So another one for the collection and another Regiment to talk about. This time, we will go to Oldenburg.
The poor Pipe had better times in the past, as we all can see; it is in pieces, literally. It shows a picture of the soldiers (with the white shoulder straps) during some maneuvers. Even in these conditions, it had an according price and another excuse to sit down for a good while and write the weekly Article.
This Person served between 1902 and 1904 in the Oldenburgische Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 91. As previously explained in other articles, it is quite difficult to research about the Prussian or other States soldiers, because the lack of records due to their destruction in the past. Even it is not sure, that this person rejoined his old unit, that is why, I will be talking a bit about this unit.
The Regiment was created in December 1813 after Germany was liberated from the French. This Unit belonged to the Great Duchy of Oldenburg. Their monogram is a P, for Duke Peter Friedrich Ludwig of Oldenburg.
It did participate in the war against Denmark in 1849 as well as in the “Bruderkrieg” of 1866 in the Prussian side.
As with the rest of the States, it also took part in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871, fighting in Gravelotte and the Sieg of Metz.
The Infantry Regiment Nr. 91 had their Barracks in the City of Oldenburg itself and it part of the 19thDivision in the Second Army.
During the First World War, this unit took also part in the battle of Namur as well as in the Reims.
Until spring of 1915, this Regiment fought in the Aisne, until it was transported to the East Front, to take part in the offensives in the battles of Gorlice-Tarnow, as well as in the battles afterwards. They ended up with a huge Russian defeat. It was not still the German decisive battle. The casualties in its Division were also very high: 127 Officers and 4.291 Men, just between May and September 1915.
After their actions in Poland and Galizien, the Division was sent back to France (Hurtebuse-Vauclerc Sector) until the middle of 1916, when they went back to the East Front.
It did not take long for them to come back to the West. In December 1916, they were already in the Champagne area, where it remained during the whole 1917. During this time, they fought against the French offensives during the summer, suffering very heavy casualties.
In April 1918, the division participated in the Battle of Picardy (near Marcelcaves), with terrible consequences, because it lost 50 percent of its effectives, having to be sent to rest and receive reinforcements. In just one month and a half, the division received over 2.000 of them.
This Division was rated (by the allies) as first class, being one of the very best German divisions.
Sources:
Histories of the Two Hundred and Fifty One Divisions of the German Army.
genealogy.net (Foto and Info)