WW1 German uniform

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

Who makes squatting Austro-Hungarian infantry with trews down? In 15mm?

I take it you’re not keen about kitbashing? If not, I’m sure some enterprising creator of 3D-printed miniatures will soon answer the call.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

Good one, Carlos. Without wishing to go off on too much of a tangent, your reference to the underexplored but ever fascinating topic of dysentery reminds me of a description of Austro-Hungarians throwing food tins filled with faeces at Italians on the Isonzo front, presumably having run out of grenades. I must point out, however, that this comes from Mark Thompson’s White War, about which reservations have been expressed in another thread. I have no way of knowing whether this is an example of the misinformation Thompson is alleged to have perpetrated. It may be an area in which the necessary research is lacking.

[Freddy]

Good one, Carlos. Without wishing to go off on too much of a tangent, your reference to the underexplored but ever fascinating topic of dysentery reminds me of a description of Austro-Hungarians throwing food tins filled with faeces at Italians on the Isonzo front, presumably having run out of grenades. I must point out, however, that this comes from Mark Thompson’s White War, about which reservations have been expressed in another thread. I have no way of knowing whether this is an example of the misinformation Thompson is alleged to have perpetrated. It may be an area in which the necessary research is lacking.

As on the Italian front the "deadly 400m" was sometimes vertical, according to some memoires, strategically placed latrines were a thing from the lucky soldiers in the upper trench

[carlos marighela]

Interesting. I picked up a copy of Thompson's book second hand many years back. Looked like it was either a misprint or a printer's demo as it lacked the photos, was printed on rough, imperfectly cut paper and IIRC was even missing page numbers. Never got around to reading but if it's rubbish, maybe I never shall.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

Interesting. I picked up a copy of Thompson's book second hand many years back. Looked like it was either a misprint or a printer's demo as it lacked the photos, was printed on rough, imperfectly cut paper and IIRC was even missing page numbers. Never got around to reading but if it's rubbish, maybe I never shall.

I found it an interesting read but had nothing to compare it with so was blind to any flaws it may have had. There were plenty of quotes from impressed reviewers on the cover but they may have had much the same problem I did. One thing that did frustrate me a little was the amount of coverage on cultural issues which, while not uninteresting, didn’t really seem to belong there. I was also surprised to find no reference to Arditi - at least under that name, unless my memory is faulty - or that great Italian invention, the sub-machine gun. Otherwise the military aspects appeared to be covered well enough.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

As on the Italian front the "deadly 400m" was sometimes vertical, according to some memoires, strategically placed latrines were a thing from the lucky soldiers in the upper trench

That definitely makes sense. Throwing a tin of faeces with the regular parabola of a hand grenade would presumably be almost as unpleasant for the soldier launching it as for the recipients, giving the concept of friendly fire added pungency, whereas simply dropping it would be relatively risk-free, as long as he remembered to wash his hands afterwards.

[Freddy]

That definitely makes sense. Throwing a tin of faeces with the regular parabola of a hand grenade would presumably be almost as unpleasant for the soldier launching it as for the recipients, giving the concept of friendly fire added pungency, whereas simply dropping it would be relatively risk-free, as long as he remembered to wash his hands afterwards.

It was not direct dropping as that would come with the risk of getting a second hole right next to the main exit port. It was more like collecting the stuff the regular way and when the pile is big enough removing some obstacles and let the brown avalance roll.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

So no tins involved?

[carlos marighela]

The childish joys of pissing on the campfire and watching the ensuing steam cloud blow towards your camping companions' tents writ large.

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

I have the impression you speak from experience, Carlos. Would any of this boisterous behaviour perchance have occasionally escalated into inserting Redback spiders into sleeping bags? On reflection, that would constitute attempted murder so an admission would be self-incriminating. Perhaps one of the less lethal bum-biting species?

[Freddy]

So no tins involved?

Nope, If I remember correctly that memoire the fun began when an Italian artillery shell hit the Hungarian latrine and covered everyting in shit. The vengeful Hungarians then started Operation Brown Avalanche.
The real horror is that in the Karst mountains water is a rare commodity as the ragstone surface is unable to hold any surface water, digging wells (and trenches btw) is hard as it is all stone, carrying it from behind the front is often disturbed by enemy fire. Soldiers actually suffered a lot from thirst. Now imagine all your stuff being covered in shit with your water rations barely enough for drinking.

[Driscoles]

 Carlos please behave 

[Cholmondely Percival IV]

Now imagine all your stuff being covered in shit with your water rations barely enough for drinking.

This is definitely an under-explored area. I foresee a multitude of scenarios being based on this further demonstration of the ‘war is hell’ paradigm, and a lot more brown paint being sold.

[vtsaogames]

Oh dear, what have I started? Cry havoc and let loose the turds of war.

[Freddy]

This is definitely an under-explored area. I foresee a multitude of scenarios being based on this further demonstration of the ‘war is hell’ paradigm, and a lot more brown paint being sold.

The OG brown avalanche was a Rhodian trick, when Antipatros (or maybe Kassandros? one of those Western successors) besieged the city. There was a wall section heavily damaged and, of course, heavily contested. The Rhodians built a second wall behind that and filled the gap between the two walls with all the good stuff. (Note: this was an ancient siege, so things did not happen fast). When the attackers finally brought down the damaged (outer) wall, they had a nasty surprise.