WWI IMPERIAL GERMAN TRENCH RAIDING FLAIL MACE ORIGINAL RARE ** NO RESERVE **

Description

This is an Original Imperial German WW1 Trench Fighting Mace Flail that I found many years ago hanging in an old barn and has sat in my display case as found for the last 25 plus years. This gruesome weapon was used during the First World War and was very effective during trench warfare and raids. The mace comprises a very heavy cast iron spiked ball which is attached by a chain to the turned wooden 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.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 and used in this role also.