I had the chance to acquire a set of documents and awards from a Bavarian soldier, who survived the war, after seeing plenty of action. This lot includes award concessions, promotions, his military identity book (Militärpaß) and all of his awards. I could locate also part of his files in the Hauptarchiv München, which helped a lot with the research.
Heinrich was born in 1892 near Bad Kissingen in the north of Bavaria (ok, Franken…) and had a normal life and normal job as Plasterer (Stukkateur) before joining the army for the mandatory military service in 1912. He had already 2 kids in that moment.
He joined the Royal Bavarian 21stInfantry Regiment “Großherzog Friedrich Franz IV. von Mecklenburg-Schwerin” stationed in Fürth and part of the Royal Bavarian 5th Infantry Division, III Royal Bavarian Army Corps. He left the army in 1914 to serve in the reserve, just before the start of the war.
Heinrich was called again on the 3rdof August to his old regiment, now part of the 6th Army under the command of Kronprinz Rupprecht von Bayern. After the initial French attack in Lorraine, the German Army started to push them back to France. In his Militärpaß we see that he fought in the Nancy-Epinal area as well as in the Maas and Mosel. The big German push did not bring the expected results.
As a result of those attacks, on the 24thof September, Heinrich was wounded and sent to a Feldlazarett, staying there until the end of October.
In 1915 and after some training, he was back again to the Nancy Area, but this time with a promotion as private (Gefreiter). Maybe it was a quiet year for him…. But not for long.
In 1916, our man was transferred to the Royal Bavarian 25th Infantry Regiment, which was part of the 192ndInfantry Brigade (and after, part of the 14th Infantry Division). His Regiment was included in the 6th Reserve Army Corps (North of Verdun).
Just 2 days later, he will see action in Verdun. A name, which will never be forgotten in History.
We all know, what was the aftermath of this offensive. The Plan from General Erich von Falkenhayn started well and the German could take plenty of ground, prisoners and some forts. But the French resisted and were good reinforced. The legend of the Paris Taxis in 1914 is still famous, but quite exaggerated. More important that those taxis, we cannot forget the ,less famous but much more vital for the French, Voie Sacrèe, the Sacred Way, the French way to receive the help to keep fighting.
Heinrich was transferred all along the front, from the north to the south. And later in 1916, he was moved to the last moments of another infamous battle; The Somme.
He was there until March 1917, when he was sent to rest in the Arras Area. But before this more than needed rest, he saw action in the Siegfrid Line. Around this period, he received the Iron Cross 2ndClass and was also promoted to Corporal.
Heinrich was moved to another Regiment, the Royal Bavarian 19th Regiment within the Royal Bavarian 5thInfantry Division. The next big name to come is…. Ypres, where he fought against my beloved Irish of the 16th and 36th British Division.
Once again, he changed Regiments, this time the Royal Bavarian 13thInfantry Regiment, fighting in battle of Passchendaele. At this point, he was already in 4 Regiments and in many important battles.
In 1918, his Regiment took part in the major German Spring Offensive in the area of Cambrai, but without achieving any major success. Like in 1914, he was wounded on the 28th of March and sent to Germany for recovery and training. That would be the end of that offensive for him.
He came back to war at the end of June, in a Machine Gun Company of his 13th Regiment, after receiving another medal: the Military Merit Cross Third Class with Swords and Crown.
His last weeks of the war, already as Sergeant, he suffered the continuous allied attacks in the San Quentin Area. The end was close and the result, known.
Heinrich left the army in March 1919, a new life started for him…
His medal bar has the following decorations:
– Iron Cross Second Class (Prussia).
– Military Merit Cross Third Class with Swords and Crown (Bavaria).
– Honour Cross 1914 – 1918,
– 3rdClass Service Medal for 9 Years in the Army (Bavaria).
Also shown, the wounded badge, the Medal/Batch Concessions, promotion and a home permit.