Lanyards and Lugers, 1914

[Douglas Jr.]

Hi,

I posted this on Jan Still's forum, but as many of you are not members there, here it goes - hope the moderators don't mind.

I won this one on e-bay (it was not a bargain, but a steal) and it just arrived. I was quite satisfied as it is my best vintage picture of a Luger.

Besides the nice quality of the picture, what really thrilled me was the fact that BOTH soldiers are holding their P08s attached to different kinds of lanyards. Believe it or not I just discovered this detail when I had the picture in hands a couple of hours ago.

The writing on the back says:

Monkolice, 8.December 1914

Dear Grandparents.
With this I send you greetings from cold Russia.
I am doing well which I also hope of you. Wishing you Merry Christmas.
Many greetings is sending your Otto.

The sender apparently served in the Signals Battalion of the 6. Cavalry Division, which would be correct for time frame purposes, according to forum member Nick Helms. Yet according Nick, "The 6th Cavalry Division fought on the western front in 1914 until October and was moved to the Russian front so the dates seem a good match for sending a card from Russia in December. Also, the grandparents are in Baden, there are two Dragoon regiments in the 6th from Baden, the 20th (1st Baden) and 21st (2nd Baden)."

I hope you enjoy as much as I do.
Douglas