Austria-Hungary Feldpostoberoffizial

[Ian]

I recently came across the title description - Feldpostoberoffizial.

I assume that the individual worked in the Feldpost section of one of the various army/groups etc.

My question is: can some one enlighten me on the Feldpostoffizial 'rank' structure, and of course any ancillary information you may have, and be willing to share, on the Feldpost service will be gratefully received.

I believe that these officals wore rosettes to indicate rank/level and that they also had the postal horn as their collar badge, but that is as much as I know.

Cheer,

Ian

[Sommerfeld]

postmen were called to the army only during mobilization, and in a peace-time used services of civil service.

[Ian]

Between posting my question and receiving your reply I found the following information 'on-line':

In 1913 the structure, organization and scope of activity of the military postal system was reorganized in Austria-Hungary as set out in the Dienstbuch E-47. According to

this rulebook, the Imperial and Royal Feldpost was a ‘joint army institution’, the task of which was to convey all official and private post (letters, postcards, printed material,

newspapers, commercial samples and parcels) between the army in the field and the home front.

This seems to indicate that the military feldpost system was an actual Army function prior to the commencement of hostilities in 1914. Were civilian postal staff seconded to the Army to help run the feldpost service prior to the outbreak of war?

Edited December 7, 2014 by Ian

[Sommerfeld]

1915. About the collaboration of civil and soldiery postal departments.

http://www.bildarchivaustria.at/Preview/16202411.jpg

information 'on-line'

In 1913 the structure, organization and scope of activity of the military postal system was reorganized in Austria-Hungary as set out in the Dienstbuch E-47. According to this rulebook, the Imperial and Royal Feldpost was a ‘joint army institution’, the task of which was to convey all official and private post (‘letters, postcards, printed material, newspapers, commercial samples and parcels’) between the army in the field and the home front.

When the Imperial and Royal Feldpost began its work immediately after war was declared (in early August), 118 field post offices were set up and staffed by 620 officials. By the end of the First World War and the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Feldpost the number of field post offices had risen to 500 and that of the base post offices to 200. At the end of 1918 around 2,800 officials were employed in the Austro-Hungarian military postal service.

All Austro-Hungarian main, field and base post offices had a number that was assigned at random. This ensured that the location and movements of individual troop units were kept secret and also made it easier to sort the huge volumes of mail. The numbers contained the essential address coordinates to ensure accurate and expeditious delivery of letters, postcards and parcels to the fronts. The address of a soldier was composed of their rank, first and family names, the body of troops they were attached to and the number of the relevant field post office.

In February 1917 this system of field post office numbers was also adopted in the German Empire, where they had previously been designated according to troop headquarters and high command headquarters.

Edited December 8, 2014 by Sommerfeld

[Ian]

Thank you for the additional information.

Chees,

Ian

[Markgraf]

A military postman with his standard armament (Gasser revolver and pioneer sword). The collar color was orange.

http://szurony.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=779

[Ian]

Great photos and thank you for sharing them with me.

Regrads,

Ian