Hauptmann Ludwig Pichler (KIA in German-Southwestafrica)

Leutwein · February 15, 2014

Hello,

after the thread of Claudio about Lt. Heinrich Wolfgang von Abendroth who was KIA in GSWA, I like to post another photo which shows Hptm. Ludwig Pichler who was also KIA in GSWA.

Hauptmann Ludwig Pichler was a württembergian native and served in the württembergian army (till 1905).

From April 1905 Hptm. Pichler was member of the kaiserliche Schutztruppe in German Southwestafrica.

So Hptm. Pichler arrived GSWA with the troop ship Lulu Bohlen (strength of the crew: 30 officers, 342 NCO´s and men and 435 horses). The departure from Hamburg was 20th april 1905 and the arrival in Swakopmund was 15th May 1905.

From mid-may Hptm. Pichler was member of the I.(Fuhrpark-)Kolonnen-Abteilung under the command of Major Nordsieck.

For his first operation (under the command of Major Gräser) against the Hottentotten (under the command of Cornelius) Hptm. Pichler was transferred to the 1. Etappenkompanie as a company commander. With his first command he took part on the battles of Fischfluß.

In his first and last operation Hptm. Pichler was killed in action in the battle of Keidorus (26th till 28th June 1905). The casualties on this day were very high.

Unteroffizier Freistein (who took part on the battle of Keidorus) told that Hptm. Pichler was the first man who was killed in action in the battle of Keidorus. Official sources confirmed that Hptm. Pichler was the first dead soldier.

In that battle the Schutztruppe had the following casualties:

dead:

1. Hauptmann Ludwig Pichler (commander of the 1st Etappenkompanie) (prior-württ. 3. Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 49) Headshot

2. Assistenzarzt Dr. Karl Horn (1st Etappenkompanie) (prior-Fußartillerie-Regiment von Linger (Ostpreußischen) Nr. 1) Headshot

3. Vizefeldwebel Ernst Sonntag (9th company 2nd Feld-Regiment) (prior-sächs. 7. Königs-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 106) Headshot

4. Sergeant Andreas Huhnstock (9th company 2nd Feld-Regiment) (prior-Infanterie-Regiment Fürst Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau (1. Magdeburg.) Nr. 26) Headshot

5. Reiter Paul Schmidt (1st Etappenkompanie) (prior- Kürassier-Regiment Kaiser Nikolaus I. von Rußland (Brandenburg.) Nr. 6) Headshot.

wounded:

1. Oberleutnant Wilhelm Ritter und Edler von Rosenthal, (9th company 2nd Feld-Regiment) (prior-2.Westfälischen Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 22) meat shot right lower leg.

2. Sergeant Albert Birkholz (9th company 2nd Feld-Regiment) (prior- Pommerschen Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 2) Shot right forearm

3. Gefreiter Jakob Väth (1st Etappenkompanie) (prior- Bezirkskommando Aschaffenburg) grazing shot left big toe

4. Reiter Adam Grzegorski (9th company 2nd Feld-Regiment) (prior- 5. Lothring. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 144) Headshot

5. Reiter Friedrich Webel (11th company 2nd Feld-Regiment) (prior- könig. sächs. 2. Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 18) meat shot right foot

6. Reiter Heinrich Kister (9th company 2nd Feld-Regiment) (prior- 2. Großherzog. hessischen Dragoner-Regiment (Leib-Dragoner-Regiment) Nr. 24) grazing shot right hand

7. Reiter Alexander Hajduczek (Feldsignalabteilung) (prior- Infanterie Regiment von Winterfeldt (2. Oberschlesischen) Nr. 23) Shot right palm

8. Reiter Paul Henke (1st Etappenkompanie) (prior- 2. hannoverschen Dragoner-Regiment nr. 16) Bone shot left thigh, grazing shot back, thigh, temple, meat shot right thigh

9. Reiter Adolf Nicklas (1st Etappenkompanie) (prior- Füsilier-Regiment von Steinmetz (Westpreuß.) Nr. 37) shot right buttocks

10. Reiter Ewald Göpfert (11th company 2nd Feld-Regiment) (prior- Infanterie-Regiment Graf Dönhoff (7. Ostpreuß.) Nr. 44) meat shot left thigh and right lower leg

11. Reiter Karl Meier (9th company 2nd Feld-Regiment) (prior- 5. Westfälischen Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 53) grazing shot left lower leg

In total 2 officers and 3 soldiers dead and 1 officer and 10 soldiers wounded

The casualties of the Hottentotten are unknown.

Sources:

-Schwabe, Kurt (1907), Der Krieg in Deutsch-Südwestafrika 1904-1906, Weller: Berlin.

-Freiherr von Dincklage-Campe, Friedrich (1908), Deutsche Reiter in Südwest, Deutsches Verlagshaus Bong & Co: Berlin, Leipzig, Wien, Stuttgart.

-Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung I des Großen Generalstabes (1907), Die Kämpfe der deutschen Truppen in Südwestafrika (Band 2), Mittler und Sohn: Berlin.

- Deutsches Kolonialblatt (1905)

- Rangliste der könig. preuß. Armee und des XIII. (könig. württem.) Armeekorps 1905

-o.A.(1907), 1904-1907 Lebensdaten der auf dem Ehrenfelde D.-Südwestafrika gebliebenen Offiziere, Kunstverlag: Trier