10th Coy, 99th Reserve Inf. Regt.

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Many of you have read the article on the Schwaben Redoubt placed on the forum by Desmond7 (Des), a well written article. I was happy to have played a small part in supplying some details from the German side of the action.

I have been studying the German side of the Somme for some time and as part of the research I have been looking at the casualties suffered by the German regiments. The attached list is incomplete as yet but gives the viewer some idea of the losses suffered by the defenders. The 10/R99 held the front line along the front attacked by the 36th Ulster Division and overrun in the opening stage of the attack. A typical German company at that time in the 26th Reserve Division held about 200-225 officers and men each. Subtract the men who would normally be in the rear during any attack and you could come to an average company strength of 175-200 men available for the actual defense.

When working on this aspect of the research the difficult part was was identifying the date the man became a casualty. Unfortunately the German Verlsutlisten do not identify the actual date of the loss, only a period of time that could range from 10 days to almost 3 weeks in some cases. Using other sources it is possible to tentatively identify the date and considering the history of the regiment most if not all of the men on the attached list became casualties on 1 July 1916.

Name Rank Date Notes

Braun, Alfred Leutnant der Reserve 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Buzello, Herbert Leutnant der Reserve 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Hessinger, Eduard Leutnant der Reserve Slightly wounded.

Augerhausen, Johann Vizefeldwebel 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Geikler, Wilhelm Vizefeldwebel 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Streeck, Albert Vizefeldwebel 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Walter, Wilhelm Vizefeldwebel 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Braun, Alexander Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Buchy, Viktor Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Engelke, Hermann Unteroffizier Slightly wounded.

Flick, Karl Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Grube gen. Gössmann, Gustav Unteroffizier7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Günther, Philipp Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Münstermann, Johann Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Ofthaus, Dietrich Unteroffizier Slightly wounded.

Pfleger, Leo Unteroffizier Slightly wounded.

Rathing, August Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Schauer, August Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Spanka, Emil Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Steger, Ludwig Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Winter, Emil Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Wintgens, Wilhelm Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Rupp, Karl Sanitäts Unteroffizier 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Abramski, August Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Balsam, Heinrich Gefreiter K.I.A.

Bassler, Albert Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Benning, Hermann Gefreiter 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Eisfeld, Walter Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Hirschfeld, Hermann Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Jung, Karl Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Slightly wounded.

Kobus, August Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Kolter, Emil Gefreiter K.I.A.

Kopras, Martin Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Lenz, Emil Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Meters, Heinrich Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Mosser, Alois Gefreiter 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Richter, Friedrich Gefreiter Slightly wounded.

Scholl, August Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Schulte, Otto Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Tomaschewski, Bernhard Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

van de Sand, Friedrich Gefreiter 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Arnold, Alfons Private Slightly wounded.

Bartkowiak, Anton Private Slightly wounded.

Bauersfeld, August Private K.I.A.

Berg, Xaver Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Bering, Bernhard Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Berkhoff, Theodor Private Died from wounds

Bertram, Fritz Private Severely wounded

Beumick, Bernhard Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Beyl, Georg Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Borghard, Friedrich Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Brameyer, Bernhard Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Brückmann, Leo Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Brüggemann, Johann Private K.I.A.

Buckstegen, Jakob Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Christen, Willy Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Cyraniak, Josef Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Dahmen, Wilhelm Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Dietzel, Paul Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Enke, Hermann Private Severely wounded

Erber, Fritz Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Erbs, Willy Private Slightly wounded.

Escherick, Karl Private Slightly wounded.

Faber, Robert Private K.I.A.

Faulwetter, Paul Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Fleiss, Johannes Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Freund, Paul Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Friedrich, Franz Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Fritzsche, Edwin Private Wounded.

Fuhri, Georg Private Slightly wounded.

Gajda, Franz Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Gässner, Otto Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Gehlen, Johann Private Slightly wounded.

Glapa, Josef Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Goldhardt, Max Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Griego, Wilhelm Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Griesbeck, Augustius Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Groll, Ernst Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Hansen, Jakob Private K.I.A.

Haun, Baldnin Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Heinemann, Alfred Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Henke, Max Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Hilbert, Arno Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Hoettler, Emil Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Hoffmann, Bernhard Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Imbs, Arthur Private Severely wounded

Jacob, Louis Private Slightly wounded.

Kametzti, Josef Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Kamke, Friedrich Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Kammerhoff, Hans Private Slightly wounded.

Kavala, Anton Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Kempen, Heinrich Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Kietter, August Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Kilian, Kaspar Private Slightly wounded.

Knopp, Heinrich Private K.I.A.

Köcher, Franz Private Slightly wounded.

Kohlenberg, Friedrich Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Köhler, Karl Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Koschord, Adolf Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Krafft, Georg Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Krauel, Hermann Private Slightly wounded.

Kunst, Josef Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Kurch, Reinhold Private Slightly wounded.

Lauder, Peter Private Severely wounded

Lauer, Josef Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Laurischkus, Fritz Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Leidorf, Johann Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Löhr, Josef Private Slightly wounded.

Lütgemeyer, Johann Private Slightly wounded.

Mächt, Louis Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Mantel, Anton Private K.I.A.

Matthes, Ernst Private K.I.A.

Mehrmann, Kaspar Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Mellen, Heinrich Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Mempel, Alfred Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Metzer, Josef Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Metzger, Michael Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Michel, Adam Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Mobe, Christian Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Müller, Karl Private K.I.A.

Müller, Wilhelm Private Severely wounded

Mundt, Johann Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Natrup, Bernhard Private Slightly wounded.

Nöthlich, Wilhelm Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Ogozeja, Johann Private Slightly wounded.

Overkämping, Josef Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Petz, Ernst Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Picard, Gustav Private Slightly wounded.

Pierschkalla, Josef Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Pilz, Wilhelm Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Plöger, Louis Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Possner, Otto Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Prepot, Georg Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Rehberger, Karl Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Rehm, Karl Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Reilein, Friedrich Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Reissmann, Walter Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Reitz, Adam Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Richter, Hugo Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Riva, Josef Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Rödel, Karl Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Romey, Karl Private K.I.A.

Rosendahl, Johannes Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Roszick, Franz Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Schaller, Paul Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Scharmann, Bernhard Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Schawinski, Heinrich Private Slightly wounded.

Schmidt, Artur Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Schneider, Johann Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Scholz, Emil Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Schräder, Johann Private Slightly wounded.

Schumacher, Bernhard Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Spanka, Michael Private Slightly wounded.

Springer, Josef Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Stahlberg, Franz Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Stein, Karl Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Stein, Stephan Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Steinmüller, Karl Private Slightly wounded.

Stine, Karl Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Stoll, Christian Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Striehn, Max Private Slightly wounded.

Switalla, Ignatz Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Szwaleck, Andreas Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Taubermann, Josef Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Tomaszewski, Franz Private K.I.A.

Tomczat, Lorenz Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Tönis, Otto Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Weber, Heinrich Private Slightly wounded.

Weiss, Karl Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Weller, Karl Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Welsch, Jakob Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Wirtz, Josef Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Wölfel, Max Private 7/1/1916 P.O.W.

Wozniak, Franz Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Zapfe, Arno Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

Zielonka, Peter Private K.I.A.

Zimmermann, Georg Private 7/1/1916 Missing in Action

177 officers and men in total. The term 'Private' is used as the actual rank, Landwehrmann, Reservist, etc. is not known at present.

Ralph

[Robert Dunlop]

Thank you very much Ralph.

Interesting to see how many became POWs as well.

Robert

[Desmond7]

Always great to see more information about this action coming forward.

Thanks Ralph.

The POW figures definitely tie in with speed and shock nature of the Ulster Div attack on the first line. More evidence that a full-blooded charge may have also paid similar dividends on other sectors?

As an amateur dabbling in tactics that's the way it seems to me.

Every statistic has a name, every name representing a human being. Thanks for sharing that information.

Des

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

I did a little further checking and about a month after the first list was published a second list came out and the following men listed as missing in action were later changed to the status of P.O.W. The Prussian list number and date of publication is shown.

Abramski, August P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Bassler, Albert P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Beumick, Bernhard P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Buzello, Herbert P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Christen, Willy P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Dahmen, Wilhelm P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Eisfeld, Walter P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Glapa, Josef P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Heinemann, Alfred P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Kamke, Friedrich P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Kietter, August P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Köhler, Karl P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Mellen, Heinrich P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Michel, Adam P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Münstermann, Johann P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Nöthlich, Wilhelm P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Possner, Otto P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Reitz, Adam P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Rödel, Karl P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Schaller, Paul P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Scholl, August P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Schulte, Otto P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Schumacher, Bernhard P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Stein, Karl P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Stoll, Christian P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Streeck, Albert P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Tomaszewski, Franz P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Weller, Karl P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Zimmermann, Georg P.O.W. No. 643, 26 September 1916

Even more prisoners than first expected. I need to go further to see what the end result was for the rest of the men.

Ralph

[Robert Dunlop]

The POW figures definitely tie in with speed and shock nature of the Ulster Div attack on the first line. More evidence that a full-blooded charge may have also paid similar dividends on other sectors?

Des

To succeed, you needed to get to the Germans. This meant no wire or other impediments, such as deep mud and/or severely churned up ground. Although we hear a lot about the intensity of the bombardment, it is interesting to see aerial photographs showing far fewer shell holes than I had thought likely. Mud wasn't a problem at this stage of the Somme battles.

You needed to keep the Germans down. Assuming no obstacles, this meant following closely on a barrage that was capable of suppressing the defenders. Clearly, the Ulster Division achieved this in the way you described so well. If the timing of the barrage lift was accurate then you didn't need to be quite as quick as that, but the speed will have helped!

You needed to keep the Germans down on either flank. The best way to do this was for your colleagues to keep abreast. This happened at Montauban, where XIIIth Corps penetrated the German line over a wide area. In this case, Russian saps were used to get the attackers well forward. But the barrage was also excellent.

Lastly, you needed to reinforce success. This meant first and foremost suppressing the German artillery. The German artillery would deliberately target the resupply routes to cut off any penetration. Although you mentioned the flanking German machine gun fire, do you have any information about the effect of German counter-barrage fire on the Ulstermen crossing No Man's Land? With XIIIth Corps, the counter-battery work was excellent. This was partly due to the emphasis on making CB work, which was not something shared by all artillery commanders in the BEF, and partly due to the hit on one of the German telephone exchanges by a French heavy mortar. At Montauban, consolidation was able to take place, something that eluded the brave men of the 36th Division.

Just some further thoughts.

Robert

[Desmond7]

Robert - I'm with you on those points. The biggest 'complaint' I read in letters home describing the action is the inability to maintain the position. Quite simply, the succeeding waves faced a no-man's land which was swept by shrapnel in conjunction with the MG fire already mentioned.

I do know that 16th RIR pioneers were ordered to dig shallow 'crawl lines' from the British front line out towards their comrades who were basically trapped on the other side with the aim of getting supplies over in relative safety.

I do not think they had any great success in these efforts.

I cannot make any firm statements on the abilities of the gunners behind 36th Div. but I think THINK they may have had some French guns in their sector. And I do remember reading that the British artillery unit with the Division was pretty inexperienced. But then that's a fairly common thing on July 1.

Thanks

Des

From Ralph's research it looks as if the German artillery were pretty much 'on the ball' in this sector.

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

You needed to keep the Germans down. Assuming no obstacles, this meant following closely on a barrage that was capable of suppressing the defenders. Clearly, the Ulster Division achieved this in the way you described so well. If the timing of the barrage lift was accurate then you didn't need to be quite as quick as that, but the speed will have helped!

The location of the German trenches south of St. Pierre-Divion towards Thiepval were quite exposed given the slope facing the British lines and suffered severely under the preliminary bombardment. The German reports for this sector indicated that a number of dugouts were damaged or destroyed and that the wire entanglements were severely damaged and in some places gone completely, all due to the exposed location.

The German guns of the 26th Reserve Division had set plans in case of an attack that would allow heavier guns to bombard known troop locations in the enemy trenches and light field howitzers and field guns would place a wall of heavy fire between the German and British front, sweeping no man's land with shells.

The guns in the 26th Reserve Division reported firing 52,000 field gun shells, 11,000 light field howitzer shells and 14,000 heavy field howitzer shells on 1 and 2 July. The sheer weight of shells and shrapnel would have made any unprotected crossing of no man's land quite dangerous.

In the case of the flanking units, the failure of the 29th Division to advance north of the Ancre was to prove disasterous to the 36th Ulster Division as well as the neighboring 32nd Division. The machine guns in the vicinity of Beaucourt were reported firing on the 1st Dorsets (32nd Division) during their attack upon the Leipzig Salient which does illustrate that without flank protection the successful advance of the Ulstermen was doomed regardless of their resolve and amount of trenches captured.

This part of the battle, a relatively small area of the battle, has proven to be quite involved and the amount of information regarding it seems to grow daily. I am sure more will follow on this subject.

Ralph

[Robert Dunlop]

Des

The British Official History does mention a French artillery unit attached to 36th Division. I will look out the details again.

Having rechecked Farndale ('History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery'), my comment about the artillery commanders is probably incorrect. Farndale notes that the artillery commanders did want a creeping barrage; it was the infantry commanders who dictated the different patterns of bombardment for protection of the infantry. He also mentions the CB fire plans for 36th Division. I will post this information tonight.

The British Official History makes no mention of artillery fire as a major factor in cutting communications and resupply to the forward units. Machine gun fire is identified as the culprit. Ralph, I think your information is very important here. The relatively poor counter-battery work in this area would have enabled the German batteries to operate pretty much unchecked. As you say, the volume of shells would testify to this. In the Montauban area, the German artillery was virtually completely nullified.

Although the Ancre Valley looks like a point of weakness, the ability of the Germans to control either bank from the opposite side was very significant. Enfilade fire from the southern bank seriously affected British advances up the north side of the Ancre Valley. I am not sure about 1st July but you will know the answer to this.

Robert

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

The issue of flanking fire against the 36th Ulster Division is documented in a number of accounts written by the defenders after the action was over as well as through accounts of survivors from the 36th Ulster Division.

In the incident mentioned in Desmond’s Schwaben account, the one where the advancing Ulstermen had been caught in what was considered ‘friendly’ fire but in reality it was German defensive fire the issue if flanking fire is clearly shown (see map on the Schwaben thread). The German infantry also participated in the defense of this position. A number of men from a nearby 9cm gun battery that had run out of ammunition used carbines and revolvers to defend their position while a Recruit Battalion from the 180th I.R. opened fire from the vicinity of Grandcourt and machine gun fire came from the north side of the Ancre from Beaucourt Redoubt (Feste Alt Württemberg).

The attacking Ulstermen faced a myriad of dangers as they attacked. The heavy artillery fire was an effective block in the rear of the first wave and effectively prevented reinforcements from moving up, as did the extremely heavy machine gun fire. The attacks against St.Pierre-Divion had broken down and the survivors shifted to the right to where the line had been broken. This allowed the machine guns positioned by St. Pierre-Divion to fire into the flank of the attacking Irishmen with impunity.

A similar threat came from the right flank, from the area of Thiepval, the Chateau and just to the south of it. Once the 32nd Division attack against Thiepval was smashed in heavy defensive fire five machine guns in Thiepval and Machine Gun No. 9 located in the Brauner Weg opened fire into the right flank of the Ulstermen from what could only be considered point blank range for the heavy machine gun. Still another machine gun in Thiepval set it’s sights at 1,200 meters and opened indirect fire on the reverse slope at the eastern edge of Thiepval Wood where enemy reserves were suspected.

Lieutenant C.S. Marriot, 16th Lancashire Fusiliers commented about the heavy German fire after an attempt to push support units to the front: ‘Above our heads an enemy machine gun kept spitting away defiantly. Skillfully hidden behind a wood, in the ruins of a village which was to be taken by us, it had braved the bombardment and its team of – to be quite fair – very brave and capable soldiers, fired with a deadliness and accuracy which was amazing.’ The machine guns in the 99th Reserve were quite busy on 1 July, each gun firing from between 8,000 and 10,000 rounds apiece while gun No. 9 in the Brauner Weg fired off a total of 18,000 rounds.

The machine guns by St. Pierre-Divion reported giving support fire into the right flank of the attackers north of the Ancre during the day while Machine Gun No. 8 from the 2nd M.G. Coy/119th Reserve located north of the Ancre provided support fire against the Ulstermen south of the Ancre, firing off some 3,000 rounds on 1 July. Controlling both sides of the Ancre was of great strategic value in regard to mutual support.

The amount of firepower being used by the artillery and machine guns was immense and if you add infantry fire as well as the firepower employed by the counterattacks used to retake the Schwaben it is a miracle that many of the Ulstermen even returned at all.

Ralph

[Robert Dunlop]

Thanks Ralph

Very interested to read about the gunners' defence of their position. I have been reading about equivalent examples on the British side during Le Cateau and Operation Michael.

On counter-battery fire, Farndale offers the following information:

'X Corps also allotted two Heavy Artillery Groups to counter-battery; the Northern Group of two and a half 60-pounder batteries; two 18-pounder batteries and one 4.5-inch howitzer battery; and the Southern Group of four and a half 60-pounder batteries and one 4.7 inch battery. Some 6-inch batteries were occasionally added. The snag in X Corps was that far too little ammunition was allotted. We read of six, eight or twelve rounds per target! The need for pin-point accuracy was no appreciated. It is interesting to note that the counter-battery order was signed by "Major, O.C. Counter-Batteries 10th Corps Heavy Artillery", possibly the first Corps Counter Battery Officer ever. Failure on X Corps sector to silence the enemy guns contributed greatly to the failure of the Corps attack.'

With respect to the creeping barrage:

'Likewise, X Corps ignored the creeping technique. The guns were ordered to jump from trench to trench, and a few guns were ordered to "walk up" the communication trenches!'

There is a similar account in the British Official History.

Contrast the CB fire above with the summary of XIII Corps on the British right flank:

'XIII Corps allotted four batteries of 60 pounders, one battery of 4.7 inch guns, one battery of 4.5 inch howitzers, one battery of 12 inch howitzers, and a section of 6 inch guns to this task. The guns were pre-registered by aircraft with great accuracy and their task was destruction and not neutralisation. Results were excellent. On 26th June, nineteen German batteries were hit and silenced; on 27th, even though the weather was bad, thirteen batteries were hit and many silenced. Then, on 30th June, the weather improved and aerial observation was possible. On that day thirty-two enemy batteries were engaged, even though many had moved. The Germans admit that their batteries in the valleys north of Mametz and Montauban were almost completely destroyed, along with most of their ammunition. They admit that the artillery of the 12th and 28th Divisions were wiped out, all field guns being rendered unserviceable by the "devastating British Artillery".'

Robert

[Chris Boonzaier]

This may be of interest.

The award document of an iron cross to an NCO of the 9th company 99 Reserve Infantry Regt.

This is the company where the Irish broke through, they pulled tothe sides and barricaded the trenches.

Sommer was a lucky survivor and was awarded the iron Cross 2nd class a month later.

[Desmond7]

The post from RJW about the MG positions and rounds expended simply staggered me. Thanks for that one.

Des

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

This may be of interest.

The award document of an iron cross to an NCO of the 9th company 99 Reserve Infantry Regt.

This is the company where the Irish broke through, they pulled tothe sides and barricaded the trenches.

Sommer was a lucky survivor and was awarded the iron Cross 2nd class a month later.

Chris, The man in your award document was indeed quite lucky if he was part of the company that served on 1st July 1916. The attached list of casualties from the 9th Coy, most if not all inthe poeriod from 24 June through early July though I would suspect most on 1st July, shows that few of the original company survived the battle intact. I will be posting further details on the 9th Coy movements and maps by the weekend if all goes to plan. I am sorry the list is compressed, the system does not accept the spacings set on my excel sheet.

Ralph

P.S. If you ever decide to sell the award document please let me know as this is the regiment that started my research into the Germans on the Somme.

Name Rank Notes

Hille, Friedrich Oberleutnant K.I.A.

Riedle, Franz Leutnant der Landwehr P.O.W.

Beyler, Arthur Leutnant der Landwehr P.O.W.

Clos, Johann Vizefeldwebel Wounded and taken prisoner

Paus, Hermann Vizefeldwebel P.O.W.

Hartig, Friedrich Unteroffizier K.I.A.

Grimmert, Bernhard Unteroffizier Slightly wounded.

Hanemann, Oskar Unteroffizier P.O.W.

Mutterer, Robert Unteroffizier P.O.W.

Nickert, Friedrich Unteroffizier P.O.W.

Nöring, Waldemar Unteroffizier K.I.A.

Paradis, Viktor Unteroffizier P.O.W.

Rueff, Sylvain Unteroffizier P.O.W.

Walz, Philipp Unteroffizier Missing in action.

Diehring, Wilhelm Unteroffizier P.O.W.

Michalak, Johann Gefreiter K.I.A.

Mattew, Franz Gefreiter Slightly wounded.

Schwall, Emil Gefreiter Slightly wounded.

Hennig, Friedrich Gefreiter Missing in action.

Leppin, Otto Gefreiter Missing in action.

Keitmann, Heinrich Gefreiter P.O.W.

Mellentien, Leo Gefreiter Missing in action.

Schulte, Wilhelm Gefreiter Missing in action.

Pietrzyk, Anton Gefreiter P.O.W.

Sohn, Karl Gefreiter P.O.W.

Steinat, Christof Gefreiter Missing in action.

Thielemann, Heinrich Gefreiter Wounded and taken prisoner

Weisbrod, Fritz Gefreiter P.O.W.

Noll, Agidius Gefreiter P.O.W.

Bensch, Ludwig Gefreiter Slightly wounded.

Zimmermann, Albert Gefreiter Slightly wounded.

Greiner, Martin Gefreiter Missing in action.

Kwasni, Gustav Gefreiter Missing in action.

Pieperhoff, Wilhelm Gefreiter P.O.W.

Przybylinski, Paul Gefreiter Missing in action.

Ratajczak, Josef Gefreiter Missing in action.

Schulz, Karl Gefreiter Missing in action.

Arnst, Matthias Private Severely wounded.

Gross II, Franz Private K.I.A.

Hindersmann, Wilhelm Private K.I.A.

Achenbach I, Hermann Private Slightly wounded, P.O.W.

Skibinski, Andreas Private Severely wounded.

Spital, Bernhard Private Slightly wounded.

Ziege, Ernst Private Severely wounded.

Winkler, Paul Private Slightly wounded.

Petschulat, Friedrich Private K.I.A.

Göbel, Heinrich Private K.I.A.

Aller, Otto Private Slightly wounded.

Elle, Felix Private Slightly wounded.

Austermühle, Georg Private Slightly wounded.

Brock, Friedrich Private K.I.A.

Eisoldt, Fritz Private K.I.A.

Franzkowiak, Paul Private Slightly wounded.

Gossow, Max Private Severely wounded and missing.

Helmert, Oskar Private K.I.A.

Karbach, Josef Private K.I.A.

Kern, Leopold Private K.I.A.

Klinkenberg, Hubert Private K.I.A.

Pfetzing, Jakob Private Severely wounded.

Ruf, Johann Private Slightly wounded and missing.

Sailer, Richard Private K.I.A.

Sauerbier, Wilhelm Private K.I.A.

Schulz, Paul Private K.I.A.

Wieland, Paul Private Severely wounded.

Bohr, Eduard Private K.I.A.

Brede II, August Private K.I.A.

Kist, Adolf Private K.I.A.

Lörcher, Wilhelm Private Slightly wounded and missing.

Achenbach II, Heinrich Private P.O.W.

Bergk, Richard Private P.O.W.

Billig, Emil Private Missing in action.

Bolland, Karl Private Missing in action.

Borchert, Karl Private Missing in action.

Braun, August Private P.O.W.

Braun, Peter Private Missing in action.

Bruski, Wladislaus Private Missing in action.

Bühler, Heinrich Private Missing in action.

Christ, Peter Private P.O.W.

Christmann, Karl Private Missing in action.

Creter, Adolf Private Missing in action.

Deipenbrock, Philipp Private Missing in action.

Dinnendahl, Wilhelm Private P.O.W.

Dietrich, Johann Private Missing in action.

Doose, Aloysius Private Missing in action.

Dresing, Hermann Private Missing in action.

Ebert, August Private P.O.W.

Evrard, Emil Private P.O.W.

Flegel, Andreas Private P.O.W.

Flade, Gustav Private P.O.W.

Ganiére, Ludwig Private P.O.W.

Gantherat, Emil Private Missing in action.

Gitter, Robert Private Missing in action.

Gollmann, Georg Private Missing in action.

Gotzen, Mathias Private P.O.W.

Greiner, Ferdinand Private Missing in action.

Grimm I, Johann Private Missing in action.

Grontzki, August Private Missing in action.

Hagen, Peter Private P.O.W.

Hartz, Xaver Private P.O.W.

Hermle, Fritz Private Missing in action.

Hey, Karl Private Missing in action.

Huber, Albert Private Missing in action.

Hück, Karl Private P.O.W.

Huyink, Franz Private Wounded.

Jankowiak, Valentin Private P.O.W.

Kandel, Eugen Private Missing in action.

Koch, Justus Private Missing in action.

Köslin, Leopold Private P.O.W.

Kozakowski, Wenzeslaus Private Missing in action.

Kubitzki, Franz Private P.O.W.

Ledermann, Xaver Private P.O.W.

Lemke, Johann Private Missing in action.

Letrange, Josef Private Missing in action.

Liebeld, Gustav Private Missing in action.

Mey, Walter Private Missing in action.

Müller, Robert Private P.O.W.

Noel, Emil Private P.O.W.

North, Johann Private Missing in action.

Petry, Jakob Private Missing in action.

Plischka, Max Private Missing in action.

Probst, Michel Private P.O.W.

Reith, Karl Private Missing in action.

Remdt, Karl Private Missing in action.

Risch, Albin Private P.O.W.

Rupf, Rudolf Private P.O.W.

Sablowski, Karl Private P.O.W.

Sattler, Wilhelm Private P.O.W.

Schade, Ernst Private Missing in action.

Schäfer I, Karl Private Missing in action.

Schilling, August Private P.O.W.

Schokat, Franz Private Missing in action.

Schulte, Karl Private Missing in action.

Schulte-Göcking, Friedrich Private P.O.W.

Schwarz, Hugo Private Missing in action.

Schwingel, Bertold Private Missing in action.

Senne, Ernst Private P.O.W.

Skuzinski, Franz Private Missing in action.

Sobolewski, Stanislaus Private Missing in action.

Stern, Edmund Private Missing in action.

Swiatkowski, Michael Private Missing in action.

Szymkowiak, Johann Private Missing in action.

Thiele, Anton Private P.O.W.

Tomczak, Ignatz Private Missing in action.

Wangenhallend, Wilhelm Private Missing in action.

Vorhaben, Willi Private P.O.W.

Wagner, Heinrich Private Missing in action.

Wardin, Paul Private Missing in action.

Warzak, Valentin Private P.O.W.

Weise, Ernst Private P.O.W.

Welling, Jakob Private P.O.W.

Wolf III, Johann Private P.O.W.

Zeumer, Alfred Private Missing in action.

Buso, Johann Private P.O.W.

Flügel, August Private P.O.W.

Grimm II, Robert Private P.O.W.

Haschert, Karl Private P.O.W.

Heberlein, Hans Private Missing in action.

Klingler, Armin Private Missing in action.

Pfahl, Ernst Private P.O.W.

Schmidt II, Georg Private Severely wounded.

Schutrumpf, Hermann Private P.O.W.

Tischer, Konrad Private Missing in action.

Kahl, August Private Missing in action.

Reinartz, Johann Private P.O.W.

Schlegel, Johann Private P.O.W.

Appelrath, Johann Private Missing in action.

Biermann, Wenzel Private P.O.W.

Schäfer II, Johann Private Missing in action.

Schebaum, Wilhelm Private Missing in action.

Schmitz, Nikolaus Private Missing in action.

Wackwitz, Artur Private Missing in action.

von Löwenstein, Karl Private Slightly wounded.

Henne, Bruno Private K.I.A.

Spiele, Bernhard Private K.I.A.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Ralph,

You would not believe the amount of trouble I had getting a "Somme" RIR99 doc . And the dance for joy I did once I found it

Although at the end of the day a lot of Iron Crosses were awarded during WW1 they were usually awarded after substantial service, often 2 or 3 years (Making 1917-18 awards much more comman than 16 (and f course 15 and 14).

Some of my groups see men serving in front line units 1914-1918 and getting the cross in 18.

Onr example I have is a group to a man named Scharl.

Reaching the front in May 1915 Scharl fought in the St Mihiel area until July 1916, his unit then moved to the Verdun front and was involved in the heavy fighting around Fleury/Thiaumont. After that it had a spell of fighting in the Argonne. The 6. B.I.R. was then involved in the fighting around Flers/Gueudecourt on the Somme, trench warfare in Flanders, the Spring offensive in Arras, and once again fighting in Flanders until December 1917, at which time he was finaly awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class.

Building the fact that you needed a bit of service under your belt to get it, that units seemed to be prone to decorating the old sweats before the recent replacements, that awards sometimes followed months after actions etc. I am pretty confident that Sommer was just (as the Americans would say) "One lucky dude" and this is about as sure a 1st day of the Somme doc I will ever find to the R.I.R. 99.

(I now have over 300 Iron Cross award documents, you can never tell which unit you find when looking for them, but there are only 2 units which I specifically hunted out, one being the 2nd Aschaffenburger Jägers (as my home team) and the other being a R.I.R. 99.. )

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

On 1st July 1916 approximately 200 officers and men of the 9th Coy, 99th Reserve Infanterie Regiment manned the trenches in Sector C3, Thiepval-North. The long expected enemy attack had finally begun and many of the men in the German trenches were eager to see an end to the intense week-long bombardment as well as a strong desire to give their opponent a taste of their own medicine. Sector C3 was to the northwest of the Village of Thiepval and consisted of three main trenches, the 1st Line, the 2nd Line and the Strassburger Steig (3rd Line). Each main trench line was connected to the other through a series of communication trenches including the Münstergasse, Teufels Graben, Burk Graben and several smaller stretches of trench.

Several of the main communication trenches lead directly to the strong point that had been constructed on the dominating heights of Hill 151 and that had been named Feste Schwaben (the Schwaben Redoubt). Feste Schwaben was considered the key point of the defensive line and whoever controlled it also dominated the German lines toward St. Pierre-Divion, Grandcourt and toward Ovillers-La Boisselle including the numerous artillery emplacements scattered to the rear. It was crucial that the Ulstermen capture this important position as quickly as possible. It was just as important that the men of the 99th Reserve and 8th Bavarian Reserve manning the trenches hold the position.

The men facing the 9th Coy were part of the 109th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division. At 7.30 a.m. the Ulstermen advanced rapidly across no man’s land toward the German lines. The preliminary bombardment of Sector C3 had been quite effective in many places and the 9th Coy had been particularly hard hit. Most of the wire entanglements had been destroyed or severely damaged and many dugouts had collapsed under the weight of the fire or had their entrances blocked with debris and earth.

The lead elements of the 109th Brigade were able to overrun the first German trench before heavy defensive fire from the rear and flanks made the advance across no man’s land extremely difficult.

The 9th Coy managed to set up one heavy machine gun before the Ulstermen had reached the trench and the gun managed to fire a few rounds before the crew was killed and the gun was captured. Many men in the 9th Coy were captured as they attempted to emerge from the ruined entrances of their dugouts and were rounded up by the men of the 109th Brigade.

Only the right wing platoon of the 9th Coy managed to emerge in time to man the trenches and was able to hold its trenches before the 9th Inniskilling Fusiliers were able to overrun their position. This platoon was supported by machine gun fire coming from the Thiepval Cemetery located in Sector C4. The defenders set up trench blocks in all trenches that led toward the enemy and engaged the attacking Ulstermen with rifles, hand grenades, bayonets and daggers. The fighting was close and deadly but every attempt by the 109th Brigade to expand their gains was blocked for the time being.

Survivors from the left wing platoon of the 9th Coy also set up trench blocks leading toward Sector C4 and prevented any further advance toward Thiepval for the time being.

Other remnants of the 9th Coy along with survivors from the 10th Coy fell back toward the Hansa Stellung and formed a trench block in the Hansa Weg, a short trench running along the flank of Feste Schwaben and prevented the Ulstermen from advancing toward Grandcourt and forcing the Irishmen to move toward the redoubt.

While the Ulstermen advanced toward Feste Schwaben they came under fire from the garrison, the 11/99th Reserve and 4/8th Bavarian Reserve regiments. The survivors of the 9th Coy along with one working machine gun in Sector C3 provided flanking support for the redoubt along with the 7/R99 and another machine gun located in Sector C4. During the fighting both machine guns were placed out of action by direct hits from enemy fire., the attack against Feste Schwaben continued.

The swift attack by the Ulster Division had resulted in a large portion of the German trenches being captured and by mid morning even Feste Schwaben was in their hands. Some 400-500 prisoners had also been taken. The prisoners were directed toward Thiepval Wood under escort by slightly wounded men and by 9.30 a.m. approximately 200 prisoners had passed through the 109th Brigade prisoner collecting post.

Unfortunately not every prisoner made it into captivity that day. some became casualties while crossing the fire swept no man’s land while a few others almost made it to the safety of the British lines. Major Crozier was watching as the prisoners were coming over:

There is a shout. Someone seizes a Lewis Gun…I see an advancing crowd of Field grey. Fire is opened…the enemy fall like grass before the scythe…’Good heavens’, I shout, ‘those men are prisoners surrendering, and some of our own wounded men are escorting them. Cease fire!’..The fire ripples on for a time. The target is too good to lose. ‘After all, they are only Germans,’ I hear a youngster say. (Phillip Orr, The Road to the Somme).

At 10 o’clock in the morning the exhausted survivors of the 9th Coy on the left of Sector C3 requested permission to abandon their trench blocks. Before any action could be taken the enemy pressure became too much to bear and the remaining men bolted toward Sector C4. The abandoned trench blocks were quickly manned by men from the 7th Coy commanded by Leutnant der Reserve Schmidt and the Ulstermen were contained. The other members of the 9th Coy on the right by Sector C2 and the rear by Feste Schwaben continued to hold their positions throughout the day despite the heat and exhaustion and continued to take losses in the constant fighting. By the end of the day the attack was over and the enemy had been pushed out of the redoubt and only occupied a portion of the old front line in Sectors C2 and C3. They would eventually be driven out later in the week.

The fighting on 1st July had been disastrous for the men of the 9th Coy as can be shown by the long casualty list shown above. The few men remaining would eventually form the nucleus of a new 9th Company that would continue to fight until the end of the war.

This is just a short look at the events of 1st July as it applied to a single company. Few records of the action exist, in part due to the high number of casualties, in part due to the destruction of the records of Prussian regiments that occurred in WWII. Every little piece of the puzzle has value in a situation like this, whether it is a printed casualty list, an Iron Cross award or the personal accounts of the Irishmen who took part in the attack that has been compiled with great care by Desmond7 (Des) from period newspapers and other sources.

I for one feel that we can never know too much about any given subject relating to the war and that we can never ignore the stories and history of the men who fought on both sides of the wire. By combining the resources and expertise of the members of this forum I feel we could write one hell of a history of the Great War with an emphasis on the personal aspect, the individual soldier and his experiences. I appreciate all of the assistance people such as Des, Robert and Chris among others have provided to me and look forward to sharing information for many years to come.

Ralph

P.S. Map to follow tonight

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Ralph,

great write up, thanks.

here is a guy who would have been just behind the 99th....

http://1914-1918.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=21118

all the best

Chris

[marina]

What happened to the German POWs? Were there camps in Britain? Were they treated all right?

Marina

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Marina,

From the little I have seen the Germans were sent to camps in Britain as well as in France. I gather that the conditions and treatment were superior in Britain as opposed to the French camps but as to the reasons I could not tell you.

I have a few postcards from both sides where POW's were being put to work on light railroads and general cleanup. One card. from a German album shows what must have been recently captured British soldiers working on a light railway. I feel they were recently captured as they are still wearing their steel helmets and other pieces of equipment, something I would suspect would be discarded or removed if being sent to a camp. I am sure there are several members who can supply greater detail on this subject.

Ralph

[marina]

Thanks, Ralph. Until you started this thread, I;d never even given a thought to the German POWS. Interesting.

Marina

[Desmond7]

Today I met a lady who had been given a doll carved by a POW. Apparently the German Pows wer very good at art/crafts? Exchanged toys for cigs etc? I am sure this was very common?

Des

[Ralph J. Whitehead]

Something along the lines of what Des posted, the attached photo shows an ornately carved wooden box by a German POW given to one of his guards no doubt. It would seem he had a lot of time on his hands.

Ralph

[Laird of Camster]

Hope it’s ok to re re initiate, this thread with a new question?

Where were the 99th reserve regiment from?
 

Am confused as according to this information, they were from Prussia whereas the rest of the division was from  Wurttemberg? 

 

 

 

[Glenn J]

For the most part Straßburg. Formed on 2 August 1914.

I./RIR 99 by IR 136

II./RIR 99 and Machine Gun Company by IR 132

III./RIR 99 by IR 143

IV./RIR 99 in Zabern by IR 99

Regards

Glenn

[AOK4]

1 minute ago, Glenn J said:

For the most part Straßburg. Formed on 2 August 1914.

I./RIR 99 by IR 136

II./RIR 99 and Machine Gun Company by IR 132

III./RIR 99 by IR 143

IV./RIR 99 in Zabern by IR 99

Regards

Glenn

In principle yes, but there were a lot of men from other areas (Rhineland, Westphalia and others) in this in principle Alsatian unit as the Germans didn't trust the Alsatians completely.

[Laird of Camster]

6 minutes ago, AOK4 said:

In principle yes, but there were a lot of men from other areas (Rhineland, Westphalia and others) in this in principle Alsatian unit as the Germans didn't trust the Alsatians completely.

That’s interesting, thanks AOK4.