An Austrian Mace. Austrian Arch-Duke Eugene confessed that his troops on the Italian Front contain special detachments, armed with the special maces (clubs with sharp nails) for the purpose of finishing off Italian soldiers who are discovered to be in a lethargic state, after being poisoned by gas. Famous British journalist Lord Northcliffe, the publisher of the Times, who visited Goritza immediately after it was taken by the Italians, saw these maces, captured from the Austrians.
The Austrian club is pictured atop the Saxon pickelhaube. Good enough for the Russian WWI propaganda, I guess.
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