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The Landskonnections

The Official Newsletter of Das TeufelsAlpdrücken Fähnlein.

The Official Newsletter of Das TeufelsAlpdrücken Fähnlein. Published monthly, or whenever I get around to it. Any opinions contained herein are strictly my own, as are any typographical errors. For external use only - but you may read this inside. Entire contents copyright 1996 by Paula Peterka, unless otherwise noted or authored. Yeah, like you'd WANT to steal anything out of here! Prices shown for comparison only, options extra.

Volume 3Issue 2

Date Unknown


In This Issue:


Winter Campaign

The Landsknecht Invitational Winter Campaign was finally held on February 24 & 25 at Marietta Mansion. The event was postponed from its original dates due to 11" of snow, high wind advisories, and an air temperature of 15° - 25° , not including wind chill. The weather on the rescheduled weekend was sunny and clear, with blue skies and temperatures in the 50° - 60° range.

We were joined in our endeavors by six members of Der Sonnen von Krieg, a Pennsylvania based Landsknecht unit. Herr Derrick and Herr Michael bravely carted two cannons and numerous small firearms all the way from Landsford to join us in the field, and were joined by Frau Lee on Saturday, and by Obrist Wilam, his daughter, and Frau Lee's husband (whose name was not available at press time) on Sunday. Although other units had said they might come to play with us during the day, the only visitors to our camp were very enthusiastic tourists. We had a small but steady stream of camera-toting visitors on both days, perhaps 50 people total.

Hauptmann Manferd, Heinrich the Good, Fritz, Karl (Charlie), Anjabeth, Danica, Heidel, and Wilhelmina were there both days, with Andreaus, Heinrich the Catholic, Karl (Rob), and Sabina coming out at different points over the weekend.

The event was mostly unscheduled, with combined-unit pike drill, weapons firing, taking place pretty much whenever anyone felt like it. There weren't enough participants to really hold a cooking competition, or unit skirmishes, (and therefore no body-looting), so the weekend was very relaxed. It was enjoyable nonetheless, and we hope to make this an annual event. We sincerely hope our visitors and guests enjoyed themselves, and that they consider it worthwhile to return next year, when we will hopefully have more units participating, and more scheduled events.

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Jamestown

The unit has been invited back to Military Through the Ages, which will be held March 16 & 17, 1996, at the Jamestown Settlement in Virginia. This event was a lot of fun for us last year, and the fact that they're letting us return just proves that they really weren't paying too much attention to what we were actually doing! This event is a showcase of reenactment units, and there will be groups representing everything from the XX Roman Legion through the National Guard. Since this event takes place at a state-run museum, there are some rules for participation which they strictly enforce.

  1. No vehicles are allowed on the grounds between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. We may begin setting up on Friday before 5:00 pm only if we do not interfere with normal museum operations.
  2. All unit members must be pre-registered. This means your name must be on the list that Paula is sending to the coordinator on Wednesday, March 6. If you decide on March 14 that you want to go, you may be out of luck. (Of course, we'll try to get you in anyway, but we may not be able to!) All participants will be issued ID cards by the Jamestown staff.
  3. Immediate family members living in your household but not participating in the reenactment may get into the event for free, but only if we have their names in advance. This list will be sent in with the other paperwork on March 6.
  4. No digging is permitted in the camp sites. Likewise, the museum has strict rules against fighting, swearing, and gambling (unless it's purely theatrical). No alcohol is allowed on the site.
  5. All weapons safety rules must be strictly followed. Jamestown has strict rules on firearms, and a central powder magazine where all gunpowder must be stored. If you are planning on bringing a period firearm to this event, you must inform Larry, and agree to abide by all Jamestown's and the unit's regulations. NO Exceptions.
  6. We may not begin to break camp until 5:00 pm on Sunday. Our site must be cleared by 7:00 pm.
MTA is a judged event, and our unit has entered in the competitions again this year. Last year, we won the third place Judge's Choice Award. We will be competing in cooking, tactical /drill, clothing, general camp environment, and pretty much anything else they've got. Last year, the judges walked into our camp, and picked up things to look at their bottoms and see how they were made. One judge kicked over the edge of a Persian carpet and remarked that they weren't made by machine in the 16th Century. The judges can get very nit-picky, especially if the competition is tight. Therefore, if you know something is "farby", leave it at home. If you're unsure, bring it. There will be a camp inspection Saturday morning, and anything that doesn't pass muster will be removed from camp. This includes all aspects of your kit, including, weapons, tentage, and clothes. As Larry says, "If it ain't period, it ain't here!" The meal fee for this event is $7.00 per person, which includes breakfast and lunch for both days. Please turn your money into Karen, Kellie, or Paula no later than March 11. Dinner on Saturday night is provided by Jamestown, and features grilled/BBQ chicken, baked beans, potato salad, rolls, dessert, and beverages. There may also be a group of us going to the Mongolian BBQ in Williamsburg, as we did last year.

We were able to set up before 5:00 pm on Friday last year, and plan to do so again. An early caravan for people who took the day off from school/work will be leaving from the Peterka's apartment at 10:00 am on Friday, March 15, led by Larry. A late caravan for those who couldn't get the day off will be leaving from the apartment at 7:00 pm, led by Paula. If you plan to travel in either of these caravans, please call Larry or Paula, so they can make sure to wait for you.

If you are planing to bring your pavillion or tent, you need to contact Larry immediately. All pavillions must travel with the early caravan, even if their owners do not.

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Marietta

Marching Through Time at Marietta Mansion will take place April 13 & 14, 1996. This is another timeline event, and many of the groups who participate in Jamestown also come to this event. MTT has no formal judging, however, and it is a little more relaxed.

Since this is in many ways our "home" event, we hope to have a good turnout. Highlights of the event include the Sunday Morning Mayhem, wherein all the units are formed into two teams for a running field battle. Last year's skirmished included a Japanese Samurai who offered money for Anjabeth as she was watering the soldiers, a berserker charge by the Vikings into the civil war lines, the heroic entrance of Friedrich "der Fuchs" in the nick of time, and the double wounding of Heinrich the Catholic and the (ptui) Swiss commander.

The meal fee for this event is also $7.00 per person, which includes breakfast and lunch for both days. Dinner on Saturday night is on your own. We will probably head out to Wendy's or Sizzler.

We have been encouraged by the Marietta people to make physical improvements to our campsite, and we will begin these during the weeks before the event, depending on the weather conditions. Additionally, MTT will host local elementary school groups on the site on Friday, April 12, to promote the event to the community. Anyone who can come out on Thursday evening to help set up a few things, and then either stay over or comeback Friday morning to talk to the children, parents, and teachers would be appreciated. Larry will be doing so, and would like some help.

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Rantings of the Hauptmann

Greetings, it has been awhile since I had a chance to write something for the newsletter. Old things first, I would like to thank everyone who helped with the Rennaissance festival. It was a lot of work but I think that overall we did a good job (I won't comment at this time on all the other stuff) Currently I am preparing for Jamestown. I have made a promise to my self that I will get some sleep the week before Jamestown. The unit is set pretty well for the event we should have enough tentage and general camp stuff to make it look right. We will have several people in armor for the event. Hopefully my breastplate will be completed in time for the event. If anyone would like to volunteer for a weapons cleaning party next Sunday let me know! Some of our weapons need some major cleanup before we get to Jamestown. Speaking of weapons - Drew and my Katzbalgers were stolen out of Drews truck while it was parked at our apartment complex. If you see either of these in someone else's hands let us know! Bob and Baltimore Knife and Sword are working on replacements. Lots of new skills and projects within the group! Check out some of the work Mike has been doing on knives and such. Anyway I have to go Paula wants to print this so that we can give it out! Remember we do this to have fun!!!!

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Your Dues Are Due

Our Chief Financial Officer (Drew) has requested that all members pay their yearly dues no later than April 1. What do your dues do? Well, they pay postage and printing/copying costs for this marvelous newsletter, for one thing. They also go for any costs the unit incurs, like group registration fees at events, or storage fees, and also to purchase unit-owned props, like pavilions, weapons, tables, etc. Paying your dues also entitles you to all rights and privileges of membership, including voting, if you're a full or stakeholder member. There are a few very important issues to be decided soon, and if you haven't paid, you don't vote. Think of it as a poll tax if you like, but pay it anyway! They're only $20.00 for individuals, $30.00 for families.

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Germans Sing!

Here is reprinted one of the period Landsknecht songs that has become a unit "standard". Also nicknamed "the Road to Rome", this song tells of the cities that were taken during the Italian Campaigns of 1521-1529.

Wir Zogen in das Weld

Music and Lyrics Traditional
English Translation by Paula (Smith) Peterka

GermanEnglish
Wir zogen in das Feld,
Wir zogen in das Feld,
Da hätten wir älle Sackl ob Geld.
Strampedemi!
Alle mi presente al vostra, Signori!
Alle mi presente al vostra, al vostra, Signori!

Wir kamen von Siebentod,
Wir kamen von Siebentod,
Da hätten wir weder Wein noch Brod.
Strampedemi!
Alle mi presente al vostra, Signori!
Alle mi presente al vostra, al vostra, Signori!

Wir kamen vor Friaul,
Wir kamen vor Friaul,
Da hatten wir ällesamt gross Maul,
Strampedemi!
Alle mi presente al vostra, Signori!
Alle mi presente al vostra, al vostra, Signori!

Wir kamen vor Trieste,
Wir kamen vor Trieste,
Da hatten wir ällesamt die Pest.
Strampedemi!
Alle mi presente al vostra, Signori!
Alle mi presente al vostra, al vostra, Signori!

Wir kamen vor Benevent,
Wir kaman vor Benevent,
Da hatten wir unser Hand verbrennt,
Strampedemi!
Alle mi presente al vostra, Signori!
Alle mi presente al vostra, al vostra, Signori!

Wir kamen auch fur Rom,
Wir kamen auch fur Rom,
Da schiessen wir den Papst von Throm,
Strampedemi!
Alle mi presente al vostra, Signori!
Alle mi presente al vostra, al vostra, Signori!

We marched away to war,
We marched away to war,
And who knows what we're fighting for,
Hear the trumpets call!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, one and all!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, for muster, one and all!

We've taken Cividead,
We've taken Cividead,
And had no gold, nor wine, nor bread,
Hear the trumpets call!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, one and all!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, for muster, one and all!

We've taken Friaul town,
We've taken Friaul town,
And marched and swaggered up and down,
Hear the trumpets call!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, one and all!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, for muster, one and all!

We took Trieste in days,
We took Trieste in days,
A thousand pikemen died of plague,
Hear the trumpets call!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, one and all!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, for muster, one and all!

At Benevent we learned,
At Benevent we learned,
It's loot and plunder, then you burn,
Hear the trumpets call!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, one and all!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, for muster, one and all!

And when we got to Rome,
And when we got to Rome,
We shot the Pope right off his throne,
Hear the trumpets call!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, one and all!
Oh, you men prepare yourselves for muster, for muster, one and all!

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