KP 505

[joerookery]

This weekend I got a photo album of really fine photos from KP 505 in Palestine. I believe that this is Kraftfahrt Park 505. Which again, I believe is some sort of a divisional formation. I read what Cron had to say and as usual, am either confused or left empty by it. Can someone help me by explaining what KP 505 really was?

It seems as though these pictures belonged to a Captain named Axster. Randy said there are three Axsters listed in the rank lists.
One. Emil Axster although 35th Fusilier Regiment. A lieutenant of the reserves.
Two. Oberleutnant Axster a landwehr officer in the fifth grenadier regiment z.F.
Three. Johannes Axster, a lieutenant reserve officer also of the 35th Fusilier Regiment.

Which one is at, if any of these? The pictures clearly call this guy Captain, and one picture shows a change of command. Between Axster and another Captain. Loads of cool pictures. These are bigger than postcard size and quite clear. There is an original German caption to each picture, and on some pictures, a former English-speaking collector typed a poorly translated version of the caption.

[Peter H]

Kp can also stand for Kompanie but the photo definitely states Kraftfahrt.

All the Pascha I combat units sent to Turkey in 1916 were numbered in the 600 series,Pascha II(the Asienkorps in late 1917) in the 700 series.

Transport was a problem for the Turks as well.Perhaps KP 505 was an independent truck company attached to a Turkish army?

Damascus,Jerusalem were key focal points for logistics reaching the Palestinan Front.The capture of Jerusalem by the British in November 1917 would indicate that these photos are before that date,hence I think it was a Pascha I formation.

Regards,
Peter

[Peter H]

Joe,

Cron page 219 states that Stokraft 771 in Turkey had "1 Army Motorised Vehicle Park,4 Motorised Vehicle Park,1 Medical Motorised Vehicle Park,1 Motorised Vehicle Echelon,15 Army Motorised Vehicle columns,17 Motorised Vehicle Columns,1 Motorised Vehicle section...under his command were the Akokrafts of the 6th Turkish Army..7th Turkish Army...and the 8th Turkish Army."

Regards,
Peter

[JPK]

Bonjour Joe & Peter.
From Reichsarchiv band 4 " Yildirim " Berlin 1925
Komdr der Kraftfahrtruppen 771 with Kraftw.Park 505
Regards
JPK

[joerookery]

Thank you so much! JPK open the door to a lot of ideas. Part of the problem is that the pictures do not identify Axster. Based on several photos put together. I think this might be our man.
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As the higher headquarters was "Trüppen" he surely in this group.
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The overall commander is seen here on a visit:
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As for date. There is only one date in the pictures. I thought Peter's logic was great, but it does not stand up to this picture, which may be was taken later, but I do not know. It is in the middle of the mix.
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And for more fun and confusion, what are they doing with the boat?
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[Peter H]

Joe,

Great photos!

Just some observations:

---"in der bar"--locale is given as Nablus.This was in the Turkish 7th Army sector,Judean Hills,front north of Jerusalem.

---Falkenhayn's presence is obvious in the parade photo.The hills on the right might also indicate Nablus.

---the Kaiser's birthday parade 27th January must have been a bash!

The Australian Official History mentions that the winter of 1917/18 (the "wet season " in Palestine) was exceedingly wet with the Jordan valley experiencing flooding---"torrential rains,overflowing wadis and the deep,heavy mud of the plains made further operations impossible."

British engineers deployed pontoon bridges as well,I assume the Germans as well,perhaps also indicating that the vessel in the last photo may be of that variety.

Regards,
Peter

PS My Great Uncle with the 3rd Light Horse later 'banged' into the Asienkorps at Abu Tellel July 1918.

[Chris Dale]

Great photos,
Thanks for posting those.
Cheers
Chris

[stevebecker]

Mates,

I record these officers with the 505 MT Co

Axster Capt

Haucke Capt

Maier Lt

So the change mentioned above may have been Axster to Haucke, but no date or other details on these officers service as yet?

Cheers

S.B

[stevebecker]

Peter,

"All the Pascha I combat units sent to Turkey in 1916 were numbered in the 600 series,Pascha II(the Asienkorps in late 1917) in the 700 series."

Sorry but Pascha I units were in the 500 series not 600?

These I record as I found so far;

(Motor Lorries & Ordnance) units - 205th MT Column 501st MT column? 502nd MT Column 503rd MT Park? 504th MT Park 505th MT Park (Kraftfahrt Park) 506th MT Kraftfahrt Park 507th MT Column 508th MT column? 511th MT column? 514th MT column? 515th MT column

I am still not sure of these units either all MT companies (Kraftaht Park) parks or some other types?

The Pascha 2 units are as shown 700 series again the units I found so far;

701st 702nd 703rd 704th 705th 706th 707th 708th? 709th 710th? 711th 712th 713th 714th 715th MT Columns 731st depot (staffel) 741st M/C sect 751st Park 761st Ambulance Column (771st Stokraft?) 781st Ambulance Column 202nd Field Hosp - shown Feb 1918 Allied reports 218 & 219 Field Hosps - German records show only 212th 213th 220th & 221st Field Hosps

Cheers

S.B