rank Fahrer

[415]

I'm not sure if this belongs here. I just received the records of my Ure Ure Gross Vater who was KIA during WWI. They have him listed as a rank of Fahrer, I know a Fahrer is a truck driver so how does that become a rank? I'm also wondering what type of insignia and what his uniform would look like as a Fahrer? I have one picture of him how ever it's him when he was in the IR92 from Braunschweig. When he was killed they have him listed in Division-Funker-Abteilung 52, Ersatzbataillon. Funker I know is a radio operator. If anyone can assist me in answering the questions I asked it would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris

[PlaceOfBayonets]

I can't help you but sorry for your loss. I think there is a re enacting unit IR92 and I bet someone in that unit could help. Re enactors normally know a thing or two more on this topic then collectors.

William

[Kurasier84]

Hi,
the ranks had different names in the different branches. A Recruit in a artillery unit would be called Kanonier (Gunner), a recruit with the Infantry would be called Infanterist or Schütze. Maybe this also wentwith the recruits of Transport units.
Best Regards
Christoph

[GWA]

In the context of the Imperial German Army I believe Fahrer would be most correctly translated as teamster. Where he could have been a truck driver he would most likely have been a wagon driver. Virtually all Imperial German Army unit types had wagons as a part of their TO&E. The great majority were horse drawn.

[joerookery]

Chris,

Is there any tie in to Saxony? Saxon Field artillery? Do you have any records of him moving? Do you know where he lived when he entered the Army World War I?

Division-Funker-Abteilung 52, Ersatzbataillon

Where do you get this from? Lots of little pieces do not add together. quite a good mystery!

[Valter Gorenc]

As Kurasier and GWA already said, different positions or duties had different names - Schutze, Kanonier, Kavalerist (or Dragoner, Ulan, Hussar, ...), Jaeger, Gebirgsjaeger, Funker, Fahrer, Sanitaeter.... Fahrer is a horse-drawn wagon driver, a truck driver was called Kraftfahrer. If a Fahrer belonged to Train (transportation) units, they wore train uniforms, but a driver in an - i.e infantry unit (a foot soldier with a duty to drive a wagon) worn ordinary infantry uniform, no special insignia, as far as I know.

[415]

His records say he was born in a village called Frellstedt and his wife (my Ure Ure Gross Mutter) was living in Destedt by Braunschweig. Both Frellstedt and Destedt I believe are in the county of Braunschweig. The only picture I have of him, he has a Braunschweig totenkopf on his cap. As for the Division-Funker-Abteilung 52, Ersatzbataillon, that to was on the records I received from DD WASt. They had received this info from his medical records because his military records were destroyed during bombing of WWII.

Thanks guys for your help and the explanation.

[joerookery]

Do you know what year he was born in? Do you have any idea what year the picture from Braunschweig is from? The reason I am asking is that there is some issue that does not quite fit.

There is such a thing as the wireless organization in the 52nd infantry division. I have no record of it prior to 1918. Ersatz Battalion does not fit with this organization. It is possible that the Abteilung mentioned is actually a battalion sized organization of field artillery.

The 52nd infantry division was primarily from Baden, the rank was primarily Saxon. It would not be unusual for the individual to have moved. Saxony was the most densely populated area of Imperial Germany. I think this is a good mystery.

[415]

He was born on Feb 25, 1896. He joined the German Imperial army on October 21, 1916. At least that's what said on the document I received from DD WASt. He was killed July 9, 1918 in Valenciennes Dep. North France in Kriegslazarett VII. I'm not sure what year the picture of him I have was taken in.

[415]

Here's the link to the post of my Ure Ure Gross Vater's picture

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=311417


Chris

[415]

I was wondering if maybe when he found out he was going to be a father that maybe he had requested to be moved from an Infantry unit to more of a support unit as a Fahrer and that maybe that's when he was placed in Division-Funker-Abteilung 52, Ersatzbataillon? Is that a possibility?

Thanks,

Chris

[Hoss]

GWA,
Were JR92 the only Regiment allowed to wear the Skull on the caps or did it apply to all Brandenburg Regs.
Joe, I think its Abteilung (unit) 52, not Division. Course it could translate 52nd Reserve.
Chris, he could also been a Signaller.(Funker)

Eric

[415]

The totenkopf on his hat is a Braunschweig version. He was born in Frellstedt and lived in Destedt. I know that Destedt is in the county of Braunschweig. Here's the first page of the documents that the DD WASt sent me.

[Chip M]

As mentioned, a Fahrer could have served in a multitude of units. Artillery units had Fahrer too.

Chip