Unknown German WWI - Major? - Any suggestions?

[Ritterton]

Good afternoon folks - this is a bit of an interesting image. It came in an original frame and we slowly removed it from that to find the picture had been covered with a think bit of tissue paper on the reverse. Unfortunately, somewhere in time, the picture had suffered from water damage melding the tissue paper to the back. Yet, what did come off revealed a bit about the individual.

It appears to us that the first line reads Majeur Broeder over.....
The next line gives the date of 2 March in Hassels - that is near Dusseldorf and the photography studio was in Belgium all about 90k away or so.
the next line I would say could be Grenadier - but there seems to be more letters there in French than I would normally think there should be. Yet, I don't speak French.

Last line is a bit hard to read but it could be an age written in French - if so then this officer is all of 31.

Love the cigar in his right hand. Also the picture is printed onto the background image of Germania with her sword and the flag with the guidons.

Great picture - just curious if someone more familiar with uniforms and FRENCH can help us out here.

Happy New Year

R

[Varese2002]

Interesting picture. IMO the officer in ceremonial uniform is from Belgium (no German officer here). I don't think that any German officer would have his photograph taken in Louvain (Leuven) in Belgium 'sometime in 1914'.

Although I am not a specialist on uniforms and/or national insignia, IMO this has a high Belgian appearance. More search is needed to identify the uniform and the statue / flags.

The parts of the text which are readable are IMO in Flemish (Dutch) not in French. Taking the most readable lines.....

Mijn broeder overleden den
2 Mart 1914 in Hasselt
Gendarmerie
31 [jaren]

Freely translated the script says that 'My brother who died on March 2, 1914 in Hasselt at the age of 31 years. He was in the service of the Gendarmerie.'

The last word 'jaren' is not sure because of the faded letters.

Someone in the family of this man wrote this text behind this picture and probably held it for years in his family documents.

There might be a possibility to identify the man on the picture, as you know that he died on March 2, 1914 in Hasselt and was in the Belgian Gendarmerie.

It is sure special that he saw fit to hold a cigar for this official looking picture.

The Rue de Diest in Leuven (Louvain) - where the picture was taken - was completely shot away to the ground in August 1914 during the German attack on Belgium.

Cheers

Kees

[Ritterton]

Truly, THANK YOU KEES. Now we know a bit more about this photograph. I appreciate the translation as we wer really struggling here. I am truly grateful for the help.

The picture was well framed. So we knew it was an important photo for someone. Thank you and I will work on seeing if we can find out a little bit more.

Take care and Happy New Year.

R

[Ritterton]

Kees provided a lot of good information. Here are some more detailed images of the statute and the cannon. Not much help with regard to the latter, however, there is a date that does read 1907 for the copy right of the image that the officer's picture is printed upon. So, this could be an image from earlier than 1914.

I am still of the impression that the Statute and the Shield are portraying Germania. But, that could be a complete misinterpretation on my part.





The bottom one above is of Germania in imperial form as indicated by the double eagle on the shield. What I can say with some level of authority is that that shield in this picture is not the Belgium lion - so that adds a level of confussion in all of this.

Again, KEES, thank you.

[CNOCK]

Hi,

nothing referring to Germany in this pic with the Belgian NCO

Regards,

Cnock