War may be brutal, but even in the trenches, soldiers knew how to find moments of laughter. These unearthed photos capture World War I troops letting loose, pulling pranks, striking ridiculous poses, and turning boredom into comedy. In the face of fear and exhaustion, their humor became a powerful way to stay human when everything else felt uncertain.
German Beer Code, which reads “Keep on drinking”.
1925.
Soldiers Put on a Show
A group of World War I soldiers strike a playful pose during a makeshift “fashion show,” dressed in improvised outfits made from towels and scarves. Between drills and danger, moments like these brought laughter and camaraderie to life on base.
Fight!
We wonder if this was training or they were just having some fun.
“Flight from Döberitz” by Paul Höfer.
Berlin, Germany. 1914.
Those who remained faithful to their mother can be seen flying from here
Munster, Germany. 1928.
Hooray! The unit has 22 days left.
Germany. 1915.
Dog Dad
The dog posing for the picture? Iconic and cute.
Soldiers with the mascot on a painted studio prop of the Viktoria Luise Zeppelin.
Bezirk Lothringen, German Lorraine. 1915.
Escape from Munster
Munster Military Camp, Germany. 1916.
Happy New Year 1918
Germany, 1918.
“The trip to Hannover is here” by Max Schütze.
Dörnitz Military Camp (Altengrabow), Germany. 1930s.
German soldiers on wooden cutout stork.
Munster, Germany. 1930.
“Flight from the Military Training Camp at Darmstadt” by Fritz Sengers.
Ideal Studio, Darmstadt, Germany. 1913.
German soldiers on a faux Easter egg prop.
Germany. 1930s.
Lockstedter Military Camp.
Hülsings, Germany. 1914.
“Sightseeing Flight” by Richard Schubert.
Munster, Germany. 1938.
French military aviators in a painted biplane studio prop.
Paris, France. 1928.
We Are Seven
A really helpful clarification!
“Reserved Flight Home from Bitsch” by J. Jungmann.
Straßburg, Austria. 1912.
Flight from the sand desert Neuhammer.
Nuehammer Military Camp, Germany.
Fashion Icons
Those fur coats were real and a really helpful -and stylish- accessory.
“Flight from Altengrabow” by Max Schütze.
Dörnitz Military Camp (Altengrabow), Germany. 1930s.
Coney Island Amusement Park, New York.
1930s.
Military training ground by Paul Riediger.
Neuhammer am Queis, Germany. 1914.
“Escape from sand desert Neuhammer” by Paul Riediger.
Neuhammer, Germany. 1913.
Soldier posing with fake horse in front of painted backdrop.
Republic of Estonia. 1920.
“Flight from Jüterbog” by Ernst Löhn.
Teltow-Fläming district, Germany. 1925-1930.
Puppy Love
They could’ve used these pictures on a calendar.
“Truppenübungsplatz (military training ground)” by Alexander Herld.
Elsenborn, Germany. 1915.
Camp de Bitche by Charles Montag.
Département de la Moselle, France. 1925.
