"Durchbruch" Müller

[Chris_Baker]

That great artillery innovator Colonel Georg Bruchmüller is said to have been referred to as "Durchbruch" Müller ("Breakthrough" Müller). I would be interested to know the earliest date on which this nickname was used. Sidney Rogerson refers to it in his memoir "The last of the ebb" (first copyright 1937 but based on contemporary notes). Does anyone know of earlier references?

[Jack Sheldon]

I am pretty sure that it was in use during the war. Ernst Kabisch writing in Das Volksbuch vom Weltkrieg (September 1931), referring to Bruchmueller's contribution to  the attempted breakthrough battles of spring 1918, states on p 186 ' ... he had long since been given the nickname Der Durchbruchmueller.' The search continues.

 

Jack

[Jack Sheldon]

Here's a slightly earlier published reference:  Gen der Infanterie Helmut von Kuhl Der Weltkrieg Volume 2 (1929) p 108 which refers to the counterstroke along the line of the Sereth to Tarnopol in July 1917. 'Oberst Bruchmueller, who the soldiers referred to by the honourable nickname Durchbruchmueller, was in charge of the artillery preparations'.

 

Jack

[The Prussian]

Here are the two books, written by him.

In "Die Artillerie beim Angriff im Stellungs" I found a personal signature of Bruchmüller!

"Herrn Oberst Buchholtz zur Erinnerung an vergangene große Zeiten.

Berlin, den 25.November 1926

Der Verfasser"

 

"To Colonel Buchholtz in memory of great, bygone times.

Berlin, 25.November 1926,

The author"

 

Colonel Buchholtz in 1925 served in the inspection of weapons and equipment. In the great war he served as a captain and adjutant of the 2nd foot-artillery-inspection.

This unit worked together with the Foot-artillery shooting-school, which Chef Oberst Bruchmüller used to be.