Posted 12 years ago
LanceG
(17 items)
This is a large photograph of my Great Uncle, in full gear, taken circa 1915. The actual picture is about 20 x 15 and has color and details hand painted on the photo. The cover on his pickelhaube has the number 170 in bold red. The barrel of his rifle has an olive branch in it. He appears to be wearing an Iron Cross on his chest.
According to the family, the army came through their farm in Bavaria in 1915 and took the two oldest sons and all the horses. My great uncle Henry (in the picture) and the horses never came home, but my Great Uncle Bill returned from the war and emigrated to the US before World War II.
We do not know where or how Henry died, and this is the only known photo we have of him. We know little about his service, nor about the unit represented on his helmet cover.
the 170th regiment was a Baden unit based out of the cities of Offenburg and Donaueschingen. It was not uncommon for Bavarians in border areas to serve in the units of other states that were based near by. Neat photo.
Thanks very much! That is the first information I have heard about his regiment.
Thanks for the love, valentino97. Unfortunately, it is difficult to get German information on the Great War, so many records were destroyed in the Second World War. I do find it sad that my Great Grandparents never knew what happened to their son.