Amazing Nassau Inf Rgt 88 group

[Eric K.]

Excellent!!!!!! let us know when you update.

Eric

[joerookery]

A picture of the 69th during mobilization.

This is really fantastic and it tracks entirely with my understanding of one-year volunteer use and promotion early in the war so I wasn't that far off!

I recommend you read when you get a chance the first several chapters of Jeffrey Verhey's book entitled The Spirit of 1914. The subtitle is militarism, myth and mobilization in Germany. The social historians and specifically this book have done an admirable job in the last several years really bashing the spirit of 1914. This book ties it all together quite well I think. Clearly this soldier was a young man of some privilege and much education who embrace the idea of mobilization. The crux of the theorem is that this was a bourgeois phenomena. He also goes on to explain how most of those parading for mobilization were located in Berlin and only small numbers in outlying cities such as Trier. He does a masterful job in footnoting the newspapers and the political leanings both of those educated enough to write memoirs and diaries and those members of the proletariat who could not. This seems to be a sterling example! Simply sterling! Thanks for the work you have done on this.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Glad for everyone who enjoys it :-)

[Chris Boonzaier]

Can I use the picture? I can credit it to your site.

Thanks

Chris

[joerookery]

Of course no problem-anytime.

[joerookery]

Chris,

I had started writing another article when my mind went back to Mr. Weber. Do you have documentation that shows this guys education before mobilization? He clearly was a one-year volunteer in the 88th. As such he had free agency and did not have to live near the regiment. Do you know where he lived in 1912? However, he did have certain tests to pass and it seems as though based on his student hat, that he actually attended a University. How far did this guy go? Upon mobilization when he was handing out uniforms, does the diary give out any more information about where those uniforms were stored? Was it from the company Kammer? In the mix of issue items and private purchase items he seems to have both and it is not clear why. One -year volunteers were supposed to provide their own stuff or at least pay for it. However there exist examples of issued helmets with one-year volunteer identification tags in them. Why? There seem to be several possibilities and perhaps Weber's documentation can help explain this. Could they rent equipment and clothing from the government? Could they buy it from government stores? Were they just issued a bunch of stuff upon mobilization regardless of one year volunteer status? I'm always searching and this is a real treasure trove!

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

will take a look. There are certain things there and many not. I will work together a shot BIO. of him.

The Fieldgrey jacket... I am thinking he souveniered it and sent it home, it looks to have not been worn other than the collar replacement.

Best

Chris

[Chris Boonzaier]

Did a short update and added 2 new pics... Joe, can you send me your webpage url. it is not in your profile. I will credit the pic then.

Thanks

Chris

http://www.kaiserscross.com/170622/170643.html

[joerookery]

Chris,

My webpage

http://www.pickelhauben.net

I look forward to your biography. I would offer to meld his information into a mobilization and commissioning story especially with his Stellv. time! We could both use it. I hope his information fills in some holes.

[Chip]

Chris,

I know little of French bladed weapons, but isn't that picture on your site an artillery short sword?

Chip

[Chris Boonzaier]

Indeed... in his diary he mentions capturing a Frenchman and taking his pistol and bayonet.

I think French infantry did not have pistols, it was either an officer... or someone who did not have a rifle but had a pistol and probably NOT a bayonet as he had no rifle...

As this was with the group, I am taking a loooong jump of the imagination and assuming it is the "Bayonet" he took off the French soldier.

Best

Chris

[Chip]

He may have meant a trench knife. NCOs carried pistols too.

Chip