Pionier-Mineur-Kompagine

[Pionier]

Hi all,

I have a new reservists photo in my collection of Pommersches Pionier Batl.Nr. 2 items. It is a photo of the Miner-Company of the P.B 2 from 1883.
There is not too much information about the pre war miners in Imperial German Army. I know that during the war Germans created an independent miners companies (Pionier-Mineur-Kompagine) which were involved mainly in Flanders.

Does anyone know when the first miner companies were created?
Do you have any similar Mineur-Kompagnies pre war photos?

And here is a photo:

All the best, :lol:
Milosz

 

[Glennj]

Milosz,

certainly the Prussian pioneer battalions had a miner company from at least 1861 as a cabinet order dated 21 March 1861 stipulated that the 1st company was the pontoon company, 2nd and 3rd were sapper companies and the 4th was the miner company. That being the case, your photograph is of 4./P.B. 2 in Stettin. The company commander at the time of your photograph was Hauptmann Beyer.

Regards
Glenn

 

[Pionier]

Thanks Glenn,

I will update information on my website about that.
I have never before seen any pre war photos of German miners, but you are right I think I read somewhere about the pioneer battalion structure and it was exactly as you wrote.

Thanks again,
Milosz