Imperial Military Ranks

[Fred Borgmann]

Anyone good on Imperial military ranks? I have a photo dated 1900 of a soldier from Bremen wearing his medals. on the back is written that this is his last day in uniform, his name and the rank of "Oberfeurmann". He was in an infantry unit. Is this an infantry rank? Or could this be his civilian occupation? I could post the picture some day when my membership takes effect. Fred

[Glenn2438]

Ober?

Fred,

there was no purely infantry rank whatsoever for any non-commissioned rank preced by the prefix "Ober". The normal rank for a private soldier in a Prussian and presumably in your case Infanterie-Regiment Bremen (1. Hanseatisches) Nr. 75 would have been "Musketier". Is he a Non-commissioned officer of some type?

Regards
Glenn

[AOK4]

An Oberfeuerwerker is a known rank, but Oberfeuermann? You' re sure about it?

Jan

[Daniel Krause]

Sure it is military? Might it be something fire brigade?
May You post a pic?

Best regards

Daniel

[Fred Borgmann]

Glenn, Jan and Daniel; Thanks for responding to my question. While my membership check clears in an ebay like period of distrust; I invite you to go to my photo site at MSN groups. Go to the MSN site then click on groups, type in "medals badges and related stuff" and you will be in my site. Then click on the album named Dreijer. There you will see the photo and the inscription on the back. I trust my translation is good but with that old style hand writing I can only be 97% sure. Best regards, Fred

[Glenn2438]

Not Army

Here is Fred's photo.

He certainly is not army!

Glenn

[JensF.]

It's Tirpitz!!!

Very interesting, but Feuerwehr with a Königsgrätz-Cross (or another one of these crosses)?

[Fred Borgmann]

Thanks for the help with the photo Glenn. Since this fellow is a veteran of 1866 and 1871 the uniform could be a Bremen pre unification uniform? If it is a fire service uniform that would make sense with the rank. Also wearing military medals on a civil uniform was commonly done as was the wearing of military medals on civilian clothing on patriotic occasions. Cheers , Fred

[Rick Research]

I'm glad he autographed it so thoroughly, since otherwise (not being able to see the headgear) I'd have had NO clue what the uniform was!

Now we know what a Bremen Fire Department NCO looked like at that period!

Nice clear picture, thanks all!

[Brian S]

I wouldn't want to get that beard near a flame!

[Fred Borgmann]

Bremen fireman without a doubt! The Bremen fire department has a web site with historical pictures confirming the uniform and rank. This world wide web is a really neat thing. Cheers, Fred