Albrecht von Blumenthal 1889-1945

[[email protected]]

Hello,

My grandfather Albrecht von Blumenthal was captured by the French during the Second Battle of Champagne in Sept 1915. He spent part of his captivity at Corte (Corsica), part on a hospital ship part at Mons, Carcasonne and Moulin. He made 2 escape attmpts.

Does anyone know if the French kept records about their prisoners? Id like to try and pin down the exact dates he spent in the various prisons.

Also my father called that his father won an Iron Cross. Can any tell me when and how?

[jluetjen]

As far as the Iron Cross, aside from having a specific citation I'd suggest trying to get a copy of the regimental history. They often mention when people received the award.

[[email protected]]

That’s a good idea. His unit was 2nd Heavy Reserve Cavalry Reg, Graf zur Lippe’s Cav Division, III Army.

Can you tell me where to obtain citations?

[jluetjen]

I'm not aware of them being stored anywhere on-line from WWI. I was referring to the citation or document that would have been issued with the medal itself. Here's an example from the 2nd WW.

[jluetjen]

His unit was 2nd Heavy Reserve Cavalry Reg, Graf zur Lippe’s Cav Division, III Army.

Where was he from - Bavaria?

I believe that the unit you referred to would properly be called the 2nd Reserve Schwere Reiter regiment. If my memory is correct, all of the "Schwere Reiter" regiments were Bavarian. The other states called them "Kurassier".

I can't see the 2nd Reserve Schwere Reiter regiment being part of the III Army. It was part of the VIII Reserve Corp though. WIthin that they were part of the 16th Reserve division which did fight Champagne region in 1915, so that seems to be the right time and place.

[[email protected]]

He was a Prussian (the family is from Blumenthal in Brandenburg) but he was living in Munich when the war began. He and his brother both joined, his brother as an officer and he as a trooper. However he was quickly commissioned.

Thank you for the suggestion of finding a reg. History. I tracked it down, written by my grandfather’s sqn cdr Fritz Najork. He confirms indeed being in 3 Army up till about Dec 1915.
Amazingly his book includes a photo showing my grandfather (V Blumenthal Ii), his brother and Curt Haniel who became a close friend in captivity on Corsica.

[jluetjen]

Wow! That is so cool! I hope that I can find something similar in regards to my grandfather at some point. Congratulations!

[[email protected]]

Any idea why v Blumenthal II and Haniel have frogging but my grandfather doesn’t? Could it be that having been commissioned in the field he is still wearing his trooper’s uniform?

[jluetjen]

Maybe the more interesting question is why the officers were wearing Hussar style tunics when Somers's book describes the Schwere Reiter uniform as using a single brested tunic, a taller "stand and fall coller" (compared to the infantry tunic").

What style of uniforms are you seeing in the other pictures in the regimental history?

[[email protected]]

Reading the history I think Ive found the answer. The “2 Schweres Reserve Reiter Regiment” was pretty much cobbled together at Deutz from a man x of Bavarians, plus the 7th Reserve Hussars and the 8th Reserve Cuirassiers, with a temporary OC in the form of a Rittmeister from the Horse Jagers and finally a commander moved from the NCOs training school. They had nine days to equip; the first of the new uniforms arrived after a week.

So those who like von Blumenthal I and Haniel went out from the beginning; whereas Blumenthal II came to the Front in Dec 1914 as a trooper with the right uniform. When he was commissioning 3 months later he presumably had the rank badges stitched onto hos troopers uniform