WW I assignment confusion on SA-Ogruf. Wilhelm Jahn...

[Michael Miller]

The following is an excerpt from the SA personnel file (SA-Personalakte) of SA-Obergruppenfuhrer / Leutnant d.R. a.D. Wilhelm Jahn (born 2.02.1891 in Soest / Westfalen). Good information, but sadly, it appears that the typist was drunk (and Jahn, who signed the document [a Personalfragenbogen] must have been drunk himself if he didn't see how bloody chaotic this bit of text is).


Under the heading “Kriegsdienstzeit (1914-1918)":

Vom 3. August 1914 bis 15. Dezember 1918.
Fußart.-Batl. 39, Landw.-Fußart.-Batl.11,
Dez.1914–Mai 1916, Juni 1916-Dezember 1916,
Fußart.-Batl.59, Flieger-Ers.-Batl.7,
Jan.1917-März 1917, April-November 1917,
Flieger-Abt.224, Flieger-Abt.40,
Jan.-März 1918, März-Dezember 1918,
Beobacht.-Offz., stellv. Batterieführer, Flugzeugführer.


What I can't figure out is- which dates go with which assignment? It's hard to tell here if it's assignment first, dates second, or vice-versa (both forms seem to be used here). And was there such a thing as a Fußartillerie-Bataillon? "Bataillon" generally refers to an infantry unit rather than artillery (Abteilung being the term for a battalion-sized unit of an Artillerie-Regiment). I suspect that they meant Fußartillerie-REGIMENT, but don't know for certain. A real mess, but unfortunately the only thing I have to go on.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me unravel this.

Best regards,
~ Mike Miller

[Glenn2438]

Fußartillerie-Bataillon

Hi Mike,

I'm not sure about your man's dates but there is nothing wrong with the term Fußartillerie-Bataillon. Battalion sized units of the foot artillery whether independent or subordinated to a regiment were termed Bataillone and not Abteilungen.

Regards
Glenn

[Michael Miller]

...

Well thank you for a much-needed education on that, Glenn! Could it be that the number corresponds to an Art.Rgt., e.g.- Fuss-Art.Btl. 39 would be the Fuss- (as opposed to Feld-) component of Art.Rgt. 39?


Best,
~ Mike

[Glenn2438]

Two units within the period

Hi Mike,

I think it just probably means he served in two different units within the time period. i.e. Fußart.-Batl. 39 and then Landw.-Fußart.-Batl.11 between 3rd August 1914 and 15 December 1914.

Regards
Glenn