Militärpass and Noske Ausweis to an Early Freikorpskämpfer

[bolewts58]

I just picked up this small document grouping to an early Freikorps fighter which includes his Militärpass, Wound Badge doc and scarce Freikorps "Noske" Ausweis.

Karl Drewes was recruited into Oldenburg Infantry Regt. 91 on 15.3.16 and transferred to 1. Hannover Inf. Regt. 74 on 24.9.16 and saw most of his WWI action in this unit, including in the 3. Machinegun Company of the regiment from late 1917.
He spent most of the war from mid-1916 in the thick of it on the Western Front including fighting at Champagne, Verdun, Hohe 344 and the 1918 Spring Offensive.
He received the EKII on 27.1.18, the Black Wound badge on 26.9.18 and was briefly in hospital in Oct. 1918. He was briefly attached to the staff of Artillery Regt. 275 in September 1918. He left hospital sometime in October and managed to finish the war back on the front line.
When 1. Hannover Inf. Regt. 74 demobilized in December 1918, he volunteered with others from the regiment for the Freikorps and joined the Freiwilliges Landesschützenkorps on 18.12.18.

Generally, Freikorps passes are hard to come by. But, what's particularly scarce about this grouping is that his pass has entries for the very first Freikorps actions in early 1919.

As part of Landesschützen Batl. 7 (aka Abteilung 7), Drewes was in 3. Landesschützen-Brigade "Gerstenberg" commanded by Oberst (later Generalmajor) Wilhelm Gerstenberg.

As part of Landesschützen-Brigade "Gerstenberg", Drewes fought against the Spartacists in Berlin from 3.1.- 24.1.19, the communists in Bremen from 4.2.-22.2.19, in the Ruhr region from 6.3-6.6.19 and in Remscheid from 7.6.-15.6.19.

He left service immediately afterwards, when the Freiwilliges Landesschützenkorps became Reichswehr-Brigade 4 in late June 1919.

He would have been entitled to the Eiserner Roland des Bremer Bürgerausschusses. Although, as far as I can see in the pass, there's no mention of it.

The "Noske Ausweis" was issued in Spring 1919 by Gustav Noske, first Minister of Defense of the Weimar Republic to all Freikorps fighting against the Spartacists, the soldier and worker councils and communists who had taken over several cities in Germany from December 1918. After June 1919, there was a second Noske Ausweis (in red) issued to the newly formed Reichswehr. While not rare, the first Freikorps Noske Ausweis (in blue) is scarce or at least very hard to find as most were exchanged for the new Reichswehr Ausweis when the Freikorps transitioned to the Preliminary Reichswehr, or simply wore out and were discarded.

Pictured is the document grouping and the page from the pass, detailing Drewes' Freikorps actions that includes ink stamps for Landesschützen Batl. 7.

The Ausweis has remnants of what appears to be an original Noske signature in blue pencil above the photo of Drewes.

Edited November 11, 2017 by bolewts58

[The Prussian]

Hello!

Very nice pieces! Congrats!

But i don´t believe that the signature is an original one. There are a lot of documents, signed by Noske and the signature always looks the same.

Why should he sign a document of a simple soldier?

[bolewts58]

I know the main signature is printed. But, a close look at the faded blue pencil signature above the photo leads me to believe that because it's very close to Noske's signature, it is his. Your point is well-taken, though. While you're right, it doesn't make sense, anything is possible.

 

[The Prussian]

Hello!

Above the photo I don´t read Noske; to me it´s a "Nr.13" (number 13, maybe number 18, that would fit to the number of the document).

Here is another example of Noskes signature. (It´s from a friend´s collection)

Edited November 11, 2017 by The Prussian

[bolewts58]

You're right. I see it now. Thanks for posting the red Reichswehr Noske Ausweis. This type is on my wish list.

 

If you don't mind, I will post it on WAF because I talked about it, but didn't have a pic.

Edited November 11, 2017 by bolewts58

[The Prussian]

Hello!

I asked my friend. I stil wait for the answer, but I think it will be ok

[The Prussian]

OK, he wrote me. You can show it!

[GreyC]

Hi,

here is mine from 1st Oct 1919. 3. Landesjäger-Schwadron / formerly 14. Ulanen Regiment.

GreyC

Edited November 15, 2017 by GreyC

[The Prussian]

Great document, GreyC!

After the Freikorps period, the tradition of Ul14 was taken by 2./Reiter-Regiment 13

[GreyC]

Thank´s Andy!

GreyC

Edited November 17, 2017 by GreyC
spelling

[bolewts58]

That is a great Ausweis GreyC to an uncommon cavalry unit in the Freiwilligen Landesjägerkorps.

[GreyC]

Thank you, Bolewts58,

he seems to have served two month till November of that year, according to the backside of his ID.

GreyC

Edited November 17, 2017 by GreyC

[The Prussian]

Hello!

In june 1919 the Landesjägerkorps formed the Reichswehr-Brigade 16.

Each swadron was attached to an infantry-bataillon.

There were two Inf.Rgt. (numbers 31 and 32) with three bataillons each.

The bataillons in the Freikorps-area were numbered I-VI. The III.Bataillon became III./RW-Inf.Rgt.31 in Halle with one swadron and one battery.