JR 96 and OYV (Formerly Medical ointment)

[Gustaf]

Hey All,
I won an interesting auction a while back, I was not sure what the small black box was, it was too small to be a match box, but I had my suspitions.

The Kreiegskalender on the left has entries from early in the war, the owner entered a Lazzeratt on the 24th of November 1914, and though the entries end on the 8. December 1914, he did not die, as I have some communication that dates from a later time. The box on the upper right, is opened to show the two tubes of cream, both showing some signs of use (let's hope that the use of this cream is not related to his stay at the Lazzerett)

Here is the front of the instruction sheet, giving the price of the oinments, note that they will be shipped post free to the front.

And here are the instructions, telling just what the creams are to be used for. This goes along with the example of the American version rather nicely.
Best wishes
Gus

 

[zipperheads9]

the WW2 versions are very hard to find , nice find.
Mark

 

[Gustaf]

The fellow who had this was an OYV in the 96th regt, the trip to the Lazzeratt on the 24th of November was no doubt related to some heavey action that started on the 19th of December 1914, I have not had time to look at all the papers, I would have liked to have gotten more of his collection, it included a pair and a single Russin shoulderboard, two pairs of his shoulderboards, a Russian Ammo pouch in poor condition (it brought over $400) and many other papers and photos, all sold by a family member.
Best wishes
Gus

 

[joerookery]

an OYV in the 96th regt,

A million questions -- did he get a commission? Do you know which battalion he served in? Do you know what town he came from?

What is the airspeed of an unladen swallow?

 

[Gustaf]

Hey Joe,
I haven't had time to look up how fast a swallow flies yet, and it may take some time to figure out much about this fellow, I know he took his OYV exam on the 2nd of September 1914, he was in the I Ers Batl. Inf. Reg. 96, 3. Komp. 9. Abtlg, but was later transferred to the II Landst. 7 Ers. Batl. He was probably from Greiz/Vogtl, as some of his letters are written to a Karl Mäurer, and as he calls him by Karl, it is not his father, more likly a brother, his name is Johannes Mäurer. There are two typed letters to his parents (much easier to read) that I will need to sit down and read, He was involved in the siege of Clemno and was shot through the hand. At this point, I see no sign of commission. I think this is going to be an interesting bit of history.
Bes twihses
Gus

 

[Gustaf]

Hey Joe,
On further reading, Karl is his father after all.
Gus

 

[joerookery]

I know he took his OYV exam on the 2nd of September 1914,

The plot thickens to know if this guy was actually a one-year volunteer or if he just took the examination which was required for many jobs in the civilian world.

A One Year Certificate was actually earned at the end of the Untersekunda year through an examination. Students in the six year school could take this examination as well as students after their sixth class of the nine year school. Only one third of those eligible and possessing a one-year certificate continued on into the military.

I Ers Batl. Inf. Reg. 96, 3. Komp. 9. Abtlg,

This makes immense sense as his entry area as a replacement into the military system.

transferred to the II Landst. 7 Ers. Batl.

this one is a little bit trickier -- can you take another look at the source? Is it possible that it says: 2 Landst, I Ers. Batl.?
Is there a town named after battalion? Does Mühlhausen strike a bell anywhere?
Is there anything that says XI Corps?

Love the investigation!

 

[Gustaf]

I know he took his OYV exam on the 2nd of September 1914,

The plot thickens to know if this guy was actually a one-year volunteer or if he just took the examination which was required for many jobs in the civilian world.

I believe that he did serve as a OYV, as in the various items sold by this person was two pair of shoulder boards, the blue ones had the OYV piping on the edge.

A One Year Certificate was actually earned at the end of the Untersekunda year through an examination. Students in the six year school could take this examination as well as students after their sixth class of the nine year school. Only one third of those eligible and possessing a one-year certificate continued on into the military.

I Ers Batl. Inf. Reg. 96, 3. Komp. 9. Abtlg,

This makes immense sense as his entry area as a replacement into the military system.

transferred to the II Landst. 7 Ers. Batl.

this one is a little bit trickier -- can you take another look at the source? Is it possible that it says: 2 Landst, I Ers. Batl.?
Is there a town named after battalion? Does Mühlhausen strike a bell anywhere?[/quote]

His Onkel sent him a card to his address at I ers. Bat. Inf. Regt. 96, and it was redirected to II Landst 7 Ers. Batl. I would have to assume that this was his correct address, as he received the card, nothing more yet, I have not seen any refferance to Mühlhausen.

Is there anything that says XI Corps?

Nothing that I can find

Love the investigation!

 

[joerookery]

The town name points to XI16. This can really make your head hurt because the battalion was known by two different names! Apparently they ended up guarding a prisoner of war work battalion number 114 but I do not know where that was located.

More interesting is the rank of the individual:

Kriegsfreiwillige
During the war a large number of young men between the ages of 17 and 20 were allowed to volunteer for active service before their class was called up. In 1914 there were large numbers of these volunteers and they included some men over the age of 20, were in the untrained Landsturm. These men had been released from their peacetime obligation but volunteered anyway. There was a significant falling off of this number by 1915 and estimates were that approximately 5% of the later classes were volunteers.

 

[Tony without Kaiser]

Great stuff Gus. I collect anything with an EK on it, and what you scored is exceptionally nice. :thumbright: T

 

[Gustaf]

To be honest, tony, It was stupid blind luck, I could see in the photos that there was a lot of material in this lot, but I could not really tell what it was. As I read more of the papers, I am even happier that I spent the money (I paid in Euros that I had left over from another deal, and since the notes are pretty, I figured it was not real money any way, please do not tell me that I paid 50% more than I thought I had)
Best wishes
Gus

 

[Tony without Kaiser]

To be honest, tony, It was stupid blind luck,

Never underestimate stupid blind luck.

 

[Gustaf]

The town name points to XI16. This can really make your head hurt because the battalion was known by two different names! Apparently they ended up guarding a prisoner of war work battalion number 114 but I do not know where that was located.

More interesting is the rank of the individual:

Kriegsfreiwillige
During the war a large number of young men between the ages of 17 and 20 were allowed to volunteer for active service before their class was called up. In 1914 there were large numbers of these volunteers and they included some men over the age of 20, were in the untrained Landsturm. These men had been released from their peacetime obligation but volunteered anyway. There was a significant falling off of this number by 1915 and estimates were that approximately 5% of the later classes were volunteers.

Thanks Joe, I was wondering about the Kreigs FW, I was pretty sure that it was not Feldwebel, After resting my eyes, it is easy to read Erfurt on the address.
He was wounded in the siege of Clemno, while reaching for a shovel after a comrad had finished with it, as he reached out, he was shot through the hans between the middle and gold finger, I would assume in the right hand, as that would be the one he would reach with. This explains why the two letters written from the Lazerett are type written, no doubt, dictated to a DRK sister and then she would have typed it so the letter would not be written in a strange hand.
There is a variety of scripst in this lot, some Sutterline, and one that is very similar to the handwriting of a friend, and just as hard to read.
Bes twihses
Gus

 

[Gustaf]

To be honest, tony, It was stupid blind luck,

Never underestimate stupid blind luck.

Tony,
That is the best kind of luck and the kind I am best at.
Best wihes
Gus