Weapons, Medieval Trench Weapons, Trench Warfare in WW1, World War One History, WW1 History

Medieval WWI Trench Weapons

The Brutal reality of Close-Quarter Combat in WW1.

Know Your WW1 History: Steering a Steam Roller – The German Invasion of France in 1914

October 21, 2022 by The Tactical Hermit in Europe, European History, Historical Study, History Remembered, History Roundup, Know your History, Strategy, Studies in Warfare, Tactics, Tales from the Battlefield, Warfare, Warrior Tech, World War I History, World War One, WW1 Era Weapons and tagged European History, German Invasion of France in 1914, Historical Study, Know your History, WW1 History

Steering a Steamroller

Bear in mind the German’s did this operation TWICE.

Once in 1914 with infantry and again in 1940 with tanks and infantry (Blitzkrieg) which only took 46 days.

What a difference 26 years makes.

Four for Fighting: The Greatest Quartet of Combat Shotguns

September 28, 2022 by The Tactical Hermit in Firearms History, Shotty Corner, Weapons & Ammo, World War One, WW1 Era Weapons and tagged Browning A5, Firearms History, Four Famous Combat Shotguns, Ithaca Model 37, Remington Model 11, Shotty Corner, Winchester Model 1897, WW1 Era Weapons

Four for Fighting: The Greatest Quartet of Combat Shotguns

A Look Back at the Heavyweight Champions of Combat Shotty’s:

Winchester Model 1897
Browning A5
Remington Model 11
Ithaca Model 37

Here is a fascinating article regarding why Germany wanted to ban the Winchester Model 1897 during WW1.

Know Your WW1 Weapons: Germany’s MG08 Heavy Machine Gun

September 12, 2022 by The Tactical Hermit in Armed Citizen Corner, Arms and Ammo, Europe, European History, Firearms History, Historical Study, History of Weapons, History Remembered, History Roundup, Know Your Weapons, Military History, Military Tech, Military Weapons from the Past, Military Weapons History, Weapons & Ammo, World War One, WW1 Era Weapons and tagged Firearms History, German Heavy Machine Guns, Know your History, Know Your Weapons, Military History, Military Weapons History, Weapons and Ammo, WW1 Era Weapons

Germany’s Heavy Machine Gun of WWI: The MG08

All you former infantryman out there might find this fact jaw dropping:

“The MG08 machine gun itself weighed approximately 60 pounds. Combined with its “Sled” (or Sledge) mount that used four legs, the whole affair weighed around 140 pounds, excluding the water can and ammunition supply. Along with the sled mount were extra barrels, tools, and oil containers, all attached to the sled. A team of four soldiers was required to move the entire gun and accessories.”