Ingenieur-Korps confusion

[Tony & Kaiser]

I was hoping someone could help me clarify the role and purpose of the Ingenieur-Korps. A French historian recently supplied the following paragraph:

"Kriegsministerium - 18.11.1914 Nr. 365/11-14 A6 Anforderung von Pionierersatzgerät bei Abgang im Felde (...) 3 - Die besonderen Pionier-Kampfmittel (Minenwerfer nebst Munition, Flammenwerfer, Handgranaten, Gewehrgranaten, Rauchkörper usw.) stehen ausschliesslich zur Verfügung der OHL. Bereithaltung (mit Ausnahme der Flammenwerfer) für den Westen beim Pi.-Ers.-Batl. Nr. 24 in Cöln, für den Osten beim Pi.-Ers.-Batl. Nr. 29 in Posen ; Flammenwerfer nebst Zubehör beim stellvert. Ingenieur-Korps in Berlin. gez. v. Wandel"

The paragraph above is understandable, but can anyone provide me with a quick overview describing the Ingenieur-Korps, including their function and their relationship to the Pionier-Korps? I know they originally
built fortifications and watchtowers, but what was their role in 1914?

More confusing, this French hsitorian stated that: "Stellvertreter Ingenieur-Korps, means during wartime the officers in the 'Heimat,' not at the front.".

This to me makes no sense at all, if he was referring to the rank of Offizierstellvertreter, who as we all know were absolutely not Heimat soldiers. They were front line. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tony http://www.kaisersbunker.com/

[Glenn2438]

Ingenieuroffizer vom Platz

Tony,

a separate corps of engineer officers as such did not exist. The officers are listed as under the engineer and pioneer corps. The engineer officers were part of and recruited from the normal pioneer officer stream. The engineer officers were primarily employed on fortress engineering duties under the command of an Ingenieuroffizer vom Platz and additionally assisted by Festungsbau Offiziere who were recruited from pioneer NCOs. An officer employed on fortress engineering duties would normally return to a main-stream pioneer job after several years.

With regards to the stellvert. Ingenieur-Korps the meaning of stellvertreter in this context refers to an home command headquarters just like the home command corps and brigade headquarters which came into being on mobilisation.

Regards
Glenn

[Tony & Kaiser]

Thank you Glenn, I thought this, but the use of the term "Ingenieur-Korps" in this "Kriegsministerium order had me confused, thought it may have been a development as a result of Flammenwerfer etc. Thanks again, T