Source: http://worldoftanks.ru/ru/news/pc-browser/1/veshhi-mezhdu-zhiznyu-i-smertyu/
Hello everyone,
Wargaming RU posted another quite interesting article. This time, it’s not about the tanks per se, more like about the men, who ride in them. And on them. Since April 2014, an exhibition called “Things between life and death” is shown in Belarus (Grodno, Minsk, Gomel, Mogilev and Brest), showing a collection of soldier items from “everyday front life”. The collection was borrowed from the Swedish army museum in Stockholm. This exhibition was first shown in Sweden in 2010 and – in following years – it moved to Norway, Belgium and Poland.
63 separate glass cases show items, that belonged to German, Soviet, American, British and Japanese soldiers and officers in second half of 19th to first half of 20th century. These personal items belonged to real soldiers (sometimes, the entire set belonged to one man) and thus represent real historical evidence. These are for example the things of John Thomson, member of the Royal Army Medical Corps – cutlery, personal hygiene things, medical instruments, medic armband. Thomson started his service in October 1914 as a Lieutenant, in Spring 1916 he was promoted to the rank of Captain. Captain Thomson served as a doctor in the 6th and the 2nd Battalion of Scottish infantry regiment on the western front. He survived the war and was awarded the Military Medal and Victory Medal.
These are the things of a German WW1 soldier. The passport was issued in Alsace-Lorraine to Karl Christopher Kober, valid until 31.7.1917, marked as “invalid”
These things belonged to a WW2 German soldier. The passport was issued on 6.12.1939 in Hamburg to Herbert Steuerwald.
Ceremonial Japanese items: Sake accessories, a medal for victory in the Russian-Japanese war of 1905, bronze medal for victory over China in 1938, Order of the Sacred Treasure 7th Class, awarded both to military personell and to civillians for long and impeccable service. On the pair of national flags are the well-wishes and notes from family and friends to soldiers going to war (WW2).
For spiritual care, there were military chaplains of various religions. The bottle includes water from the river Jordan.
Starting from WW1, chemical warfare appeared during the conflicts. There are some of the respirators, gas masks, boxes and masks displayed as well, including a well-preserved chemical warfare WW2 kit of the US Army.
A couple of match boxes, displaying Finnish WW2 military uniforms
US anti-disease and allergy medical kits
Dry rations
US WW2 soldier ID tags (“dog tags”)
Field office – portable typewriter for correspondence
Various goggles and eye shields
Field post sets – pencil box with “Old sargeant Jiggs”, US Marine symbol
A collection of chewing gums
WW2 post mark and set of stickers for closing envelopes
Various first aid kits
Vaseline was introduced to the American first aid kid for – well, first aid purposes
Sewing kits and a boot polishing kit
Sewing kit of the Red Army
A British WW1 “Bismarck Razor” box with razor
Various shaving kits, 1910 to 1945
WW2 field kitchen accessories
Hygiene – German WW2 soap, beaker and basin
Hm… a big box of vaseline… Ehh.. soldier life without womens can be rough… :D
… and you know this how exactly? XD
Yeah, em, soldiers life without a woman can be rough, because women tend to self lubricate, fellow soldiers dont do that usualy. *flies away*
Vaseline is not just lubricant… it is also used as a skincare. (just try it if you have a dry skin or a lot of acnes) And it washes down the makeup very good.
Interesting fact: item #10 from the german WWII soldier (image #5) is still being issued today by the german army. It contains a knife, spoon, fork and a can opener.
It works, doesn’t weigh much, takes little space, and is very easy to mass produce. Just what the military loves. :)
and here I was thinking that Swiss Army knives would have replaced it
I think it would be rather difficult to eat with a Swiss Army knife.
it depends on the user you know :)
http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/5-pictures-of-the-ultimate-swiss-army-knife-has-100-tools-including-a-functional-revolver
Some Swiss Army Knives comes with a spoon or fork
Although the one I have at home doesn’t have it
Interestingly comes with a really sharp scissor though
Same goes for the Hungarian Army, its called “Kanálgép” (spoon machine) here
lol hungry has an army?
We have a very good army… for it’s size. :S
Had an almost identical set during my “conscription” in another NATO army :)
Great article Silentstalker.
Good job again. :)
I recognize these things. The exhibition was in the Warsaw army museum a couple of months ago and i happened to be there as it was on display. It was quite an eperience seeing these items and imaginaning their original owners everyday life.
I wanted to take that wrigleys spearmint gum and check if it tastes the same as today. :-)
That tea set for six… Oh, soooo British!
picture #10 presents a packet of …
…shark repellent
Very interesting. Too bad the actual descriptions of the items didn’t fit into the photos.
Sewing kit of the Red Army
LOL! they had such a thing? i thought russian lives were expendable.
Release the ban hammer.
Picture #5 “scho-ka-kola” is written on a red thingy….What is that?
Scho-ka-kola was a field ration issued to german soldiers. The schokolade (Chocolate) contained additional caffeine. The name is derived from the ingredients, as in schokolade, kakao (Cocoa) and kolanuss (Kola nut). It was meant to raise their awareness and keep them awake in the field more often as far as I know. It tastes surprisingly nice.
Now imagine if they had this in WWII https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b60OZhrTB6o
SCHO-KA-KOLA!!!
Best chocolate ever.
Back in WWII it could even have a bit of…less legal drug…in it.
Now it’s just pure caffine.
Metampetamine derivative? Was legal back then at least when issued to soldiers as emergncy stimulant. Was used by the US and Brits also if i remember it correctly.
Still exists? Didn’t know this.
Gotta get some from Germany to try :-P
Here is a similar sort of thing for “British” soldiers throughout the ages:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11011316/Military-kit-through-the-ages-from-the-Battle-of-Hastings-to-Helmand.html
HOLD ON A MINUTE!!!!
The “Das Haus in der Sonne” is considered the first swiss comic book. So the person, who brought it to the fields in WW1 PRECEDED the US army!!!! :)
PS: i’m a comicbook fan…
The sewing and shoe shine kit…. is a button shining kit actually…
and Vaseline was originally well known for medical purposes, as in promoting healing by covering woulds.. hence why it is applied to a bandage. Get your minds out of the gutter.
Only thing rashan soldiers needed was a bottle of vodka