The Members of Elfte Kompanie, J.R. 129 : Spring 1918
The importance to the German soldier of unit identity is best explained in the following excerpt from Tannenberg: Clash of Empires:
Kameradschaft.
“For all of the emphasis on World War One as a war of machines, the dirty work was still done by the foot soldier. A German infantry regiment included just over three thousand of them, distributed among three four-company battalions. The regiment was likely to be the highest formation of which the soldier was directly aware. It was the regimental flag before which he swore his oaths of loyalty. It was the regiment’s number painted on the canvas cover of his helmet. It was the regiment’s history he heard in the rainy-day lectures. But as a cult object the regiment was more likely to engage the identities of the officers. For the rank and file, loyalty was more likely to be developed at the levels British sociologist Anthony Sampson describes as the “pack” and the “tribe.” The German soldier’s “pack” in 1914 was his squad or Gruppe: eight men and a lance-corporal. Still more of an administrative unit and an affinity group than the tactical formation of the later years, the squad was correspondingly less significant than the individual’s “tribe,” his company. The company was the private soldier’s primary source of promotions and punishments, reprimands and soft jobs. It was also something much more. In theory the battalion had long been considered the basic tactical unit, the largest formation a single officer can control in combat. In practice, modern firepower meant prior to 1914 that role devolved on the company, with its 250 rifles commanded by a captain. Within weeks in the field platoons of eighty men proved far too large for one man to command as a unit; the German infantry began that articulation into squads and sections under NCOs with independent responsibilities that contributed so much to its combat efficiency in both world wars.” (Showalter, 120-121)
We invite you to read the first-person biographies of the soldaten of Elfte Kompanie so that you may get to know a little about the men and where they came from.
We invite you to read the first-person biographies of the soldaten of Elfte Kompanie so that you may get to know a little about the men and where they came from.
In Memoriam - Musketier Eugen Freinstein
Sergeant Erich Bonikowski - Unit Commander
I was born in Breslau in 1884 to a German mother and a Polish father. I served in the VI corps, 11th division, 51st (4th Lower Silesian) Infantry during my first call up. Later I moved to Danzig where I took up work as a clerk in a warehouse. Here I met my future wife Klara Ludington. We took up residence in a two story home on 105 Tobias Gasse. In 1916 I was mustered in as a replacement into IR 129. I made it to the front in late May, just in time to take part in the Brusilov offensive.
Unteroffizer Nicholas Lockhart
Musketier August Hein
Musketier Ernst Deksheimer, Unit Cook
I am Karl Ernst Deksheimer a Musketier in 11K. JR129. My family lives in Breslau, part of Silesia where my father worked as the foreign office manager for an American soap company. His position required him to travel extensively and occasionally to the home office in the United States. It was on such a trip accompanied by my mother that I was born in the city of Chicago.
At age 18, my best friend, August Hein and I (being of the same age) fulfilled our two year obligation to the country, serving in Reserve Field Artillery Regiment No. 29 2nd Battery. Afterwards, Hein and I were soon parted, he for service on a ship and me to further schooling and then into sales for a paper box company in Breslau.
At the outbreak of the war with France we were already older men with wives and adult children. Life had passed us by without as much as a single exciting event. Hein knew of a quality printer who was willing to adjust paperwork dates and being still youthful in appearance, we both enlisted as 31 year old men. It was so exciting to at last be in the pivotal event of our lives. Assigned to 3K. JR63, we made it to France at last, although after the first plunge through the countryside. Hein and I were plugged in just in time to face the French at a place called the Marne in September. When action came, it was not what I expected. I never even saw the enemy. We heard the artillery and saw broken troops but still missed the excitement. The next 8 months were spent in a quiet sector with little to do except dig latrines and curse the quiet. During 1915, we did see some fighting in July but still no real combat and soon more rest. In October the unit was sent back into the line at a place called the Somme. More quiet month upon month. Then on July 1, 1916 my desire for war ended in one day. Our unit suffered almost 60% casualties facing the British 4th Army as they poured over our position. We were shattered. By late July JR63 was sent back to refit with most of our company sent east to reinforce a unit facing the Russians – JR129. It was during this transfer that the truth of our age came out and we began to hope we might be sent to the rear. But the Sergeant of the 11th Company, Herr Cassell, with spite and malice in his heart changed our papers and we were forced to stay with JR129.
This theatre was worse than the West - not so much because of the Russians as they were poor fighters, but the cold, hunger and sickness. We seemed to constantly be moving across hundreds of kilometers facing one crisis after another. Fortunately this hell lasted for little more than a year. By October 1917, JR129 was boarded on trains and we moved to France again. I confess that it was a great relief to once again get to fight with better troops and face a human enemy.
My current status is that of the Company cook. I am told it was not so much my ability to cook well as my injuries which landed me this position. Unfortunately, I am the only living recipient in our Company of the gold wound pin. This is not an honor. I ache every day, and pray this war will soon end. I have a wife and three children, the oldest boy who serves in a regiment south of us. Soon, none of us will see our family. God, I hate this pivotal event!
At age 18, my best friend, August Hein and I (being of the same age) fulfilled our two year obligation to the country, serving in Reserve Field Artillery Regiment No. 29 2nd Battery. Afterwards, Hein and I were soon parted, he for service on a ship and me to further schooling and then into sales for a paper box company in Breslau.
At the outbreak of the war with France we were already older men with wives and adult children. Life had passed us by without as much as a single exciting event. Hein knew of a quality printer who was willing to adjust paperwork dates and being still youthful in appearance, we both enlisted as 31 year old men. It was so exciting to at last be in the pivotal event of our lives. Assigned to 3K. JR63, we made it to France at last, although after the first plunge through the countryside. Hein and I were plugged in just in time to face the French at a place called the Marne in September. When action came, it was not what I expected. I never even saw the enemy. We heard the artillery and saw broken troops but still missed the excitement. The next 8 months were spent in a quiet sector with little to do except dig latrines and curse the quiet. During 1915, we did see some fighting in July but still no real combat and soon more rest. In October the unit was sent back into the line at a place called the Somme. More quiet month upon month. Then on July 1, 1916 my desire for war ended in one day. Our unit suffered almost 60% casualties facing the British 4th Army as they poured over our position. We were shattered. By late July JR63 was sent back to refit with most of our company sent east to reinforce a unit facing the Russians – JR129. It was during this transfer that the truth of our age came out and we began to hope we might be sent to the rear. But the Sergeant of the 11th Company, Herr Cassell, with spite and malice in his heart changed our papers and we were forced to stay with JR129.
This theatre was worse than the West - not so much because of the Russians as they were poor fighters, but the cold, hunger and sickness. We seemed to constantly be moving across hundreds of kilometers facing one crisis after another. Fortunately this hell lasted for little more than a year. By October 1917, JR129 was boarded on trains and we moved to France again. I confess that it was a great relief to once again get to fight with better troops and face a human enemy.
My current status is that of the Company cook. I am told it was not so much my ability to cook well as my injuries which landed me this position. Unfortunately, I am the only living recipient in our Company of the gold wound pin. This is not an honor. I ache every day, and pray this war will soon end. I have a wife and three children, the oldest boy who serves in a regiment south of us. Soon, none of us will see our family. God, I hate this pivotal event!
Musketier Bernard Steinbicker
Musketier Markus Burkhardt
Musketier Michael Schaaf
Musketier Josef Liechti
Associate Member Clovis Eblen
Associate Member
Associate Member Mathias Gross