tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32586215459294986832024-03-06T04:59:32.945+01:00First World War Commemoration Site Ettlingen, GermanyWelcome to our centenary site to commemorate those who fought in the Great War of 1914-1918 from the town of Ettlingen in Baden, Germany. In cooperation with the Stadtarchiv Ettlingen and the people of Ettlingen. (Gedenkseite - Erster Weltkrieg Ettlingen)Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-37832895212495409992018-03-22T19:23:00.000+01:002018-03-22T19:39:01.562+01:00The Start Of The Decisive Battle At The Western Front<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Ettlingen's newspaper, the "Badischer Landsmann" reports on March 22, 1918, on the bombardment of Dunkirk by German torpedo boats.</b></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Start Of The Decisive Battle At The Western Front</span></b></h3>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Official Preliminary Report</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>WTB Berlin, March 21, evening (official). Artillery fighting has intensified in Belgian and French Flanders, north of Reims, in Champagne, at Verdun and in Lorraine.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Between Cambrai and La Fere, we have penetrated sections of the English ranks.</b></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Successful Bombardment of Dunkirk by German Torpedo Boats</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">WTB Berlin, March 21 (official). Three groups of torpedo boat forces in Flanders captured the fortress of Dunkirk and other military installations definitively at Bray-Dunes and de Panne under fire on the morning of March 21. The strikes were successful at all points. In the large encampments at de Panne, which was held by 800 shooters, two major fires broke out. The coastal battery responded with lively but ineffectual fire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The return journey saw a shootout with several enemy bombers, who, however, retreated after receiving multiple hits. The forces deployed in the advance arrived without injuries or losses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two of our small outpost boats did not return last night from a journey to the west of Ostend and must be declared missing.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">The "War Fury"</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lloyd George: "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is in<br />England the worst of all?"</span><br />
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Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-28711256237007757142016-08-30T13:35:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.383+01:00Story This Week: Musketier Ernst SchmidtThis week our story comes from Heinz Stephan of Ettlingen Town, whose uncle Ernst Schmidt served as a Musketier in the Great War.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Musketier Ernst Schmidt</td></tr>
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Ernst Schmidt was born on June 24, 1884 in Karlsruhe. His parents and sister Maria lived in Ettlingen and his brother Karl, who was exempted from military service due to his work, lived in North Germany.<br />
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Ernst served in the Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 30, 1st Batallion, 1st company. This regiment was subordinate to the 15th and 16th Reserve Divisions and the 25th Landwehr Division of the German Army and was deployed only at the Western Front. The regiment took part in the Battles of the Somme and the Aisne.<br />
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Heinz has two letters from his uncle. The first was written on February 10, 1917, to his mother and sister. He writes that he is in the foremost trench, 50-60 meters from the French. He mans the listening and observation post, standing for two hours, then has four hours off, day and night.<br />
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Ernst's dugout is 7 meters underground, and he shares it with rats, mice and lice. It is the lice with which he has the most problems. Since he has been living in the dugout, he has not once been able to wash or change his clothes. In fact, he has never removed his clothes and feels extremely uncomfortable as a result.<br />
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The second letter was written on March 5, 1917. Ernst describes how he is no longer in the trench but now living in a village a few kilometers behind the Front.<br />
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Ernst's unit is expecting an attack by the French during the night. He is not scared, he writes, because God is with him.<br />
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He says, "I am here to protect the hearth of the mothers, the wives and the families. God is with me and will help me to fight, under his protection nothing can happen to me. It would be terrible if the French got through. What would become of the existence we have painstakingly built for ourselves?"<br />
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This letter of March 5, 1917 is the last letter received by Ernst. He fell in March 1917, very probably on the night of the French attack.Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-29176999096604458122016-08-26T12:39:00.001+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.387+01:00Story of the Week: Unteroffizier Johann MetzgerThis week's story is brought to us by Andrea Metzger-Adolf of Ettlingen Town, whose great-grandfather Johann Metzger served as an Unteroffizier in the Great War.<br />
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Johann was born on November 19, 1870 and worked initially as a gardener for Grand Duke Friedrich of Karlsruhe. Shortly before the outbreak of war, he and his wife Elise became the landlords of the "Jagdhaus" inn near the Wilhelmshöhe hotel in Ettlingen.<br />
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This photo shows Johann (on the left) and his son Franz in a picture filled with symbolism.<br />
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Franz and Johann shake hands, a common gesture between soldiers often found in photos and pictures of the time and symbolizing peace, friendship and cordiality.<br />
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In 1914, Germany felt encircled and threatened by France and Russia, who together with England formed the Entente Powers. The war was seen by Germans to a large extent as a defensive war, the highest goal being to protect the Homeland (the "Heimat") from invasion by the enemy.<br />
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Women and children symbolized the Homeland. Here we see Johann's wife Elise (Franz's mother) in the background between the two soldiers, holding out her arm to present an object to her son - possibly a lucky charm.<br />
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The word "Wiedersehen" as a caption to the photo is ambiguous and has several meanings. On the one hand it is a farewell at a parting, while on the other hand it means "until we meet again".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Johann at the start of the war as a Musketier</td></tr>
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The photo on the right shows Johann at the start of the war as a Musketier.<br />
He survived the war and returned home.<br />
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Johann died on September 20, 1940.Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-34869928961297208422016-08-21T14:16:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.392+01:00This Week's Story: Unteroffizier Franz MetzgerOur story this week comes from Andrea Metzger-Adolf of Ettlingen Town, whose grandfather Franz Metzger served as an Unteroffizier in the Great War.<br />
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Franz was born in 1898 and signed up voluntarily at the outbreak of war on August 6, 1914, when he was just 16 years old.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Franz Metzger in 1914</td></tr>
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Franz lived with his parents, Johann and Elise, who were the landlords of the "Jagdhaus" inn in Ettlingen.<br />
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He joined up together with his father, Johann, who was 44 at the outbreak of war.<br />
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Franz was first sent to the military training ground at Döberitz near Berlin. From here, he sent his parents the photo on the left, the first of him in his new uniform. During training, he was assigned to the Reserve Infantry Regiment 111, as we can see from the inscription on his helmet.<br />
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On the back, he writes: "I'm sending you my photo, but it didn't turn out very well. Did you send my parcel yet? Please send it straight away if not".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Franz on leave</td></tr>
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After completing his training, Franz was assigned to the Infanterie-Regiment 27, 2nd Maschinengewehrkompanie (machine gun company), which was subordinate to the 211th Infantry Division and the 7th Division. In the first two years of the war, Franz served at the Western Front in Flanders and Artois, and later at the Somme, the Aisne, Champagne and at the Ailette.<br />
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He earned three medals: the Iron Cross II, the Silver "Verdienst-Medaille" (for service) and the Frontkämpfer-Ehrenkreuz (Combatants' Honor Cross).<br />
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Franz was lucky enough to return home without injuries at the end of the war. He was discharged on January 10, 1919.<br />
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After the war, Franz learned the trade of stoker and worked for the Papierfabrik Vogel and Bernheimer in Ettlingen, a paper factory.<br />
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He died on August 12, 1979 in Ettlingen.<br />
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Franz is shown in the photo on the left together with his father and his sister Marie.Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-15220081071156963392016-08-16T15:44:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.375+01:00Story This Week: Kanonier Adolf SchottOur story this week comes from the Stadtarchiv Ettlingen, which holds the 1916 Militärpass (Military Pass Book) of Kanonier Adolf Schott, grandfather of Claus Schott of Ettlingen Town.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adolf's Military Pass Book, 1916</td></tr>
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Adolf Schott was born in Ettlingen on December 7, 1874. He married Hermine, with whom he had 6 children. He worked as a stoker.<br />
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When war broke out, Adolf was 40 years old. Probably on account of his age and the fact that he had a large family to support, he did not join up immediately. However, on October 21, 1916, he entered service as a "Landsturm Rekrut".<br />
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The Landsturm units usually consisted of men over the age of 40. In most cases, they were deployed close to the Homeland, although during the First World War, some of them were sent to the Eastern Front, and a few to the Western Front. They were often used as munition convoys, as well as for building roads, but were not part of a firing battery. Some of the Landsturm formed reinforcement batallions, building trenches, for example. They were usually kitted with older weapons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIt-D_spCSuYBLJQrCZGjEx1gaUVNzL4gHEVYrXhxj61Rbg0ejXfdMWK8F_-erCA9k5XJpDV5zzXRgu740svMXtJ44fZNwldo5Cf1V__4ftuwTiEj5D-3tNMTT7OZbZqhbDx4OJFdSlpn/s1600/Kanonier+Schott+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCIt-D_spCSuYBLJQrCZGjEx1gaUVNzL4gHEVYrXhxj61Rbg0ejXfdMWK8F_-erCA9k5XJpDV5zzXRgu740svMXtJ44fZNwldo5Cf1V__4ftuwTiEj5D-3tNMTT7OZbZqhbDx4OJFdSlpn/s320/Kanonier+Schott+2.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adolf Schott's Personal Data</td></tr>
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Adolf was assigned to the 1. Garde-Feldartillerie-Regiment (Field Artillery), Ersatzabteilung (Reserve Division). His Military Pass Book records that unfortunately, after just 3 days, he was admitted to the garrison lazaret suffering from "general asthenia" - in other words, a physical collapse. The physical work in the Landsturm units was tough, although less immediately dangerous than at the Front.<br />
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Adolf must have had a major collapse - he remained in the military lazaret until December 4, 1916, a total of around 6 weeks. It could be speculated that he had suffered a heart attack or similar.<br />
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He was released from the lazaret and, as far as the records show, returned to his unit. The 1. Garde-Feldartillerie-Regiment was subordinate to the 1. Garde Division, which during this time was stationed at the Somme in trench warfare. We can thus assume that Adolf experienced something of the battles taking place there, during the last phases of the Somme.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S33OzNuV5wMTY8XQWqCjGk2YJ0gQn_QVYbXeYA67XyxRKd-u1D9xu7fI1inbsllv2_WNDdM9NvhxAxpAYqrppA50KEJEe8GQkKEJRaX8G0nXr6KfrIn6oZ3nokZ9sApoKNrkIAHxdmEr/s1600/Kanonier+Schott+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S33OzNuV5wMTY8XQWqCjGk2YJ0gQn_QVYbXeYA67XyxRKd-u1D9xu7fI1inbsllv2_WNDdM9NvhxAxpAYqrppA50KEJEe8GQkKEJRaX8G0nXr6KfrIn6oZ3nokZ9sApoKNrkIAHxdmEr/s400/Kanonier+Schott+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adolf Schott is discharged</td></tr>
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On January 17, 1917, Adolf was examined and found to be "g. v. Heimat". This is a German military term short for "garnisonsverwendungsfähig Heimat", which means that a soldier is no longer fit for service in the field and may only be deployed, for example, in a garrison in the Homeland.<br />
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Subsequently, Adolf was discharged on March 25, 1917 to work in the company "Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken" (German Weapon and Munition Factories) in Karlsruhe, Ettlingen's nearest city. He was thus put to work for the war effort. The report in his Military Pass Book explicitly states that he had not suffered any disability as a result of military service, although this might be debatable.<br />
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Apparently Adolf was still eligible for military service in the Homeland, as he was not officially released until December 9, 1918, and returned his uniform and boots in March 1919.<br />
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After the war, Adolf worked as a stoker in the Huttenkreuz Brewery in Ettlingen. He died on April 5, 1940, in Ettlingen Hospital.<br />
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<br />Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-67914610989946587492016-08-13T08:56:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.412+01:00This Week: Battle of the Somme - The Wrong Strategic Calculations in the Western Offensive, July 16, 1916<span style="color: blue;"><b>Ettlingen's newspaper, the "Badischer Landsmann" reports on July 16, 1916, </b></span>on the Battle at the Somme and the problems of the English-French Offensive.<br />
<b>This article is shared with our partner blog: <a href="http://www.thesommereports.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Somme Reports</a>.</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Wrong Strategic Calculations in the Western Offensive</span></b></h3>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Copenhagen, July 5</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">Some of the newspapers here are stating openly that the English are the victims of completely wrong strategic calculations in the Battle at the Somme. The military critic of the newspaper "Exstrabladet", for example, is emphasizing that the Germans had two years' time to fortify their lines and to construct their defense positions at least 15 kilometers deep. The German system which has now come to light is posing an extremely sobering surprise for the English, whose long calculated plan of attack was based on former types of combat and was reckoning on a relatively easy game. These misguided calculations are now obvious from the stagnation of the loudly praised offensive.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">In conjunction with the latest news on the deadlock in the English offensive, our Express Correspondence's war reporter related the contents of an interview held with Dr. Egan, the American ambassador in Copenhagen. Dr. Egan's remarks, which the reporter relates to the English and French offensive, were to the effect that it appeared that total decisions regarding the war do not lie in the hands of the military. Only once the belligerents realize that a definitive decision cannot be forced through mass violence would diplomatic negotiations finally become more amenable.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">According to a telegram in the newspaper "Politiken", the view is held among decisive circles in London that the Battle at the Somme will proceed in a similar manner to the Battles of Verdun and will be protracted. After several days of heavy storming attacks, pauses must be introduced, in order to pull troops together and to prepare new attacks. At the moment, the terrain won by the English-French troops during the first days of the offensive is being fortified.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A bicycle company breaks up to storm attack<br />
during the battles of the English-French offensive<br />
(Illustrierte Geschichte des Weltkrieges 1914/16)<br />
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Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-60487153735745682582016-02-25T15:51:00.000+01:002017-01-14T10:41:17.404+01:00This Week: The Battle of Verdun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U63qWR-vI0N7GvDJ78z47xPJSD3QecQtznmpcXw9G8RL0_YswaAqm66_hM3AL6Jr90_N29ZK1PWYKX7J86zApd5Z1rwz4I1xowqS-aXHZIMsOf0mpRqF9Jkn8dh81lOJS6maNy0CS_cp/s1600/20160223_143252_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U63qWR-vI0N7GvDJ78z47xPJSD3QecQtznmpcXw9G8RL0_YswaAqm66_hM3AL6Jr90_N29ZK1PWYKX7J86zApd5Z1rwz4I1xowqS-aXHZIMsOf0mpRqF9Jkn8dh81lOJS6maNy0CS_cp/s320/20160223_143252_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Ettlingen's newspaper, the "Badischer Landsmann" reports on February 26, 1916, </b></span>on the storming of the Panzerfeste (Fort) Douaumont. "It is in our hands", the article says. <b>"Over 10,000 French taken prisoner".</b><br />
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The Battle of Verdun, a German offensive known as "Unternehmen Gericht", commenced on February 21, 1916 and was one of the largest battles of the First World War at the Western Front. The battle continued until December 18, 1916 and was fought on the hills north of Verdun-sur-Meuse in north-eastern France.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German Military Map of Verdun, 1916</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs1RR3bKJculBlyuNOAB5bgDnDMnxqj9-TyEp-LjBEhyphenhyphenWo2_omjTHV0VGRniKV4koobjIEUnoRSKQ10dr0ka-b7YOEuy2RIxgFkVEtipu65Pm5O4c0XnOhcOmzygJfFN-KF99vxL2o2gS/s1600/20160225_150739_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZs1RR3bKJculBlyuNOAB5bgDnDMnxqj9-TyEp-LjBEhyphenhyphenWo2_omjTHV0VGRniKV4koobjIEUnoRSKQ10dr0ka-b7YOEuy2RIxgFkVEtipu65Pm5O4c0XnOhcOmzygJfFN-KF99vxL2o2gS/s320/20160225_150739_resized.jpg" width="179" /></a><br />
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The original idea for the attack at Verdun came from Crown Prince Wilhelm, the Supreme Commander of the 5th Army and Konstantin Schmidt von Knobelsdorf, the Chief of General Staff of the 5th Army. The 5th Army attacked the Région Fortifiée de Verdun (RFV) and the Second Army garrisons, as they intended to capture the Côtes de Meuse from which Verdun could be bombarded with artillery. Verdun was originally the strongest fort in France, and Germany's intention in attacking it was to once again strengthen its position on the Western Front. Germany assumed that the French would attempt to hold the eastern bank of the Meuse, and thus suffer catastrophic losses from German artillery fire.<br />
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The Germans made important gains at the start of the battle but the French were able to recapture much of the lost territory towards the end of the year, despite the English offensive at the Somme in July.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>Report from Ettlingen's newspaper the "Badischer Landsmann", March 1, 1916.<br />The Battles at the Western Front. Attack at Verdun.</b></span><br />
The town of Verdun under German fire.<br />
Bern, March 1. (Not official). The "Petit Parisien" reports that numerous villages in the vicinity of Verdun have been cleared; the inhabitants are leaving the town of Verdun in droves and arrive in Paris in fearful expectation of news. The town has suffered heavily. In their basements, the inhabitants had the impression that they were living in a continuous rain of iron and fire hailing down on Verdun and its vicinity. The people had to be forced to leave the town on several occasions. Currently, the town has been completely cleared, apart from a dozen or so inhabitants and a few officials.<br />
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On February 25, Fort Douaumont was conquered by German troops, which caused the French to decide that the fort of Verdun must be held at all costs. General Pétain was entrusted with the defense of the town of Verdun. He introduced the "Noria", a system of rotation ensuring that French soldiers were relieved after short periods of time.<br />
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The battle consisted of four phases: the first ended on March 4, as French artillery stopped German advancement from the heights west of the Maas. In the second phase, Erich von Falkenhayn, the German Chief of General Staff, ordered attacks on the heights. The height "Dead Man's Hill" was taken several times, but never held for long. In the third phase, the focus was on taking Verdun itself. The storming of Fort Vaux commenced on June 2, and an attack on the Vaux-Fleury line with 78,000 men started on June 21. German troops were able to advance in a fourth phase, with heavy battles at Fort Thiaumont (south of Douaumont). The German attack ultimately stalled at Fort de Souville (5 km northeast of Verdun), and in view of the Allied attack at the Somme on July 1, Falkenhayn halted the offensive on July 11.<br />
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Destroyed French village at the Western Front<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>The "Badischer Landsmann" of February 28, 1916 published the following report from February 27:</b></span><br />
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To the west of the fort, our troops have now taken Champneuville, the Côte de Talon and are advancing towards the southern border of the forest to the northeast of Bras.<br />
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To the east of the fort, they are storming the extensive fortifications of Hardaumont.<br />
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In the Woevre plain, the German front is advancing in battle quickly towards the foot of the Côtes de Lorraine.<br />
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According to current reports, <b>the number of non-injured prisoners is now almost 15,000.</b>Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-7486122995129507452015-11-28T18:33:00.002+01:002017-01-14T10:41:17.415+01:00Story This Week: Three Days in June 1916<br />
This week our story is taken from the original newspapers and field letters of 1916 held in Ettlingen's Town Archives (Stadtarchiv Ettlingen) and observes the fates of three different men during one week in June 1916. Coincidentally, all three were either stationed in or on their way to Russia.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><strong>Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener</strong></span><br />
On Wednesday 7 June, 1916, Ettlingen's local newspaper the Badischer Landsmann reports on the death of the English Minister of War Lord Kitchener, following an announcement by the Admiralty in London.<br />
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Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, had become Secretary of State for War at the outbreak of war in 1914. Kitchener had already won recognition for his roles in Egypt, Sudan, Khartoum, the Anglo-Boer War and India. One of the few to realize that the war would be a long one, he played a key part in organizing an enormous volunteer army as well as expanding the production of war materials. Kitchener drowned on June 5, 1916 when the HMS Hampshire was sunk west of the Orkney Islands, Scotland. He had been on his way to Russia to attend negotiations. It was reported that the HMS Hampshire struck a German mine, although various conspiracy theories concerning his death have since been put forward.<br />
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<strong><span style="color: blue;">The English Minister Of War Lord Kitchener Sinks With His Staff</span></strong><br />
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"WBT, London, June 6. According to official information from the Admiralty:<br />
The Commander-in-Chief of the Great Navy announces:<strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong><br />
To his deepest regret, he must report that the warship "Hampshire", which was on its way to Russia with Lord Kitchener and his staff on board, was sunk last night west of the Orkney Islands by a mine or possibly a torpedo. The night was extremely stormy and although all possible measures were undertaken to provide rapid assistance, it is feared that there is little hope that anybody will have survived.<strong><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></strong><br />
(Note: Hampshire is an 11,000-ton armored cruiser launched in 1903. It had a speed of 23.2 knots. It held 39 guns and normally had a crew of 660 men on board)."<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><strong>Dr. Theodor Kiefer</strong></span>
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Four days later on June 10, 1916, young German field doctor <a href="http://www.ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/01/this-week-dr-theodor-kiefer.html" target="_blank">Dr. Theodor ("Tor") Kiefer</a>, stationed at the Eastern Front in Russia, writes to his family in Ettlingen. For the last few weeks, Tor has been acting batallion's doctor while his superior is on leave. Apart from his medical duties, Tor spends every spare moment, "with pathological zeal", as he reports, organizing the conversion of dugouts into infirmaries. It is clear from Tor's letters during this time that he is under tremendous stress, and that he values the reading and writing of post to and from his family as a mental relief.<br />
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"We are currently in a new position, no longer as pleasant as the last one, but reminiscent of the Western Front. I am presently dealing with the problem of a trench stretcher for transporting wounded in the narrow, high trenches. If the Russians attack us here they'll bash their heads in. Our people have been feverishly expanding here for weeks and apart from the fact that a position is <u>never</u> finished, everyone is still continuing at the same pace. I have absolutely no chance of leave at the moment. And I have no hope of it for at least two months. I do not dwell long in my thoughts on Ettlingen, but I would still be grateful for letters full of your news. The mind is easily distracted and wanders through the peaceful realms of a past long since past, and although it is dangerous to think too much, such memories are scarcely tantalizing.<br />
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It is terribly difficult to write here, the telephone rings constantly, batmen and dispatchers arrive. One can barely write one word without being distracted by something. Everything in a small room under the earth, made of raw firtree trunks, containing 3 pallets [makeshift beds] and the table."<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><strong>Leutnant Felix Kiefer</strong></span>
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On June 11, 1916 Tor's younger brother <a href="http://www.ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/08/this-week-oberleutnant-felix-kiefer.html" target="_blank">Leutnant Felix Kiefer</a> is about to return to the Front for the third time. Felix was wounded on several occasions and after various long stays in the lazaret was always sent back to the Front, until he was finally released from military service in the spring of 1918. Felix married his sweetheart Erne during the war and they corresponded on an almost daily basis. In this postcard sent from the lazaret shortly after his release, he tells her that he has spent a boring evening in Aschaffenburg but is to commence travel to the (Eastern) Front in Russia the next day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Felix's Postcard to Erne, June 11, 1916</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front of the postcard. The caption<br />
reads "Young Germany"</td></tr>
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<br />Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-75750561442811001322015-10-17T15:14:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.421+01:00This Week: The Soldiers of Spessart Part 3 - A Hero's DeathOur story this week once again comes from Ettlingen-Spessart in the hills above Ettlingen, and presents some of the soldiers from Spessart who fell during the Great War. It was important to romanticize and honor what was termed "a hero's death" in order to boost the population's morale and keep them confident of victory. The soldier must not have died in vain, but in the act of directly protecting the homeland and his loved ones.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Sun Sank In The West"</td></tr>
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A series of painted postcards was used as a means of propaganda to transform these key concepts into romantic scenes deliberately targeted to touch the hearts of women, while combining love, death and the honor of war.<br />
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"The Sun Sank In The West.<br />
And when you return to the homeland years from now, bring this dear treasure to my sweetheart".<br />
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The dying soldier asks his comrade to take his Iron Cross medal (the dear treasure) to his sweetheart. The clear message of the postcard is that he is proud to have died for his country, as he expects his sweetheart to be.<br />
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The postcard was one of a set of six cards, each containing lines attributed to the anonymous folk song "Die Sonne Sank im Westen" (The Sun Sank In The West), although the lines have been altered slightly from the original song. In the postcard shown above, the dying soldier states that his comrade will return home "years from now". This was not the general belief in the early months of the war in 1914, when it was expected that everything would be over by Christmas. The postcards were issued in 1915, when it had become clear that the war might continue for several years.<br />
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The memorial card of Eduard Waldmann, born on February 3, 1888, in Ettlingen-Spessart. The card states that Eduard fell "on the field of honor" and "died a hero's death on August 20, 1914 in the battles at Brudersdorf, buried in Niederweiler in Lorraine".<br />
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He was thus one of the first soldiers to fall from Ettlingen.<br />
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A quote from the book of Maccabees is printed at the top of the card: "It is better to die in war than to surrender the homeland to adversity".<br />
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Landsturmmann Adalbert Weber was born on May 2, 1889 in Ettlingen-Spessart and served in the Infanterie Regiment 114.<br />
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His card states that he "died a hero's death on April 3, 1918 in Cair, Northern France".<br />
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The memorial card of Pionier Josef Anton Kraft, of the Minenwerfer-Bataillon 7 (Trench Mortar Battalion). Josef was born on August 24, 1895 in Ettlingen-Spessart and died on January 28, 1918 in Brussels.<br />
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His card states that he "fell on the field of honor".<br />
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The memorial card of Konrad Ochs, who was born on December 12, 1897 in Ettlingen-Spessart and who fell on September 29, 1918 in La Ex Aux Bois. He is buried in the cemetry St. Morell in France.<br />
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His family has written:<br />
"O God, you have called your loyal servant Konrad from the field of battle to you, and we would have been so happy to have seen him again among those who returned victoriously from the field [Konrad fell shortly before the end of the war]. However, it was not your wish and in your wisdom you know why it had to be so. We trust in your benevolence, even if we do not understand it. Let the efforts that he made during the war and the sacrifice of life that he made in the defense of his homeland graciously make reparation for all his sins and allow you to confer on him in return for this, in your great mercy, the crown of victory of eternal life".<br />
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The Infanterie Ersatz Bataillon 110, in which some soldiers from Ettlingen-Spessart served. <a href="http://ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/05/this-week-private-alfred-schottmuller.html" target="_blank">Alfred Schottmüller</a> is shown standing in the back row, 3rd from the left.<br />
The photo shows the battalion in Heidelberg. They were assigned to the 28th Division of the 7th German Army.<br />
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All photos and postcard property and copyright of Brigitte Weber of Ettlingen-SpessartEttlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-31933411956989258102015-09-20T16:35:00.002+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.389+01:00This Week's Story: Food Rationing in Ettlingen 1915-1916In 1914, food was already becoming scarce in Germany due to several factors. The increased needs of the armies at the Front, the lack of imports resulting from the disruption in trade, as well as the serious consequences of the War on agricultural structures, including the recruiting of the workforce into the army, all led to problems in food supply, particularly in urban areas, and to stockpiling of food.<br />
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The German government hoped to be able to regulate this food supply by defining maximum prices for bread and grain and by rationing eggs. Over the course of the War, a comprehensive system of foodstuff control was set up, which was expanded over the course of the next four years.<br />
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The photo on the left shows an Ettlingen ID card allowing the purchase of foodstuffs. The card must be produced and stamped before goods are bought. It is non-transferrable.<br />
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The first bread coupons were issued in several towns in February 1915. In November 1915, milk was rationed and in early 1916 potatoes. During 1916, statutory guidelines for meat and sausage coupons were introduced for the whole of Germany.<br />
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The photo on the right shows a booklet of 30 coupons for bread or flour for April 1915. It is issued by the Office of the Mayor of Ettlingen.<br />
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At the bottom right of the booklet. it states that it is a crime to sell the coupons.<br />
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These coupons are issued by the Community Association of Ettlingen and are for eggs and butter in 1916.<br />
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125 grams of butter can be obtained every two weeks. Eggs can be obtained at the rate of one per week.<br />
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The other side of the ID card. Butter, eggs and lard have been stamped.<br />
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In the "Swede winter" of 1916/1917, the minimum amount of basic foodstuffs for the population could not be covered and famine became rife.<br />
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These coupons are issued by the Grand Duchy of Baden (the state in which Ettlingen was situated) and can be used to obtain meat from July through September 1916.<br />
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The government's food rationing measures attempted to ensure that the population had a minimum amount of basic foodstuffs, in order to keep them confident of victory and willing to fight. Unfortunately, the food itself was often not available and the coupons were worth nothing. Despite all the deficiencies, however, the state's rationing measures during the War and the immediate post-war years enabled millions of people to survive.<br />
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(Source of general information: Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin<br />
<a href="https://www.dhm.de/lemo/kapitel/erster-weltkrieg/alltagsleben/lebensmittelrationierung.html)">https://www.dhm.de/lemo/kapitel/erster-weltkrieg/alltagsleben/lebensmittelrationierung.html)</a><br />
(Source of specific information: Stadtarchiv Ettlingen)<br />
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Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-6542956157692174402015-08-29T18:20:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.409+01:00Story of the Week: Gefreiter Ambros WeberThis week our story is once again brought to us by Notburga Felber of Ettlingen-Spessart, in the hills above Ettlingen. Notburga's grandfather on her father's side, Ambros Weber, was a small farmer. He was born in Spessart on October 7, 1882.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ambros and Martha <br />
on their wedding day</td></tr>
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In the early 20th century, small farming in South Germany was not a very lucrative occupation and so Ambros also worked in a factory in Ettlingen Town.<br />
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He married his sweetheart Martha. At the outbreak of the Great War, he was thus 32 and already married.<br />
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It was typical for girls to marry in black at this time.<br />
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Ambros joined up with the 1st Landsturm Infantry Batallion No. 56, 2nd Company in Rastatt, near Ettlingen.</div>
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The photo on the left shows him in full uniform, with the photographer's romantic caption "Zur Erinnerung" - "A memento".</div>
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Ambros' unit was posted to France, on the Western Front. The bataillon was ultimately subordinate to the 28th Division of the Kingdom of Prussia and Ambros would thus have fought all along the Western Front, including battles at the Vosges, Arras, the Somme, Flanders, Champagne, Verdun, Reims and Chemin-des-Dames. </div>
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Ambros in the more typical photographer's pose of new recruits after joining up.</div>
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We also have a postcard that Ambros sent to Martha on May 10, 1915, apparently from Dieuze, which is in French Lorraine. The photo on the front of the card shows Ambros together with one of his comrades, and Ambros is standing on the left in this picture.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ambros (left) in Lorraine, 1915</td></tr>
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In the postcard, Ambros thanks Martha for her postcard from Mosbronn and tells her that he is sending her a photo from the Front as a souvenir of the war.</div>
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He asks her not to worry about him so much and says that he knows she has a lot of work at home but he asks her to only do what she can because when he comes home, he wants to see her well and healthy.</div>
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Ambros survived the war and returned home, where he took up work again in the factory. He and Martha had several children, including Notburga's father, and he died on May 9, 1959.</div>
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Ambros' card to Martha from Dieuze in Lorraine in May 1915.</div>
Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-9952215698605165962015-08-20T13:59:00.001+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.437+01:00This Week: Gefreiter Otto WeberOur story this week is brought to us by Notburga Felber of Ettlingen-Spessart. Notburga's grandfather on her mother's side, Otto Weber, served as a Private in the Great War.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Otto Weber in 1914</td></tr>
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Otto was born on March 31, 1892 and had a twin brother, Franz.<br />
Both Franz and Otto joined the 1st Badisches Leibgrenadier-Regiment 109 at the outbreak of war in 1914. The 109 was the highest-ranking and grandest regiment in Baden, the state in which Ettlingen was located, and was the local regiment of Karlsruhe, Ettlingen's nearest city. The head of the regiment was Grand Duke Friedrich II of Baden.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Otto and his twin brother <br />
Franz in the field</td></tr>
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Otto was stationed at the Western Front in France. His first battles were at Metz in August 1914, and he later fought all along the Western Front, including Arras, Flanders, Champagne, the Somme, Reims and Chemin-des-Dames.<br />
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It was probably during the latter part of 1917 or early 1918 that Otto suffered gas poisoning. The use of poisonous gas by both sides was widespread during the Great War, particularly on the Western Front.<br />
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Upon returning home from the War, Otto married his sweetheart Anna, with whom he had three daughters, including Notburga's mother. However, even though he continued to work, he suffered from the ill effects of the gas poisoning for the rest of his life.<br />
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A postcard from the Front from Otto to his neighbor Luise, dated September 22, 1917. He writes, "At last I've found time to send you a photo. I trust you're well, as I am. I hope that we will see each other again soon".<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Otto in the field</td></tr>
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Otto died aged 47 on May 9, 1939, shortly before the outbreak of World War II, from the effects of the gas poisoning.<br />
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<br />Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-61989392266579178562014-09-01T19:55:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.406+01:00Story This Week: A Treasure Trove Of LettersOur story this week takes place in the present time. Francine Kiefer of Washington D.C., granddaughter of <a href="http://www.ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/08/this-week-oberleutnant-felix-kiefer.html">Felix Kiefer</a>, has travelled over from the USA to Ettlingen to present our municipal archive with an entire trunk of letters from the years 1911 through 1919 for safekeeping and research purposes.<br />
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The trunk contains over 2,000 letters, written mainly between Felix and his wife Erne during the Great War years of 1914 through 1918. It also includes letters from Felix to the rest of his family in Ettlingen as well as several letters exchanged between other members of the family, his war diaries, First World War maps, a family "Chronicle" written by Felix's father Alexander Kiefer (Ettlingen's master builder) and Felix's WW1 medals.<br />
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Felix's story, together with the story of his brother <a href="http://www.ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/01/this-week-dr-theodor-kiefer.html">Tor</a>, will be told in our partner blog <a href="http://thekieferbrothers.blogspot.de/">The Kiefer Brothers</a>.<br />
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Excerpt from one of Felix's letters to his wife Erne.<br />
The collection of letters between Felix and Erne tells the love story of the couple separated by the war, Felix serving as an officer first at the Western and then at the Eastern Front, Erne serving as a nurse in a lazaret on the Western Front.<br />
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Felix kept various diaries during the war, all of which have likewise been perfectly preserved in the trunk. Although most of these are handwritten, we are very fortunate that one has been typewritten and therefore presents no problems as far as reading is concerned.<br />
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An excerpt from Felix's meticulously kept handwritten diary of 1916.<br />
We hope that these diaries and letters will provide us with more insights into life at the front. Felix's brother, <a href="http://www.ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/01/this-week-dr-theodor-kiefer.html">Tor</a>, also spent much of the war stationed at the Eastern Front and the two apparently met up on several occasions. <a href="http://www.ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/p/letters-from-battlefields.html">Tor's letters</a>, which have been held in our municipal archives for several decades, have so far proved extremely interesting and informative, both with regard to historical and social aspects.<br />
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The letters, diaries, maps and medals were presented by Francine Kiefer and her husband to the Stadtarchiv Ettlingen.<br />
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Francine Kiefer, a political journalist based in Washington D.C., who writes for the <i>Christian Science Monitor, </i>hopes that the collection will attract the interest of historians and academics worldwide.<br />
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Kathy Quinlan-Flatter, the creator of this blog, who first contacted Francine Kiefer in March 2014 to discuss the collection of Kiefer letters held in the Stadtarchiv Ettlingen.<br />
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As a result of their correspondence and the current global interest in the Great War, Francine Kiefer decided to present the Stadtarchiv Ettlingen with her treasure trove of letters.Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-35264737820493513922014-08-23T16:34:00.002+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.395+01:00This Week's Story: The Soldiers Of Spessart Part 2This week our story comes from Brigitte Weber of Ettlingen-Spessart, which lies in the hills above Ettlingen. Brigitte's two uncles fought and died in Laffaux on the Western Front when they were both just 20 years old. During the Great War, Brigitte's family received letters and photos from relatives and friends, and collected some of the memorial cards of soldiers who had died from the village.<br />
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These two photos, sent home to Brigitte's family from the Western Front, show soldiers recovering in the lazaret together with the nurses who worked there.<br />
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During the Great War, the need for prosthetics escalated immensely as tens of thousands of soldiers lost limbs. As a result, there were unprecedented developments in the design of artificial limbs.<br />
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Soldiers also suffered from a new phenomenon known as "shell shock", which was the reaction of some soldiers to the trauma of battle. Unfortunately, this "nervous and mental shock" was poorly understood, as there were often no signs of physical injury. At the start of the war, it was assumed that there was a link between the symptons and the effects of explosions from artillery shells. However, an increasing number of men who had not been exposed to artillery fire began to suffer from the phenomenon. Symptons included tinnitus, amnesia, headache, dizziness, tremor and hypersensitivity to noise.<br />
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Carl Ludwig Wilhelm Maisch, of Foot Artillery Regiment 14, born on October 3, 1895 in Ettlingen-Schöllbronn near Spessart, was wounded on April 26, 1916 at 9:30 a.m. at Verdun, and died in the lazaret at Villiers on the Western Front on April 27, 1916<br />
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Kanonier Anton Weber, born on August 31, 1885 in<br />
Ettlingen-Spessart, fell on July 19, 1916 "on the field of honor"<br />
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A hero's death I died,<br />
I won the best death for myself,<br />
God holds all gifts in his hand.<br />
I am at peace in France's cool grave,<br />
A grenade struck me down<br />
But heaven is open to warriors.<br />
Mother, brothers and sisters and all my loved ones,<br />
Remember me in your prayers,<br />
Don't forget your Anton<br />
Who is lying buried in foreign earth<br />
God's will was done<br />
We'll meet again up there.<br />
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Unteroffizier Stefan Weber, born on May 25, 1892 in Ettlingen-Spessart, and fell on December 1, 1916 at Verdun.Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-8569657178121105322014-08-15T19:21:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.428+01:00This Week: Leutnant Felix Kiefer - A Venturing SpiritOur story this week comes from Francine Kiefer of Washington, D.C., USA, whose grandfather Felix Kiefer of Ettlingen fought in the Great War.<br />
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Felix was born on September 11, 1891 in Ettlingen, the youngest of seven surviving children in his family. He was the younger brother of Ettlingen's sculptor Oskar Kiefer, who designed Germany's first "anti-war memorial" for Ettlingen, shown in the section <a href="http://www.ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/p/list-of-fallen.html">List of Fallen</a>, of <a href="http://www.ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/01/this-week-dr-theodor-kiefer.html">Tor Kiefer</a>, who worked as a doctor at both the Eastern and Western Fronts, and of <a href="http://www.ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/01/story-this-week-nurse-sylvestra-kiefer.html">Sylvestra Kiefer</a>, who worked as a nurse at the Western Front.</div>
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Like his brother Tor, Felix also served at both the Eastern and Western Fronts. He volunteered for the Army in 1914 in Munich, where he was studying chemistry at university, and entered a Bavarian regiment - the RIR 16. Felix first served in the 4th Company of the Königlich Bayerisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 16 as an Unteroffizier. When the RIR 16 was formed in September 1914, it consisted of approximately 3,300 officers and men, and was part of the Reserve-Infanterie-Brigade 12, which in turn belonged to the 6th Bavarian Reserve Division.</div>
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In 1916, Felix was promoted to Leutnant and had moved to the 3rd Bavarian Regiment of the 11th Bavarian Division.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tor (left) and Felix Kiefer (right)<br />
Photo copyright Francine Kiefer</td></tr>
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Felix's son Alexander, who later wrote an account of his father's life, recorded that Felix served in "several major battles in France", and that he was twice decorated. In the East, he served in Galicia (present day Ukraine) and Romania, as well as spending time in Budapest, Hungary. He was wounded on various occasions - once in October 1916, when he was sent to a lazaret in Brest-Litowsk (present day Belarus) and once in October 1914 in Belgium, after which he was sent to a lazaret in Hamburg.</div>
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According to his son Alexander, "deeply scarred by war, Felix was released from military service in the spring of 1918 and resumed his studies".</div>
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Erne Maria Schumann was born on October 29, 1887 in Papenburg. Four years older than Felix, her relationship with him developed in Munich while he was a university student and they married on July 20, 1916. One year later, they had their first child, Alexander - Francine's father - in Munich on August 20, 1917. Their second child, Judith, was born on April 9, 1922 in Elz.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erne Schumann, September 11, 1915<br />
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Like Felix's sister Sylvestra, Erne served as a nurse on the Western Front. She was stationed in Sedan in 1915, but was back in Munich in 1916 for the rest of the war. Felix and Erne corresponded almost daily and sometimes twice a day when they were apart from each other.</div>
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After finishing his studies in Munich, Felix took a PhD at the Bavarian University of Erlangen, which he completed in 1919. He subsequently worked as a chemist at various factories until the collapse of the German economy during the period of the Weimar Republic in the 1920s. Felix saw no other option but to emigrate to the United States. He arrived in New York in February 1927, but was then posted to Honduras, where he worked as the head chemist of the Standard Fruit company. Here, he directed the agricultural laboratory, which dealt mainly in bananas. In December 1927, his family arrived in New Orleans, then later joined him in Honduras.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tor (left) and Felix Kiefer (right)<br />
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Malaria and lack of educational opportunity for the children caused him to relocate permanently to the United States in the fall of 1928, where he worked in the states of North Carolina, Maryland and New York as a chemist and a college teacher.</div>
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His specialty was food chemistry, and he held various patents for food preservatives, including breakfast cereal, dry milk, and margarine.<br />
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Felix and Erne both became US citizens. When Erne died on October 1, 1938, Felix grieved deeply. He eventually remarried a German woman, Gisela Menzinger of Bruchsal (near Karlsruhe) in 1953, and they lived together in Florida. In 1961, after turning 70, he was forced to retire and he and Gisela moved back to Bruchsal in Germany, where he died on August 24, 1965.</div>
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Felix loved camping and took his young family on many camping trips. In keeping with the rest of his artistically inclined family, he had an artistic streak and loved to paint watercolors - several of his letters to Erne included pressed flowers and poems. He supported his family in Ettlingen with care packages after the Second World War.</div>
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Francine's father described Felix's life as one that spread "great good" and characterized him as a "venturing spirit".</div>
Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-20480110240533983572014-08-06T18:13:00.001+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.380+01:00Story This Week: "A Mighty Fate Descends Over Europe" - Ettlingen Reports On The Declaration Of War By England<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Ettlingen's state newspaper, the Badischer Landsmann, reports on the declaration of war on Germany by England on August 4, 1914.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;">Berlin, August 4, 1914: </span>Shortly after 7 o'clock, the English ambassador appeared in the Foreign Office to present the declaration of war and to demand the pass papers.<br />
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[England declares war on Germany in retaliation for Germany's violation of neutral Belgian territory].<br />
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Berlin, August 4. An official announcement states that the mobilization of our army and our fleet has proceeded excellently up to this point. The conscription of the drafted men, their transportation to the assigned positions, in short, everything has functioned very smoothly. The people's trust in our military organization is completely justified. The mood among the drafted men must be particularly praised. Full of enthusiasm and commitment, but also infused by the gravity of the hour, all followed the order to report for service. The German people may be confident that future military measures will also be executed with the same order and systematic planning. It has also been reported that we are absolutely innundated with spies and persons from abroad intending to perform criminal attacks. Numerous attempts have already been made to explode important engineering structures, railway bridges, tunnels and similar, to disrupt the march of our troops. All such attempts will be strictly punished by death in the prevailing circumstances. However, all attempts to date by French and Russian agents in this regard have been unsuccessful. The perpetrators were all executed immediately. The people are requested to do everything in their power to ensure that such criminal attacks will continue to be rendered ineffective. For we are surrounded by spies. Even the most insignificant incident could be of importance. Whoever fulfills their duty in this regard will be performing a service for the Kaiser and the Empire.<br />
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Berlin, August 4.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Today’s session of the Reichstag was opened
by the President Dr. Kämpf at a quarter to 4, and the House and the galleries were
extremely heavily attended. The Reichskanzler appeared with the Secretaries of
State and Ministers. </span>The present Presidium
was reelected to loud applause.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">President Dr. Kämpf reported that the Kaiser
has consented to receive the Presidium this evening and to accept the
announcement of the constitution of the House. </span>(Bravo!) <span lang="EN-US">He hopes to be able to inform the Kaiser that
drafts received have met with approval.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Then<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US">Reichskanzler
von Bethmann Hollweg<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">rose to speak. A breathless silence
prevailed throughout the room. A mighty fate – thus began the Kanzler – has
befallen Europe. Russia has lit the tinder of the fire in the house. The Kanzler
then outlined the immensely dramatic development of the last few days, in
particular of Russia’s conduct and the violation of the border by France. We find
ourselves, continued the Kanzler, in a position of self-defense. And </span>necessity knows no laws. <span lang="EN-US">Our
troops have occupied Luxembourg and possibly entered Belgian territory. </span>This contravenes international law. <span lang="EN-US">But a French invasion in our flanks at the Lower Rhine could have
been disastrous. We will, however, right this wrong once we have achieved our goal.
We have issued a declaration to the English government that, as long as England
remains neutral, our fleet will not attack the North coast of France, and that
we will not infringe the territorial integrity of Belgium. I repeat this declaration
publicly for the whole world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">[Apparently, Bethmann Hollweg does not consider the neutrality of Belgium to have been violated at this point, or at least only violated to the extent that it was necessary as an action of self-defense against the French attack without declaration of war (see below). Bethmann Hollweg's speech takes place during the late afternoon/early evening of August 4. At 7 o'clock in the evening, as reported above, the English ambassador arrives at the Foreign Office to present the English declaration of war, which is in retaliation for Germany's violation of neutral Belgian territory].</span></div>
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August 3: Ettlingen's newspaper the Mittelbadischer Courier reports on the state of war with France.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">State of War with France</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Berlin, August 3 (official report). Up to now, German troops have not trespassed over the French border, in compliance with the commands issued. In contrast, French troops have been attacking our border posts since yesterday without any declaration of war. They have trespassed over the German border at various points, although the French government assured us a few days ago that an unoccupied zone of 10 kilometers would be observed. Since last night, French companies have occupied the German towns of Doppeltal, Wetzeral and Markirch as well as the Schluchten Pass. Since yesterday, bomber planes have been flying over Baden, Bavaria, and, violating Belgian neutrality, over Belgian territory to the Rhein Province and are attempting to destroy our railways. France has thus opened the attack against us and compounded a state of war. The security of the Empire forces us to take countermeasures. His Majesty the Kaiser has issued the necessary commands. The German ambassador in Paris has been instructed to demand his pass papers.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Metz, August 3</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">A French doctor yesterday attempted, with the assistance of two disguised French officers, to infect wells with cholera germs. He was court-martialled and shot.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">[Once again reports are received of French troops attacking without declaration of war. According to the official report from Berlin, French bomber planes have in fact been violating the neutrality of Belgian territory one day earlier than the reported violation by Germany].</span></div>
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Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-75207532850383325962014-07-30T19:33:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.418+01:00This Week: "A Grave Hour Has Befallen Germany Today" - Ettlingen Reports The Outbreak Of WarEttlingen's newspaper, the Mittelbadischer Courier, reports on the outbreak of the Great War on July 31, 1914.<br />
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<b><span style="color: blue;">State of War Declared</span></b><br />
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Ettlingen, July 31, 1914: Ettlingen's Mittelbadischer Courier announces:<br />
State of War Declared for Germany<br />
As Russia has not issued a declaration of neutrality to Austria, the latter is commencing complete mobilization. As a result, the mobilization of Germany has become necessary.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b>The Kaiser's Speech</b></span><br />
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The Courier reports on the events in Berlin. We can see from the Kaiser's speech that he is not happy to be addressing the people with news of possible war.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Berlin, July 31. A vast crowd of people had
gathered [on] Unter den Linden [the name of the street] near the Palace and the
Crown Prince’s Palace, and continually broke forth in enthusiastic cheers for
the Kaiser and the Crown Prince. Patriotic songs were also sung. Finally, the Crown
Prince appeared with his lady consort on the balcony of the Crown Prince’s
Palace and thanked the crowd for its lively homage. Shortly after this, the
Kaiser and the Kaiserin appeared, together with the imperial princes, on the
balcony of the Palace and thanked the people for their lively homage. The crowd
broke out in tumultuous cheers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The speech that the Kaiser held to the
jubilant crowd from the balcony of the Palace this afternoon was as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">"A grave hour has befallen Germany today</span><span lang="EN-US">. Envy everywhere leads us to defend ourselves, and justifiably so. The
sword is being pressed into our hands. If my efforts at the last hour to
preserve the peace and to chasten our adversaries are not successful, I hope
that we will, with God’s help, wield our sword such that we can place it with
honor in our sheath. War would demand enormous sacrifice of possessions and
life from us. But our adversaries would discover what it means to antagonize
Germany. And now I advise you to pray to God. Go now to church, kneel before
God and beg Him to help our brave army."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b><span style="color: blue;">Germany and Peace</span></b></span></div>
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Berlin, July 29. The "Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung" noted
in today’s evening issue that the official Russian notification submitted
yesterday, July 28, has caused lively reverberations here. The imperial
government shares the desire to preserve peaceful relations. It hopes that the
German people will support it from afar by the moderate and calm manner of its
actions.</div>
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<b><span style="color: blue;">The Kaiser Calls to Arms</span></b></div>
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Baden's Grand Duke Friedrich II addresses the people of Baden (the state in which Ettlingen is situated) through an announcement in the Mittelbadischer Courier (and other local newspapers) on August 2, 1914:</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">My beloved people of Baden!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Our Kaiser calls to arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In the difficult battle that Germany is
preparing to wage, the honor and existence of our Fatherland, as well as our
highest and most sacred values, are at stake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I know that my dear people will perform the
difficult duties with which we will be confronted with absolute devotion and
loyalty, especially our sons and brothers who will go to battle, and of whom I
am certain and expect that they will – mindful of the military exploits of
their fathers – bravely and selflessly risk their lives for the Fatherland.
However, the other members of our community will also – of this I am certain – be
prepared to make the most difficult sacrifices that must be called for, with
true conviction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">God protect and preserve Germany!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Karlsruhe, August 2, 1914<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b><span style="color: blue;">The German Ultimatum to Russia</span></b></span></div>
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The Courier reports on more events in Berlin on July 31, the day of the outbreak of war. The Kaiser has sent an ultimatum to Russia to stop mobilization.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Berlin, July 31. The "Norddeutsche
Allgemeine Zeitung" officially reports: After the mediation activities
performed by the Russian government upon the request of the Tsar himself were
interrupted by the general mobilization of the Russian army and navy, the
government of His Majesty the Kaiser today allowed it to be known in St.
Petersburg that German mobilization is to be expected if Russia does not
discontinue its preparations for war within 12 hours and issues a confirmation
to this effect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">At the same time, an inquiry has been sent
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelwHjdjHvpnLu8U5dXW0lQV8XM_B827Ps7yauMTOypkKdo7nvDyP-oSlh7P_SbsEXoXKVen0WtDiZyJ4p2C_su9vTamdNswDvUMgFqvSWLvcrPC6bgZ9SfNr-AcnAKr6wlspbg7rdX6wA/s1600/20140416_124903+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjelwHjdjHvpnLu8U5dXW0lQV8XM_B827Ps7yauMTOypkKdo7nvDyP-oSlh7P_SbsEXoXKVen0WtDiZyJ4p2C_su9vTamdNswDvUMgFqvSWLvcrPC6bgZ9SfNr-AcnAKr6wlspbg7rdX6wA/s1600/20140416_124903+(640x480).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: blue;"><b>The speediness and safety of our deployment requires the consistent and systematic leadership of the entire executive power</b></span></span></div>
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Freiherr von Hoiningen, a Prussian officer and the Commanding General of Karlsruhe's XIV Army Corps, addresses the population of the Karlsruhe district through the Mittelbadischer Courier on July 31, 1914:</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">To the population of the district of the
XIV Army Corps<br />
[this included Ettlingen]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">His Majesty the Kaiser has declared a state
of war in the German Empire. As regards national measures, this merely means
that mobilization must be executed rapidly and smoothly, and not that the
population need be concerned about the lack of national support. The speediness
and safety of our deployment requires the consistent and systematic leadership
of the entire executive power. If laws are tightened as a result of the
declaration of war, then no one who observes the law and complies with the
instructions issued by the authorities will be restricted in their actions as a
result. I trust that the entire population will support all military and civil
authorities joyfully and wholeheartedly and thus make it easier for us to
fulfill our noble patriotic duties. The long-standing military glory of our
army will thus be upheld and will persist in honor in the eyes of the Kaiser
and the eyes of the nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Karlsruhe, July 31, 1914<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The Commanding General</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Freiherr von Hoiningen gen. Huene</span></div>
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Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-15999682946854951432014-07-26T11:35:00.002+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.378+01:00Story This Week: The Ludendorff Spende für KriegsbeschädigteOur story this week concerns the Ludendorff fund, set up during the the First World War for disabled German soldiers. The cards have been provided by Rainer Görlacher, whose grandfather <a href="http://www.ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/06/story-of-week-professor-karl-gorlacher.html">Karl Görlacher</a> of Ettlingen fought in the Great War.<br />
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Erich Friedrich Wilhelm Ludendorff (1865-1937) was a German general who was victorious at Liège and the Battle of Tannenberg during the Great War. In 1916, he was promoted to Erster Generalquartiermeister (Quartermaster General) and together with Paul von Hindenburg, became the chief power behind the management of Germany's military efforts in the First World War, until his resignation in 1918.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdIumatn_UpuFIdMyiMdEHacmJze9BkRQp_-ORt41CztwLgepnyhbVoa0cJpXwpdgBAv6WsAPWaDyQc174TruMSyS2ijp9RmrB9j99ukecR_j_uRKFWVUSlvSKTd2ZPC-JNnJQXx9reZD/s1600/20140726_103302+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdIumatn_UpuFIdMyiMdEHacmJze9BkRQp_-ORt41CztwLgepnyhbVoa0cJpXwpdgBAv6WsAPWaDyQc174TruMSyS2ijp9RmrB9j99ukecR_j_uRKFWVUSlvSKTd2ZPC-JNnJQXx9reZD/s1600/20140726_103302+(640x480).jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Erich Ludendorff:<br />
"Ohne Opfer kein Sieg!<br />
Ohne Sieg kein Friede!"<br />
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("No victory without sacrifice,<br />
No peace without victory")<br />
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The Ludendorff Spende für Kriegsbeschädigte - the Ludendorff Fund for Disabled War Veterans - was set up in May 1918 by Emma Tscheuschner to assist war-disabled soldiers help transition back to civilian life. The fund collected around 150,000,000 Reichsmarks and continued until 1923, when it was dissolved probably due to the currency inflation of the Weimar Republic. Erich Ludendorff was the Honorary Chairman of the fund.<br />
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A number of postcards were printed and the proceeds from the sale of these cards went to the fund.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0eRgJ7S3kOyxG9RnsYSax5_4lT0gYX5jkqgaCQaualLPLdF8YowXphMcKXxuQrTtVylV2Rc7oDPo0UWXepYzCqhO5_5UpAoDgIhoxoYeU1FUdGyxlDzmig9jlQxiOZvek5IZOTmtub-5/s1600/20140726_103315+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0eRgJ7S3kOyxG9RnsYSax5_4lT0gYX5jkqgaCQaualLPLdF8YowXphMcKXxuQrTtVylV2Rc7oDPo0UWXepYzCqhO5_5UpAoDgIhoxoYeU1FUdGyxlDzmig9jlQxiOZvek5IZOTmtub-5/s1600/20140726_103315+(640x480).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This depiction of a crippled soldier holding a set of tools was painted by Ludwig Hohlwein, a poster artist (1874-1949), and is one of the most cited postcards. This picture is in sharp contrast to the euphoric mood of the 1914 posters, which focused on feats of heroism and the honor of war.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1VJWoDAcNPKBwe8Z39BvsAMIsuxyRX_J_HYJscmoP0D71EI3oPhpd7Nya9MMbol09tJyL1V128ASag58a2-hMF1sOE25KKUBeUVbRwDsBvp82I-GkFuBaEF6Tnd4wW3fO4R0vW8QPVzJ/s1600/20140726_103328+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1VJWoDAcNPKBwe8Z39BvsAMIsuxyRX_J_HYJscmoP0D71EI3oPhpd7Nya9MMbol09tJyL1V128ASag58a2-hMF1sOE25KKUBeUVbRwDsBvp82I-GkFuBaEF6Tnd4wW3fO4R0vW8QPVzJ/s1600/20140726_103328+(640x480).jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Art nouveau poster for postcard by Wilhelm Schulz called "Ackerpflug Spendenkiste" (Field plough, donation box).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpfK7M7vQitGcVg4Wxs31dYrvd0LM8hdn2WVCWxwnhC0cTbds2zjp3ccKDnIUFCKylfEgYO3WfdDC5X7iL9F3XViWmafgQaaxity814KYtMjbSHil4eKNNhzoWkJz57jKH3FrC2bCnRAa/s1600/20140726_103357+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrpfK7M7vQitGcVg4Wxs31dYrvd0LM8hdn2WVCWxwnhC0cTbds2zjp3ccKDnIUFCKylfEgYO3WfdDC5X7iL9F3XViWmafgQaaxity814KYtMjbSHil4eKNNhzoWkJz57jKH3FrC2bCnRAa/s1600/20140726_103357+(640x480).jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Donators were presented with this receipt:<br />
"The owner of this certificate has donated 5 Marks for the Ludendorff Fund for Disabled War Veterans. I thank the donator on behalf of their war-disabled comrade.<br />
The Honorary Chairman Ludendorff".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6qS9hXL5rnzo8Or6X1w7Cp6Qy3PgTpCQwSjVjO468Pjm59AyDSEPdiocIAx77Qpo99hHElpf7tHtgKbaTlFKltmDxThXobK3KT1IE6zq__kRzXK3tm3iA2b5yskoUBKZLeUDGU655QPs/s1600/20140726_103341+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6qS9hXL5rnzo8Or6X1w7Cp6Qy3PgTpCQwSjVjO468Pjm59AyDSEPdiocIAx77Qpo99hHElpf7tHtgKbaTlFKltmDxThXobK3KT1IE6zq__kRzXK3tm3iA2b5yskoUBKZLeUDGU655QPs/s1600/20140726_103341+(640x480).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Poster for postcard by Olaf Guldbransson, a Norwegian artist, 1873-1958Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-10183136719274948962014-07-01T14:59:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.371+01:00This Week: Ettlingen Reports Assassination In Sarajevo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7y2Kzji9PmEobosXI1LBZTePG4aQIYerNhK7p7U0WJ99MhXJyL-fYULXYmUCJVnOcN3drK7-1SWXV2Pwj5GMdBsnuffiGJtmu0W4WiBPzs3jsY59a0b6_VR_yVj0Jubiwf7GPNLtjTj4E/s1600/20140630_101725+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7y2Kzji9PmEobosXI1LBZTePG4aQIYerNhK7p7U0WJ99MhXJyL-fYULXYmUCJVnOcN3drK7-1SWXV2Pwj5GMdBsnuffiGJtmu0W4WiBPzs3jsY59a0b6_VR_yVj0Jubiwf7GPNLtjTj4E/s1600/20140630_101725+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Mittelbadischer Courier, Ettlingen's newspaper on June 30, 1914, reporting on the murders of the heirs to the Austrian throne in Sarajevo, Bosnia</div>
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<b>Murder of the Heirs to the </b><b>Austrian </b><b>Throne</b></div>
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<b>Serajewo</b>, June 29. Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, the Duchess von Hohenberg, yesterday fell victim to an assassination. As the heir to the throne and his wife arrived yesterday morning in Serajewo, the capital of Bosnia, and were making their way to the City Hall in automobiles together with their retinue, a large crowd of people gathered on the streets to reverentially greet the ducal couple. Suddenly, a bomb was flung at the car of the heir to the throne. The Archduke reacted promptly to the danger, jumped up and threw the bomb to one side. It fell on the ground behind the car. A number of people in the crowd, as well as various gentlemen travelling in the car behind from the Archduke's retinue, were severely wounded by the exploding fragments. Oberstleutnant Graft Boos-Waldeck and Oberstleutnant Merezzi, the adjutant to the state leader of Bosnia, who had taken their seats in the car following the Archduke, were slightly injured, while four bystanders were severely injured. The perpetrator, who was struck to the ground by police who hurried to the scene, stated that his name was Gabrinoviz and that he was a typesetter by profession. He declared that he came from Herzegowina. </div>
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Following this incident, the heir to the throne and his wife, who was extremely alarmed by the catastrophe, adjourned to the City Hall, where, deeply agitated, he addressed the Mayor with the following words, "We come with the most peaceful of intentions to visit Serajewo and we are greeted here with bombs". In his address the Mayor expressed his outrage at the cowardly act. The Archduke had one of his accompanying officers inform him of the condition of the wounded. He then boarded the automobile again together with his wife, to finish the tour through the the city as planned. But barely had the Archduke and his wife once again boarded the car, than a young person pushed forward through the crowd and before the police, racing towards him, could prevent it, delivered in quick succession several shots aimed at the Archduke and the Duchess von Hohenberg. The Archduke was hit by a shot to the face and was covered in blood. The Duchess, who had stood up in the car crying out loudly, received a shot to the abdomen and toppled over her seriously injured husband. The retinue attended to the severely injured couple and the Archduke and his wife were then brought at top speed to the Konal (the government building). The Archduke passed away on the way, while his wife breathed her last a few minutes later. Only with great effort were the police able to drag away the perpetrator who had fired the deathly shots from the angry crowd, who tried to lynch him. It is a 17-year old high school pupil in the 8th grade by the name of Prinizip, of Serbian origin, born in Grahovo on the Serbian border.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">The article goes on to report on the reactions in Austria, Germany, Serbia, Hungary and Bosnia.</span><br />
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<b>The Impression in Vienna.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Vienna, Austria</b>, June 29. </div>
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The article reports that at first, the news of the murders is not believed in Austria. Telegraph and telephone communication are ordered to stop until official confirmation. Shortly afterwards, the confirmation is received with the utmost horror. Agitated groups of people gather on the streets, hotly discussing the news. It is reported that Kaiser Franz Joseph of Austria, in Ischl, almost completely collapses on receiving the news. "I am spared nothing in this world", he says. </div>
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Kaiser Franz Joseph has already lost his son, Crown Prince Rudolf, who committed suicide in 1889. He orders the court to be moved from Ischl to Vienna.</div>
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<b>The News in Germany.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Kiel, Germany</b>, June 29. </div>
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The article reports that Kaiser Wilhelm receives the sad news in the early afternoon. The "Kiel Week" (Kiel Regatta - the largest sailing event in the world) is in progress and the war vessels and yachts in the harbor set their flags to half-mast. The Kaiser orders a salute to be fired and it is discussed whether the Kiel Week should be aborted. He also orders all imperial palaces and official buildings to set their flags to half-mast.</div>
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The commander of the English squadron at Kiel has all the English vessels set their flags to half-mast.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Serbia and the Assassination<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Belgrade, Serbia</b>, June 30.</div>
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The article goes on to relate that the Serbian press reports that the nationality of the murderers is still unknown. The Serbian nation, however, sincerely regrets the deaths and respects and recognizes the pain of its neighboring state.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Budapest, Hungary</b>.</div>
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According to the article, Hungary's daily newspaper reports that both assassins have been living in Serajewo for two weeks, without police registration. Prinzip's landlord reported twice to the police that his tenant refused to fill out the official police registration, resulting in police intervention. Perhaps the men could have been put under surveillance and the assassination prevented? the paper asks.</div>
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Police and military authorities have searched Prinzip's room and confiscated letters, documents, and payment advice notes from the Pan-Serbian Action Committee in Belgrade.</div>
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The article goes on to report that the police in Serajewo are using almost half of the Serbian police force. The Serbian newspaper "Narod" published a sarcastic arcticle on the 25th of this month on the entry of the heir to the throne in Serajewo and wrote that this visit would not be able to stop the creation of the pan-Serbian state.</div>
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<b>Vienna, Austria</b>, June 29.</div>
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There is no doubt, Ettlingen's article continues, that the assassination is the result of Serbian propaganda. Proof of this can be seen in the newspaper "Novosti", published in Belgrade, which wrote in its Thursday edition that the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne should take a good look at Bosnia and Herzegowina this time, as it would be his last opportunity.</div>
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<b>Berlin, Germany</b>, June 30.</div>
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According to our article, the Serbian deputy to the consulate in Bosnia and Herzogowina circumvented the reception ceremonies of the heir to the Austrian throne in Bosnia by going "on vacation" to Serbia during the time of the visit.</div>
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Serbian business people in Serajewo also refused to decorate their houses as required by the city's authorities. However, in the Turkish quarter, houses and buildings were decorated with flags.</div>
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<b>Commotion in Bosnia</b></div>
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<b>Serajewo</b>, June 30. </div>
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In Mostar, the Moslems and Croats among the Serbs have created a bloodbath, according to our article. There are talks of 200 dead, the city is in flames. The Serbian businesses and institutions have been completely destroyed and the entire country is in uproar.</div>
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The article finishes by reporting that the bodies of the Archduke and his wife are brought home in state. </div>
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Archduke Karl Franz Joseph, aged 26 and the nephew of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, is the new heir to the throne. However, the article tells us, he is not as spirited as his murdered uncle.</div>
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<br />Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-91529563458802000722014-06-28T13:13:00.002+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.434+01:00This Week: Privates Johann and Josef BergerOur story this week comes from Franziska Langer of Ettlingenweier in the district of Ettlingen, whose father und uncle fought in the Great War.<br />
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Franziska's family was originally from Bavaria, but she has lived in Ettlingenweier most of her life. At the outbreak of war, the family owned a small farm in the village of Hintergrub, Bavaria. Back then, in order to be accepted by the community, a farmer's obligations were to build a house, plant a tree, and to produce a son and heir.<br />
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Franziska's father Johann Berger was born on August 20, 1877 in Hintergrub. Before the outbreak of war, he had already been called up for military training and in 1914, aged nearly 37, he was sent to fight in France.<br />
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Private Johann Berger, 1914<br />
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As a farmer, Johann had valuable experience in working with horses and as such he was entrusted with the task of looking after the horses with which his regiment went to battle.<br />
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Johann fought in the Ardennes, one of the opening battles of the First World War, and Sedan. He spent the rest of the war at the Western Front.<br />
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Johann survived the war and returned home, where in 1920 he married Anna, who was 20 years his junior and with whom he had a total of thirteen children. Franziska was the sixth child.<br />
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Johann died on January 24, 1949.<br />
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Franziska is still able to recite some of the songs of the Great War sung by her mother, such as "Der Gute Kamerad" ("The Good Comrade"):<br />
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Eine Kugel kam geflogen<br />
Gilt sie mir oder gilt sie dir?<br />
Ihn hat es weggerissen<br />
Er liegt vor meinen Füssen<br />
Als wär's ein Stück von mir.<br />
Will mir die Hand noch reichen<br />
Derweil ich eben lad.<br />
"Kann dir die Hand nicht geben<br />
Bleib du im ewigen Leben<br />
Mein guter Kamerad.<br />
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The song is about two soldiers, one of whom is killed by a bullet that could have hit either one of them. The dying man reaches out to his friend, who cannot give him his hand because he is loading his rifle. His friend tells him, "Kann dir die Hand nicht geben, bleib du im ewigen Leben mein guter Kamerad" - "I can't give you my hand, but you will always remain my good comrade, in eternal life".<br />
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Anna and Johann with eight of their thirteen children in 1938<br />
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The other five children in 1938. Franziska is in the middle of the back row in this photo. Her brother Hans, next to her, was reported missing in World War II and did not return.<br />
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Johann's older brother, Josef Berger, was born in February 1875 and went to war together with his brother in 1914. He also returned home after the war in 1918, when he left the farm to live in Munich.<br />
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Private Josef Berger in 1914<br />
<br />Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-58836396714574363902014-06-14T16:02:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.401+01:00Story Of The Week: Professor Karl GörlacherOur story this week comes from Rainer Görlacher of Karlsruhe, whose grandfather Karl Görlacher of Ettlingen fought in the Great War.<br />
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Karl was born on September 21, 1869 in Villingen. He married Sophie Regensburger, born on February 19, 1880 in Eppingen. Their marriage took place on November 20, 1900 in Freiburg.<br />
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Karl and Sophie lived in the Bismarckstrasse in Ettlingen, and Karl worked as a teacher at the local school - the Realprogymnasium with Realschule - where he held the title of Professor.<br />
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Karl and Sophie Görlacher<br />
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By the outbreak of war in 1914, Karl and Sophie had three children: Gertrud, born in 1901 in Heidelberg, Hans, born in 1903 in Ettlingen and Werner, born in 1905 in Ettlingen.<br />
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Although Karl was almost 45 when the Great War broke out, he was called up to fight in August 1914. Karl held the rank of "Hauptmann der Landwehr", which is equivalent to a Captain.<br />
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This extract from the school's accounts records of December 10, 1914 shows that "the married Professor Karl Görlacher, employed at the Realprogymnasium with Realschule in Ettlingen has been called up as Hauptmann der Landwehr following military mobilization. According to notification by the military authorities, he will receive his monthly salary as 'battlefield remuneration' in August and September 1914 and from October 1, 1914 he will receive a monthly salary as a Hauptmann at the Ettlingen Military Preparation Establishment". (The figures in Reichsmark have been eliminated in this photo).<br />
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In his "War Diary" of 1914, Dr. Richard Barth, editor of Ettlingen's newspaper "Mittebadische Courier", reported the following on September 2, 1914. Here, he mentions that Professor Görlacher, brought wounded to the lazarett in Ettlingen, provides news on the fighting at the Vosges in France:<br />
"At 12 o'clock, Town Councillor Buhl came to my office. He reported that wounded soldiers transported to Karlsruhe brought the news that the French had once again penetrated German territory at Saarburg. He reminded me that the French Supreme Commander had announced that he would send his troops to the threatened northern part of France. Buhl believes that this maneuver was intended to confuse the Germans, as our wounded arriving from Alsace, such as the sick Professor <u>Görlacher</u>, report that the French have large numbers of armed forces at the Vosges. He considers it worrying that we are no longer hearing anything from the army of the Crown Prince of Bavaria [Prince Ruprecht of Bavaria] other than that they have stalled at the fort belt and the last news we had was that they and the army of the Crown Prince [presumably of Germany, Prince Wilhelm] are in battle with the French.<br />
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Karl with his pupils, a pre-war photo<br />
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Strict accounts of the payments to men called up to fight from the school were kept in the school's accounts records.<br />
Karl's entry is shown on the left (the figures in Reichsmark have been eliminated in the photo).<br />
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Karl together with his colleagues. An arrow has been inserted to show where Karl is standing.<br />
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Karl survived the war and returned to Ettlingen, where he once again took up his position as Professor at the school. He and Sophie had one more child, sadly, their son was stillborn on July 28th, 1919.<br />
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This photo shows Karl with his colleagues in the 1920s. Karl is standing directly in front of the stove. In contrast with the photo above, there are now four ladies on the teaching staff.<br />
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Karl died on March 9, 1943 in Karlsruhe, but he is buried in Ettlingen. Sophie died on May 24, 1945 in Furtwangen.Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-85529418977979327072014-06-08T15:33:00.001+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.425+01:00This Week's Story: Parades and FeldmesseThis week our story contains original photographs sent from both the Eastern and Western Fronts, of parades and the "Feldmesse" (field church service).<br />
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This photo was sent by <a href="http://ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/01/this-week-dr-theodor-kiefer.html">Tor Kiefer</a> to his family in a letter dated August 24, 1916. Tor's regiment is fighting near the Stokhid (Stochod) river on the Eastern Front at this time, and is lying between Polish and Austrian legions.<br />
Tor served in the RIR 249 and later in the RIR 250.<br />
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"Hab acht!" Tor writes on the back, which means "Stand to attention!"<br />
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"The German and Austrian officers in front of the altar" Tor captions this photo.<br />
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Tor's regiment joined the mass held by the Austrians on August 18, 1916, in honor of the Austrian Kaiser Franz Josef's 86th birthday. The Austrians were very pleased that the Germans participated in the mass. The Kaiser died 4 months later.<br />
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It was a Catholic mass, a "Feldmesse". A Protestant service would have been a "Feldgottesdienst".<br />
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This photo was sent by <a href="http://ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/02/story-of-week-staff-seargeant-rudolf.html">Rudolf Kessler</a> to his family from the Western Front.<br />
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The troops are marching past a commanding officer. Rudolf served in the Leibgrenadier-Regiment 109.<br />
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Rudolf also sent this photo, which shows troops on parade and about to be inspected by a commanding officer approaching from the left.<br />
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<br />Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-91378714157044813042014-05-31T10:25:00.002+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.431+01:00Story This Week: Grenadier Nikolaus MaurerThis week our story comes from Hermann Sattler of Ettlingenweier in the district of Ettlingen, whose grandfather on his mother's side fought in the Great War.<br />
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Nikolaus Maurer was born on December 6, 1882 and joined up to fight at the outbreak of war.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFptCewkAH2a41-ib_xWjMXlyo7AK8ZVkl8HBQkzTpH8jqb8STxewtL2cGpS3xNnrENDe57-A6VZIswVB5i5EP9D582rm2c-2HVdoQhup8Gq3FK8RMjWa3nvSFNagN76m-B40WJ3AHP-qh/s1600/20140228_104020+(640x480).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFptCewkAH2a41-ib_xWjMXlyo7AK8ZVkl8HBQkzTpH8jqb8STxewtL2cGpS3xNnrENDe57-A6VZIswVB5i5EP9D582rm2c-2HVdoQhup8Gq3FK8RMjWa3nvSFNagN76m-B40WJ3AHP-qh/s1600/20140228_104020+(640x480).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><br />
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Nikolaus' Military Pass book, which was held by his company. The Military Pass recorded all the soldier's missions, the battles he had fought in and the type of warfare (such as trench warfare) that he had participated in. It also recorded any stays in the lazaret and vaccinations (as shown in the Pass above). The "Soldbuch" on the other hand, remained with the soldier and served as an identification document as well as recording the soldier's salary and the equipment he had been issued with.<br />
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The missions, battles and types of warfare are shown here, together with dates.<br />
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Nikolaus fought on the Western Front, with the 2nd Badische Grenadier-Regiment No. 110, at the Battles of the Somme and the Marne. He was wounded twice.<br />
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Nikolaus survived the war and died on March 15, 1956.<br />
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Hermann has also provided us with this photo of wounded soldiers sitting outside the lazaret set up at Ettlingen's Palace, in December 1915.<br />
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<br />Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-56745719149624036642014-05-24T12:36:00.000+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.399+01:00This Week: Private Alfred SchottmüllerOur photos and stories this week once again come from Brigitte Weber of Ettlingen-Spessart, which lies in the hills above Ettlingen Valley. Brigitte's uncles Josef Martus and Albert Fang both fought and died in Laffaux on the Western Front. Brigitte's family collected the memorial cards of friends and others who had fallen, as well as postcards sent home from the Front.<br />
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A typical postcard sent home during the Great War. The theme of many of these romanticized portrayals of the Front was to let the soldier's loved one (girlfriend, wife) know that he had died "true" to her.<br />
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"Und sag' ihr, dass ich treu,<br />
Ihr treu gestorben sei.<br />
Es soll nicht sein, ich kehr' nicht heim<br />
Nach Stolzenfels am Rhein".<br />
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"And tell her that I died<br />
True only unto her.<br />
'Twas not to be, I'll not return<br />
To Stolzenfels am Rhein".<br />
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Alfred Schottmüller was a friend of the family and a member of Spessart's Choral Society. A photo he sent home, taken at Christmas at the Front, is shown here. Alfred is standing and marked by the x in this photo.<br />
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Alfred served with the Infantrie Ersatz Bataillon 110, which was assigned to the 28th Division of the German Army. He spent the latter part of 1914 and early 1915 in training at the 8th Korps recruit training center in Heidelberg-Schwetzingen.<br />
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The recruits of the Ersatz Bataillon 110 at Heidelberg-Schwetzingen in early 1915. Alfred is standing at the far right of this photo, marked again by the x.<br />
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In August 1918, the bataillon was stationed in trench warfare in the Champagne region on the Western Front. Alfred fell on August 15, 1918 at Maronvilliers. Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258621545929498683.post-28712181376574335542014-05-18T09:40:00.001+02:002017-01-14T10:41:17.385+01:00This Week: Private Hermann BaaderThis week our story is brought to us by retired parson Engelbert Baader of Ettlingen Town. Engelbert's uncle Hermann Baader was born on June 12, 1896 and served as a private in the Great War.<br />
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Hermann was 18 when war broke out, and was therefore able to sign up straight away. His brother <a href="http://ettlingenww1.blogspot.de/2014/02/story-this-week-private-karl-friedrich.html">Karl</a> was also eager to join the army, but because he was only 16 their father would not allow it. However, excited by the prospect of one day being able to fight at the front, Karl visited his brother Hermann during his period of military training at Rastatt, near Ettlingen, and Schwetzingen near Heidelberg.<br />
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Private Hermann Baader in 1914 at the age of 18.</div>
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After training, Hermann was sent to the Eastern Front, while his brother Karl, who joined up in 1916, fought at the Western Front. Despite the difficult weather conditions and heavy fighting in Russia, Hermann survived and returned to Ettlingen, where he married his wife Ida in 1923. Following Ida's death, Hermann later remarried in 1936, this time to Martha, with whom he had a son.</div>
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Hermann died on June 10, 1969 in Karlsruhe.</div>
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Ettlingen WW1http://www.blogger.com/profile/08711021882603662138noreply@blogger.com0