Imperial German WWI Soldbuch Eisenbahn-Regiment Nr. 2
A soldier's paybook (Soldbuch) issued to a Landsturmpflichtiger named Wilhelm Kelz, born 4.12.80 in Fauerbach, Kreis Friedberg, Hessen. The cover carries the printed title, his handwritten name, and the number 2070 der Stammrolle, with the publisher's imprint of Fr. Brendel, Gera-Reuss at the foot. The interior pages record his assignment to Eisenbahn-Regiment Nr. 2, 4. Ersatz-Kompagnie, with further entries for feldtruppenteil St. Gefr. Komp. 17 and the Ersatz-Bataillon Eisenbahn-Regt. No. 2 stationed in Hanau a/M, along with personal particulars including parentage, religion (evangelisch), occupation as Landwirt, marriage to Emma nee Boellmann, and family details.
Such paybooks were standard personal identification and service documents for German soldiers, recording postings, equipment issue, and pay, and this example reflects the mobilization and replacement-unit structure of a railway regiment during the First World War.
Railway regiments (Eisenbahn-Regimenter) of the Imperial German Army were specialist engineer troops responsible for constructing, repairing, and operating military rail lines critical to the rapid mobilization and supply of forces on the Western and Eastern Fronts, a function of particular importance given Germany's reliance on rail logistics under the Schlieffen Plan and subsequent campaigns. Eisenbahn-Regiment Nr. 2, with its Ersatz-Bataillon based at Hanau am Main, trained and supplied replacement personnel to field railway units engaged in this work. As a Landsturmpflichtiger and married Landwirt from Hessen, Wilhelm Kelz represents the older-age and agricultural reserve manpower drawn into rear-area and technical support roles as the war's demands expanded beyond the standing army and younger reserve classes.
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Auction House
A soldier's paybook (Soldbuch) issued to a Landsturmpflichtiger named Wilhelm Kelz, born 4.12.80 in Fauerbach, Kreis Friedberg, Hessen. The cover carries the printed title, his handwritten name, and the number 2070 der Stammrolle, with the publisher's imprint of Fr. Brendel, Gera-Reuss at the foot. The interior pages record his assignment to Eisenbahn-Regiment Nr. 2, 4. Ersatz-Kompagnie, with further entries for feldtruppenteil St. Gefr. Komp. 17 and the Ersatz-Bataillon Eisenbahn-Regt. No. 2 stationed in Hanau a/M, along with personal particulars including parentage, religion (evangelisch), occupation as Landwirt, marriage to Emma nee Boellmann, and family details.
Such paybooks were standard personal identification and service documents for German soldiers, recording postings, equipment issue, and pay, and this example reflects the mobilization and replacement-unit structure of a railway regiment during the First World War.
Railway regiments (Eisenbahn-Regimenter) of the Imperial German Army were specialist engineer troops responsible for constructing, repairing, and operating military rail lines critical to the rapid mobilization and supply of forces on the Western and Eastern Fronts, a function of particular importance given Germany's reliance on rail logistics under the Schlieffen Plan and subsequent campaigns. Eisenbahn-Regiment Nr. 2, with its Ersatz-Bataillon based at Hanau am Main, trained and supplied replacement personnel to field railway units engaged in this work. As a Landsturmpflichtiger and married Landwirt from Hessen, Wilhelm Kelz represents the older-age and agricultural reserve manpower drawn into rear-area and technical support roles as the war's demands expanded beyond the standing army and younger reserve classes.
Estimate
Reserve
Time, Location
Auction House
