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This is usually difficult to find, making military records hard to use for genealogical research. Search the sources cited above to find your ancestor's regiment, ship, or commanding officer. Commanding officers can be identified with their units relatively easily. Photographs sometimes show insignia that identify a regiment or ship. | This is usually difficult to find, making military records hard to use for genealogical research. Search the sources cited above to find your ancestor's regiment, ship, or commanding officer. Commanding officers can be identified with their units relatively easily. Photographs sometimes show insignia that identify a regiment or ship. | ||
=== Types of Military Records | |||
'''== Historical background ==''' | |||
Until 1918 there was no Reichsheer (army) but the Royal Prussian Army with which most states joined forces. Before, the Brandenburg-Prussian army existed and the states of Bavaria, Saxony and Württemberg had their own armies. | |||
Söldnerheere (armies) of the 16th century were primarily hired by warfaring nations through contracts (Kapitulationen). The colonels of such armies administered to their troupes and appointed officers as they saw fit. Since the Swedisch-Polish War of 1655-1660 the Kurfürst of Brandenburg attempted to establish a permanent army. He introduced concepts, directives and commissions to have influence over his troupes and made sure he himself appointed the officers. At first such men were chosen from the ranks of nobility. In the 18th century it became possible for ordinary men to enroll as cadets and officers. Such candidates were listed in so called '''Quartalrollen''', which unfortunately have not survived. | |||
Friedrich Wilhelm I of Brandenburg ordered '''Ranglisten '''to be established and which were first published on a monthly basis, then quarterly, then yearly and lastly in 1911. The information of such lists is sparse as far as genealogical evidence is concerned. the recorded facs of the officers have to do with their regiments, hire, release, service and advancement, rather than birth place, names of parents and wife and children. Although from time to time, such information is being revealed but not consistently. Starting in 1858 we do find birth year and -place in Ranglisten as a relevant fact. Since 1874 each officer was listed with all vital dates in a separate file. | |||
In early days regiments had to report directly to the king. Any petition had to be brought to the king's attention, even if an officer was to marry. In so called '''Minuten '''the king responded to the requests. Such minutes existed since 1728 and since 1786 minutes have almost completely survived. They cover the years 1786 to 1811. At year's end '''Conduitenlisten '''were sent to the king and reports given about every officer's qualifications. Such lists were kept until WWI from 1850 on, however, Conduitenlisten have come down to us in fragmentary form. | |||
The common soldiers of the Brandenburg Prussian army have not been as well documented. Most records on them (1660-1822) consisting of '''Quartalrollen '''were lost. Ther are still '''Maß- und Stammrollen '''on them, however, such should not be viewed as primary sources. They came to an end with the war of 1806/07. In the year 1810 indexes were created of non commissioned officers and their soldiers. These indexes exist for the years 1810-1822 with gaps. | |||
Source: Rohr, Wilhelm. "Die militärischen Bestände des Preußischen Geheimen Staatsarchivs und ihre Bedeutung für die Personen- und Familienforschung". Leipzig: Zentralstelle für Deutsche Personen- und Familiengeschichte. 1927. | |||
This article is available through [http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org] Family History Library Catalog, International film number 1045463. | |||
'''== Types of Military Records ==''' | |||
The earliest German military records, which began around 1485, usually list only the names of the soldiers. | The earliest German military records, which began around 1485, usually list only the names of the soldiers. | ||
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*Personnel files [Stammrollen] of common soldiers and noncommissioned officers | *Personnel files [Stammrollen] of common soldiers and noncommissioned officers | ||
*Published officer files [Offizier-Stammlisten] | *Published officer files [Offizier-Stammlisten] | ||
*Published cadets' files (Kadettenlisten, Rezeptionsakten) | |||
*Collection Arnim (details of officers' personal and family history | |||
*Officer rolls [Ranglisten] | *Officer rolls [Ranglisten] | ||
*Regimental histories [Regimentsgeschichten] Foreign Military Service | *Regimental histories [Regimentsgeschichten] Foreign Military Service | ||
*Pensions for surving widows (Offizierswitwenkasse) | |||
* | |||
Germans frequently served with the armies of foreign countries. | Germans frequently served with the armies of foreign countries. | ||
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'''American Civil War''' About one in ten Union soldiers was born in Germany. Over 200,000 German immigrants to the United States were recruited by the Union, many as they stepped off the boat. Some were drafted. Some Germans served in the Confederate military. To find information about Germans who fought in the Civil War, see the U.S. Military Records research outline. | '''American Civil War''' About one in ten Union soldiers was born in Germany. Over 200,000 German immigrants to the United States were recruited by the Union, many as they stepped off the boat. Some were drafted. Some Germans served in the Confederate military. To find information about Germans who fought in the Civil War, see the U.S. Military Records research outline. | ||
=== Locating Military Records | === '''== Locating Military Records ==''' === | ||
German military records can be of great genealogical value, but getting access to them is often a problem. | German military records can be of great genealogical value, but getting access to them is often a problem. | ||
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If you write to archives for information from military records, you must indicate the regiment or company to which your ancestor belonged. Also include the garrison town or commanding officer's name and your ancestor's rank if you know that information. | If you write to archives for information from military records, you must indicate the regiment or company to which your ancestor belonged. Also include the garrison town or commanding officer's name and your ancestor's rank if you know that information. | ||
Two books help identify where regiments from Preußen were stationed. Although the records they describe were burned in World War II, the garrison towns listed are locations to look for other records: | Two books help identify where regiments from Preußen were stationed. Although the records they describe were burned in World War II, the garrison towns listed are locations to look for in other records: | ||
Lyncker, Alexander von. ''Die altpreußische Armee1714-1806 und ihre Militärkirchenbücher (Old Prussian army and its military parish records, 1714-1806).'' Berlin, Germany: Verlag für Standesamtswesen, 1937. (FHL book 943 M2lv.1; film 477,806.) | Lyncker, Alexander von. ''Die altpreußische Armee1714-1806 und ihre Militärkirchenbücher (Old Prussian army and its military parish records, 1714-1806).'' Berlin, Germany: Verlag für Standesamtswesen, 1937. (FHL book 943 M2lv.1; film 477,806.) | ||
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——. ''Die preußische Armee 1807-1867 und ihresippenkundlichen Quellen (Old Prussian army and its genealogical sources, 1807-1867).'' Berlin, Germany: Verlag für Standesamtswesen, 1939. (FHL book 943 M2l v. 2; film 477,807.) | ——. ''Die preußische Armee 1807-1867 und ihresippenkundlichen Quellen (Old Prussian army and its genealogical sources, 1807-1867).'' Berlin, Germany: Verlag für Standesamtswesen, 1939. (FHL book 943 M2l v. 2; film 477,807.) | ||
=== Records at German State Archives | Meyers Orts- und Verkehrslexikon has as a supplement listed all garrison towns of Germany. These towns can also be viewed on a map in the same lexicon. | ||
=== == Records at German State Archives == === | |||
There is no central archive for German military records. German states each had their own system of keeping military records before 1867. These records are now stored in several German state archives. The following pamphlet lists the archives where existing military records for each state are found: | There is no central archive for German military records. German states each had their own system of keeping military records before 1867. These records are now stored in several German state archives. The following pamphlet lists the archives where existing military records for each state are found: | ||
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In 1867 the armies of all but three German states were integrated into the armies of Preußen. From that time, soldiers of any German state (except Bayern, Sachsen, or Württemberg) were recorded only in the military records of Preußen. Unfortunately, the Preußen military records were almost completely destroyed in 1945. | In 1867 the armies of all but three German states were integrated into the armies of Preußen. From that time, soldiers of any German state (except Bayern, Sachsen, or Württemberg) were recorded only in the military records of Preußen. Unfortunately, the Preußen military records were almost completely destroyed in 1945. | ||
=== Records at the Family History Library | === == Records at the Family History Library == === | ||
Only a few German military records are available at the Family History Library. They are mostly military parish registers, a few published officer rolls [Stammlisten and Ranglisten], and regimental histories. German military church records are usually listed in the Family History Library Catalog with other church records. For a listing see: [http://users.foxvalley.net/~goertz/mil.html http://users.foxvalley.net/~goertz/mil.html] | |||
For other German military records, see the Place Search of the catalog under: | |||
GERMANY - MILITARY RECORDS | GERMANY - MILITARY RECORDS | ||
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GERMANY, [STATE] - MILITARY RECORDS | GERMANY, [STATE] - MILITARY RECORDS | ||
=== Military History | === == Military History == === | ||
Germans were involved in the following military actions, among others: | Germans were involved in the following military actions, among others: | ||
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A website that collects German military field mail and has a free database [http://www.feldpostsammlung.de/ Feldpost im Zweiten Weltkrieg]. | A website that collects German military field mail and has a free database [http://www.feldpostsammlung.de/ Feldpost im Zweiten Weltkrieg]. | ||
Kriegsarchiv Freiburg, Germany at | |||
[http://archiveswiki.historians.org/index.php/Bundesarchiv-Milit%C3%A4rarchiv http://archiveswiki.historians.org/index.php/Bundesarchiv-Milit%C3%A4rarchiv] | |||
For further questions, click [http://www.faqs.org/faqs/genealogy/german-faq/part3/section-1.html http://www.faqs.org/faqs/genealogy/german-faq/part3/section-1.html] | |||
{{Place|Germany}} | {{Place|Germany}} | ||
[[Category:Germany|Military Records]] | [[Category:Germany|Military Records]] | ||