G012981
IMPERIAL
GERMAN PHOTOGRAPH.
(Fotographie)
A WW1 era, 14cm x 9cm portrait of a Seebataillon
(Marine Infantry) Officer in full-dress uniform.
Rare image of an officer in a seated pose. Crisp focus with excellent
uniform details of the officer shoulder straps with Kaiserliche crown and cap
with white band, leather chinstrap and single Cockade. Bayonet with Portapee in
clear focus. The Seebataillon were actually an arm of the Imperial Navy and were
established to provide a land-based force capable of defending Germany's ports
and colonies. They were a Reich asset and thus did not wear a state or
contingent cockade on their Mützen. The I. and II. Seebataillon were based in
Germany while the III. Seebataillon was permanently based in Tsingtao in China.
Photography studio stamp on reverse. Excellent condition.
New info added July 30th 2023
On initial mobilization in August 1914 the Seebatallione were not mobilized; they had no role in the Army's war plan and it was anticipated they would continue, with their partners the Matrosenartillerie (Coast Defense Artillery), to defend Germany's coast and harbor facilities. By late August the Navy wanted the Belgian ports and could only obtain them by fully occupying the zone in which they were contained. A Marinedivision was formed (just like an Army infantry division and indeed it had Army components the Navy did not possess). The infantry components were Navy and comprised Marineinfanterie ("marines") and Seewehr personnel (Navy portion of the Landweher).
The Seebataillone were briefly expanded (I have seen shoulder strap numbers up to VII. Bataillon) with reserve personnel when it was decided to mobilize the force but almost as rapidly disbanded. The battalions were then reorganized into Marineinfanterie Regimenter, of which there were three (i.e., the Seebataillone ceased to exist). The remaining infantry regiments in the division were Matroseninfanterie (Sailors).
They initially deployed in the blue uniform but by September the need for feldgrau was recognized and they were granted the privilege of their own version of the Army's Garde uniform. This is not a full dress uniform; it's the field uniform.
A second Division was added at the end of 1914 and the organization expanded into a full Korps. It was the anchor of the right flank of the German line against the North Sea. (And in 1917, a third division was formed but not attached to the Korps.)
And just a brief but interesting note; the officers were Army personnel seconded to the Navy. Ludendorff, e.g., had actually served in the II. Seebataillon as an Oberleutnant in the 1890s. The only "organic" officers they had were individuals who had been One Year Volunteers in a Seebataillon and received a Reserve commission.
Thank you Lou! Peter
GRADE ****1/4 PRICE $144.00
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