Offizierstellvertreter Landsturm Bataillon, 1915

[Naxos]

Offizierstellvertreter Friedrich Kuban, 1. Kompagnie Landwehr-Infanterie-Bataillon Stockach I - Spring 1915 (at the time stationed in Steinenstadt Neuenburg, Baden)

Edited November 3, 2009 by Naxos

[Naxos]

Details

[Naxos]

[Guest Rick Research]

Nice pop-gun!!!! :cheeky:

[Naxos]

Friedrich had a brother by the name of Karl Kuban. Karl held in 1915 the same rank in the Landwehr as Friedrich (Offizierstellvertreter later Leutnant d.L.).

However, Karl was a less flamboyant dresser then his brother!

Meet Offizierstellvertreter Karl Kuban, 9. Kompagnie Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment 87 (Armee-Abteilung Gaede) April / May 1915

During March and April 1915 the LIR 87 was engaged in the heavy fighting at the Hartmannsweilerkopf

What a contrast to his over-dressed and well armed brother in the rear.

Karl saw himself degraded to the Landwehr. In his own words: "Degradiert zur Landwehr"

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Edited October 16, 2009 by Naxos

[Chip]

Hardy,

Karl isn't wearing Offizierstellvertreter straps. Looks like a sergeant to me. I like the little trench whistle.

Chip

[Naxos]

Hardy,

Karl isn't wearing Offizierstellvertreter straps. Looks like a sergeant to me. I like the little trench whistle.

Chip

Chip, I noticed that as well - the picture must have been taken before his promotion.

On another postcard dated Dec. 1916, Karl is already a Leutnant

Did you notice the monocular? Never seen one before in a period picture.

Hardy :cheers:

Edited October 16, 2009 by Naxos

[Chip]

Hardy,

No! I had not noticed that. I passed right by it as it looked like a side view of a normal pair.

Chip

[Guest Rick Research]

I didn't notice the cyclopean optics either-- distracted by the pop-gun.

Lt dL Karl Kuban of LIR 87 got the BZ3bX on 1 December 1915. Militärwochenblatt of 7 October 1915 (Column 4212) shows Vizefeldwebel Karl Kuban as resident of LWB Frankfurt am Main, commissioned Lt dL Inf II in I. Bn/ LIR 87 as of 29 September 1915.

[Naxos]

Thank you Rick for the info ... much appreciated!

Yes, Karl lived in Frankfurt am Main ... as the address shows on a letter to his wife.

Hardy

[joerookery]

Offizierstellvertreter Friedrich Kuban, 1. Kompagnie Landwehr-Infanterie-Bataillon Stockach I

If I am right his unit was Landsturm-Infanterie-Bataillon Stockach I ---super nice picture!

[Naxos]

If I am right his unit was Landsturm-Infanterie-Bataillon Stockach I ---super nice picture!

Yes Joe, you are right, it's Landstrum. Thanks for the correction.

Hardy

[joerookery]

Karl saw himself degraded to the Landwehr. In his own words: "Degradiert zur Landwehr"

This is really educational. Based on his rank! Must have been non voluntary during parts of the war. The following quote is from pages 183-184 of the Handbook of Imperial Germany.

An officer would remain in reserve status until he requested transfer into the Landwehr.

As long as an officer was fit and the Bezirks-Kommando had no objections, he could stay in the reserves after age 27. This routinely was approved. Likewise, officers moved between the first and second levy of the Landwehr upon request. Many reserve officers liked to stay in a functional organization where there was at least some training requirement. It was very unusual (but not impossible) for a reserve officer to be promoted beyond captain. Officers, who quit or were cashiered from the active army, were enrolled in to the reserve component that their age required.