Thanks for posting these great shots.
I once invited in to my Civil Air Patrol Cadet Squadron a veteran of WWI. He was a German veteran. He told several great stories about life in the trenches. One that I remember was when he was leading a brand new Lieutenant through the trenches out to their unit. They heard an incoming artillery shell and the Lieutenant dove to the bottom of the trench. This experienced guy just ducked down a little and leaned against the trench wall. The shell landed and blew their trench walls in. Rescuers dug him out in time but the Lieutenant, lying at the bottom of the trench, was dead by the time they got him dug out.
He also handed around his Iron Cross. He said that it was a real Iron Cross, not like the ones given out by the Austrian Corporal.
That's weird, Hitler won two iron crosses, one 1st. class and one 2nd. class and they were both legit.
Maybe he means ones Hitler gave out during WWII since it does say, "...given out by the Austrian Corporal". There's no doubt that Hitler gave them out to reward people but most were earned.
You should have asked him why he didn't shoot the b**tard when he had the chance?