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Archiver > GEN-DE > 2001-10 > 1001974352


From: "Henning Boettcher" <>
Subject: Re: German Military
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 00:12:32 +0200
References: <EU%t7.49762$wX7.3865833684@newssvr15.news.prodigy.com>, <9paa1u$kok$01$1@news.t-online.com>


That must not have been a war. Zimmerau could just have been a place
for new, young soldiers to learn to be a soldier (barracks/Kaserne).

--
Kind regards
Henning Boettcher
"Manfred Fuchs" <> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:9paa1u$kok$01$1@news.t-online.com...
> Hi,
>
> there was no battle in Germany in 1890.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Manfred
> "Sarah J. Adams" <> schrieb im Newsbeitrag
> news:EU%t7.49762$...
> > Good day!
> >
> > I was wondering if I could pose a curious question concerning
the German
> > military, particularly, the regiments of Bavaria. I am looking
for
> > information on several ancestors who served in the army and I am
trying to
> > confirm or at least give credence to some family stories.
> >
> > The first question:
> > Is there a database or place a person could contact to locate
information
> > for men who served from Otterstadt, Pfalz, Bavaria in the 1870s.
I am
> > particularly looking for my 2xggrandfather, Joseph Ackermann.
> >
> > The second queestion:
> >
> > I am trying to sort out a story a relative sent to me concerning
his great
> > grandfather, Philip Heinrich Ackermann. He was originally was
from
> > Otterstadt and died in 1890 when his horse fell in battle on him
and he
> laid
> > on the feild for several days before he was located. Ironically,
his
> > children were brought to America by relatives who had kept
intouch with
> him.
> > He was apparently stationed at a town called Zimmerau. I have
been unable
> to
> > locate any fortifications or military posts near a town called
Zimmerau in
> > this time period. Any ideas?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Sarah Adams
> > From: <>
> > Subject: German military
> > Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 12:38 PM
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 9/26/01 4:04:15 AM,

> writes:
> >
> > << > The wars that raged over Europe during the second half of
the century
> > > (1866, 1870-71, ...) didn't help to improve things. Although
somebody
> > > has suggested that joining the army would've been an option, I
don't
> > > really think so. Only wealthy guys were able to rise from the
ranks >>
> >
> > Not so.
> > The later part of the 1800s, after 1871 was known as the
"peace years"
> in
> > Germany and military life was relatively slow and easy although
it is true
> > that the military was not well paid and many boys had to
suppliment their
> > income from home.
> > Prussia followed the example of France after the Revolution
and created
> a
> > "citizen", rather than a "standing" army with conscription. It
was
> probably
> > the most democratic army in Europe, much more so than the
British, for
> > instance. Over 50% of the officer ranks were boys from commoner
families.
> A
> > joke at the time is that there weren't enough noble boys who
were smart
> > enough to pass the necessary exams :-). (my apologies to Gilbert
who had
> > more
> > miliary ancestors than anyone I know, and others) This, along
with the
> > clergy
> > was one of the few paths to upward social mobility.
> > My grandfather who came up through the ranks in the Prussian
cavalry to
> > the rank of captain and then emigrated to America, said that
every time
> they
> > came through a town there were parades and young girls would put
on their
> > best a prettiest dresses and carry flowers. Many poems and songs
about
> this.
> > The point being that the military was well regarded and well
rewarded.
> Every
> > veteran was entitled to and guaranteed a civil service job at
the end of
> his
> > service years.
> > Because Pomerania was under the Law of Primogeniter, the
oldest boy
> in
> > Pommern inherited the property and the other sons had the option
of
> working
> > for him or doing something else. Under the circumstances, I can
understand
> > the lure of America with a new life, cheap land, and the
opportunity to
> be
> > anything you wanted, was alluring. And for most of our ancestors
that is
> > exactly what America offered.
> > If you would like to learn more about this you might read
> "Administraton
> > of the Prussian Army 1872". This is an excellent article and
will answer
> all
> > your questions.
> >
www.hillsdale.edu/dept/history/documents/war/19e/1872-Prussia.htm
> > It is 6 pages long so you might want to download it.
> >
> > Ronald D. Schultz
> > Moraga, CA
> >
> >
> >
>
>


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