Picture Gallery of German Officers in Finland 1918

[christerd]

There is quite a lot of threads about Germans in Finland 1918 so I thought it would be interesting to give the names a face

Here is a small gallery of pictures of German Officers who was participating in the Independence war in Finland

Enjoy ,

Christer

!. Gen Maj Wolff

2. OberstLt von Luck Kom 255 Res Inf Rgt

3. Major Schenk zu Schweinsberg Kom 14 Jäger Batl

4. Lt Herfurth , Kürassier Rgt

5. von der Schulenburg-Lieberose Kom 3 Res Jäger Batl

[christerd]

And some more ....

1. Lt von der Knesebeck 1 Gardes Ulan Rgt

2. Lt von Braunschweig , 1 Gardes Ulan Rgt

3. Rittmeister von Berchem-Königsfeld , 3 Gardes Ulan rgt

4. KapitänLeutnant Bastian , Admiral Stab

5. Lt von Ahlfen , 2 Pioneer Batl

More will come

Christer

[christerd]

Some more ....

1. Lt von Leonhardi , Sachs Karbiner Rgt

2. Lt Merkel , Sachs Karbiner Rgt

3. Lt Riedel , Sachs Karbiner Rgt

4. Hauptmann Schweinfurth , Kom 14 Jäger Batl 1 Komp

5. Maj von Reden , Kom Sachs Karbiner Rgt

The scans is not the best , since the pics are all from old books but still you can see some awards and

maybe use them to id some other photos ..

If you like them I have more

Christer

[christerd]

After a cup of coffee I uploaded a couple of more pics

1. MarinFlieger Lt Droege

2. KorvettenKapitän Pfeiffer , Kom SMS Nautilus

3. Lt von Bülow , Kom 2 Komp , 14 Jäger Batl

4. Rittmeister von Saldern , 1 Garde Ulan Rgt

5. Hauptmann ,Stab Ostsee Div , von Falkenhorst

[Mikko13]

Hello Christer,

wow, thank you for the pictures. From what book did you take them?

Regards

Mikko

[The Prussian]

Here is the order of battle of the Ostsee-Division

Kriegsgliederung vom 19. April 1918

• Stab 12. Landwehr-Division
• 95. Reserve-Infanterie-Brigade
  • Magdeburgisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 4
  • Mecklenburgisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 14
  • Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 3
  • 1. & 2. Radfahr-Kompanie/Pommersches Jäger-Bataillon „Fürst Bismarck“ Nr. 2
  • Radfahr-Kompanie Nr. 11
• Stab 3. Garde-Kavallerie-Brigade
  • Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 255
  • Stab Radfahr-Bataillon Nr. 5
  • 1. Radfahr-Kompanie/Mecklenburgisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 14
  • 1. & 2. Radfahr-Kompanie/2. Schlesisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 6
  • Radfahr-Kompanie Nr. 54
  • Gebirgs-MG-Abteilung Nr. 228
  • Gebirgs-MG-Abteilung Nr. 229
• 2. Garde-Kavallerie-Brigade
  • 1. Garde-Ulanen-Regiment
  • 3. Garde-Ulanen-Regiment
  • Königlich Sächsisches Karabiner-Regiment
  • 2. Eskadron/Kürassier-Regiment „Graf Wrangel“ (Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3
  • 4. Eskadron/2. Leib-Husaren-Regiment „Königin Viktoria von Preußen“ Nr. 2
  • 6. & 7. Batterie/Feldartillerie-Regiment „von Holtzendorff“ (1. Rheinisches) Nr. 8
  • bayerische Gebirgsartillerie-Abteilung 2
  • 1. Batterie/Reserve-Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 14
  • 4. Batterie/2. Garde-Reserve-Fußartillerie-Regiment
  • Marine-Bootskanonen-Abteilung
• Pionier-Bataillon Nr 112
• Reserve-Pionier-Kompanie Nr. 78

[Dave Danner]

1. Lt von der Knesebeck 1 Gardes Ulan Rgt

v. dem, not v. der. Horst v. dem Knesebeck, *2.4.1895. An Oberst on 1.9.41, he spent all of World War II as Vorsitzender, Heeres-Remontierungskommission 1.

[christerd]

v. dem, not v. der. Horst v. dem Knesebeck, *2.4.1895. An Oberst on 1.9.41, he spent all of World War II as Vorsitzender, Heeres-Remontierungskommission 1.

Thanks Dave , the book all pics are coming from is from a book printed in Helsinki some years after the war , in eight volumes.

named " The Independence war in Finland 1918 "

Christer

[Chip]

Where does the Preußisches Jäger Bataillon Nr. 27 fit in here? According to Andreas's list, they were not a part of the Ostsee Division. They had been trained by and were part of the German army, even though the unit was formed primarily from Finnish nationals. Did it go to Finnland independently and did it still have German officers?

Chip

[AOK4]

Where does the Preußisches Jäger Bataillon Nr. 27 fit in here? According to Andreas's list, they were not a part of the Ostsee Division. They had been trained by and were part of the German army, even though the unit was formed primarily from Finnish nationals. Did it go to Finnland independently and did it still have German officers?

Chip

Hello,

The battalion was disbanded upon arrival in Finland. They did a last parade in Vaasa when they got there and then Mannerheim disbanded the unit and spread the men all around. There was quite a bit of upset about this decision, but in the end they accepted.

The reason behind Mannerheim's decision was probably twofold: 1. he didn't want a purely German-trained unit in his army (he wasn't pro-German himself) 2. (the main reason and his official reason) he wanted the experienced soldiers all over his new inexperienced army to upgrade the overall value.

A lot of Jäger were active in 1918 in training units or as junior officers.

The discussion with the Jägers continued as Mannerheim preferred Swedish or former Russian high-ranking officers to lead the new Finnish army (old-style, mainly from old military and/or noble families). In the end of course, the Jägers took over.

Jan

[The Prussian]

Hello friends!

The Jg.Btl.27 was set-up for training finnish volunteers. The first transport of those volunteers arrived in february 1915 in the "Lockstedter Lager". End of august 1915 they were nearly 1000 men.

The name Jg.Btl.27 was given in may 1916. It consisted of:
four Jg-companies

one engeneer-company

one MG-company

one platoon of light-howitzers

one music-corps (just a few men...)

The bataillon was dissolved feb.,13. 1918

It was set-up from Stellv.Gen.Kdo.IX.AK

The commander was Major Bayer (Inf.Rgt.27)

[christerd]

Here is some more of the Germans in Finland 1918 ,

1. Rittmeister Heckmann , Div Stab

2. Hauptmann Karmann Stab , Hptm von Falkenhorst , Lt Frhr von Uckermann Stab OstSee Div

3. Lt von Luttitz , 3 Garde Ulan Rgt , 1 Skvadronen

4. Rittmeister Frhr von d Bussche- Streithorst , Sachsen Karbiner Rgt ( KIA 29th April 1918)

5. Lt Eisentraut , Sachsen Karbiner Rgt

[Mikko13]

very nice

[christerd]

5 more

1. Leutnant von Schierbrand , Stab Sachsen Karbiner Rgt

2. Leutnant Günther , Stab Sachsen Karbiner Rgt

3. Leutnant Lassen , Kom 11 Radfahrer Komp

4. Leutnant Mummert , Sachsen Karbiner Rgt , II Skvadron

5. Leutnant Schimmelmann von Lindenburg , 3 gardes Ulan Rgt

If anyone has any info about Finnish Awards to someone in the pics I listed I would be most thankful to know it.

Christer

[Daniel Krause]

Hi Christer,

great!!!!

Many thanks!!!

lots of greetings

Daniel

[Deruelle]

Hi Christer,

Thanks a lot for sharing those photos with us.

Here is informations I have

Major von Reden received the Finnish cross on 24 May 1918

Lt Shierbrand received the Finnish cross on 24 May 1918

Here is the ribbon bar of Rittmeister Walter von Ehrenkrook who served in Finland

Christophe

[Chip]

Hello friends!

The Jg.Btl.27 was set-up for training finnish volunteers. The first transport of those volunteers arrived in february 1915 in the "Lockstedter Lager". End of august 1915 they were nearly 1000 men.

The name Jg.Btl.27 was given in may 1916. It consisted of:

four Jg-companies

one engeneer-company

one MG-company

one platoon of light-howitzers

one music-corps (just a few men...)

The bataillon was dissolved feb.,13. 1918

It was set-up from Stellv.Gen.Kdo.IX.AK

The commander was Major Bayer (Inf.Rgt.27)

Andreas,

Thanks for the info. Did this unit see much action during the war, before it was disbanded?

Jan,

Thanks for the reply and information.

[AOK4]

Hello,

It did see a bit of action on the Eastern Front, but was pulled back for training early 1917 after some disagreement about the use of the battalion in the frontline (the Finns weren't that eager to die for Germany but wanted to fight for their own independence). Some Jägers died in combat or were taken prisoner though.

Jan

[Chip]

Jan,

Thanks again.

Chip

[christerd]

And some more , the last for 2013 probably a couple of Lts from Sachsen Karbiner Rgt

1. Lt Koerner Sachsen Karbiner Rgt , MG

2. Lt Lange Sachsen Karbiner Rgt , MG , KIA April 27th 1918

3. Lt Schintling-Horny , Kom Sachsen Karbiner Rgt MG unit

4. Lt Hahne , Sachsen Karbiner Rgt , Kom 2 Skvadrone

5. Lt Frentzel , Sachsen Karbiner Rgt , 2 Skvadrone

[dante]

Great pictures......wondered if the book has a photo of Korvettenkapitan Franz Weidgen,

[christerd]

Hi Dante , and happy New Year !

Yes Franz Weidgen is in the book , a Photo of him is coming up today together with some other Naval Officers

Christer

[AOK4]

Thanks Dave , the book all pics are coming from is from a book printed in Helsinki some years after the war , in eight volumes.

named " The Independence war in Finland 1918 "

Christer

Hello,

Could you give some more details about the book? I've got quite a few books about the Finnish War of 1918, but not this one apparently.

Jan

[dante]

Christer, many thanks, what a great start to the year, many thanks and a very happy new year to you....

Few of my Finnish bits

Edited January 1, 2014 by dante

[Chris Boonzaier]

A little something to add to the Thread..... one of my first ever EK docs....