WWI Imperial German Seebataillon (Naval Infantry) Group Photo with Veteran NCO, China Medal and Ersatz Shakos, circa 1915–1916, RPPC
This is an original German real-photo postcard of a large group of men from the Imperial German Seebataillon, the navy's infantry (Marine-Infanterie), posed in rows in front of a barracks building. There are about 22 men. Most are young soldiers in the dark pre-war tunic (Waffenrock) with rows of buttons, piped fronts, light shoulder straps and light bands on the collar and cuffs. They wear field caps (Feldmützen) with a light band and a round cockade. The two men lying in front hold crossed bayonets.
The two men at the far left and far right are in full field equipment, with rifles and fixed bayonets, belts and cartridge pouches. Both wear the shako (Tschako), the traditional headdress of the Seebataillon. These are wartime Ersatz shakos, made of felt or canvas-covered cork instead of leather because leather ran short during the war. They have a large front emblem and a round pompom on top.
In the centre sits the group's NCO in a field-grey tunic with piped front and cuffs and a peaked cap with a light band. He holds a sword with a sword knot (Troddel). His medal bar is especially interesting. The first medal appears to be a Prussian long service award (Dienstauszeichnung). The second is the China Commemorative Medal (China-Denkmünze) for the Boxer Rebellion of 1900–1901, with two battle clasps. This makes him a veteran of the China expedition, in which detachments of the Seebataillone took part. He was probably now serving as an experienced instructor for the new wartime recruits.
The back is a divided postcard back with dashed address lines and a printed number "8647" at the bottom centre. There is no stamp box, writing or postmark, and the card was never mailed. No publisher or photographer is printed on it.
Item Details
Format: Original real-photo postcard (RPPC)
Subject: Imperial German Seebataillon (naval infantry) recruits with their NCO, in a barracks yard
Key Detail 1: Two men in wartime Ersatz shakos (felt or canvas-covered cork), with rifles and fixed bayonets
Key Detail 2: Veteran NCO with a medal bar: Prussian long service award and the China Medal (Boxer Rebellion) with two battle clasps
Key Detail 3: Men in dark pre-war tunics and field caps; crossed bayonets in the front row
Publisher: None printed
Reverse: Divided back, unmailed; printed number "8647"; no stamp box
Dimensions: Approx. 3.5 x 5.5 in (9 x 14 cm)
Date: Circa 1915–1916 (WWI), estimated from the Ersatz shakos and the mix of uniforms
Condition: Fine surface cracks in the emulsion, including across the seated NCO's face. Some spotting on the front, and toning and soiling on the back. Please see scans.
About the Seebataillone
The Seebataillone were the infantry of the Imperial German Navy. The I. Seebataillon was based in Kiel and the II. Seebataillon in Wilhelmshaven. The III. Seebataillon was stationed in Tsingtao in the German colony of Kiautschou, China, and was lost when Tsingtao fell in November 1914. Seebataillon troops served overseas in the colonies, and detachments fought in China during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900–1901. That service is marked here by the NCO's China Medal. When the First World War began, the Seebataillone were expanded into Marine-Infanterie regiments of the Marine-Division in Flanders, which held the Belgian coast and the Yser front until 1918. Wartime shortages led to Ersatz versions of the shako made of felt or cork. Together with the pre-war dark tunics still worn by recruits, they make this photo a good record of the navy's wartime infantry at home.
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