German uniforms of WWI
- Ruhrpottpreusse
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- Location: Rhine province Prussia
German uniforms of WWI
If anyone has questions about german uniforms or needs help to identify those on photographs, post it here.
Cheers from Prussia,
Andy
Andy
Re: German uniforms of WWI
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
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
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- Paul%20Ferdinand.jpg (28.09 KiB) Viewed 19671 times
- Chris Dale
- Host - German Colonies
- Posts: 1955
- Joined: 21 Apr 2004, 15:48
- Location: UK
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Re: German uniforms of WWI
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
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
Re: German uniforms of WWI
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.
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.
Re: German uniforms of WWI
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?
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?
Re: German uniforms of WWI
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.
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.
- Chris Dale
- Host - German Colonies
- Posts: 1955
- Joined: 21 Apr 2004, 15:48
- Location: UK
- Contact:
Re: German uniforms of WWI
Schleswig-Holstien counted as part of Prussia for cockades, helmet eagles, buckles etc...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?
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
- Chris Dale
- Host - German Colonies
- Posts: 1955
- Joined: 21 Apr 2004, 15:48
- Location: UK
- Contact:
Re: German uniforms of WWI
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.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.
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
Re: German uniforms of WWI
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.
Re: German uniforms of WWI
Can't see it.
Re: German uniforms of WWI
Can anyone identify this German uniform? The photograph is dated 1915 and is of my grandmother's brother!
- Attachments
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- 1915WalterX.jpg (141.22 KiB) Viewed 17405 times
Re: German uniforms of WWI
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
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
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- Schneeschuh.jpg (34.66 KiB) Viewed 17391 times
Re: German uniforms of WWI
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?
Now, I have two more photos of the same man. Are the uniforms similar?
- Attachments
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- This is dated 1916.
- 1916WalterX.jpg (156.72 KiB) Viewed 17387 times
Re: German uniforms of WWI
And ... this is dated 1917. Unfortunately, Walter Hermann Simon died during the Champagne in 1917.
- Attachments
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- 1917WalterX.jpg (167.67 KiB) Viewed 17387 times
Re: German uniforms of WWI
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
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