The Kaisers' Standard Bearer

b.loree

b.loree

Administrator
Staff member
I just received this email and foto from Carlos who lives in Chile. I will list the foto first then paste in his emails to me.
Carlos.jpg

Dear Brian:

I think you would find the adjoined photo very interesting. Its depicts my uncle Waldemar von Alten in the uniform of the Kaiser's Leibgendarmerie.

He was the Kaiser`s Standartenträger (Bannerbearer). He made the Boxer campaign in China and I gather that he died as a retired general in the Second World War. He pertained to the 1.Zug of the Feldgendarmerie. My father used to bear his helmet when he visited his uncle's house in Berlin as he was a child in 1913; it was very heavy. Uncle von Alten war a very tall man. I found your e-mail in pickelhaubes.com forum; I think you can publish the foto in the forum. I'm myself not a forum's member.
Send me your comments.Regards,

Carlos

A second email:
Brian:
I'm very happy at your comments. I have this unique foto, but I remember having seen years ago a movie restored digitally by the BBC featuring a German Parade in Berlin, the same Parade during which this foto was made. In the first plane the Kaiser, then my uncle. I also remember having read a german book on Imperial Germany with another similar foto in the first page. It was a close up showing very clearly the Kaiser Willhelm II and my uncle. The helmet in question was made of tombak, a very brilliant copper alloy. I have a very good command of german, as you can guess, being of german origin by father and mother.
Regards, Carlos
I would guess that some of our members have seen this BBC production or even fotos of von Alten and the Kaiser. Now we have a name and some family history. If anyone has additional information on von Alten please post it. I love this hobby! Thanks to Carlos for providing this information!! Brian
 
Brian,

it is a super photograph but I am at a loss as to how a Sergeant in the Leibgendarmerie could:

a. Have the noble predicate "von".
b. Be commissioned and rise to the rank of General.

No Prussian Officer with the name Waldemar von Alten attained General's rank.

Regards
Glenn
 
I am probably one of the least knowledgeable ones here, but I've looked through the 1914 Prussian ranklists (which may be a mistake, I'm not sure). They only list last names, so the first name doesn't help. Also I hadn't noticed that the fellow was an NCO until Glenn pointed it out.

As far as officers go, there is no von Alten listed in the Leibgendarmerie in 1914.

There are a bunch of other officers named von Alten in several units (Füsilier-Regiment Feldmarschall Graf Moltke (1. Schlesisches) Nr.38; Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr.5; Garde-Schützen-Bataillon; 2. Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr.18; Oldenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr.19; Dragoner-Regiment König (2. Württembergisches) Nr.26; 2. Schlesisches Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Nr.42; Reserveoffiziere. Kürassier-Regiment Königin (Pommersches) Nr.2; Landwehrbezirk I Hannover; Landwehrbezirk Wiesbaden; Landwehrbezirk V Berlin).

That's all I could find.
 
Thanks Mike and Glenn. Perhaps, I will hear from Carlos again and we can get some additional information. Brian
 
I thought there were 2 platoons of the Leibgendarmerie. Made up entirely of NCOs and I THINK the officers wore their original regimetal uniforms. I am not sure there was an officer uniform in the Leibgendarmerie. Learning mode on.

PS: Carlos A++++ picture!

ruhl1902.jpg

Liegendarme.jpg

Liegendarme1.jpg

Martin is in the dragoon uniform.
 
Joe,

the officer commanding the 1. Zug wore regimental uniform with a gorget of appointment.

The officer commanding the 2. Zug was always seconded from Kürassier-Regiment Königin (Pommersches) Nr. 2 and wore the uniform of that regiment. There was however a "gala" uniform for the officer commanding that corresponded in style to that worn by the NCOs and Troopers of the 2. Zug in Gala order.

Then 1. Zug was composed of cavalry NCOS and the 2. Zug of Gefreiter and Troopers of line Curassier Regiments.

Regards
Glenn
 
Joe,

Oberleutnant Alexander Gustav Martin of Dragoner-Regiment Freiherr von Manteuffel (Rheinisches) Nr. 5 was detached for service with the Leibgendarmerie from the 1st of October 1906 for one year as the officer commanding the 1. Zug.

Regards
Glenn
 
b.loree said:
I just received this email and foto from Carlos who lives in Chile.
Click to expand...

Carlos never joined the forum, so we have no contact info for him. A friend of mine is trying to reach him. Does anyone know how to contact "Carlos"? If so, please contact me. Thanx. Tony
 
Perhaps we should put the individual from this thread over in GMIC

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/47339-requesting-any-information-on-maximilian-alfred-von-siegel/#entry508314" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

in touch with Carlos. It seems they both have a claim on the photo and the person in the photo.

(If you are unable to see the photo in the GMIC thread, it is the EXACT same photo found in this thread. And I mean EXACT same)
 
blackhorse said:
Perhaps we should put the individual from this thread over in GMIC

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/47339-requesting-any-information-on-maximilian-alfred-von-siegel/#entry508314" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

in touch with Carlos. It seems they both have a claim on the photo and the person in the photo.

(If you are unable to see the photo in the GMIC thread, it is the EXACT same photo found in this thread. And I mean EXACT same)
Click to expand...

Well done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top