Die Reichswehr Im Bild: Infantry Regiment 12
Despite it’s cadre being Prussian the 12th Infantry Regiment was part of the 4th Division whose sister regiments (10th and 11th) were all drawn from the former Imperial Saxon Army.
The HQ for the 4th division was Dresden and all the necessary supporting units carried the designation 4 in front of their titles, ie. 4th (Saxon) Artillery Regiment.
This album is a useful historical reference because it is for a soldier who served also as a musician and as such gives a slightly different perspective of life in the Reichswehr.
The album is for an "other ranks" member of IR12 6th Kompanie, making his home the II Battalion which was based at Quedlinburg. It dates from 1922 till 1931 and the soldiers name was Obergefreiter Gustav Kirchberg. The first picture is of two soldiers of the imperial Army, possibly his father, so he may well be following in his footsteps.
His basic training took place at Jüterbog (alongside members of the 4th AR by the look of things) and the pictures clearly demonstrate how the RW fully utilised the old stocks of Imperial uniforms in these formative days. The album follows Gustav’s training through visits to the training grounds of Jüterbog 1925, Grafenwohr 1926 and Senne 1927 plus various visits to places of military interest such as the Herman Monument.
It culminates with his service in the "band" of the Berlin Guard Troop in 1927. This Wachtrüppe was rotated through every unit in the Army and each served a term as garrison in Berlin. This had been the case since the Kapp Putsch in 1920 when the commanding General sided with the rebels to overthrow the Government, the idea was to keep the troops loyal to the elected government and not have a fixed unit in Berlin.
These pictures show the band playing the streets of Berlin, greeting Hindenburg, an Admiral arriving for a function and of course the money shot……..walking down the Unter den Linden and through the Brandenburg Gate.
Hope you enjoy the pictures.
cheers
Tony.
