Kaiser Franz Garde Grenadier Regiment Nr.2

[NorthStaffsPOW]

Hi all,

Following on from my request in the interpreting documents section, I was wondering if anyone could shed some light upon the movements of the above unit. In particular I am interested in their role during the Nivelle Offensive, during which the chap I am researching was captured.

I am struggling to find sources in English that cover the First World War period.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

All the best.

James

[JWK]

Don't know of any sources in English, but you can get a copy of the Kaiser Franz's Warhistory ("Extract of the official War diaries") for 5 Euro. It will be sent in a Zip-file to your e-mail address:

https://military-books.lima-city.de/hp22/garde-gr-2.html

(The History is all in German ofcourse. And most likely in Fraktur script, as an added bonus...  )

The guy who runs that website, Patrick, is a member here on GWF (but I forget his username)

Genwiki has a page (in German)

http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/Kaiser_Franz_Garde-Grenadier-Regiment_Nr._2

which direct you for the "combat calendar" to  http://wiki-de.genealogy.net/2._Garde-Division_(Alte_Armee)

which does not add much.

 

For German to English translations I always use

https://www.deepl.com/translator

Catches the "feel" of the language much better than Google translate.

Edited 25 April , 2022 by JWK

[charlie2]

The Regimental history can be downloaded here https://digital.wlb-stuttgart.de/index.php?id=6&tx_dlf[id]=14320&tx_dlf[page]=1

From the 23rd March to the middle of May the Regiment was in the Chemin-des-Dames area. Are looking at a specific date?
 

Charlie

[NorthStaffsPOW]

Thanks for the help guys. That gives me plenty to go on. I can just about get by with my German and a translator.

The chap I am researching was taken prisoner on 4th May 1917. I have the letters sent between him and his wife before and during his captivity (those will be much more of a challenge to translate due to the script).

[knittinganddeath]

3 minutes ago, NorthStaffsPOW said:

(those will be much more of a challenge to translate due to the script).

If they're in Sütterlin, I'm happy to take a look. No guarantees, though!

[NorthStaffsPOW]

That is very kind of you! PM sent.

[GreyC]

4 hours ago, knittinganddeath said:

If they're in Sütterlin, I'm happy to take a look. No guarantees, though!

They won´t be in Sütterlin, as it was only taught in school from 1916 on and only in wide use after WW1.

The letters and cards before were written in (a) German current prior to Sütterlin. Sütterlin was only an attempt to standardize the German current variants till then and simplify it for the better use of school-children.

GreyC