GreyC

On 28.11.2007 at 05:47, Paul R said:

Thanks Scott...

 

Can you make out anything on the photo?

 

I can get MusikMeister Hans Limoro

 

Jan04, 1938

 

Can you make out the rest?

Hi,

I don´t know if it is still of interest, if so:

He was stationed at he Seefliegerhorst (for sea-planes) in Schleswig (city in Schleswig Holstein). They had a Musik-Korps there.

In German you can read about the airfield here:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seefliegerhorst_Schleswig

RIR 212 post Oct 1916

On 11.2.2016 at 06:43, Glenn J said:

Given that it is in fact a BMV3b in last position and that our subject is neither a medical officer nor wearing the uniform of a military official and that the photograph was in all probability taken in the 1870s, then the combination is not common at all. Again, if we exclude Zeugoffiziere (he appears to be wearing an infantry officers' uniform), the field really narrows down to one or two possibilities. At the moment, I tending towards Seconde-Lieutenant der Landwehr Karl Wenzelmann. My only reservation, is that I cannot tie him to Berlin.

Regards

Glenn

Hi Glenn and all,

the studio was listed under this address from 1865-1871 and in 1873.

GreyC

On 11.2.2016 at 06:43, Glenn J said:

Given that it is in fact a BMV3b in last position and that our subject is neither a medical officer nor wearing the uniform of a military official and that the photograph was in all probability taken in the 1870s, then the combination is not common at all. Again, if we exclude Zeugoffiziere (he appears to be wearing an infantry officers' uniform), the field really narrows down to one or two possibilities. At the moment, I tending towards Seconde-Lieutenant der Landwehr Karl Wenzelmann. My only reservation, is that I cannot tie him to Berlin.

Regards

Glenn

Hi Glenn and all,

the studio was listed under this address from 1865-1871 and in 1873.

GreyC

Hi,

according to the Ehrenrangliste he was a Hauptmann in the Weimar Republic Reichsheer serving with the 2. Kraftfahr-Abteilung in 1926.

GreyC

Hi,

post #7 könnte Koch sein.

GreyC

4 hours ago, aubagne98 said:

Hi Odulf,

 

the second could be Landfried. Oberlt. u. Rgts. Kdr.

 

Michael

and I think it reads "Oberst" in #5, not Oberleutnant.

GreyC

Hi walfisch,

glad the info is helpful. As far as the Ehrenrangliste is concerned, Irminbert is listed as Hauptmann a.D. in 1926, yet there is another vB. listed as Hptm. still active in the Reichswehr who seems to have served  in IR 178. I am fairly certain that this was not Irminbert but some relative.

GreyC

He was born in Bern, according to the National German Biography.

GreyC

Hi arb,

this seems to be him, although walfisch has him as FERDINAND Irminbert.

Irminbert was severely wounded while with Schützenregiment / FR 108 (Schützenregiment=Füsilierregiment) as stated in the Verlustliste of 7th Oct. 1914 (left arm). So it makes sense that he then applied for the air-service after convalecence as he was probably no longer fit for the trenches.

GreyC

Yup,

The Ehrenrangliste  lists  three v. Biedermann´s at the start of the war as members of FR 108 (Saxon):

Frh. v. Biedermann (Irminbert) Hptm. a.D. 1926

Frh. v. Biedermann (Kerfrid) Hptm. a.D. 1926

Frh. v. Biedermann (Lothar) OL. a.D. 1926

there was also a Hptm. v. B. listed at 

IR 178

Frh. v. Biedermann Hptm. who served with  10. IR. during the Weimar Republic, at least in 1926.

You might find more infos on "your" guy in: 

Erich Blohm, Ernst Vogel, Gottfried Saupe: Das Kgl. Sächs. Schützen-Regiment „Prinz Georg“ Nr. 108. (Dresden 1926. Band 31 des sächs. Anteils der Erinnerungsblätter).

GreyC

He might be of Saxon origin, as many of his familiy members left traces in Saxon archives.

http://archiv.sachsen.de/archiv/bestand.jsp?oid=02.03.08.01&bestandid=11248&syg_id=245554

GreyC

Hi Morten,

this Flottillen-Name is synonymous with the 2nd U-Flottile.

See here:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/2._U-Flottille

GreyC

Hi,

here is a Überweisungsnationale of a member of Sturmbataillon 8.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/berliner/catalogue-id-bahg10000/lot-44a679d2-654a-4aa3-a36c-a49d016c8095

GreyC

PS: Überweisungsnationale is something like a copy of the Wehrpaß for the Bezirkskommando that the soldier was registered at after his service.

I second Hindenburg!

GreyC

Hi,

the Ehrenrangliste lists both officers as serving in the RFK throughout the war, both starting as Leutnant in 1914. Barchewitz listed as Hptm at end of war. Contrary to your statement, Kaehne is listed as Major a.D., if Kaehne ended the war as you stated as Hauptmann, he must have been listed in early Reichswehr Ranglisten which I do not own as the Ehrenrangliste was published in 1926.

GreyC

Please keep posting, dear Peter!

As we do not yet know why this photo was taken the altitude in which it was taken is not really telling without context. It is just a piece of the puzzle.

GreyC

Also a very nice bar!

GreyC

Hi,

this is more of a supplement than really new stuff, but I thought I post it anyways:

In the late evening hours of 9th June 1944 the 2nd and 4th Schnellbootflottille attacked enemy ships in the northern and middle section of the Seine-Bay. S-188, S 172 and S-187 of the 4th Flottille sunk a ship each.

This was considered the most prominent success of the S-Boote during the allied invasion.

p. 180pp; Schnellboote im Einsatz 1939-1945 by Volkmar Kühn, Stuttgart 1976

And:

S-188 severely damaged by air raid on  3 o´clock 15th June 1944 in Le Havre, broken up 20th August 1944 according to Gröner, vol. 2 p. 159.

Thank you Andreas!

GreyC

Hi Fernando,

Seeberufsfachschulen (SBFs) were successor-institutions of the Unteroffizierfachschulen that were founded in 1941 for all service brnches in the German Wehrmacht and discontinued already in 1942. However the Kriegsmarine reorganized them into SBFs. One of the at least 12 in existence was in Essen (Ruhr). Just found out that the personnel might have been under the supervision of the Reichsministerium für Wissenschaft, Erziehung und Volksbildung, a civilian ministry for education. They at least kept personnel files in their department.

GreyC

Hello Peter,

thanks for your interesting thoughts. There were quite a few demonstration trenches in German cities. I know of some in Hamburg, Brauschweig, Hannover and Berlin, but they were by far not as large as the one pictured. Training facility could be, but why train in trenches that would not match the real deal at the front? Just meant as food for thought, not as criticism.

To draw a preliminary conclusion:

I think what has been ascertained is that it is a french aerial photo. Still open to be answered what army built these trenches, where they were and to what purpose they were built. I still like the idea of strong points by spasm, but wouldn´t rule out training facility.

Prussian´s hint at the height from which the photo was taken (3000m) should also be taken into consideration.

Thank you all up to here,

GreyC

So the photo is post August 1940.

There seems to be text on the wreath bow. Illegible?

GreyC

Here, for comparison, a classically annotated German aerial photo by the sFAA278:

GreyC

Shermans=Americans?

GreyC

Hi Larry,

can you read what´s on the cap tally ? It looks as though it´s not yet "Kriegsmarine" which would date the photo to before Sept. 5th 1939 and give infos with regard to the unit. On the other hand: There seem to be two sailors with Minensucherabzeichen which was awarded since 31th August 1940. So maybe the soldiers still wear their Minensuchboot-Halbflottile (or similar) cap tally (which in my opinion should have been replaced from 5th Sept. 1939 on).

GreyC

Hi Patrick,

glad I could help.

GreyC