Can't remember seeing this before, which doesn't necessarily mean it hasn't appeared here.
The caption reads, broadly: "In the background, a captured English tank and a French Schneider tank." I assume those are the two objects I've ringed. Is the caption correct? If so, where might the two have come into contact?
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Our French friends are having a great deal of difficulty placing this photograph. In particular, even the combined wisdom of Michel, Guy, et al cannot identify the gun or guns nor agree on the shield that can be seen on the Stahlhelm. It has been suggested that it's a still from the film "Westfront 1918". I can't remember such a scene, but I shall check.
To me, the shield on the helmet indicates post-War. But the most significant thing is the camo scheme on the helmets. It's not the official scheme as laid down in Iirc July 1918. That was a patchwork of colours separated by a black line that had to be of a specified width. These helmets look as if the paint has run in the rain. So all in all I think that this is a still from an unidentified film, with dummy guns and using 1919 - 1936 uniforms. Maybe the men are troops being used as "extras".
Discussion invited.
-- Edited by James H on Wednesday 1st of February 2017 12:04:00 PM
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
There are these soil throw-offs in the background, which indicate it's an infantry (assault battalion) training ground in northern France. I first thought it might be Dourlers, the central IGB training ground, but the throw-offs show a rather light colour, advertising chalky Champagne soil. So, most probably either Bosmont (AB 7), Rethel (AB 1) or Vouziers (AB 2). I'm not sure about the soil at Beuveille-Doncourt (AB 5), which is east of the Meuse, although testing of new equipment was an AB 5 speciality.
Dating the picture: The A7V Abt. 2 exercise photographs from early August 1918 bear BUFA numbers 10,0xx. The A7V Abt. 3 exercise photographs from late September 1918 bear BUFA numbers 12,xxx. This picture has the number 11,796. - So, the best guess is early to mid-September 1918.
-- Edited by mad zeppelin on Wednesday 1st of February 2017 04:05:38 PM
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
