Marcin FELEDZIAK Infantry Regiment 171

[Martin Feledziak]

OK so just thinking of the 34th Division which would have 2 Artillery Regiments - 69th and 70th.

that gives the possibility of 72 guns.

so adding the 33rd Divisions 33rd and 34th Artillery Regiments

you could get 154 guns for the whole of the 16th Corps.

[Martin Feledziak]

The strange thing is that I have not seen Pioneer No29 listed with the 33rd or 34th Divisions.

Most documents link Lorraine Engineer Battalion No.16

Not only does the "Epic Biblical book" other wise known as the intelligence book of 251 divisions which took part in war.

but also my "Janet and John" The handbook of Imperial Germany-

and this

http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/PB_16

I suspect Pioneer Regiment. 29

was a specialist group which performed various tasks with the 5th Army.

[JWK]

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/V._Armee-Korps_(Deutsches_Kaiserreich)

Kommando der Pioniere des V. Armee-Korps

• Niederschlesisches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 5 in Glogau
• Posensches Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 29 in Posen

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neupreu%C3%9Fische_Pionierbataillone

Waren einem Armeekorps mehrere Pionier-Bataillone zugeteilt, wurden diese unter einem Kommando der Pioniere bei dem jeweiligen Armeekorps zusammengefasst. Diesen Dienststellen kam die Aufgabe zu, die Ausbildung und Kriegsbereitschaft der Pioniertruppenteile zu überwachen, während die Generalkommandos der Armeekorps für die Verwaltungs- und Versorgungsangelegenheiten der Bataillone zuständig waren.

"If an Armee-Korps had several Pionier-Batallions then these were grouped within a "Kommando der Pioniere".

This commando was responsible for the training and "war-readiness of the Pioneers, whilst the General Command of the Army Corps was responsible for the administration,supplies etc.

[Martin Feledziak]

It took just over 100 years for our family to visit the final resting place of my Grand Fathers Brother, Johann Feledziak. I am guessing that there were a number of reasons for this.

The family very rarely discussed those dark times and even when there was mention they had no knowledge of where in France Johann met his end. They were not very wealthy coming from farms and coal mines, Most of the males in the family would have been soldiers themselves and of those three were killed, several wounded and 2 taken prisoner.

Johann is at rest at Servon Melzicourt with 10147 other souls, even now there are hardly any family tributes. There are 4 names on each cross so even though the area looks sparse it would be 4 buried in sections around each cross. The mass graves are at the top of the site with large plaques listing the names. I am sure that it would have looked much different in 1919, the trees present now would not have been there and the crosses would have been made of wood,

Happily the internet has provided a way into this missing history. The Verlustlisten and VDK on-line search facilities were the key for me and now others will find history

[Martin Feledziak]

This is a link to a top quality map.

16th Army Corps

http://wiki-commons.genealogy.net/images/1/16/ArgonnenKorpsKarte1914.jpg

here is an image in small scale

[Martin Feledziak]

I now see where Johann and PI 29 fits into the scheme. They are listed as assigned troops.
The 27th Infanterie Division is also included in the Corps.

So in the above map the 27th Division are on the left, then the 34th Division in the middle and the 33rd Division on the Right.

Johann was killed during underground mine warfare just at the bulge in the map, left of centre.( Bagatelle Pavilion )

http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/XVI._Armeekorps_(Alte_Armee)/Argonnenkorps_Ende_Juni_1915

Here is the XVI Schematic. with the extra troops section cut off- for size reasons.

[Martin Feledziak]

These are the "Higher Animals", Majors of Battalions 1 and 2

Not sure what the all the Stick 'men' symbols represent.

I have just descovered that many of the schemes and maps are from this book.

https://archive.org/details/schlachtendeswel18olde

[Martin Feledziak]

This Artillery piece is in the town square at Montfaucon D'Argonne. It is marked with a 1916 date. Serial Nr 5964

( there is also a Sherman Tank from WW2 )

Johhan was here in September 1914 so before this gun arrived on the front.

Andi Lucas has identified it :-

10.5cm leichte Feldhaubitze 98/09. It seems to be in fairly good shape, but could do with a bit of a clean!

[Martin Feledziak]

I have just been viewing the images from the Cemetery are Servon Melzicourt I thought to check a few of the soldiers at rest there.

The below is a close up from a cross at the top end, furthest from the road.

names

on this side of the cross are :-

Ferdinand SPIERING, Musketier + 17 07 1915 &

Albert KWIATKOWSKY(I) Gerfreiter + 30 06 1915

For Ferdinand there is 1 record on the Verlustlisten and appears to be a good match.

if it is him he was from Füchtorf, Warendorf. The report appeared on 20th August 1915.

There were a good many records for Infanterie Regiment N0 135.

http://des.genealogy.net/search/show/2690308

For Albert there are 4 options with an "I" at the end of his name not a "Y"

A member of infanterie Regiment No 30 from Adlig Kamionken, Marienwerder

http://des.genealogy.net/search/show/2586061

Both IR 135 and IR 30 were located in this zone of fighting.

[Martin Feledziak]

Christian HEINZ

Pionier + 24 04 1915

a good possible

http://des.genealogy.net/search/show/1064489

Enzklösterle, Neuenbürg

[Martin Feledziak]

Here is a pionier from Johann's Regiment - but 3 Kompanie.

August Kendzierski

http://des.genealogy.net/search/show/1484571

http://des.genealogy.net/search/show/881042

Soldau, Kr. Neidenburg

[Martin Feledziak]

Verlustlisten 1. Weltkrieg, page 5.479: Gereke Ludwig (Delligsen, Gandersheim)

http://des.genealogy.net/search/show/1677408

[Martin Feledziak]

Right that should do for Johann Feledziak Pionier

now for a little look at Johann Feledziak Fusilier, he is at rest about 10 miles away.

This is the Cemetery at Consenvoye.

[Martin Feledziak]

This is the schematic for the 5th Reserve Corps.

It consisted of two divisions, made up mostly of reserve units. In general, Reserve Corps and Reserve Divisions were weaker than their active counterparts.

It mobilised with 22 infantry battalions, 7 machine gun companies (42 machine guns), 6 cavalry squadrons, 12 field artillery batteries (72 guns) and 3 Pionieer companies. The 10th Reserve Division was slightly stronger than the norm as it included Johann's active 77th infantry brigade.

[Martin Feledziak]

I have been looking at the soldiers killed on 28th June 1917.

This would have been the first day of the two day offensive upto Hill 304.

this is a page from the regiment history FR37

The below is a short list which links to the casualty report from Berlin on 25th July 1917.

I can see that

Martin Drozdynski born 01 10 1890 - killed the same day as Johann was wounded.

He is listed as an Acting Officer

http://des.genealogy...ch/show/6476099

others lost:-

http://des.genealogy...ch/show/6409727

http://des.genealogy...ch/show/6409696

Johann is also reported on the same page. It has him listed as seriously wounded - but in truth he had already died in the Stennay Hospital on 18 July 1917.

http://des.genealogy...ch/show/6476957

Conclusion :-

I am guessing that Martin Drozdynski was leading in one of the below five groups up the Hill 304 on 28th June 1917. He may have been with Max Puppe, Paul Pruszalkiewicz and others including my great Uncle Johann to their ultimate end.

Records indicate that they all died there, or died as a result of this action, as in the case of Johann.

As can be seen there were 5 groups which followed the yellow lines through the German defence lines into the two French trench systems.

Edited 25 July , 2022 by Martin Feledziak

[Martin Feledziak]

Here is the overview or the position of the VRK - 5th Reserve Corps in 1916.

This is the year before Johann's death. He may not have joined his unit until late 1916 early 1917.

You can just see Douamont bottom left of the map. The Extensive Fortifications would fall during the steady German advance.

[Martin Feledziak]

Here is Schematic for the (VRK) 5th Reserve Korps.

Johann's unit are in the 2nd Column 10th Reserve Division, box 3 down, Fusilier Regiment No37

His cousins units also appear

number (12 ) below, Martin Feledziak born 1895 - in the 4th Column in the 50th Infantry Division, Fusilier Regiment No39. (Prisoner of war 1915)

number ( 9 ) Jozef Feledziak born 1894 - in 1st column, 9th Reserve Division, Reserve Infantry Regiment No6 (Prisoner of war 1916)

it looks like he was a POW In early March 1916 so same date as this graphic.

[ph0ebus]

I am quite impressed with the research you have been doing thus far...the depth of what you are putting together is quite interesting. Well done!

-Daniel

[Martin Feledziak]

Hi Daniel.

I have decided that the best way to learn is to record everything - and these threads are just great for recording images and information.

I can't remember everything I read but if I find something which I think is relevant I drop it on this thread then I can find it later. Sometimes you make a note of something on another thread, then you might take a while to find it.

The good thing is that anyone else with an interest can find it too. This is the way I landed on this forum in the first place, I did a google and here I am.

Also many times you get some great input from others.

( As you have assisted me many times !! )

Martin

[Martin Feledziak]

Up for sale on on a popular site is this book.

It is well above my price range so I will have to wait for it to be digitized.

It is My Grandfathers regiment. Marcin Feledziak born 1897, (6) on my signature

However the seller has taken a few pictures of the maps contained.

I can see from one of the skizzies that IR 171 were in the woods north of Gesnes and south of Romagne sous Montfaucon.

Therefore in the Argonne Forest at some stage.

Both Johanns would already be dead by the time IR171 were on the scene.

NB I don't know if you are still reading this thread Justin but this is much the same area and possibly same timeslot for Max Polak and his American 127th Infantry Regiment.

I can't tell a date from the map but in the book it does follow the map Skizze 21 for Corcy and Longpont which is where IR171 were in Early June 1918.

So the whole German Army would be on the retreat.

If my theory is correct Grandfather would have been in a military hospital in Nurnburg late June 1918

It is also possible that he would have had time to recover and be sent back to his unit so he could have been at Gesnes in October 1918. In time for his 21st Birthday

But now I know there is more information to be found in the below book.

[Martin Feledziak]

I have copied the below map from Justin's Thread.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=166808&hl=%2Bmax+%2Bpolak

It shows the 115th German Infantry Division ( IR171 & IR136 ) opposing the American 32nd Division ( 127th Infantry ) Regiment . October 1918.

[Martin Feledziak]

I have just had another look at the images taken by the seller of the Regiment History for IR171.

As luck would have it two sample pages of text have been included. one page is for October 1918 and matches the blurry Skizzie 22 image.

Using my best pigeon German I can see that it lists IR171 and IR169 in the woods North West of Gesnes. It also lists IR173 and IR136 to the right of them. Can't be too sure as it is very fuzzy.

I have not seen this Division configured in this way before. Having said that there would obviously be an element of disarray as they were mostly retreating.

[JWK]

Martin,

have downloaded the pages you mentioned. When I have time I'll have a go at translating them.

And can I just say: that book-cover surely belongs in the thread "Best book-covers" (or something in that style) somewhere on this forum.

Happened upon that thread one day by accident, and then lost it forever...

The typeset is a sight for sore eyes.

Have you asked Patrick at http://military-books.lima-city.de/test/index.html ?

He's a member of this forum, I forget his username sorry... , maybe he has the book "lying around, gathering dust", or has it scanned already ready to publish on his website, but then there's always the distinct possibility that maybe he doesn't....

JW

[seaforths]

Great minds think alike JW. I'm just after posting the same advice quoting another post from Martin. Patrick is very good. If he doesn't have a copy, he can usually advise if it is rare/scarce/expensive to get hold of. And he doesn't charge the earth to download his books either. Also, pointing out there are some of the old Michelin illustrated battlefield guides on the area that can be downloaded from archives.org site. There are a few different versions some, I think, might be in French. They are fairly inexpensive to buy online through sites like abe.

[AOK4]

I have the regimental history of IR 171...