German Nurses in Palestine

[Guest]

Eike,

Lets see if this works

Edited 18 April , 2022 by stevebecker
Princess Brigitte Reuss (center) and Baroness Veronika von Wechmar (left) with German pilots in Beersheva Prinzessin Reuss IMG_1558.JPG (60.12 KiB) Viewed 11799 times

[Guest]

Eike,

This is the photo refered to.

Clearly these are not all Airforce officers, as none show any awards which German pilots tend to wear all the time, so are any of these men from FA 300?

As to the two women, I am unsure as I've see no photos of Brigitte Reuss or Veronika von Wechmar?

But as Brigitte was around 28 and Veronika was around 50 then the women appear as stated

S.B

Edited 19 April , 2022 by stevebecker

[GreyC]

9 hours ago, stevebecker said:

as none show any awards which German pilots tend to wear

I see at least one who does. Others have their arms in such a position as to cover possible Beobachter or Flugzeugführer-Abzeichen or are in a position relative to the camera that makes it impossible to tell. To say that none of them wears these badges is, therefore, an unproven assumption rather than a fact.

GreyC

Edited 19 April , 2022 by GreyC

[Eike]

I know the picture. The third from the right is the pilot Hans Henkel. The photo may have been taken on May 18, 1916. Curt Prüfer reports on the nurses' visit in his diary. So it's probably Veronika and Brigitte. The Fliegerabteilung 300 had its own casino. Curt Prüfer sits to Brigitte's right. 2nd from left is Walter von Bülow-Bothkamp. I'm trying to find out the names of the others.

[Eike]

Yes, on the iniforms of Hans Henkel and von Bülow-Bothkamp you don't see awads. But both are pilots.

[Eike]

[Eike]

Feldfliegerabteilung 300

 

Front from the left: Oberleutnant Fritz Bertold, Leutnant Walter von Bülow, Hauptmann von Heemskerk, Leutnant Hans Henkel, Hauptmann Kettenbeil.

Below from left: Leutnant von Hesler, Dr. Fleischmann, Oberleutnant Stalter, Oberleutnant Richard Euringer, Hauptmann Dr. Prüfer, Oberleutnant Schomburg, Leutnant Georgi, Oberleutnant von Heimburg.

I'm not good at recognizing faces. But one or the other of the group photo would have to sit at the table.

I'm not good at recognizing faces. But one or the other of the group photo would have to sit at the table.

[Eike]

I have to correct myself: Dr. Prüfer is the 3rd from the left in the picture above, not right of Brigitte.

[Eike]

Just a try. But I am not sure:

Dr. Fleischmann, Leutnant Walter von Bülow, Dr. Curt Prüfer, Richard Euringer?, ?, Vernonika, Brigitte, ?, Oberleutnant Stalter, ? Hans Henkel, ?, ?.

[knittinganddeath]

Veronika von Wechmar's death notice in the Fuldaer Kreisblatt, 22 January 1918 (https://hwk1.hebis.de/hebis-fulda/periodical/pageview/211820)

 

Veronika also wrote about her experiences at a German soldiers' home in the desert (Ein deutsches Soldatenheim in der Wüste): https://hwk1.hebis.de/zeitungen-hlbrm/periodical/pageview/1972247

[Guest]

Mates,

Thanks for clearing that up

Prüfer Max Curt Sidi (Karl)    Capt Dr    Deutsche Militär-Mission in der Türkei - Vizekonsul politischer Berater und nachrichtendienstlicher Mitarbeiter des AA beim VIII. Armeekorps 1st Canal Expedition 2-15 - Observer Airforce intelligence officer Flieger-Abteilung 300 5-16 spy in Sina - Flieger-Abteilung 300 - ran Germany's espionage propaganda and sabotage operations in the Ottoman territories of Palestine and aerial intelligence observer with the German air unit Fliegerabteilung 300 RTG 9-16 returned head of Germany's propaganda operation in the Middle East 4-17    1914-16 1917-18    (born 1881 in Berlin-Friedenau died 30-1-59) a German diplomat to Consulate Cairo Egypt as an interpreter for his exceptional Arabic language skills 1907 shown Rumpler C 1 with Hayne (P) in raid on Romani area 4-8-16 RTG 8-16 (illness) later WWII Oriental Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs retired with his family to Switzerland 1943 
 

Georgi (possibly Willi)    Lt deR Dr    Metorologist Airforce (shown 1st Aircraft Company Tayyare Boluk in Wolf's book) att Flieger-Abteilung 300 (for the Romani operation) 6-16 to 11-16 RTG 1916    1915-16    (1894 at Wildenfels Zwickau KIA 27-9-18) gefallen near Sains les Marquin France possibly Fliegerabteilung (Artillerie) FA (A) 229 to Turkey 5-16 shown with unit on move to El Arish 16-6-16 shown Rumpler C 1 with Koeing (P) raid Romani area 4-8-16 RTG to Bogohl 3 (Bombengeschwader der Obersten Heeresleitung) 'England-Geschwader' 7-17 brothers Friedrich and Otto Fußartillerie-Regiment No 12 shown in Klaus Wolf's Book
 

Hesler Friedrich Wilhelm von    Lt    Observer Airforce Flieger-Abteilung 300 4-16 RTG 10-16     1916-18    (1891 at Wuppertal-Elberfeld died 1950) Saxon from 2. Königlich-Sächsisches Infanterie Regiment No 101 "Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen" to Fußartillerie-Regiment No 31 to Feldflieger-Abteilung 31 shot down near Grojec in Poland together with Ganter (Gandert) (P) by Russian ground fire on 10-10-14 shown with Bülow (P) on raid on Port Said but crashed on return into a hut at Beersheba 21-5-16 shown Rumpler C 1 with von Bülow-Böthkamp (P) raid Romani area 4-8-16 shown with von Bülow (P) in Rumpler C I shot down BE 2c with Lt Edwards/Brown 14 Sqn RFC near Romani 11-8-16 with Bülow (P) in Rumpler C I shot down a Sopwith Baby (8135) & Schneider (3777) (Sub/Lt Bankes-Price KIA/Mann RNAS from Ben My Chree) near El Arish 17-9-16 RTG 10-16 to Stabsbildoffizier for Kommandeur der Flieger (Kofl 3) awarded Knights Cross of the Saxon Military St Henry (spelling in Ole Nikoljsen)
 

Cheers

S.B

[bierast]

On 19/04/2022 at 21:42, stevebecker said:

Hesler Friedrich Wilhelm von    Lt    Observer Airforce Flieger-Abteilung 300 4-16 RTG 10-16     1916-18    (1891 at Wuppertal-Elberfeld died 1950) Saxon from 2. Königlich-Sächsisches Infanterie Regiment No 101 "Kaiser Wilhelm, König von Preußen" to Fußartillerie-Regiment No 31 to Feldflieger-Abteilung 31 shot down near Grojec in Poland together with Ganter (Gandert) (P) by Russian ground fire on 10-10-14 shown with Bülow (P) on raid on Port Said but crashed on return into a hut at Beersheba 21-5-16 shown Rumpler C 1 with von Bülow-Böthkamp (P) raid Romani area 4-8-16 shown with von Bülow (P) in Rumpler C I shot down BE 2c with Lt Edwards/Brown 14 Sqn RFC near Romani 11-8-16 with Bülow (P) in Rumpler C I shot down a Sopwith Baby (8135) & Schneider (3777) (Sub/Lt Bankes-Price KIA/Mann RNAS from Ben My Chree) near El Arish 17-9-16 RTG 10-16 to Stabsbildoffizier for Kommandeur der Flieger (Kofl 3) awarded Knights Cross of the Saxon Military St Henry (spelling in Ole Nikoljsen)

Here's Ltn. Friedrich Wilhelm von Hesler's citation for the MStHO(R), which specifically cites his success in "breaking back through" (durchgeschlagen is a word more suggestive of violence than stealth) after being forced to land behind enemy lines.

I'm quite sure that "Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr. 31" is a mistake, although I'm not sure for what. There was at least a Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 31, but it apparently did not exist prior to late 1915 (and was not Saxon).

Two other von Heslers from Elberfeld also served as Saxon 'active' officers in the war, very possibly his brothers. They were evidently both a few years younger, as Albert was only a Fähnrich in the 1914 Saxon Rangliste and Wilhelm (born 21st May 1895) is shown as junior to him in the Ehrenrangliste 1914-1918. Both received their commissions from the (like GR 101) Dresden-based and prestigious Schützen-Regiment 108.  Albert was lightly wounded in action with 1. / SR 108 in September 1914, and survived the war according to the Ehrenrangliste 1914-1918.  It is unclear whether Wilhelm ever served with SR 108 in the field, but he was with 11. / RIR 241 when he was lost while taking part in a counterattack at Bouchavesnes on the Somme on 14th September 1916. He was recorded as missing, though the regimental history (p.247) claims that he "fell at the head of his small band".

[Guest]

Mate,

Yes that maybe my fault

Friedrich von Hesler (1891 - ) -- 23.12.1914 -- Ritterkreuz

Leutnant im (sächsischen) Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 101 - kommandiert zur Feldfliegerabteilung 31. Bereits im Herbst 1914 zeichnete er sich an der Ostfront aus. Er musste bei Warschau - hinter der russischen Front - notlanden und schlug sich zu den eigenen Truppen durch.

Cheers

S.B

[Eike]

I have to correct something here: Walter Georgii (August 12, 1888 in Meiningen, † July 24, 1968 in Munich) was a meteorologist and glider pilot.

He made the first flight of his life with Hans Henkel in 1916 in Sinai. He reports about this in his book: Walter Georgii: Forschen und Fliegen, 1997.

 

 

[Guest]

Eike,

Thank you, I had gained what I had from many sources, but still not found his first name or confirm most of his story

His name change from Georgi to Georgii opens up a lot I missed

I surpose the man name Willi Georgi KIA 27-9-18 with Bomber Geschwader must be a different man?

S.B

Edited 21 April , 2022 by stevebecker

[Eike]

Yes, I am sure they are 2 different people. Unfortunately I can't find anything about Willi.

[Eike]

I believe to have identified the personson the photo: From left: 

Dr. Fleischmann, Leutnant Walter von Bülow, Dr. Curt Prüfer, Richard Euringer, Jean Robert Schumburg, Schwester Vernonika Freiin von Wechmar, Schwester Brigitte Prinzessin von Reuß-Köstritz, Oberleutnant Fritz Berthold, Oberleutnant Karl Stalter, Leutnant Friedrich von Hesler, Leutnant Hans Henkel, Walter Georgii, Oberleutnant Eric von Heimburg.

In the background: Hauptmann Heemskerck.

So they are all officers of Fliegerabteilung 300. Prüfer was there for training. Georgii was a meteorologist. dr Fleischmann was a doctor. The others were pilots and observers.

[GreyC]

Well done!

GreyC

[Guest]

Mate,

Yes can I also add my thanks and well done.

I can add all I have on him?

Fleischmann Otto    Lt Dr    Assistenz Oberarzt - RMO Airforce Flieger-Abteilung 300 5-16      1916-17    shown with unit on move to El Arish for Romani operation 16-6-16 RTG 7-17 shown in Photo of Fliegerabteilung 300 at El Arish and shown in group photo of Flieger-Abteilung 300 dropped to 1 Sqn AFC around 7-17 (not identified)

All the others are well known

Cheers

S.B