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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Lt. Gottschalk 5th Company


corkhead100

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I recently purchased a Preuben reserve Pickelhaube which is inscribed with the name Gottschalk

It appears to be Marked K.R.A. 5 ?

I typed this into my search engine and came up with translated text from a book by Otto von Kries and Hans Otto Werda, Berlin 1934

relating to action on 22nd / 23rd May 1916.

I am very interested in finding out more about Gottschalk, K.R.A. 5 etc. but I am new to this type of research.

Please can somebody point me in the right direction?

Cheers.

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Well done Ken. I just looked through all the '5s'. I think that it would be helpful to see a photograph of the item and the writing. Joe Rookery can then tell us all about the Pickelhaube and we might have more of a chance to hazard a guess regarding the owner.

Jack

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Well done Ken. I just looked through all the '5s'. I think that it would be helpful to see a photograph of the item and the writing. Joe Rookery can then tell us all about the Pickelhaube and we might have more of a chance to hazard a guess regarding the owner.

Jack

New_Compressed__zipped__Folder.zip

Hello all, I have tried to attach a photo, hope it is successful

It may be H.R.A. 9

1914

All the best.

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Thanks for that. In order to enable the Forum experts to say more about the helmet and, therefore, the type of unit, a further couple of pictures showing the whole thing and any details on the exterior would be useful. On the basis of the previous photo, I would hazard a guess that it represents either the manufacturer's stamp, with year of production or, possibly, that of a German depot or stores organisation, rather than a unit.

Jack

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Hello all, Here are some more photos.

post-7246-1197397059.jpg

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Gottschalk

I'm by no means an knowledgeable about old German handwriting, but from what I have seen three things are interesting: the "s," "h," and supposed "k"; this may just be the result of the Gottschalk's personal writing style or the limitations presented by where his name was written:

The "s" is properly completed by a long downward stroke, while this one is not.

The "h" is also completed by a clockwise loop below the "line". I came across a reference that this type of "h" was used in "older handwriting," but all of the guides (except the one reference) do not show this type of "h".

The "k" really doesn't look right; either this is Gottschalk's personal style or perhaps the rounded surface caused him (or whoever wrote it) slip up a bit at this point.

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Many thanks for that Ken,

I have no issues with the authenticity of the signature or name, which I had determined with the help of Kindred Roots Online.

I want to know who he was and where he served

Can anyone help with the unit mark?...(please see Photos attached) K.R.A. 9.?

I have just looked at this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Reserve_D...ombat_chronicle

9th Reserve Division (German Empire) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Did this pickelhaube belong to the same Gottschalk who flew the flag at Verdun???

My Quest continues......................

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