This is an upgraded remake of my first colorization of Imperial German servicemen whose first version I did 9 years ago. Thanks to it I got to meet Sam Wouters. This revised version is dedicated to Sam and others like xiphophilos who took the time to educate me on the subject.
As for the photo, according to their descendant, Mathias Plank, the man seated is Mathias Lechermann and the one standing is his brother Hans. They were the sons of a Bavarian farmer from Ingolstadt and they both fought in France as part of a Bavarian unit. Mathias passed away in 1974 from the after effects of the mustard gas he inhaled during the battle of Verdun. He was awarded the Iron Cross second class.
The official records graciously researched by fellow FlickR member ‘xiphophilos’ tell a somewhat different story:
Hans a.k.a Johann Lechermann:
Farmer (Landwirt) Hans Lechermann, born 9.5.1896 in Großmehring near Ingolstadt. Before being drafted, he resided at Mailing. He was discharged 17.12.18. He was a member of 8. bayer. Feldartillerie-Regiment (Nürnberg), listed in 14140. Entl(assungs-) Liste, p. 48.
6 bayer. Feldart.-Regt. (Fürth/Bay.) II Ers.-Abt., 13982. Kriegsstammrolle: Bd. 5, p. 36:
1.6.16: vereidigt (sworn in)
20.7.16: transferred to 2. Ersatz-Batl. bayer. Reserve-Feldart. Regt. No. 9 (Nürnberg), 13458. Kriegsstammrolle: Bd. 1, p. 140.
16.5.16: als Rekrut Rekruten-Depot II/6. F. A. R.
20.7.16: II. Ers. Batl./ 6. F. A. R.
23.9.16: zur (to the) 6./ 9. R. F. A. R. (6. Kompanie, 9. Reserve-Feldartillerie-Regiment)
bis (until) 14.4.18
14.4.18: verwundet Lazarett (wounded, hospital)
Wurde am 14.4.18 durch Granatsplitter am rechten Oberschenkel (Durchschuß) schwer verwundet, dem H(aupt-) V(erbands-) P(latz) in Lestrem überwiesen.
(Was seriously wounded on 14 April 1918 by grenade splinter on his right upper thigh (shot through); referred to Main Dressing Station at Lestrem.)
Medals:
Preußisches Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse: 5.10.17
Militär-Verdienstkreuz 3. Klasse mit Schwertern: 29.9.17
Verwundetenabzeichen sch(warz) 23.10.18
8 bayer. Feldartillerie-Regiment (Nürnberg), 14122. Kriegsstammrolle: Bd. 8, p. 240:
3.7.18 zur II. E./8. Feld-Artillerie-Regt. 9. Battr.
29.11.18 zur H. B. II. 8. F.A.R.
Mathias Lechermann:
Train-Sold(at) / Sergeant Mathias Lechermann, born 17.2.1892 in Großmehring (Oberbayern), Profession Schumacher (cobbler) in Mailing bei Ingolstadt, single, parents Martin and Franziska, née Sommer, farmer in Mailing near Ingolstadt, served before the war in 3. bayerische Train-Abteilung.
2.8.14 zur Res(erve) Sant. (=Sanitäts-) Komp. 5
1.10.16 zur Sant. Komp. 13
5.8.17 zur 3. M.G.K. R(eserve) I(nfanterie) R(egiment) 11
13.4.18: zum Sergeanten befördert
25.6.18: zur 12./R.I.R. 11 versetzt [transfered to 12th company/ R.I.R. 11]
5.8.17-25.6.18 Futtermeister [NCO in charge of fodder]
Medals: Pr(eußisches) Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse laut Divisionsbefehl der 9. Bayr. Res. Div. vom 8.12.16 B. Az(?) 3. Klasse, R(egiments-) B(efehl) vom 28.3.18.
Battles:
20.8.-22.8.14: Schlacht in Lothringen
22.8.-14.9.14: Schlacht von Nancy und Epinal
30.9.-1.10.14: Gefecht bei Douai
1.10.-13.10.14: Schlacht bei Arras
14.10.14-8.5.15: Stellungskämpfe im Artois
19.5.-23.7.15: Schlacht bei La Basse und Arras
24.7.-24.9.15: Stellungskämpfe im Artois
25.9.-13.10.15: Herbstschlacht bei La Basse und Arras
14.10.15-14.8.16: Stellungskämpfe im Artois
15.8.-26.8.16: Schlacht an der Somme
27.8.-23.12.16: Stellungskämpfe an der Aisne
15 [25.?].12.-25.1.17: Stellungskämpfe an der Somme
5.2.-5.4.17: Stellungskämpfe an der Aisne
6.4.-22.4.17: Doppelschlacht an der Aisne Champagne
1.5.-31.7.17: Stellungskämpfe in Lothringen
6.8.-21.8.17: Schlacht in Flandern
28.8.-4.11.17: Stellungskämpfe zwischen Maas und Mosel
6.11.-28.11.17: Schlacht in Flandern
29.11.17: Tankschlacht bei Cambrai
30.11.-7.12.17: Angriffsschlacht bei Cambrai
8.12.-21.3.18: Kämpfe in Siegfriedstellung
last line unreadable/half cut off
Source: Bayer. Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 11 (Regensburg) > 2803. Kriegstammrolle: 3. Maschinen-Gewehr-Kompanie, page 135.
So according to records and the number on his shoulder strap, which seems to be a 13, Mathias is probably the man standing and Hans, the feldartillerie soldier, the one sitting. But according to his records, there’s no indication of Hans ever being promoted beyond Kanonier and the soldier sitting has NCO lace. So, who is the man sitting? The question remains.
This photo was probably taken between December 8, 1916 when Mathias was awarded the EK2, and August 5, 1917 when he was transferred from Sanitätskompanie 13 to 3. M.G.K. RIR 11.
The Troddel’s grey tones leave only two possible color combinations: red/yellow/red for 7th Company or blue/red/blue for the 8th. A chose the latter for illustration purposes only.
Original property of Mathias Plank