Bayerisches Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 19

[Heran]

Hi All,

My name is Antonio and since January this year, I started studying over the Bavarian Army in the WW1. I also started collecting Items, specially Militärverdienstkreuz (MVK) and Militärverdienstkreuz (MVO). I also got a few Militärpässe, all Bavarian. A really interesting tool to know more about the Unit and what it is around.

Sorry to bother you, I will go to the point. I am not sure if to post in this section or in the Soldier's section.

I am trying to look for information about one Bavarian Battalion in 1917 and hope somebody can help me.

I am trying to look for information for Bayerisches Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 19, specially in 1917, because this Bataillon was already in 1918 part of the 8th Reserve Bay. Division.

Does anybody know something, or at least, where should I start. I am posting below pictures of this Militärpass (Urban Koch, Gefreiter), where we can also see the battle he was. It is really difficult to see where he was due to the conditions of that document, but we see that in July and August 1917 he was really busy in the area of Lens (The 8th Reserve Bay. Division was in Romania and Ukraine in that moment).

So, did this Bataillon took part in the attack to Hill 70? But I can not see any other Bavarian Unit in that area, or am I wrong?

Anyway, please allow me to show you a few pictures of this document and how busy was Urban back then.

Any info you can provide, will be more than welcome.

Thanks in Advance

Best Regards

[Karsten]

Hi Antonio,

I don't know how deep you want to do your research ...

You could try and find the war diary (if it still exists) at the Bayerisches Staatsarchiv - Kriegsarchiv in Munich.

Or you could start with the book "Die Bayern im Großen Kriege 1914 - 1918".

Regards,

Karsten

[Heran]

Hi Karsten,

Thanks for your comment. I got a list of German divisions in the area from Lens between the 15th and 27th of August:

1.Garde-Res.Div.

4.Garde-Inf.Div.

7.Inf.Div.

11.Res.Div.

220.Inf.Div.

But funny enough in that book ("Die Bayern im Großen Kriege 1914 - 1918".), there is not mention whatsoever over Lens, only over Ypern (Between 15th of August and 20th September, Pages 390-400).

The main problem for me is to track the list of battles and places where Urban was. The list is quite difficukt to be read, that is why, I thought that tracking the original Regiment/Division from this Bataillon in 1917, could give me an idea where this man was. The problem is also that this Bataillon could have been also independent from any division and used "in case of emergency" where it was needed.

Anyway, I will keep searching.

As I said, I appreciate your comment.

Best Regards

Antonio Herrera

[Ken S.]

When I look for information on the Net about a unit I run through possible variations and abbreviated forms; for example, when I tried "Fußartillerie-Bataillon 19" this is what I got:

Tagebuch von Franz Gutneder (geboren am 16.10.1893, gestorben am 01.01.1966) aus Neustadt an der Donau, Großvater der Teilnehmerin; das Tagebuch schrieb er vom 11.12.1915 bis zum 21.6.1916; Gutneder hält sich bei seinen Aufzeichnungen an die Fakten, er lässt kaum Emotionen erkennen; von Beruf Schuhmacher; Diensteintritt am 21.10.1913, ab dem 10.08.1914 im Feld; Gutneder war zuerst an der Westfront in Frankreich (Lothringen) für das Königlich Bayerische 1. Fußartillerieregiment, 1. Batterie im Einsatz (u.a. nahm er an Schlacht an der Somme teil, 23.09.1914-03.10.1914), ab 08.03.1916 in türkischen Diensten (1. türkische schwere Schnellfeuer Haubitz Batterie), 03.05.1916-23.10.1916 Irakfront, erkrankte an Malaria (Aufenthalt im Lazarett in Bagdad vom 01.11.1916 bis zum 21.11.1916), am 05.02.1917 ins Bayerische Fußartillerie Bataillon 19, 2. Batterie versetzt, Gutneder wurde am 15.12.1918 aus dem Militärdienst zurück in die Heimat entlassen; Transkription des Tagebuchs von Franziska Eberl, geb. Gutneder (Tochter).

http://www.europeana1914-1918.eu/hu/contributions/1902

Keep in mind that whoever posts the information on the Internet may make up arbitrary abbreviations or may not know (or care) about the difference between, say, an active, Reserve, Landwehr, etc. unit...

A wartime formation like Fußartillerie Bataillon 19 could have been affiliated with with an active regiment, and since in this case he enlisted with the 2. Fußartillerie-Regiment this would be a good place to start. I've tried to find a regimental history for this unit, but can only find one from before the war (1906).

[Heran]

Thanks Lieut-Coronel for your help.

Slowly I am getting more information about where this Bataillon was and also with other Units fighting near by. At the end went back to Lens and the battle in August 1917(Canadian Battle, right?). Checked the German Divisions used in that Battle, I find name of places similar as what it is written in the last scan. For example, Artois or Flandern.

Anyway, see how it goes... and looking forward to keep recieved this type of documents.

Best regards

Antonio