The Kaiser's men’s medals

**TabsTabs1964** · 03-31-2024, 08:41 AM

To end the chapter on the young German's long relationship with the Imperial Army, this Easter Sunday we will talk about the meaning of the expression Parole Heimat.

We are going to see below a series of lithographs and photographs in which we will see how the long period of military service of two years (about 700 days) was considered in its first half, as an uphill or climb; and that after reaching the top, in its second half it was seen as a downhill or descent, towards a happy discharge and return home.

Military service began in the month of October of one year and ended in the month of September of two years later.

TabsTabs collection

The next one will be: Destination the Home, Parole Heimat!

**TabsTabs1964** · 03-31-2024, 08:54 AM

Almost all postcards depict allegorical images that are easy to understand. The uphill climb of service begins with a young boy, the recruit sad to abandon his home and his girlfriend.

The downhill and arrival is represented by the figure of a seasoned and tired veteran, happy to regain his freedom and return to his home (heimat).

They usually had a phrase that allowed you to write with a pen or pencil the number of days remaining until the license.

Parole noch ___ tage. - Discharge still ___ days

A very popular number was to send the postcard when there were 200 days left until the discharge

**TabsTabs1964** · 03-31-2024, 09:00 AM

It seems that cavalry service lasts three years! almost 1,100 days and the peak is then about 540 days...

**TabsTabs1964** · 03-31-2024, 09:15 AM

In the Kaiser's Navy also 1096 days....

Hoch die zweite Hälfte der Dienstzeit - Cheers to the second half of the service

And we are already beginning to see some of the objects associated with returning home after discharge: a cane decorated with colored ribbons and a kind of small highly decorated canteen or flask that he carried on his shoulder with a cord.

**TabsTabs1964** · 03-31-2024, 09:23 AM

In other images, the discharge is seen as the dream of a rather distant soldier.
We see that another of the symbolic elements is a flying swallow that carries in its beak the letter with the licensing document.

But the end of the story is the same: whether by balloon or by train, the discharged veterans return home drinking beer from their typical discharge mugs where they are warmly received by their wives and girlfriends.

**TabsTabs1964** · 03-31-2024, 09:31 AM

Another common symbolic element is a femur bone, which represents the long time of service in the ranks.
Since the nickname of the veterans in their final months of service was Alte Knoch, that is: old bones

NOTICE On September 18, 1913, a large batch of old bones was to be handed over. Can be picked up at the IR 31 barracks for reimbursement of the two-year storage costs

Ach, es ist der alte Knochen, Denn Reserve hat nur noch ... Wochen - Oh, it's the old bone, Because Reserve only has... weeks left

**TabsTabs1964** · 03-31-2024, 10:10 AM

Some cards have a place where the soldier can cover the data: Monat, Tage, Brot, Geld - Month, days, bread, money

The last few days seem to pass more slowly... but finally! The bird brings the envelope with the Reserve Pass (the pass to the reserve)

And the one who was a soldier until a few hours ago and is now a reservist runs towards his home

**TabsTabs1964** · 03-31-2024, 10:16 AM

The Mauser and the bayonet are handed over and in exchange they receive the laurels and the commemorative canteen of the discharge, as well as the cane, which symbolize that the old soldier can help himself with the cane on his way home and quench his thirst with the contents of the canteen.