The ask a Historical Question thread

[Manfried_Wulf]

Thanks do you know what kind of ranks they would use as well I am planing on making a reg soon that's Dutch but as you can see I know nothing on them.

[Duuring]

They used French ranks and organisation. Properly didn't even bother to translate, as pretty much the entire officer corps and probably a good part of the men spoke only French.

Here's some info.

http://centjours.mont-saint-jean.com/unitesNL.php

[Manfried_Wulf]

Thanks

[OttoFIN]

How common was German camouflage in 1944 and 1945 and which was used the most and by who?

[Duuring]

Someone get Petschie.

[joer5835]

PEEEEETSCHIIIIIE

[Black Watch 1745]

How common was German camouflage in 1944 and 1945 and which was used the most and by who?

I have no idea myself but this link lists the different variants of German camouflage used scroll down to (German Cammo Swatches):
http://www.artizandesigns.com/painting-guides.php
  I suppose it would depend on the unit in question. I imagine the SS would get first dibs on anything new.

[The Mighty McLovin]

As you may know, both Germany and Ethiopia were unified from many different states and thus both shared the title of Empire. I'm wondering however why Italy, which was also unified from many different states, doesn't also share the title of Empire?

[Thunderstormer]

Interesting question.  Idk myself but if I had to guess, it is based on how they each formed and the people that made up said land.

Germany had the HRE(formed by chalrmagne I believe) as its predecessor. 

Italy was united by a king (king of sardinia I think. King emmanuel ll? Been too long)  rome would be it's main empire predecessor and it only became an empire imo after it beat Carthage and took over North Africa and spain.(among other stuff.  yes it was a republic at the time.  That doesn't mean it can't be an empire.)

Can't speak on ethopia.

Tho one has to keep in mind that these titles are whatever they wanted to be called.  You have  titles like king in prussia(later king of Prussia under Frederick the great)  or Austria making itself an empire near the end of the HRE.  The titles are no more than a name  with "prestige" imo

[Duuring]

I think choosing the titel of 'King of Italy' better reflected the fact and idea that the Italians were and always had been a singular nation, while Germany, even when it was a unified empire, still had autonomous regions with their own royalties.

[joer5835]

I think Duuring is right. Italy became a centralized state, whereas Germany remained, and still remains so in a sort of way, a federal nation with regional differences that people wanted preserved. It fitted perfectly into the idea of being a succesor to the federalised HRE.

[Duuring]

Not even sort of. Germany is a federation.

[joer5835]

True, but the distinctive regional identities are no longer as big and pronounced as they were in the days of the Kaiserreich.

[AeroNinja]

I'm curious, how old were the most Young Guard soldiers? Or how old did you have to be to become one if you got the experience etc.

[Duuring]

In 1813-14, Young Guard was filled with conscripts, meaning most were aged 19-20. Before that, a few years experience if any did suffiece, so soldiers were slightly older, around 25-26.