A German-Japanese friendship anno 1899

[webr55]

Hello all,
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here is an interesting picture I got from Detlev. It shows a Japanese officer who apparently stayed in Berlin from 1896 to 1899. His name is written on the back: <o =""></o>

Niro Inonye (if I read the name correctly), “Major in Japan” (notice the Kaiser Wilhelm moustache!)
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[webr55]

His awards are: Order of the Golden Kite 5th or 6th class, Order of the Sacred Treasure 5th or 6th class, 1894-95 China War Medal. The last one I don’t know. Any ideas?<o =""></o>

[webr55]

Major Inonye dedicated the pic on the reverse to a German Hauptmann Pophal. Who is he? And does this give a clue to what the Japanese officer might have done in Germany in that time? <o =""></o>

Here’s what I found out:<o =""></o>

<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o =""></o>1878 Sekonde-Lieutenant Pophal, in Ingenieur-Inspectionen<o =""></o>
1887 Premier-Lieutenant in Eisenbahn (Train)-Regiment Berlin <o =""></o>
From 1890 on, he taught at the Technische Hochschule (Technical University) Berlin.<o =""></o>
189? Hauptmann in Eisenbahn-Regiment Nr. 3, Berlin
22.5.1900 Major<o =""></o>
In 1906, he was teacher at the military-technical academy in Berlin.<o =""></o>
21.5.1906 Oberstleutnant<o =""></o>
19.8.1909 Oberst<o =""></o>

His last position, in 1911, was Direktor der Militär-Eisenbahn Berlin. Awards: Red Eagle 3rd class with bow, Crown Order 3rd class, Long Service Award, Austrian Military Merit Cross 3rd class.<o =""></o>

In 1912, he is suddenly gone from the ranklist. Maybe he retired or died unexpectedly.<o =""></o>
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So here’s my conclusion: I think Major Inonye was either interested in train engineering or that he came to study at the Technische Hochschule Berlin. I guess the last is probable. He studied some technical stuff, then went back to Japan to put it into practice!<o =""></o>
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What I’m still looking for: <o =""></o>

<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->-Pophal’s first name<o =""></o>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->-date or year of birth/death<o =""></o>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->-Inonye’s award in last place on his bar<o =""></o>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->-Is it possible to find out anything else about Major Inonye?<o =""></o>
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Regards<o ="">
C</o>hris<o =""></o>

[Glenn2438]

Generalmajor Paul Pophal

Chris,

that is Generalmajor Paul Adolf Johann Pophal: 27 Sep 1854 - 18 Jan 1924, Direktor der Militär-Eisenbahn from 18 Oct 1909 - 18 Nov 1911 when he retired as an Oberst. He was recalled for service in WW1 and served as the Chef d. Bau-Direktion 10.

Sekonde-Lieutenant: 13.10.77
Premier-Lieutenant: 12.6.86
Hauptmann: 19.9.91

Regards
Glenn

[webr55]

Ahhhhh, thanks Glenn, as always!!! I just couldn't find him after 1911.

Chris

[Glenn2438]

1912 Rangliste

Ahhhhh, thanks Glenn, as always!!! I just couldn't find him after 1911.

Chris

Chris,

although retired 1911 he is listed in the 1912 edition of the Prussian Army Rangliste in the Militär-Eisenbahn section under the heading Abgaben:

Mit Pension der Abschied bewilligt: Oberst Pophal mit seiner bisherigen Uniform.

Regards
Glenn

[webr55]

Thanks, I overlooked that. I guess there is no way to find a picture of him?!

Regards
Chris