Marraige Brokers for Officers

[bob lembke]

Gentlemen;

I am finally writing up my history of my grand-father. He was of peasant origins, but was made an officer in the Prussian Army in 1893, although he was very poor. About this time he acquired a wife, apparently a woman of some wealth, with whom he had a child, but whom he did not live with. Eventually she got angry at him, it was the minor matter of a second family closer to the Kaserne (from which I came from), and the dear woman mailed my grand-father poisoned food, and he was partially paralyzed, and had to resign as an active-duty officer. Being pragmatic, he pursued her civilly instead of criminally, and evidentially achieved quite a good settlement in the courts.

I think I remember reading that there were marraige bureaus or brokers who matched poor young German officers with affluent women, the woman getting the husband and the status of his officership, while the officer received some financial support to maintain him in his regiment. Am I correct? Anyone have details, and/or have good leads on sources on this topic? (Language unimportant) I really should learn more about the officer class, sociology, etc.

I would like to, in advance, express my appreciation for the help I have received from the extremely knowledgable and well-referenced "reference gnomes" on this forum. After working on about five books in parallel for several years, I am sprinting forward and hope to get this one out before I drop dead. My father and grand-father did some quite interesting things militarily in and about WK I, but the sociology of their complex family life (nothing like multiple families and poisoned dandelion wine to richen the broth) is also quite a tale. I just, a day ago, made a breakthrough in the story of my mysterious aunt, who was murdered shortly after the war.

If Glenn J is reading this, I just ordered a copy of the remarkable Feuerwerker book published in 1936, that you obtained a few years ago. As you may remember, my grand-father retired as a Feuerwerk=Major a. D. , and wrote one of the articles in the book.

Bob Lembke

Edited November 25, 2009 by bob lembke

[joerookery]

Low pay with high status meant that marriage had to be a business deal where the woman brought the “bacon” to the table. It was not unusual to use a marriage agency. A normal practice was for the bride’s father to assume the officer’s existing debts. The regimental commander had to approve the marriage to ensure the woman had at least an equal social background, enough money, and an unblemished record. 508

508 (Clemente 1992) pg 163-164

Bob,

This is an excerpt from the Handbook of Imperial Germany and the citation from foot note 508. As I am deep into Zuber's latest book I really recommend you read Handbook before you publish anything.

http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=60521

[bob lembke]

Joe;

I immediately decided that I want your book when it came to my attention. Exhibit crass commercialism and tell me/us how best to buy it in the US. I saw some exotic posts about postage to New Zealand, usw. Your book seems to fit in perfectly into the large gap in my understanding in this area.

Bob

[joerookery]

Bob,

The best way to buy is through the link above to go straight to the publisher.

is far better faster and cheaper that way. I really am having some problems dealing with the Zuber book. I have so much to read on this but I think many different thoughts and he should have read the Handbook.

http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=60521