Patent help

[joerookery]

I have been fishing for an answer on this one maybe Mike has a clue.

I need some help on Patents. I just got finished reading the memoirs of Ernst Rosenhainer a reserve lieutenant in the Prussian army. He entered service as a one-year volunteer and was commissioned a second lieutenant on the 19th of November 1912. The one-year volunteer time was done in infantry Regiment 96. During the war he served in two companies of Infantry Regiment 96 and then eventually in Landwehr infantry Regiment 32. Infantry Regiment 96 had a very distinct helmet. There is a distinct difference between the helmets of a reserve officer and a Landwehr officer. The only picture of this lieutenant wearing a helmet is a prewar photo of him wearing a reserve officer helmet from Prussia.

Here is my question: as reservists were associated with regiments were they commissioned as such? I guess the more clear question is what uniform should this guy have worn in the different units? He got an award from Reuss (JR96) as well as several from Mecklenburg- Strelitz where he lived. Help me think through this please.

 

[Lost Skeleton]

Infantry Regiment 96 had a very distinct helmet.

Which Bataillon, Joe? I. Bat. 96 utilized the basic Prussian line infantry eagle. I would presume a reserve helmet plate from this battalion would be exactly as that depicted in the photo you mention.

Chas.

 

[joerookery]

I agree and indeed this guy did spend much time in the first Battalion. But there was also time elsewhere in the regiment and it seems as though the prewar time was with the regiment. I just do not have any experience with patents and this brought a bunch of questions in my mind. Who signed a patent in the case of a minor state? How did you become a reserve officer of a minor state?

 

[zipperheads9]

joe
I have seen several examples of men who had patents as early as 1912 but never recieved commisions until late in the war .One example was a naval one had his patent in 1013 but stayrd his commison till after August of 1918 . Was this simlar to the brittish system of purchasing commision's , only theywere posted to it as it came about?
Mark

 

[joerookery]

men who had patents as early as 1912 but never recieved commisions until late in the war

Mark

My understanding of the date difference is based on seniority bonuses you received on commissioning. So for instance a commission dated in 1914 with a date of rank or patent to 1912. Those bonuses were based on education and family connections. I could be all wrong but this is the way I understand it. You didn't buy the commission in this army but nepotism was rife.