Cavalry Photos and Docs for Stevenn

[Rick Research]

Here we have 18 year old Hermann Reinelt as-- we hope-- a recruit in Dragoon Regiment 8, 1915.

The color of Steven's scan helps make this look somehow much earlier-- as does the HUGE "platter" top Mütze, at least to me!

[Rick Research]

First page of his military ID, showing born 29 November 1896 in Gr. Wilka(n?), Kreis (Nimptsch???), Prussia, dairy helper (Molkereigehilfe), Protestant, called up into Replacement Squadron of Dragoon Regiment 8.

[Rick Research]

He got an EK2 on 4 December 1916, but having lost at least one of Steven's scans, don't know what unit he was in then, or what rank he was at the time:

[Rick Research]

But-- is THIS Hermann Reinelt?--

1) is this not a M1910 dress KÜRASSIER tunic?? (appears to be double numeral strap)

2) Is this man a Sergeant or Vizewachtmeister (NCO braid AND collar rank button) OR... is he a mere Gefreiter... and that's standard Curassier edging, NOT rank braid? If the former, can't be Reinelt-- unless he was a reserve officer candidate. If the latter, rank is within 1915 entry to war's end probability. (Need his unit entries, maybe again, Steven!)

3) he is wearing TWO ribboned awards from his buttonhole, not just the EK2.

[Glenn2438]

Rick,

the place is Groß Wilkau and the you rightly deciphered the Kreis: Nimptsch. It was in the then Prussian province of Silesia, about 40 kilometres south of Breslau on the Große Lohe river.

Regards
Glenn

[Rick Research]

Wilkau would have been my impression, from "normal" German sounds... but notice no little orthographic curlicue over the letter! Bad naughty German clerk! Bad naughty unstandardized handwriting!

[Glenn2438]

Rick,

I would think that it is more likely the M1915 model field grey Kürassier Waffenrock with coloured facings. Judging by the colour of the facings and cap band it was probably Leib-Kürassier-Regiment Nr. 1 (black) or Kürassier-Regiment Nr. 6 (dark blue). The former was Silesian so probably more the favourite. I think he is still a Gefreiter. I am sure that if he was a senior NCO or officer aspirant he would not resist showing his officers' Portepee.

Regards
Glenn

[Brian S]

You guys are good. I've been trying to get smart with The Kaiser's help ( ), OK Tony helped a little. I can see the Kürassier Waffenrock now from my studies, but how are you guys deciphering the color? I'm familiar obviously with the Yellow in the uniform and how dark it looks but how are you guys able to distinguish the hues?

[Dave Mosher]

Glenn

You were correct. The guy was a gefreiter in Leib-Kurassier R. 1. He is wearing the M1915 waffenrock with white piping down the front and around the sleeve openings. The 6th would have dark blue piping in those areas. A crown over "WR" cypher is on the shoulder strap.

Dave

[Tony & Kaiser]

Uhhh.......I am exceptionally impressed that anyone can determine color in orthochromatic film. Impressive. But as Dave pointed out, our Gefreiter is wearing a cypher on his M1915 Friedensrock (no lower pockets being the key feature), but I am having a hard time making that out as well!

And Brian, Kaiser <u>is</u> the brains behind this operation, I'm just the "front man" who happens to have an opposing thumb and can type.

[Brian S]

I was being sort of serious in a weird way on this. Thinking about 'colorization' of black and white films. Differenent deal but hmmmmmm, I wonder if some software exists to just turn a SINGLE photo color??????\


For XampUle;

Still very time consuming stuf:
http://www.timebrush.com/blackmagic/

[Rick Research]

Jayzus, 20 years of schooling and that reads like Sanskrit. Something in there about magic pixies that make pix more all better?

I just use crayons or my mommy's makeup. It USUALLY washes off.


OK, well, sometimes.

Anybody else on sugar jolt from cheating "testing" the Halloween candy to make sure it's OK to hand out?

[Brian S]

Is that grandpa? You are one $ick puppy!

Looks like HUGE work turning them into color. You have to go bit by bit and define areas and assign color. So you STILL have to know what was there originally to get it to work.

[Dave Mosher]

Tony,Tony, Tony

I didn't need to see the actual color. The Lieb-Kurassier Rgmt 1 was the only kurassier regiment with piping color differing from the collar and cuff (white). As Glenn had already stated, the dark collar and cuffs (and dark cap band) indicated either the L.K.R.1 or the 6th. Glenn also found the Silesian tie between this chap and his two regiments. Deduction isn't just for little ribbon bars....

Dave

[stevenn]

know more than I'm letting on

So, if I was in the ...let's say .......4th Kur. reg't. what would my uniform look like?Was there a 4th?I'll sending Rick more tonight.No , a scan was not missed.I didn't scan the pages that were not filled out.