Help me ID Great-Grandfather's Pickelhaube

N

Nebel_Werfer

New member
Hello everyone,

I've been trying to research Pickelhauben to ID what my great-grandfather is wearing and came across this great site! I'm hoping I can get a little assistance?

I'd like to put together a replica of his uniform in this photo:
274213421_5373766535985086_2545702694272252565_n.jpg
He served with the 253 RIR (97th Reserve Division) as far as I know for the duration of the war. He has about 150 photographs, most seem to be early to mid war, around 1915ish. He was wounded twice and the 253 RIR spent most of their time in Romania.

With that being said, can anyone help me ID his pickelhaube? Looks to be an ersatz. Also, what is going on with the color of those painted on numbers? I thought it was only green or red?

Since he has a cover in the first photo, I am going to assume it's the pickelhaube in this photo of him on horseback:
274194282_5373774339317639_3900222247920966368_n.jpg

What is the likely color and model of his pickelhaube? Looks like the Prussian wappen is brass.

Unfortunately, I have a 61.5cm head so I don't think I'll be able to find (or afford) an original. I'm hoping to have a replica commissioned though, and I hope to get it as close as possible!

Thank you for the help!
 
Welcome. He is wearing a Prussian ersatz felt pickelhaube in the mounted photo. There are pictures here on the forum of such helmets so you can see colour etc. He is wearing an iron cross second class ribbon and seems to be carrying a carbine issued to mounted troops but I am no expert. There are many here who will provide more information.
 
Hi Nebelwerfer,
Congratulations with having around 150 pictures of your great-grandfathers time in the First World War (I only have four pictures of my three great-uncles during the First World War ;))
Nebel_Werfer said:
Looks like the Prussian wappen is brass.
Click to expand...
I agree.
Nebel_Werfer said:
I have a 61.5cm head so I don't think I'll be able to find (or afford) an original
Click to expand...
I strongly recommend not to use originals for reenactment, you will damage / destroy them in the process.

His equipment is interesting, in the first picture he seems to have a binocular case and a Patronentasche 09 on his belt, and a Gewehr 98.
But as already mentioned, in the second picture he has a carbine so his role has probably changed.

Regards,
Lars
 
The white painted R 253 uberzug in the first photo is also new to me. However, there is always something new to be seen in this hobby. More photos would also help here Nebel. We also have members here who when given a name, can track down information on military service.
 
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b.loree said:
Welcome. He is wearing a Prussian ersatz felt pickelhaube in the mounted photo. There are pictures here on the forum of such helmets so you can see colour etc. He is wearing an iron cross second class ribbon and seems to be carrying a carbine issued to mounted troops but I am no expert. There are many here who will provide more information.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the input! I'll be replicating the first photo with the G98. I recently picked up a 1915 Danzig for it!
 
Lars13 said:
Hi Nebelwerfer,
Congratulations with having around 150 pictures of your great-grandfathers time in the First World War (I only have four pictures of my three great-uncles during the First World War ;))

I agree.

I strongly recommend not to use originals for reenactment, you will damage / destroy them in the process.

His equipment is interesting, in the first picture he seems to have a binocular case and a Patronentasche 09 on his belt, and a Gewehr 98.
But as already mentioned, in the second picture he has a carbine so his role has probably changed.

Regards,
Lars
Click to expand...

Do not worry Lars, I would never use original gear in any reenacting fashion. If I did purchase an original, it would strictly be for display.
I will be replicating the first photo with the Gewehr!

Like I said, I know he was wounded twice in combat. I even found the original wound records. Based on his photos, it looks like he later took on a more logistical role. My dad said he was told he was in artillery. There are some photos of artillery, so maybe that's the case. He served about 7 or 8 years before the war, then for the duration of the war.

Here are some more photos you guys may enjoy seeing! Keep in mind, these are in Romania. Also added a couple pre-war photos of him.
272999667_5162080273857524_2514326623529881634_n.jpg273046842_481292376805067_8546264417948793458_n.jpg273059122_480061537073031_4419972902092621637_n.jpg273562362_600838807953086_7938014304005204516_n.jpg273817824_349938293657824_494542124607826315_n.jpg273876263_527634401966926_8379025490536905125_n.jpg273942768_488476399343936_8626861780054654497_n.jpg274014180_291425776391833_382246715234299315_n.jpg274213859_982977775987151_7920500108133759602_n.jpg14882309_1399825263379253_8518019676083436221_o.jpg274065524_675443380397553_6094221550657430738_n.jpg274232438_5373770139318059_1361520990557819390_n.jpg274249359_5373772959317777_5741442736316457767_n.jpg
 
b.loree said:
The white painted R 253 uberzug in the first photo is also new to me. However, there is always something new to be seen in this hobby. More photos would also help here Nebel. We also have members here who when given a name, can track down information on military service.
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Yes, the painted uberzug has thrown me off. I cannot find a single photo of anything even remotely similar looking. Not sure how I plan to handle that yet.
 
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Wonderful photos, such a nice thing to have in the position of the original family, AND with a family that truly appreciates them as well. I love when something like this shows up and reveals some unknown piece of equipment or rarely seen piece of equipment. It illustrates the variety of equipment there was at the time and the lack of uniformity.
 
You are very fortunate to have period photos of your grandfather’s service.

In the image where they are wearing Dunkelblau M96 Waffenrock, the black collar and cuffs with white shoulder straps indicate Fußartillerie (Foot Artillery)

Here is the 21cm Mörser M10/16 you see in the firing position photo.


2ED52767-2577-4A7F-8F9C-DF8A0BE17839.png
 
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Maybe it´s easier if you give us the whole name of your great grandfather, so I can try to track him. It seems he has done his active duty in peace time in the Nassauer JR88.
RJR253 was in Romania from 26.9.16 until 7.3.18 and was formed 16.12.14 through XVIII AK from Feldbataillonen 67,68 and 69.

Philippe
;)
 
argonne said:
Maybe it´s easier if you give us the whole name of your great grandfather, so I can try to track him. It seems he has done his active duty in peace time in the Nassauer JR88.
RJR253 was in Romania from 26.9.16 until 7.3.18 and was formed 16.12.14 through XVIII AK from Feldbataillonen 67,68 and 69.

Philippe
;)
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His name is Heinrich Beichler, from Neunkirchen.
Wounded twice:

Verlustlisten 1. Weltkrieg, page 5260: Beichler Heinrich (Neunkirchen, Siegen)

des.genealogy.net des.genealogy.net

Verlustlisten 1. Weltkrieg, page 1311: Beichler Heinrich (Neunkirchen, Kreis Siegen)

des.genealogy.net des.genealogy.net
 
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