MarineKorps Flandern

[Peter H]

It had been instituted under the leadership of Admiral von Schröder on September 3, 1914, and played an honourable part in the taking of Antwerp on October 10, 1914. The General Command had its headquarters at Bruges. The infantry of the Naval Corps consisted of six regiments of able seamen and the marines. The latter in particular had played a distinguished part in the great battles in Flanders in 1916 and 1917. The sea-front was guarded by regiments of marine artillery. Thirty guns of the heaviest calibre had been set up there, among them five Of 38 cm., four of 30.5 cm., and besides them a large number of quick-firing guns of from 10.5 to 21 CM. calibre.Memoirs of Admiral Scheer.


Admiral von Schroder and Bulgarian visitors 1918.Wilhelm Keitel served as an Army Operations officer on his staff 1917-19.Is that Hauptmann Keitel on the right?

[Peter H]

Admiral Ludwig von Schroder

http://home.t-online.de/home/personenre ... chroed.jpg

The MarineKorps intially consisted of one Marine(Matrosen)Division but a 2nd Division was raised in November 1914.The 1st Division staff occupied
the seafront from Raversyde to the Zeeland frontier,while the 2nd Division was allocated the front on land from the North Sea to Schoorbakke(4 kms SE of Nieuport).The six regiments of Matrosen alternated between the two sectors,and consequently changed from one division to the other.

The MarineKorps also had its own fighter and seaplane Flugs,and had numerous artillery batteries dug in along the Flanders coast.A heavy gun railway battery was also available.

[Peter H]

2nd Matrosen Regiment member.Standard uniform for infantry was army issue with shako.

[Peter H]

1st Matrosen Regiment.

[Peter H]

Defending the seacoast.Naval uniforms in use by coastal detachment.


http://www.thirdreichforum.com/files/marines.jpg

Such defenders were encountered in the Zeebrugge and Bruges raids of 1918.

[Peter H]

Another former member of the MarineKorps was General Ramcke of 2nd Para Division fame in WW2.Ramcke belonged to the 2nd Matrosen Regiment.

http://www.specialcamp11.fsnet.co.uk/Ge ... Ramcke.htm

[Peter H]

Trenches thru the sea town of Nieuport.

From Corbis.com

[Peter H]

German trenches facing the North Sea 1915.

[Beowulf]

Moulded, thanks once again for finding us a fascinating set of pictures.

[aysi]

Great pictures Moulded,say do you know of any books on the Zeebrugge and Bruge raids that i can get hold of

[Peter H]

The latest,and best work out on the raids:

http://www.uboat.net/books/item/1911

Also find here about the only Aussie involved in the Zeebrugge raid,Harry Coward on the British sub C1:

http://www.dropbears.com/w/ww1subs/index.htm

[Peter H]

Correction--raids were at Zeebrugge and Ostend.

British Royal Marine prisoners at Zeebrugge.

[CNOCK]

Hi Peter,

The men wearing the shakos are 1st and 2nd Seebataillone, and not Matrosen Regiment.

Regards,

Cnock

[CNOCK]

Muetzenband 'Kaiserliches Marinekorps'.
The man is wearing a trench dagger.

[CNOCK]

Marinekorps Flandern

1ste Matrosen Regiment