Captive of the Englanders: a Brunswick P.O.W.

[Rick Research]

"Zweitschrift" (Copy) of the Militärpass of Vizefeldwebel Otto Christian Hügel, draft class year 1909.

Why a duplicate?

[Rick Research]

Vizefeldwebel Otto Hügel of 5th Company, Reserve Infantry Regiment 232, wounded 21 March 1918 in the breakthrough between Gouzecourt and Vermand, returned to duty some time after 10 April 1918 only to be taken prisoner by the British on 11 August 1918. He returned from captivity on 5 November 1919:

[Rick Research]

Born in Braunschweig 6 January 1889, Hügel had served as a One Year Volunteer in Infantry Regiment 92 1 October 1910 to 30 September 1911. He is seated at left in front with the pipe

[Rick Research]

He was called up as a Vizefeldwebel der Reserve with 6th Company Infantry Regiment 92 in 1914, but was out of action from 2 October to 30 November 1914 with a ripped tendon that put him in the rear for most of 1915 and 1916.

Here he commands the Schloss Guard in Braunschweig, as member of Ist Replacement Battalion, Infantry Regiment 92 5 May 1916. He is 3rd from left with officer's sword:

[Rick Research]

Wherever he was confined in England, it hardly appears to have been "high security!"

[Rick Research]

Although sidetracked by injury, long rear area service, and his wound, Hügel was all-but an officer in the German army, though he had not received what would have been routine promotion to Leutnant der Reserve in 1916. He had won the Iron Cross and Ernst August Crosses 2nd Classes despite his checkered war service. Technically still a noncommissioned officer, he would have been sent to a camp for "other ranks," not a cushy officers' privileged camp:

[Rick Research]

There can be no doubt that he took THIS photo in 1919!

[bhholst]

Hello Rick:
Thank you for sharing this interesting military life and the photos to go with it. It seems to be the first such grouping ( Militaerpass and the photos) I have seen.
Bernhard H. Holst

[stogieman]

Wow!

Excellent grouping Rick, only the second one I have seen with photos and mine was not a POW. First POW stuff I have seen ca. WW1. Thanks!

[Rick Research]

Bernhard: it was a first for me, too. I have more photos, clippings from his regimental association newspaper, and a similar partial group for his brother, a Leutnant dR who got the 1919 Bremen Iron Roland. That included odd things like his pre-war shooting book showing qualification on the '98 Mauser rifle.

It is always nice to see the PERSON behind these early photo-less ID papers.

This group to the two brothers was my last good find at the Lowell show, couple of years ago.

Now, thinking of POWs-- who wants to see some photos of POWs? I have Germans in France, Russians in Austria-Hungary and Germany, Austrians in Italy, Allies in Turkey (officers of course, since enlisted POWs were virtually concentration camp slaves)...

Anybody with any POWs in camp photos please start another thread, and I'll add in later tonight or tomorrow. Rick