Discharge papers signed by ????

[Soderbaum]

Interesting info Karl

FAA 215 should have been demobilised in late 1918. Could that Oblt Müller/Mueller have meant FA 415 instead..?
This was an after War unit(Freikorps).

I also dont have any von Kiedrowski in my files.


Gunnar

[Karl von Loewe]

Gunnar, it's clearly FA(A) 215, both in the text of the recommendation and in the rubber stamp. Not 415.

[G Sting]

Originally Posted by Karl von Loewe

Gunnar, I suspect my father, Sigmund, did not serve on the Italian front. He was very tight-lipped about his service, however. He was most likely drafted in March 1917, judging from his work reference at that time, and disappeared from documents until January 1919. However, from April 1919 to September 1919 he disappeared again, until he turned up with a job in Lyck. My guess is that he may have served with other flyers who assisted the police in maintaining order in Germany. In The "Rise and Fall of the Luftwaffe" Erhard Milch is mentioned as having commanded such a unit in East Prussia, and I have photographic evidence of Sigmund in military uniform standing for a group photo in a police office with his brother, a policeman, not in uniform, along with other men and women in civilian clothes. The brother probably lived and worked in Thorn/Torun.

Karl,

I can also relate to the difficulty of finding information about a relative's flying unit during the 1918-1919 period. My grandfather (link here), apparently finished pilot training at FEA 12, Cottbus, about 70 miles SE of Berlin around August 1918. But what unit he was assigned to after that is unknown. He did mention he flew the Albatros and LVG, that he enjoyed flying, and we have a few other stories. After that, he lists being dismissed at FEA 12. Later, he immigrated to the US in 1929 (great year ) via Brazil.

It was only occasionally that family members heard a story or two of his time in the cavalry and air force. What's kind of amazing, is that as I continue to pursue research on him via family members, there are quite a few stories to collect here and there. It's like putting together a very complex puzzle... but it is slowly coming together. Documents, photos, stories, history, reading, this forum, other contacts, some travel, etc. all help.

Another things I find is as I sit down with a family member and show them documents or photos is that it brings up a memory... another link in the chain... another piece of the puzzle. Very interesting stuff!

Maybe you are finding the same thing? Hopefully so!

Regards and good luck!
Mike G.
"G-Sting"

[Karl von Loewe]

Mike, I know what you mean about the puzzles. My father (born 1899) kept some documents, but no real narrative of his service. My only contact with his family is my first cousin in Poland, and I only learned about him six years ago, and visited him four years ago. The stories were - as today's teens say - amazing! I'm lucky I have some facility (as opposed to fluency) in Polish and German.
Karl

[G Sting]

Originally Posted by Karl von Loewe

Mike, I know what you mean about the puzzles. My father (born 1899) kept some documents, but no real narrative of his service. My only contact with his family is my first cousin in Poland, and I only learned about him six years ago, and visited him four years ago. The stories were - as today's teens say - amazing! I'm lucky I have some facility (as opposed to fluency) in Polish and German.
Karl

Very interesting! Great things to write down and/or record for yourself and future generations.

I'm going to try to follow your search here... as my grandfather was also born in 1899 (Danzig)... and lived through that time period in Germany until 1924.

I hope you find many fine adventures in your search.

Cheers,
Mike G.
"G-Sting"