WW1 GERMAN Trench Ball Fighting Flail spiked Ball Chain Mace Morgenstern Antique

Description

WW1 GERMAN Trench Ball Fighting Flail spiked Ball Chain Mace Morgenstern Antique
RARE 1917 IMPERIAL GERMAN WW1 TRENCH FLAIL SPIKED
MACE
Bought from collector of old german weapons in Essen, Germany during '90s
The trench flail is in very good condition.
Total Length: 67 cm (26.3")
Hadle: 24cm (9.4)
Ball(with spike)
diameter: 14cm (5.5")
Ball(without spike)
diameter: 7cm (2.7")
+ low value on receipt
An original Imperial German WW1 Trench Fighting
Mace
Flail.  This gruesome weapon was used during the latter stages of the First World War and was very effective during trench raids.  The
mace
comprises a very heavy cast iron spiked
ball
which is attached by a chain to the handle.   Trench raiding was a major feature of trench warfare during World War I.   The raids took the form of  small scale surprise attacks on enemy positions.
Attacking enemy trenches
Most raids took place at night by small teams of men who usually  blacked up their faces and then entered No-Mans Land and headed for the enemy’s trenches after cutting through the barbed wire. Although pistols and rifles would have been carried, the need for quiet was paramount, in order that the attacker could work his way along the enemy trench and so not alert the enemy further along the trench system.  This
mace
and similar weapons such as clubs and knives were effective in this role.