Historical war pictures

 
Belgian civil guard with their characteristic dog carts. It is actually called 'Garde civique'. It was a Belgian militia that was founded by the young independant Belgium in october 1830. This civil guard was organised in every town. Their mission was 'To keep the obedience of the laws, the public order and to serve peace.'

Standard service in the civil guard was to go on patrols for the security of people, the protection of property and to maintain public order. The civil guard also played a small role in WWI.
Sadly enough it was abolished in 1920.

During the short but fierce Franco-Prussian war, Prussia mobilised its army and attacked France, which was ruled by Napoleon III back then. Bismarck's idea was to immobilize France and Austria before he could start to unite Germany, which consisted of many small townships. Bismarck thought that this war was of great importance for one united Germany.
These French fellows probably really had a hard time defending their homeland.

    Prussian artillery, the enemies of the French above. As you can see, war was still dignified with fancy uniforms and proud posing. All of these things went lost in the First World War with the cruel chemical weapons that were used there.

                            Soviet troops airdropped

                              The experimental soldier in the 60's. During the 50's and 60's the Cold War was really at  its peak which of course asked for renewed weaponry and fighting tactics. This picture depicts the expectations of the development in warfare and other technological renewal.
As communism became a greater threat, the possible conflict could escalate.
Every country needs defence.

    On the 7th of may 1945, short after the end of WWII in Holland, there was a massacre on the 'Dam' square in Amsterdam. German soldiers suddenly opened fire on the celebrating crowd. There were 22 dead and 120 injured. After the war a monument was placed for the casualties.

    Captured Stg44 with night vision being tested by a Commonwealth soldier. The Sturmgewehr was quite a renewal in weapon technology by using a new caliber. Before the Stg was introduced in the Wehrmacht, it had submachine guns and bolt action rifles. These weapons where not proven to be so effective for the combat situations in WWII. The Stg was not a reliable weapon but it was easy to handle and helped to slow down the allied victory.

August von Mackensen was an important German military commaner during period of the German Empire and WWI. He was in 1901 the general of the Leibhusaren which had the characterising skull on their headwear. Von Mackensen gained more fame after the battles in Tannenberg and the Mazurian lakes. After these victories, others from the high command always relied on him for a big strategic breakthrough.
He also introduced a new tactic called the 'Mackensen-falanx'.

     Russian troops in Chechnya

   Vietnam special forces.

                   Soviet sniper in Afghanistan

                              Belgian civil guard

Belgian civil guard with a Comblain rifle.