Information needed! Please help!

Pionier

Pionier

New member
Hello,

I am looking for information, photos, anything about 2.Reserve-Kompanie/Pommersches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 2. My great-grandfather served in this unit during WWI. I am writing a blog about his story but there is still so much to uncover!

I will appreciate any help, comments and advice.

My blog: www.pommerschespionier.com
 
Milosz,

Nice collection of stuff! Can you show us another picture of the box on the left? We have had some questions about boxes recently. Based on your grandfather's name it seems very likely that he was of Polish ancestry. We talk a bit about this in the Handbook. Do you have any more information for instance where he came from? His place of residence? How old he was?

VR
Joe
 
Hi Joe,

Thanks for the first reply! You are absolutely right - my grand grandpa was in fact Polish. In the blog, I have posted as much information as I could find so far (e.g. that from the hanbook :-) )and am trying to update it whenever I find out something new. It is not easy though to find any info on the Pommersches Pionier unit.

Here is what I know about him:
http://pommerschespionier.com/index.php/the-story/

Regarding the box (I assume you looked at the collection photo on the home page - I guess you meant this one (again - on the left):

http://pommerschespionier.com/index.php/collection/various/

DSC_0185.JPG


Milosz
 
okay I have it now. I missed one half of your blog! I will try to look through pictures. My organization is rotten. But it is a worthy search! You already have pictures of the box -- with a game in it. Thank you.
 
Here is some more background that might be useful or might not.

1904 Bronislaus started studying in Handwerkskammer schule (Crafts school) in Bromberg to become a “bricklayer for Gnesen” (für maurer zu Gnesen). During this study he was already working as an apprentice bricklayer in Gnesen.
Click to expand...

This was perfectly normal. Actually it was a good sign for your relative. There were about 500,000+ of these guys studying to become skilled labor. You will notice that he was 15 when he started the school. So really it was kind of a vocational school that he went to prior to his service time.

The area he came from was about 50 km east of Poznan. well you already knew this but it seems as though he survived the war from your blog. After the war that area was very interesting in that really Polish patriots sort of took over the province from the Imperial German Government.–by force. This was all extremely interesting because at the time everything organized was German and the Polish people had none of the civil service institutions. For instance, 100% of the teachers were German. Most of these guys left that province and moved to Germany proper. So there was this real vacuum of institutional knowledge and organization in the province. This spread to West Prussia and despite serious resistance into parts of Silesia. The Polish government at the time–remember there really wasn't one until after the Treaty of Versailles tried to provide incentives to keep German bureaucrats in the country.


The unit itself is pretty interesting and I have much more to do on it–pretty interesting. Make sure that you make the division in your mind that this is not Pioneer Battalion number two. Rather is entirely different unit which is Reserve Pioneer Battalion number two. The fact that it was in eighth Army should be both interesting and easier to trace. Participation in the battle of Tannenberg is a real possibility–I'll look more at that hopefully later today. Every time I look at your blog I find more stuff. I really need to do some map work to see exactly where this place was and therefore where are the Bezirkscommando was located. While Poznan was in V Corps, seems like this guy was from right on the border and was recruited by II Corps. Do you have a detailed map of where he was living? Do you have that overlaid by Army Corps? If I am asking too many questions I apologize. :read2: :read2: :read2:
 
In the time when Bronislaus was recruited he lived in Gnesen, which was definitely part of II Corps. I have one postcard sent by him (I will soon add this postcard on my blog) and the units stamp shows 2PB No2 Res.P Komp.
I am sure it is 2 Reserve Kompanie of the 2PB.

B.%20Kubasik%20-%20kartka%201.jpg


On the rest of the blank from hospital which I have got, the company number is very clear - 2 Res. Komp

SSA41085.JPG


So in my opinion Bronislaus served in 3 Reserve Division.

Unfortunately I do not have a map of the Bezirkscommando's. I saw on your site such kind of map - and compare to it border was between Gnesen (II corps) and Wreschen (V corps).

On my blog there is a closer map of this area
http://pommerschespionier.com/index.php/113/113/
 
Definitely Army Corps II!


II. Armeekorps
Nr.
Bezirkskommand o
Bezirkskommandeur
Verwendung als Kommandeur
1
Königsberg I
Oberst z. D. Lehmann
R.F.A.R.Nr. 45
2
Königsberg II
Oberstleutnant z. D. Döring
3
Bartenstein
Major z. D. Siemers
4
Goldap
Oberstleutnant z. D. Grassmann
5
Gumbinnen
Oberstleutnant z. D. Geßner
6
Insterburg
Oberstleutnant z. D. Conradi
7
Rastenburg
Oberstleutnant z. D. Pampe
II./L.I.R.Nr. 1
8
Tilsit
Oberst z. D. Rehbach
L.I.R.Nr. 24
Nr.
Bezirkskommand o
Bezirkskommandeur
Verwendung als Kommandeur
1
Belgard
Major z. D. Goßkowski
2
Stargard
Oberst z. D. v. Rège
R.I.R.Nr. 211
3
Stettin
Oberst z. D. Arnold
Ldst I.R.Nr. 32
4
Anklam
Oberstleutnant z. D. v. Schierstedt
5
Stralsund
Major z. D. Sibeth
6
Naugard
Oberstleutnant z. D. v. Gundlach
Ers.I.R. Gropp
7
Swinemünde
Major z. D. v. Puttkammer
I./R.I.R.Nr. 211
8
Bromberg
Oberstleutnant z. D. Kunath
9
Deutsch-Krone
Oberstleutnant z. D. Kuhr
10
Gnesen
Major z. D. Satow
11
Hohensalza
Major z. D. Hildebrand
12
Neustettin
Oberst z. D. Malchow
 
Unfortunately I do not have this Handbook. I have got only Handbook written by D.B.NASH. Is there any chance to see what is on this page 291 appendix C??
 
I8. Armee (A.H.Qu.: Marienburg)
Ob.Bef.: GenObst. v. Prittwitz u. Gaffron Chef: GenMaj. Graf v. Waldersee Adj.: Hptm. Zippert O.Qu.: Oberst Grünert
Gen.Qu. II.: Oberst v. Groddeck Abt. Chef.: Oberst Graf v. Posadowsky-Wehner General d. Pi.: GenMaj. Kersten Ia: Obstlt. Hoffmann Ic: Maj. Drechsel Ib: Hptm. v. Vollard-Bockelberg Id: Hptm. Mierzinsky Bba.: Hptm. Sperr kdt.: Maj. v. Eggling
Feld-Flieg. Abt. 16, Luftschiff Zeppelin Z5 (Posen), Luftschiff Schütte-Lanz (Liegnitz)

3. R.D.
Kdr.: GenMaj. v. Morgen Ia: Maj. Frantz Res. D. R. 5 5. Res. Inf. Brig. (GenMaj. Hesse): Res. I. R. 2, Res. I. R. 9, 6. Res. Inf. Brig. (GenMaj. Krause): Res. I. R. 34, Res. I. R. 49 Res. Feld-Art. Rgt. 5
2. Res./ Pi. Btl. 2

1. K.D.
Kdr.: GenLt. Brecht Ia: Hptm. v. Stephany Ib: Hptm. Frhr. v. Gienanth 1. Kav. Brig. (Oberst v. Glasenapp): K. R. 3, D. R. 1 2. Kav. Brig. (GenMaj. Frhr. v. Kap-herr): U. R. 12, Jg. Rgt. z. Pf. 9 41. Kav. Brig. (GenMaj. v. Hofmann): K. R. 5, U. R. 4 reit. Abt. Feld-Art. R. 1 MG-Abt. 5

I know this is a selfish plug but I would order the other handbook.
http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=60521

It will be printed in England–postage is cheap in England–and you get it relatively quickly. Inexpensive book and far better than the one you are referencing.
 
This confirmed our suggestion about 3 Reserve Division and 8th Army. Unfortunately I do not have Bronislaus militarpass, as you can see on my blog I have only his 2 soldbuch's, schies-buch and rest of the hospital ticket.

I found in the internet a chronic of the German units during WWI.
http://www.1914-18.info/erster-weltkrieg.php?u=368&info=03.Reserve-Division
But I'm wondering how relevant are these chroniks??
How I can find out exactly the places where this 2 reserve pioneer company stationed during WWI? I know the best way to find out is to get a militarpass soldier from the same pioneer company.
Is there any other way??
 
The post card had me going for a bit, as I can read the German script fairly well, but my Polish is a bit out of practice. This is a nice collection of information.
Best
Gus
 
Hey Milosz, can you post a better scan of the Besondere Kennenzeichen, the photo on your blog is not good enough to read, I might be able to help.
Best
Gus
 
Hey Milosz
The first part is easy
Narbe am linken Hand gelenk. scar on left hand joint (wrist?)
I would guess that it it 30mm long and 6 mm wide, but I am struggleing on the first letter of the next word, I think it is
Tiefelm L. 30
W. 6

Brustm 86/91

I will keep thinking
Best
Gus
 
Hi Milosz,

I see the following book available via Worldcat:

Geschichte des Pommerschen Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 2
Author: Erich Troschel
Publisher: Berlin : Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn. ..., 1888.

Not sure if you are interested but in case you are... :)

Two copies show up as being located in Germany (Berlin).

I know it predates your ancestor's involvement but I would think is interesting as it concerns the unit's backstory...

-Daniel
 
I was on polish wedding in Wrocław for a last few days so I couldn't be involved in the discussion.

Thank you Gus for help with the translation.
In my opinion the first word look like "Stiefelm" what was confirmed by the size of the boots (L and W).
The second word
Brustm 86/91 - it looks like size of the chest (Brust - Chest).

I will be continuing translation of the rest pages on my blog.
 
Hey Milosz,
That makes sence, I was thinking that but the S in Stettin is not of the same form, and I assumed that it had all been written in the same hand.
Best
Gus
 
Hi Milosz,

I see the following book available via Worldcat:

Geschichte des Pommerschen Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 2
Author: Erich Troschel
Publisher: Berlin : Ernst Siegfried Mittler und Sohn. ..., 1888.

Not sure if you are interested but in case you are... Smile

Two copies show up as being located in Germany (Berlin).

I know it predates your ancestor's involvement but I would think is interesting as it concerns the unit's backstory...

-Daniel
Click to expand...

Hi Daniel,

I found this book and to be honest I think about buying it. I agree with you, it can be a very good background which I can use on me site. History of the Pommersches Pionier Nr.2
Do you know if there is a similar book about 3 Reserve Division (1914-1918)?? Maybe somebody from you guys has any sources info's refer this division??
 
It looks like 3 Reserve Division is not so popular unit :D
I found very nice website about the eastern front and 3RD.
http://www.tannenberg1914.de/index.htm
If you know similar pages where I can find something about 3RD please let me know
 
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