5th Mountain Battalion Avram Iancu, photos and info

Hi

A solution would be to post only the thumbnail in the message and to link it to the full photo

ok, thanks for the tip with thumbnail. I am trying now to post a picture with my grandfather and his orderly on the Eastern Front, winter 1942/1943. I would appreciate if somebody could help me "track" the front activity of the 5th Mountain Battalion (as I showed before, my grandfather was part of the campaign between July 1942/June 1943 - anybody has idea where the battalion fought during this period)

Hello Jeff_S. I hope I am not wrong, but the officer you were asking about was responsible with the logistic, ranked lieutenant (the original Romanian term is "administrator" roghly equivalent with "manager" - I am sure there is another world describing his position into a battalion). In any case, I am sure that he and my grandfather were good friends, so I will ask and post more as soon as I will have the answer.

Now, another one from the winter 1942/1943, Eastern front. Again, I would appreciate any help regarding the campaign of the 5th Mountain Battalion during this winter, maybe the photos will provide some hints. Also, I am not aware of the significance of the construction in this photo- an observation position maybe?

another photo from the same area, winter 1942/1943- mountain troops on march

and another one, this time from behind

Thanks for the quick response. A supply officer? That makes more sense than anything I was thinking. (I was thinking possibly a medical officer, or more strangely "Adm" = "admiralty" and he was a navy officer on some sort of exchange. Weird I know, but it did explain the blue uniform).

So "Adm" = "administrator". BTW, "administrator"... "administrative"... "administration" are all English words, and you do see positions described that way today, though we would be more likely to just say "supply officer" now.

His collar insignia is somewhat like that of the U.S. Navy's Supply Corps, though they wear it on the sleeve of the uniform coat.

Friends with the supply officer, eh? That can be useful, especially around inspection time when you have shortages to make up.

Re. the tower, I've seen pictures of towers somewhat like that used to mark routes in the mountains. It does not seem to offer much as an observation post, or as shelter, and I see no radio antenna or attachment for signal flags. But I'm sure someone on the site is more knowledgable about that.

This post has been edited by Jeff_S on July 25, 2005 04:40 pm

Panzer Mayer,

you can follow the campaigns of the 5th Mountain Battalion by reading the biography of the 3rd Mountain Division's CO: maj. gen. Leonard Mociulschi (http://www.worldwar2.ro/operatii/?article=14). You also have two articles (available only in English though) on the fights in the Taman bridgehead and in the Crimea in 1943/44, here:
http://www.worldwar2.ro/operatii/?language=en&article=13
http://www.worldwar2.ro/operatii/?article=14

As for the wooden structure, are you sure they are on the front?

It looks like the marking of a geodesic point.

It looks like the marking of a geodesic point.

Or like a meteorological observation point (a shelter for thermometers, barometers and so on). The today’s meteorological observation points from the vicinity of the meteorological observation stations look pretty much like this construction.

Panzer Mayer, could you please tell me what is the badge worn under the decorations by the fifth officer from the right in the photo below? Thanks.

Those are usually placed at a height which allows easy access (e.g., the level of the chest or head). The wooden structure in the photo seems much higher than that.

Those are usually placed at a height which allows easy access (e.g., the level of the chest or head). The wooden structure in the photo seems much higher than that.

You're right, but who knows...? I just wanted to add another possibility on the list.

Also, the photo was taken from a lower level than the level of the construction, so this may seem to us higher than it really was.

Could be, but if I remember right those old shelters also look different.

The man to the right of the wooden structure appears to stand almost between its legs, so he might be used as reference for height. Besides, all the other men are situated in front of the structure, so their apparent height is increased relative to that of the wooden structure.

It looks similar to the badge of the 42nd Obuziere Regiment.


Originally posted by REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR

Sorry Carol I but for the moment I do not know the answer. I saw what posted REGAL UNIFORMA COLECTOR- to be honest I am a little bit puzzled, because I so not see the connection between a Mountain Battalion and an artillery one (do not take this as a denial of the explanation posted). I will do further researches.

Now, a photo of the 5th battalion HQ in Abrud, about 1938

Great photos !