German uniforms of WWI

Discussions on all aspects of Imperial Germany not covered in the other sections.
Post Reply
User avatar
Ruhrpottpreusse
Member
Posts: 127
Joined: 12 Feb 2007, 06:51
Location: Rhine province Prussia

German uniforms of WWI

#1

Post by Ruhrpottpreusse » 07 Jul 2008, 20:38

If anyone has questions about german uniforms or needs help to identify those on photographs, post it here.
Cheers from Prussia,
Andy

shellym
Member
Posts: 51
Joined: 12 Mar 2007, 07:11
Location: Wollongong Australia

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#2

Post by shellym » 18 Jul 2008, 02:55

Hello Generalstab,

My name is Michelle Manea (Abel). I am piecing together the history of my family in Germany. Attached is a photograph of my great grandfather Ferdinand Paul Hecht b. 4.8.1876 in Költschen Kreis Oststernberg (Pommern). All I know is he fought the British invasion and nothing else. Does his uniform give you any clues as to which part of the army he belonged to?

Looking forward to your reply

Michelle
Attachments
Paul%20Ferdinand.jpg
Paul%20Ferdinand.jpg (28.09 KiB) Viewed 19671 times


User avatar
Chris Dale
Host - German Colonies
Posts: 1955
Joined: 21 Apr 2004, 15:48
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#3

Post by Chris Dale » 09 Sep 2008, 01:04

Hi Michelle,

The photo is very interesting. Thanks for posting it.

The first notable point is that he is a qualified marksman or gunner. This is shown by the lanyard from his right shoulder.

The steel helmet shows that this photograph was taken in the latter part fo the First World War as they were only issued from 1916 onwards.

As to his arm of service, his cuffs are of a style known as Swedish. These do not define him as belonging to one particular arm of service but were worn by many arms of service.

Do you have any other photos of him? Any photos showing the shoulder straps clearly would define his arm of service more clearly.

I hope that helps in some way.

Cheers
Chris

shellym
Member
Posts: 51
Joined: 12 Mar 2007, 07:11
Location: Wollongong Australia

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#4

Post by shellym » 15 Oct 2008, 11:38

Chris,

Apologies for such a long delay in replying. Thank you for your insight into the uniform. Any information is extremely appreciated. Unfortunately this is the only photograph I have.

Zoring
Member
Posts: 48
Joined: 16 Dec 2007, 16:35
Location: Perth, Western Australia

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#5

Post by Zoring » 04 Nov 2008, 08:12

Here you go. Great Grandfather. Hans Warncke.
He was from Schleswig-Holstein, do you know what state that was in relation to buckles, tri-colours and all that? Also what colour any bayonet knot (or other regimental colours) would have been in for the 163rd Infantarie?
Image

shellym
Member
Posts: 51
Joined: 12 Mar 2007, 07:11
Location: Wollongong Australia

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#6

Post by shellym » 06 Apr 2009, 14:06

Delayed thanks and apologies for not thanking you online.

Since your post I have been searching for further photographs without success. I would love to find out more about where he served and with whom.

The only clue I have is that I was told he fought the invasion of the British and with it the ANZACS. This is information is vague and sketchy at best.

Thanks again. It is a start.

User avatar
Chris Dale
Host - German Colonies
Posts: 1955
Joined: 21 Apr 2004, 15:48
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#7

Post by Chris Dale » 06 Apr 2009, 16:22

Zoring wrote:Here you go. Great Grandfather. Hans Warncke.
He was from Schleswig-Holstein, do you know what state that was in relation to buckles, tri-colours and all that? Also what colour any bayonet knot (or other regimental colours) would have been in for the 163rd Infantarie?
Image
Schleswig-Holstien counted as part of Prussia for cockades, helmet eagles, buckles etc...
Bayonet knots were coloured according to which company the soldier was in within the regiment, not by regiment. Yes indeed the 163rd was from Schleswig-Holstein, its title was the "Schleswig-Holsteinisches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.163".
I hope that helps, thanks for sharing the photo with us.

Cheers
Chris

User avatar
Chris Dale
Host - German Colonies
Posts: 1955
Joined: 21 Apr 2004, 15:48
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#8

Post by Chris Dale » 06 Apr 2009, 16:30

shellym wrote:
The only clue I have is that I was told he fought the invasion of the British and with it the ANZACS. This is information is vague and sketchy at best.
I'm assuming you mean he was part of the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey? He may well have been part of the Pioneer compnay that served there. They are mentioned here- http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 99&start=0 Another of our members Bob Lembke had family in that unit, he may well be able to help you find out more.

The photo, you posted here however is taken later in the war as steel helmets were not in use on the German/Turkish side during the Gallipoli campaign.

I hope that helps.
Cheers
Chris

norwoodcj
Member
Posts: 19
Joined: 25 Sep 2009, 19:39

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#9

Post by norwoodcj » 25 Sep 2009, 19:44

Can anyone identify this German uniform? This is my grandmother's brother and photo is dated 1916! I'm trying to figure out his unit.

User avatar
Peter H
Member
Posts: 28628
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 14:18
Location: Australia

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#10

Post by Peter H » 26 Sep 2009, 13:01

Can't see it. :(

norwoodcj
Member
Posts: 19
Joined: 25 Sep 2009, 19:39

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#11

Post by norwoodcj » 29 Sep 2009, 23:11

Can anyone identify this German uniform? The photograph is dated 1915 and is of my grandmother's brother!
Attachments
1915WalterX.jpg
1915WalterX.jpg (141.22 KiB) Viewed 17405 times

User avatar
Peter H
Member
Posts: 28628
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 14:18
Location: Australia

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#12

Post by Peter H » 30 Sep 2009, 11:40

Hi

The S on his collar stands for Schneeschuh,four battalions with the Alpenkorps in 1915:
http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/alpkorps.htm

The Kaiser reviews ski troops,note the distinct cap worn

/Peter
Attachments
Schneeschuh.jpg
Schneeschuh.jpg (34.66 KiB) Viewed 17391 times

norwoodcj
Member
Posts: 19
Joined: 25 Sep 2009, 19:39

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#13

Post by norwoodcj » 30 Sep 2009, 19:59

Peter ... I am so grateful for your reply. The information is invaluable to me. I didn't know where to start to look for identity of the uniform - especially since I can't read or write German! Thank You! Carol

Now, I have two more photos of the same man. Are the uniforms similar?
Attachments
1916WalterX.jpg
This is dated 1916.
1916WalterX.jpg (156.72 KiB) Viewed 17387 times

norwoodcj
Member
Posts: 19
Joined: 25 Sep 2009, 19:39

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#14

Post by norwoodcj » 30 Sep 2009, 20:01

And ... this is dated 1917. Unfortunately, Walter Hermann Simon died during the Champagne in 1917.
Attachments
1917WalterX.jpg
1917WalterX.jpg (167.67 KiB) Viewed 17387 times

User avatar
Peter H
Member
Posts: 28628
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 14:18
Location: Australia

Re: German uniforms of WWI

#15

Post by Peter H » 01 Oct 2009, 00:27

Hi Carol

Glad to be of some help. :)

The second photo looks to me like he was still with the Schneeschuh.Note mountain boots and leggings still being worn.All the Alpenkorp's ski battalions were consolidated into the 3 Jäger Regiment in 1916 and it formed part of the new 200 Infantry Division raised in July 1916.

The third photo looks entirely different,out of ski service.The 200th Division neither served in France nor the Champagne sector in 1917.It was a mountain trained division and served in the East,and Italy in that year.However it did serve in Picardy,the Marne in 1918.

Did he transfer to the air service in 1917?Or he might have transferred to another infantry unit or was in a staff position?The nice cut of his uniform and boots also might indicate an officer rank.I'd be curious to see a close up of the badge on his jacket.It might be an aviator badge of some sort.My bet is that he was in the Air Service by then,pilot or observer,with an aspirant rank.

Was he Bavarian or from Prussia?Bavarian records on WW1 service can be easily obtained I think.

Some nice Ski troop photos can also be found here,a 2 page thread:
http://lagrandeguerre.cultureforum.net/ ... t19852.htm

/Peter

Post Reply

Return to “Imperial Germany”