German Caucasus Expedition books/articles?

USAF1986 · Post by **USAF1986** » 30 Jun 2003 03:11

Can anyone recommend any good English-language books or scholary articles devoted to the German Caucasus Expedition of June 1918-February 1919? The Royal Bavarian 15th Jäger Regiment served as the primary element of the expedition.

Thanks,
Shawn

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 30 Jun 2003 04:34

Shawn,
My reference came up with the 29th Bavarian Regiment as being the primary force.

http://www.thirdreichforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=22742

A very hard topic to find anything on really.

Wheeler-Bennett's Brest-Litovsk,1963, only gives it a broad mention.

Erickson's recent book on the Turkish army of WW1 devotes a dozen or so pages in its last chapter on the Caucasus situation in 1918:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/de ... ce&s=books

USAF1986 · Post by **USAF1986** » 01 Jul 2003 02:23

Thanks for the very interesting links! Here are scans from Die Schlachten und Gefechte des Großen Krieges, 1914-1918 (compiled and published in 1919 by the Great General Staff) showing the entries pertaining to the German Caucasus Expedition.

Note the II. Battalion left in November 1918 and, after fighting through the Ukraine, ended up interned in Salonika from 29 March-10 June 1919. How on earth did that battalion end up there?

Regards,
Shawn

USAF1986 · Post by **USAF1986** » 01 Jul 2003 02:25

When am I ever going to learn to add attachments in REVERSE order of numbering! Sorry!

Shawn

USAF1986 · Post by **USAF1986** » 01 Jul 2003 03:00

After finding a thread related to the expedition at this site, I think I’m clear on the Bavarian 15th Jäger Regiment!

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/index.php

The 1st Bavarian Reserve Jäger Battalion was detached from the Bavarian 29th Jäger Regiment and renamed the 15th Jäger Regiment with the addition of hundreds of former German POWs released in Georgia.

Very interesting thread...just look for Caucasus!

Regards,
Shawn

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 01 Jul 2003 04:30

Shawn,
Great find on the 15th Jager.

Regarding any Germans interned at Salonika,I know that Army Gruppe Mackensen,operating in Romania and the Ukraine,was partly blocked in moving back home when the Hungarian Revolution flared up in early 1919.Mackensen himself was even interned until mid 1919.Perhaps the 2nd Battalion was pulled out of Georgia,via the Black Sea,docked in Romania,and then found it couldn't progress further inland.