26th January – 28th February 2013
These 62 paintings in ink and watercolour were personally commissioned from Albert Heim (b.1890-?) by Lieutenant General Theodor von Wundt (1858-1929). Wundt commanded the 6500 Württemberger men of the 51 Reserve Infantry Brigade from 2nd August 1914 to 1st October 1916 during most of which time the Brigade was on the Somme battlefield between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel and centred at Thiepval. The watercolours record the General’s life, mostly before the British offensive of July 1st 1916, while he was quartered first at Courcelette, then at Miraumont and at work on the Sector’s battlefields. It is remarkable that a busy Lieutenant General should have commissioned such a personal record and they may have been painted with publication in mind.
More information on Heim, von Wundt and the
51 Reserve Infantry Brigade is at the bottom of this page.
To read Melissa Van der Klugt’s very good review
of the exhibition in The Times (19.01.13) click here.
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.Lieutenant General von Wundt’s photograph album (picture left) from the same period forms a fascinating counterpoint to the paintings and can be viewed by clicking here.
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1. Albert Heim: self-portrait of the artist above at trench between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed, inscribed: ‘Skizzenbuch’ (‘Sketchbook’) and indistinctly inscribed. 281x215 mm.
2. Heim with his soldier companions in the 51 Reserve Infantry Brigade. Ink and watercolour. Inscribed: ‘Melker (Kern). Schreiber (Staiger). Jacob (Abele). Heim. Karl (Hesser). Baul. Schnackel (Deffner). Koch (Raff)’. 345x265 mm.
3. Lieutenant General Theodor von Wundt with officers in a dugout between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Ink and watercolour. Signed and inscribed: ‘Drunten im Unterstand / do ists halt schön!’ (‘In the dugouts it’s cosy!’) and with his officer’s names from left to right ‘Alber. Ruoff. Basil. Lach. V Wundt. Köhler’. 333x200 mm.
4. Junior Officers on the steps of a dugout between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Unterstabs / Unterstand’ (‘Junior Officers / Dugout’). 280x221 mm.
5. Steps out of a dugout and cave between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Gouache. Verso signed, dated and inscribed: ‘Ausgang gegen den Garten durch aus der Höhle. Gez 1916’ (‘Exit to the garden through the cave. Drawn 1916’). 250x180 mm.
6. Soldiers improvised kitchen in a cave between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Gouache. Verso signed, dated and inscribed: ‘Hinterer Eingang zur Höhle mit improvisierter Mannschafts Küche, 1916’ (‘Rear entrance to the cave with an improvised squad kitchen’). 250x178 mm.
7. An Officers kitchen in a cave between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Gouache. Verso: signed, dated and inscribed: ‘Offiziersküche in der Höhle. 1916’ (‘Officers kitchen in the cave’). 242x260 mm.
8. ‘A room becomes vacant in the dugout’; between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Watercolour and gouache. Signed, indistinctly dated. Verso inscribed: ‘Zimmer warden frey im Unterstand’. 220x290 mm.
9. ‘I can offer…’. Baul presenting a Field Menu. Ink and watercolour. Signed and inscribed : ‘Hab ich / zu / bieten / Ä: Schwedische Vorspeis / Verlorene Eier / Sauce Bernaise. / Lenden Braten / Spätzle u Salat / Erdbeercreme / Verschiedene / Käsespeisen’. 205x143 mm.
10. ‘The Arrival of the Catering Corps’; Baul serving a trench meal. Between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed, dated and inscribed: ‘Anmarsch des Esstrupps / G Unterstand, 1916’ (‘The arrival of the Catering Corps / G Dugout’). 228x143 mm.
11. Lieutenant General von Wundt ‘under 12 week trench arrest’ between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Ink and watercolour. Inscribed: ‘12 Wochen Graben / Arrest, weil er sich / zur Teilnahme an / einem Feldzug ver / leiten liess’ (‘12 weeks trench arrest because he let himself convince them to attack’). 265x188 mm.
12. Baul smoking in a dugout between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed in German dialect: ‘M’jawohl der Baul’. Verso: ?Self portrait / ?mirror on easel in interior. Pencil. Indistinctly inscribed in German. 275x198 mm.
13. ‘Off to the Cave celebrations’, probably at Courcelette or Miraumont and on Midsummer night, 1915: Lieutenant General von Wundt (left), Moritz the dog, Baul (right). Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Auf zum / Höhlen-Feste!’ (‘Off to the Cave celebrations’). 340x233 mm.
14. German festivities in a cave, probably at Courcelette or Miraumont: Baul (left), ?Köhler (on barrel), Ruoff, Lach (handle-bar moustache), von Wundt (seated right), Schnäckel (right), Moritz (dog). Ink and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Ist jetzt Zeit zu Saufgelagen / zu Banketten Feiertagen’ (‘Now is the time to drink / celebrate and feast’). Verso inscribed: ‘Bilder natürlich wieder schicken’ (‘Of course send the pictures on’). 335x247 mm.
15. ‘Off to the Cave Festival’ probably near Miraumont or Courcelette. ?1915. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Inscribed: ‘Auf zum Höhlenfest’ (‘Off to the Cave Festival’) and with identities, left to right: ‘Baul’ (with lamp). ‘Schnachel’ (with tureen). ‘Moritz’ (dog). ‘Baldwin’ (with walking stick) (in fact Lieutenant-General Theodor v.Wundt). ‘Basil’ (fat officer facing). ‘Gohler (Bosch)’ (stooped with moustache). ‘Richard v. Kind’ (young with black moustache). ‘Unterleichen Heinrich’ (with raised walking stick). ‘Obristwachtmeister’ (man in cape). ‘Schmidt’ (thin man third from right). ‘Oberleichen Heinrich’ (2nd from right). ‘?’ (indistinct). Verso: inscribed ‘Wundt / 1 Negativ 13x18 m / 6 …Kopien’ (‘Wundt / 1 negative 13x18 mm / 6 copies’. 235x340 mm.
16. St John’s (Midsummer) night in Courcelette: Lieutenant General von Wundt with his officers. ?1915. Watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Johannis-Nacht / in Courcelette. / Lach. v.Wundt. Basil v.Ressing. Köhler’ (‘St John’s night in Courcelette / Lach. v Wundt. Basil. v Ressing. Köhler’). 255x275 mm.
17. A German Staff Officer in a trench; between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed. Verso: pencil study of a soldier’s head. 285x225 mm.
18. ‘The heavenly military policeman’. Ink and watercolour. Verso: inscribed: ‘Der ‘Himmelslandjäger (Pfann Walter) auf dem Seelandfang (Dir Hermann)’ (?The heavenly military policeman (Pfann Walter) on the hunt for souls (Dir(?ector) Hermann’). Possibly related to the soldiers Wald Fest at Grevillers. 285x230 mm.
19. The communication trench to Beer Garden Dugout; between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Watercolour and gouache. Verso signed, dated and inscribed: ‘Unser Laufgraben im Blütenschmuck beim Biergartenunterstand, 1916’ (?’The blood red flowers in the communication trench to Beer Garden Dugout’). 255x178 mm.
20. Miraumont; the bridge over the River Ancre on the road from Courcelette. Gouache . Signed and inscribed: ‘Eingang nach Gross-Miraumont’ (‘Entrance to Great Miraumont’). Miraumont is divided into ‘Great’ and ‘Small’ by the River Ancre. 342x235 mm.
21. Miraumont church from the North-West before shelling. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Kirche von Miraumont’. 165x245 mm.
22. Miraumont church from the South after shelling. Watercolour and gouache. Verso inscribed: ‘Miraumont’. 170x250 mm.
23. ‘The divine cowherd of Courcelette’. Ink watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Der Gottliche Kuhhirt v.Courcelette’ ('The divine cowherd of Courcelette'). 230x333 mm.
24. German Quarters in Little Miraumont; the Calvary at the junction of the old road from Courcelette and the road from Grandcourt, with the ‘Büro’ visible in the far right. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Quartier in Klein Miraumont’ (‘Quartiers in Little Miraumont’). 265x347 mm.
25. ‘Office in Little Miraumont’; now the rue Trojano on the road to Grandcourt. Ink,watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Büro in Klein Miraumont’. 260x345 mm.
26. ‘The Three Idiots’; Ruoff, Lach and von Wundt in a staff dugout between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Die drei Idioten’ (‘The three Idiots’). 220x270 mm.
27. The Officer's Mess in Little Miraumont. Gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Kasino in Miraumont’ (‘Officer's Mess in Miraumont’). 245x335 mm.
28. ‘Leibfried, Lieutenant Kamm and Major von Borowsky’ playing cards with ?Basil. Possibly in the Officers Mess at Little Miraumont. Ink and watercolour. Signed. Verso inscribed: ‘Leibfried, Ltt.Kamm, Major v.Borowsky’ and with the pen and ink study of a man. 190x205 mm.
29. Lieutenant General von Wundt, with Miraumont behind. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Miraumont’. 220x340 mm.
30. Lieutenant General von Wundt in the window of his Quarters, Little Miraumont. Baul in the doorway. Gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Quartier in Klein Miraumont’ (‘Quarters in Little Miraumont’). 245x337 mm.
31. ‘Bedroom in Little Miraumont’, probably that of Lieutenant General von Wundt. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Inscribed: ‘Zimmer in Klein Miraumont’ (‘Bedroom in Little Miraumont’). 237x347 mm.
32. The fireguard decorated by Heim with fleeing French and British soldiers in Lieutenant General von Wundt’s bedroom at Little Miraumont. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Inscribed: ‘Mein Ofenschirm’ (‘Fireguard painted by me’). 160x235 mm.
33. Lieutenant General von Wundt’s ‘Return from the trench’, Little Miraumont. Ink and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Rückkehr aus dem Schützengraben’ (‘Return from the trench’). 220x189 mm.
34. Lieutenant General von Wundt in the garden of his Quarters at Little Miraumont. Ink and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘In ‘Klein Miraumont’ (‘In Little Miraumont’). 335x237 mm.
35. Lieutenant General von Wundt with the barber, Little Miraumont. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Der künsterlische Friseur im Sonnenbad’ (‘The artistic barber in the sun’). Verso: Censor’s stamp, ‘Zur Vëroffentlichung nicht zugelassen / Berlin, d.12 Mai 1916, Oberkommando in den Marken’ (‘Not allowed for publication…’). 245x175 mm.
36. ‘The ear trouble’; Lieutenant-General von Wundt. Ink and watercolour. Signed and inscribed: ‘Das Ohrenleiden’ (‘The ear trouble’). 215x160 mm.
37. ‘Basil’ opening parcels from home. General von Wundt’s Quarters at Courcelette. Ink and watercolour. Signed. Inscribed: ‘Basil, öffnet Liebespakete’ (Basil opening love packages). Verso: Censors stamp, ‘Zur Veröffentlichung zugelassen / Berlin.d.13 Mai 1916 / Oberkommando in den Marken’ (Passed for Publication …). Indistinctly inscribed in German. 280x215 mm.
38. ‘Basil’ with a flower in the garden of Lieutenant General von Wundt’s Quarters at Courcelette. Ink and watercolour. Signed. Verso indistinctly inscribed in German. Censor’s stamp, ‘Zur Veröffentlichung zugelassen / Berlin, d.13 Mai 1916 / Oberkommando in den Marken’. (‘To allow for publication…’). 240x122 mm.
39. ‘Basil’ offering his largest roll of lavatory paper to Lieutenant General von Wundt in his Quarters at Courcelette. Ink and watercolour. Signed and inscribed: ‘Basil gibt seine dickste Rolle ab!’ (Basil hands over his largest roll). Verso: Censors stamp: ‘Zur Veröffentlichung nicht zugelassen / Berlin,d.12 Mai 1916 / Oberkommando in den Marken’ (Not passed for publication…). 220x290 mm.
40. ‘Basil’ with a garden roller in Lieutenant General von Wundt’s Quarters at Courcelette. Ink and watercolour. Signed. 255x267 mm.
41. ‘Basil the Infantryman’, probably at Lieutenant General von Wundt’s Quarters in Courcelette. Ink and watercolour. Signed and inscribed: ‘Basil der Feldsoldat’ (‘Basil the Infantryman’). 185x150 mm.
42. ‘Jakob!’. Probably at Lieutenant General von Wundt’s Quarters in Courcelette. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Jakob!’. 179x165 mm.
43. Lieutenant General von Wundt studying a map of the Front Line between Ovillers and Beaumont Hamel with Baul and Ansel in his Quarters in Little Miraumont. Watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Karte v. Albert’ / ‘Morgenmeldung. (“Sag dein Sprüchl, fürcht dich nit!” ) Ansel’ (‘Map of Albert / “Do not be afraid to give your morning news”, Ansel’). 345x240 mm.
44. ‘Baul’ lighting Lieutenant General von Wundt’s cigar. Little Miraumont. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed. Verso: Censor’s stamp, ‘Zur Veröffentlichung zugelassen / Berlin, d.13 Mai 1916 / Oberkommando in den Marken’ (‘Passed for publication …’). Indistinctly inscribed in German. 270x183 mm.
45. The General and The Writer. Lieutenant General von Wundt at the feet of a writer, possibly Georg Hirschfeld. Von Wundt holds copies of his most recent books Discipline and Matterhorn. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Er ist General, die / Fahnen umflattern ihn ./ Er kann das Leben ! / Was will er da noch in der / wackligen Literatur? / G.Hirschfeld’. (‘Here is the General, the flags fluttering about him. He knows how to live! What does he need with unreliable literature? / G. Hirschfeld'). Possibly Georg Hirschfeld (1873-1942) a proponent of the literary Naturalism movement. 240x351 mm.
46. ‘The arrival of Max Halbe’, Heim (left), von Wundt (centre), Baul (right). Little Miraumont. Ink and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Max Halbe kommt’ (‘Max Halbe arrives’). Possibly the leading dramatist of the German Naturalism movement Max Halbe (1865-1944) may have been visiting with the Stuttgart Hoftheatre in March 1916. 213x305 mm.
47. ‘Paul’s Peace – Spring dreams! (Back at work)’. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed : ‘Paul’s Friedens – u.Frühlingstraum ! / (‘Wieder bei der Arbeit’). Note: ‘Paul’ is the same soldier usually identified as ‘Baul’. 237x347 mm.
48. ‘Wie ich meinen / Irländer fing!’. Probably in the ‘Buro’ at Miraumont. Ink and gouache. Inscribed: ‘Wie ich meinen / Irländer fing!’ (‘How I caught my Irishman!’). Following the French to British changeover in the trenches 18 July-8 August 1915 the Germans arranged raids to capture prisoners for information. 119 RIR captured the first British prisoners on 12/13 August, Lieutenant Warnock, who was serious wounded, and Corporal Stevenson of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers. A photograph of the latter on the steps of Miraumont Town Hall suggests this is he. Left to right: V. Wundt, Corporal Stevenson, ?RIR 119 Officer, ?Basil, soldier, Ruoff, Lach. ‘Moritz’ on the table. 240x345 mm.
49. Lieutenant General von Wundt watching burning buildings after an air attack, Courcelette, 23rd May 1915. See photographs P.8 (c+d), P.9 (a), P.11 (d), P.25, P.37 (b) and P.38. Watercolour and gouache. Signed and indistinctly inscribed in German: ‘Am Feuer in Courcelette am 23.5.15 / in Folge von Fliegerbomben’. Verso: carbon copy drawing of a soldier relaxing next to a corpse. 149x220 mm.
50. Beauregard Farm, on the Miraumont to Puisieux road. Gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Ferme Beauregard’. 255x367 mm.
51. Baul, possibly on the Feste Alt-Württemberg (Beaucourt Redoubt) above Beaumont Hamel and observing the British bombardment prior to the 1 July 1916 Offensive. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed, dated and inscribed: ‘Der Feldherr (‘Mögen sie nur gommen’)’ (‘The Commander (‘May they only come’)’). 212x255 mm.
52. View of Hamel from the Schwaben Redoubt above St Pierre Divion. Pencil and watercolour. Inscribed and dated: ‘Mesnil. Vitermont. Hamel. Mailly-Maillet. Franz-Linie. Auchonvillers. Deutsche Linie / Von oberhalb St Pierre Divion / Mai 1915’. 220x335 mm.
53. View of Hamel, Hamel Mill over the River Ancre and the railway line from Arras to Albert, probably from the Strassberger Stieg (Stairs), a communication trench connecting Schwaben Redoubt and St Pierre Divion. Possibly May 1915. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Hamel, Mühle v.Hamel, Beaumont / von oberhalb St Pierre Divion’(Hamel, Hamel Mill, Beaumont / from above St Pierre Divion’). 200x277 mm.
54. View from Lieutenant General von Wundt’s dugout at Feste Staufen (Stuff Redoubt) of Mouquet Farm, Albert, Authuille Wood and Thiepval. Possibly May 1915. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Fe.du Mouquet. Kirche v Albert – Wald von Authuille. Werk ‘v.Wundt’. Thiepval. Höhe 151’ (‘Mouquet Farm. Albert Church. Authuille Wood. Wonder Works. Thiepval. Height 151’). Inscribed verso: ‘Blick von meinem Unterstand auf Höhe 153 zwischen Thiepval und Courcelette. (Reservestellung). Zu dem Unterstand führen 20 Stufen hinab (darunter: Schlaffzimmer u.1 Wohnzimmer). 1 Periskop darüber 4 Meter gewachsener Boden u.Eisenbahnschwellen. 2 Ausgänge. Am seitlichen Ausgang (westl.) ein splitterfester Beobachtungsstand’ (‘View from my dugout on Hill 153 between Thiepval and Courcelette. (Reserve Position). Entrance to the dugout down 20 steps. It has three rooms (bedrooms and 1 living-room). 4 metre periscope. Earth and railway sleepers. Two exits. On the western exit is a schrapnel resistant observation platform’). 150x333 mm.
55. The ‘Battle for Thiepval’ observed by Lieutenant General von Wundt, probably from Feste Alt-Württemberg (Beaucourt Redoubt). Watercolour and gouache. Signed, dated and inscribed: Kampf um Thiepval / Lufttorpedo. Wald von Thiepval. Albert. Ancretal. (19)16’ (‘Battle for Thiepval / Air torpedo. Thiepval Wood. Albert. Ancretal’. 217x281 mm.
56. Germans inspecting the battlefield in front of Serre, probably from Bayern Graben (Baverian Trench) and before the French assault in June 1915. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Inscribed: ‘Erkundigung auf dem Kampffeld vor Serre / La Signy Fe. Strassengabel .Hebuterne. Serre’ (‘Inspection on the battlefield in front of Serre / La Signy Farm, Crossroads, Hebuterne, Serre’. 190x342 mm. Signed.
57. Artillery barrage. Possibly of St Pierre Divion and Hamel with Mesnil church in the distance and painted from between St Pierre Divion and Grandcourt. Gouache. 200x351 mm.
58. The Chateau at Thiepval. Having been briefly von Wundt’s Quarters on his Brigades’s arrival on 29th September 1914 the Chateau was progressively destroyed by shellfire. It stood on what is now the site of the Visitor Centre car park. Ink, watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed ‘Schloss Thiepval’. 230x325 mm. £3,250
59. Trench at Beaumont after 3rd September 1916. Watercolour and gouache. Signed and inscribed: ‘Schützengraben in Beaumont nach dem 3 Sept.1916’ (‘Trench at Beaumont after 3rd Sept.1916’). Related to a published German photograph entitled ‘In the forward most line in the Beaumont South position on the evening of 3rd September with fallen Englishmen’. 220x307 mm.
60. German military cemetary. Gouache. Circa 1917. 206x280 mm.
61. Langemark Churchyard with German graves. Flanders. Gouache. Probably 1917. 260x340 mm.
62. Langemark Church by moonlight. Flanders. Gouache. Signed and dated 1917 and inscribed: ‘Die Kirche von Langemark’. One of only four WW1 German military cemeteries in Flanders, Langemark was first used by the Germans in 1915. 257x340 mm.
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ALBERT HEIM (b.1890)
Albert Heim (b.1890) was born in Esslingen and trained as an artist and illustrator at the Stuttgart Academy of Arts. He appears to have worked as a commercial artist and illustrator during the 1920s. The presence of the Censor’s Stamp on the reverse of numbers 35, 37, 38, 39 and 44 suggest that these watercolours were considered for publication in a magazine or book and it may be that the entire series were intended to illustrate an account of von Wundt’s life in the Sector.
Literature:
Hauptbuch der schwarzen Hand: Albert Heim; Max Korner; Wilhelm Schnarrenberger with a forward by Otto Franz Kutscher and a dedication by the Rhein/Main Regional Group of the Society of German Advertising Art to the participants of the 3rd Bundestag (Federal Parliament) in Munich. 32 pages. Publ. 1924.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL THEODOR VON WUNDT (1858-1929)
Theodor von Wundt came from an military family and was the son of a War Minister. Before the War he commanded 59 Infantry Brigade based in Saarburg. On the 2nd August 1914 he was given command of 51 Reserve Infantry Brigade and served with them until 1st October 1916. He was then promoted to command 18th Reserve Division which continued to serve on the Somme in October before being moved to Arras.
Von Wundt was not only a professional soldier but a noted mountaineer and author of books on mountaineering in the Alps, novels and poetry.* By his English wife Maud Walters (d.1960) he had a daughter Nora, who practiced as a pediatrician, and two sons. Max (b.c.1896) who was killed in the first weeks of the War and Rolf (1902-2000) a Radio Physicist and worldwide authority on radio antennae who was airlifted via Operation Paperclip to the USA in 1945 and who became an American citizen. His wife and two children accompanied him, as did his father’s WW1 watercolour collection and photographs. These descended from his daughter (b.1933) to her daughter; Theodor von Wundt’s great grand-daughter.
*Die Besteigung des Cimone della Pala, Stuttgart 1892; Wanderungen in den Ampezzaner Dolomiten, Berlin 1893; Wanderbilder aus den Dolomiten, Stuttgart [u.a.] 1894; Das Matterhorn und seine Geschichte, Berlin 1896; Die Jungfrau und das Berner Oberland, Berlin 1897; Engadin, Ortler, Dolomiten, Stuttgart 1900; Hinauf!, Stuttgart 1913; Disziplin, Stuttgart 1915; Matterhorn, Berlin 1916; Ich und die Berge, Berlin 1917; Höhenflug, Berlin 1918; Das Diadem, Berlin 1926; Zermatt und seine Berge, Zürich 1930
THE 51 RESERVE INFANTRY BRIGADE
51 Reserve Infantry Brigade (RIB 51) was a part of 26 Reserve Division of the Reserve XIV Corps and consisted of two regiments: Infantry Regiment 180 (IR 180) and Reserve Infantry Regiment 121 (RIR 121). The nominal strength of an infantry regiment was about 3100 officers and men so the Brigade, with HQ staff, consisted of about 6500 men.
At the outbreak of War the German Army effectively split into two and formed a duplicate set of reserve divisions. This was a great feat of organization and was achieved by posting in a cadre of officers and NCOs from the regular (‘aktiv’) regiments. Many German men had two or three years of national service and so were able to fill out immediately effective and battleworthy regiments. Von Wundt’s troops were in action within two weeks of formation. The Brigade also acquired Reserve Infantry Regiment 99 after mobilization although this was moved to 52 Reserve Infantry Brigade, whose formation paralled that of 51 RIB, in March 1915.
With particular thanks to Professor Holger Afflerbach, Mrs Elisabeth Hauff, Mrs Joanna Legg, Mr Christian Baudisch and Mr Alastair Fraser.
MAPS SHOWING THE SECTOR – CLICK TO ENLARGE
