German Soldier ith Cap Badge - Eisernes reuz 2. Klasse and Eisernes Verdienstkreuz mit der Krone

[Uffz. Rohleder]

Hello all,

i have this interesting Portrait since many years in my collection - along with other photos of this man.

You see here just a cut-out - its a little tricky to make a good photo pf a photo

 

The Cap Badge looks like "4. Armee"

 

Anyone have an idea of the unit and rank of this man?

 

 

Greetings Stefan

[Chip]

Mannschaft, Soldat. Basic soldier. The shoulder strap is not clear enough to determine the unit.

[Chris Boonzaier]

You can almost see an artillery grenade on the straps, then you look again and you can not.... tough call...

[Uffz. Rohleder]

Here a better shot of the shoulder board - best i can do so far.

Edited February 5, 2016 by Uffz. Rohleder

[Chris Boonzaier]

Now I no longer see the grenade ;-)

[Uffz. Rohleder]

yes - but what could it be?  :S

[KIR]

Hi,

maybe Fussartillerie (zwei gekreuzte Langgranaten mit Zahl(en)!?

Best regards,

Jens

Edited February 5, 2016 by KIR

[Uffz. Rohleder]

Hard to say.

 

I try to figure it out since month :/

[Chip]

Too tough for me. I can't really see any of the suggested possibilities.

[The Prussian]

Hello!

The austian 4th army was structured in 1915 with:

Division Stöger-Steiner

XIV.Army Corps

IX.Army Corps

31.Inf.Brig.

11.Honved Division

The only german unit was the 47.Res.Div.

47.Res.Div. (Westphalia)

Res.Inf.Rgt. 217-220

47.Res.Kav.Abt.

47.Res.Feldart.Rgt.

47.Res.Pio.Komp.

47.Res.Brückenpionier.Komp. (Pont.Eng.)

47.Res.San.Komp.

I´m not sure about the shoulder strap, but I don´t think to see a simple number. Probably artillery.

Battles under austrian command:

5.-17.12.14: Limanowa-Lapanow

18.12.14-1.5.15: Dunajec, Riwka, Ostrow

1.-3.5.15: Gorlice-Tarnow

13.5.-23.6.15: Leg-San

24.-30.6.15: San, Wisznia

20.7.-9.8.15: Wysnika, Wieprz (Trciniec-Abelina, Poniatowa, Kurow-Markuszow, Jagrody)

The solldier wears the austrian Iron cross of Merit with the crown.

I  have an example of  RIR 220

The division recieved later an own cap badge.

 

Edited February 6, 2016 by The Prussian

[Chip]

Andy,

This last photo has probably been discussed before, but did we ever get an answer as to what this collar button is? Is there a date on this photo?

Thanks,

Chip

[The Prussian]

Hi Chip!

No, I can´t say anything about the button. Probably he lost the original one...

The reverse is blank.

[Chip]

This soldier looks quite young and so I was wondering how he could have been in this division in 1915. The shoulder strap is interesting too. It looks to be the width of a M1915 (4,5cm) but it has piping and it appears to be sewn into the shoulder seam. Perhaps it is just the angle and it is actually the width of a M1907 (5,5cm) and perhaps they are removable straps. That would be the logical explanation.

Chip

[The Prussian]

The piping is correct. Kraus says, RIR 217-224 hat yellow pipings. Yellow appeared nearly black.

[Chip]

Andy,

I wasn't questioning that the piping was correct for a M1907, but rather that it looked narrow, like a M15, which would have had white piping. As said, it's probably just the angle that makes it look that way and therefore, everything is OK.

Chip