WW1 Officer's Portrait

[Witt]

One of the more dressed up portrait photos I have from the Great War. A 1915 portrait of an unnamed German officer sporting a kaiser mustache. He clutches his leather gloves, and sword with portepee and hanger. Not familiar with any information regarding his background based on the shoulder boards or sword.

Ben

[VtwinVince]

Great photo. Can you post a zoom of the shoulder board?

[Witt]

Here is the left shoulder board under the microscope. Not an example I could find another of online.

[Kohima]

I think it might be the F cypher of Infantry Regiment 72, IV Army Corps, though I have not yet found a pictorial reference to the design.
Alternatively, a very similar F was employed by Flieger units, although, I believe, only worn by non-officer ranks.
I shall add further (hopefully, more precise) information as I find it.

Nice image,
Rob

[Kohima]

The only cypher (of this form), that I have been able to locate, was used by aviation officers - prior to September 1913, when it was changed to a winged propeller.
There would, naturally, be a transitional period before the change was fully complied with, but two or three years (suggested by his 1915 pattern Feldbluse), seems highly improbable.
Nothing is impossible, of course.

[Glenn J]

He is a Feuerwerks-Leutnant; an ammunition technical officer.

Regards
Glenn