M17 Camo Stahlhelme named to a member of Anhaltisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 93

**ww1czechlegion** · 02-22-2015, 10:22 PM

Hello

Here's my favorite Stahlhelme. It has a special place in my collection, as it came from the estate of a late friend who passed away in September of 2010 at the young age of 56. He acquired it a number of years ago in an antique shop here in Iowa. I wish this one could talk! Enjoy the pics!

All the Best,

Alan Schaefer

M17 Camo Stahlhelme named to a member of Anhaltisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 93

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 02-22-2015 10:22 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**ww1czechlegion** · 02-22-2015, 10:24 PM

6-More Photos.

**ww1czechlegion** · 02-22-2015, 10:27 PM

6-More Photos.

**ww1czechlegion** · 02-22-2015, 10:28 PM

Last 2-Photos.

**ww1czechlegion** · 02-22-2015, 10:30 PM

Here is some information that was provided to me by "MauserKar98k" who is a member on another forum:

Anhaltisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 93 was founded on May 22, 1807 and when it was was absorbed into the Prussian Army in 1867, it would be the only infantry regiment representing the Duchy of Anhalt in the Prussian (and later Imperial German) Army. IR93 became part of the 8th German Division, IV. Armeekorps and was garrisoned in Dessau, Anhalt (II. Battalion at Zerbst.) IR93 would remain part of the 8th Division for the entire First World War.

IR93 and the rest of the 8th Division invaded Belgium on 15 August 1914 (through Brussels on the 20th) and fought with the German 1st Army as part of a "enveloping movement on the left of the Allies." After this, IR93 entered France and fought in places such as Solesmes, Lizy sur Oureq-Plessis, Placy, etc. By September 8th, the 11. Kompanie of IR93 sustained so many casualties that it was reduced to 96 men. In mid-September, IR93 and the rest of the 8th Division was engaged against the British in places like the Battle of the Aisne, Cuffies, Chavigny, Pasly, etc. In late-September, the 8th Division went into line at Artois. In October, IR93 and the rest of the 8th Division participated in attacked south of Arras and "held the lines near Monchy aux Bois." [Despite their highlight in the film Joyeux Noel, it does not appear that IR93 participated in the the Christmas Truce. It also seems likely that IR93 was in line about 25 miles away from where it occurred.]

IR93 and the rest of the 8th Division spent the first few months of 1915 holding the line in the Monchy sector. In May, the Division was relieved and put into the reserve near Douai, France. In June, IR93 and the rest of the 8th Div. were put into line in the Souchez sector where they faced the French. The 8th Div. was pulled out of line in early September and was put in reserve near Tourcoing and Roubaix, very close to the Belgian border. IR93 and the rest of the 8th Div. took part in a counterattack in the Battle of Loos and suffered heavy casualties throughout September and October of 1915.

IR93 and the rest of the 8th Division stayed in line in the Loos sector until 3 July, 1916 when it was put into line in the Somme sector, Pozieres-Longeuval-Bois Delville front (5 miles SW of Bapaume.) Here, it suffered very heavy losses throughout mid-July. In late July, the 8th Div. was relieved and sent for rest in the Valenciennes region (near the Belgian border) and Arras. In September, IR93 and the rest of the 8th Div. were thrown back into the Battle of the Somme in the Thiepval-Courcelette front where it "had some hard fighting, which caused it heavy losses." In early October, the 8th Div. was transferred back to the Artois sector, NE of Loos.

IR93 and the rest of the 8th Division saw no heavy fighting in the winter of 1916-17, but did suffer serious losses as a result of British raids in April, May, and June 1917. In July and August, the 8th Div. was heavily hammered by British artillery and was relieved from the line before a British attack in the area (Lens.) In early August, IR93 and the rest of the 8th Div. entrained for Rethel in the Champagne sector of France. It rested in this region briefly and held the Butte du Mesnil front from mid-August to mid-September. In mid-September, the 8th Div. was sent back to the Belgian front (Bouziers, Becelaere, and Hollebeke) and remained there for the rest of 1917.

Note in report on recruiting- 1917:
"On November 4, 1917, a man came to the 5th Company of the 93rd Infantry who was born in 1898 in the 8th District [Southern Rheinland], was a farmer, and had been called up September 3rd, having had just two months of training. He was sent by a depot in Cologne."

In 1917, Allied Intellegence rated IR93 and the rest of the 8th Div. as such:
"Since the battles of 1914 the division remained entirely on the offensive. It always defended itself well in attacked and held its positions with tenacity. During its stay on the Champagne it did not show any activity, but also it had no desertions. It may be said that its morale is good."

In late-January 1918, the 8th Division was relieved from the front and sent for rest and training near Coutrai from February to March 1918. It was put into line west of Zandvoorde in early-March and stayed there until mid-April. In mid-April, IR93 and the rest of the 8th Div. participated in the Spring Offensive in the Lys sector and captured the town of Merville. It went into the second line in late-April. After this action, the 8th Div. was withdrawn from the line for rest for a period of two weeks and afterward was sent to a rest camp near Kemmel until May 12, 1918. From May until September, IR93 and the rest of the 8th Div. was shuffled back and forth between periods of rest and periods of action year Ypres. In late September, they were sent to the Le Catelet sector, Vendhuile front. It was beaten back and and suffered heavy casualties (including 400 prisoners) in this sector until it was withdrawn in mid-October. After a period of rest in late October, it was put back into line north of Le Cateau, withdrew in early November, and put back into line north of Maulde, very close to the Belgian border. It stayed here until the Armistice.

In 1918, IR93 and the rest of the 8th Division was considered a first-class unit. "A majority of its men came from the younger classes. Its effectives were high and the morale good. Apart from the Armentieres offensive in April, the division was on the defensive during 1918."

Photo of a Soldat from IR93 early in the war (property of drakegoodman.)
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IR93 Soldat and Colors I and III Batt.
Datei:2...-u-III-Btl.jpg

IR93 Soldat and Colors II Batt.
Datei:2...-93-II-Btl.jpg

Sources:
Good 'ol Wikipedia
Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Divisions of the German Army Which Participated in the Great War
http://www.deutsche-schutzgebiete.de...tum_anhalt.htm
IR 93
http://www.1914-1918.net/truce.htm