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Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

Article about: Hi Finally got round to working out and posting another album. This one is for the Pioneer Battalion 4 in 1924 and is a little dark and blurred but it has a lot of things that make up for th

  1. #1

    Default Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

    Hi

    Finally got round to working out and posting another album. This one is for the Pioneer Battalion 4 in 1924 and is a little dark and blurred but it has a lot of things that make up for the quality of picture in terms of detail that can be seen at close inspection and also written text on the back that guides us with a little extra research into who is in the picture and the context it was taken.

    Came bound in a nice WW1 period paper/card album.

    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924


    cheers


    Tony

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  3. #2

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    Album starts with a picture of the soldier whose album we presume it is. He appears throughout the album and identifies himself on the rear of the pictures as "Ich" leaving us no chance of finding his identity. he has however named quite a few of his comrades allowing us to embellish the photos with additional info.

    He wears a m1920 service cap with Prussian cockade and black piping for pinoeers along with a m1919 tunic with eight buttons, m20 shoulder boards with no4 on. He has an Imperial belt by the look of things but a claw buckle belt was also issued to the provisional RW. Ankle boots and putee's complete his uniform showing that even in 1924 the issue of a mish mash of old and new uniforms was happening. He has no visible swards on his tunic so he may be new member of the RW.

    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

    here he is at the table with comrades tucking into a gift from home...…

    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

    this picture is strange...……………...the legend reads (please correct my translation) " honour burial of the 2 (gall?) bones of Pioneers Bttl. 4 1924


    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

    Moving from left to right...…….the Kompany is drawn up with the band of musicians standing next to some local children with an Officer next to the "priests" and the bandsman on the alter/hearse. A soldier lies in frong holding a rake with a gasmask tin hanging from it. No less than eight senior NCO's line up identified by the note book poking out the front of their tunics. Two have EK1's and one an excellent moustache.

    Honour gurad of 8 troops with rifles and helmets next to amock up horse with a soldier wearing a newspaper made hat ? The man on the right has a spade maybe to bury the bones ?

  4. #3

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    The band plays...…………..band leader identified as Scheiffer. rank unknown.

    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924


    making a river crossing with officer on bank identified as Ltn. Steinmeister battalion adjutant

    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

    Pioneers crossing the river by boat with three officers watching on the bank. they are: Major Umber (Battalion Commander), ltn. Pruter (1 Komp) and Obltn Eimler commander of the bridging column.

    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924


    Clear picture of on going work by the pioneers on a railway bridge commanded and wayched over by Ltn Pruter. The other two Officers are Kavallerie Ltns...Schulte-Manting (11 RR Esk 4) and Von Barnakow (10RR Esk 4)


    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

  5. #4

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    Quote by spandau View Post
    this picture is strange...……………...the legend reads (please correct my translation) " honour burial of the 2 (gall?) bones of Pioneers Bttl. 4 1924
    It says "Ehrenvolles Begräbniss von 26 alten Knochen des Pionier-Batl. 4. 1924". A literal translation is "Honorable burial of 26 old bones of Engineer Battalion 4. 1924".

    However "alte Knochen" shouldn't be translated literally; it's a jesting expression meaning "old guys". (You know, if you meet someone you have known for ages, you might welcome him with a good-natured "Na, du alter Knochen?")

    Clearly, they were having a bit of black-humored fun with a comedic mock funeral held for some veteran unit members, very likely on the occasion of their impending discharge upon completion of their twelve-year term of service with the Reichswehr.

  6. #5

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    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

    written on rear of this picture is "our Robert"...officer is Obltn Robert Eimler in charge of the bridging column in 1924. A WW1 veteran from PB 4 of the Imperial Army. Hwas born in 1891 and joined the Army 12.10 1909 by 1918 he was LTn in PB 4. he made Obltn at the end of 1923 and by 1938 had reached Oberstleutnant. A career officer he reached Major General 9.11.1944 serving across two world wars.


    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

    Horse and carriage racing and second picture features Wachtmeister Gottschalk showing off his equestrian skills.

    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

    Major Umber relaxing on the bank having a smoke in white jumper shorts and wearing m1919 field cap

    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

    this is entitled Mayer und Schwing auf buben tag...………...boys day out !

    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924


    The album finishes with lots of pictures of Hamburg harbour and the boats in it wihich included the Empress of Scotland among others but the two most interesting shots come last.


    The boat trip takes them to Helgoland …

    Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Pioneer Battalion 4 circa 1924

    This was known as the Gibralter of the North Sea and the island was a WW1 Naval Base. It was acquired after swapping the German possession of Zanzibar with the British in 1890..... in a kind of Kings equivalent of football sticker swaps ! It was demilitarised in 1922 as part of the Versailles treaty. In the 1920's it became a popular tourist destination and resort. Dune was a bathing resort on the island.

    This picture is taken at the naval signal station with members of the ReichMarine………..not quite de-militarised in 1924 !

    Thanks for looking

    Tony

  7. #6

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    Hi,

    Thanks for the correction...……...I read the 6 as a G making the allen into Gallen which totally threw me !! It's a top picture and I like the black humour.
    Last edited by spandau; 03-02-2019 at 09:40 PM.

  8. #7

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    Oh, and apologies my school boy German from 40 years ago is not much help...……...there again neither was google translate or my eyesight for that matter !!! Every day is a learning day.
    Last edited by spandau; 03-02-2019 at 09:40 PM.

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