Greetings,
This is the newest arrival to my collection from Germany. It is a paper grouping attributed to Willi Schmidt who served in both Wars. Included is his Militär-Paß, Landsturm-Ausweis, Wehrpaß, Militärregierung-Befreiung, and four nice photographs from the Great War.
This was a grouping that I came across completely by accident but I am glad to have. I was cross checking my list on Google for Kraftfahr Abteilung info to help Daarom with one of his Kraftfahr ekm. This was further down in the images of that search and I took one look before I decided I would buy it. Honestly, the four photographs were what I was interested in, that was what I bought this for although the documents have grown on me and are very welcome. Thanks Daarom for indirectly leading me to this.
Enjoy this grouping.
The reverse here reads “Rehan Grenz-Schutz am 26.II.19.” So it seems like immediately after the war, he was a border guard somewhere? You will see this ‘Rehan’ comes up multiple times later and I don’t know what is the background there.
The obverse reads “Zur Erinnerung an Rehan 1918. Willi” The reverse has close to the same message as the obverse and is dated 12.VII.18
Another exciting photo posed alongside a truck. This one was written to his father in Nürnberg with a message to his parents. Dated 13.III.18 from Rehan.
The Hercules trucks shown in these two photos are proving mysterious to my searches. It seems like this is a short-lived automobile maker and a rare sight? I have only found mention of the Hercules trucks online in one book: “American Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles of WW1” by Albert Mroz. I’ll attach the excerpt below. If anyone knows more about this mystery, please let me know.
His Pionier Militär-Paß. I have translated a decent amount, but feel free to offer changes or further info you find interesting. Thanks
Name: Wilhelm Schmidt
Height: 1m 64cm
Born: 2 June 1899 in Höchstadt an der Aisch
District: Neustadt an der H.
State: Bavaria
Occupation: Chemist?
Religion: Protestant
Entered service 1 June 1917 at the Rekruten-Depot Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung No.2
Sworn in 19 June 1917. Serving with Kraftfahr-Ersatz-Abteilung No.2
16.8.17 to 22.10.17 with Ersatz Kompanie/ Kraftfahr Ersatz Abteilung No.2, Nürnberg then to the 1e Abteilung on 23.10.17
28.12.17 to 13.2.18 with Ersatz Kompanie/ Kraftfahr Ersatz Abteilung No.2, Nürnberg then to the 2e Abteilung I.K.9 (?) on 13.2.18
Untranslated messages and leaves section
Discharged from service 6 March 1919.
His Landsturm Ausweis dated 3 April 1917 attached to the back inside cover of the Militär-Paß.
His early, first version Wehrpaß that was opened in Mannheim on 19 March 1937.
Thank you for viewing this spur purchase grouping from a very young man that served in the Great War and later in WW2. The following post will cover his Wehrpaß. Him being so young in the Great War, makes me think of my own great grandfather whom I never met. Another young man serving in the Great War, but seven months younger than Herr Schmidt here. A tribute and memory to the survivors and lost of the Great War.
Bookmarks