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This article is available through [http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org] FamilySearch Catalog, International film number 1045463. | This article is available through [http://www.familysearch.org www.familysearch.org] FamilySearch 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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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 [[United States Military Records]]. | 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 [[United States 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. | ||
===Locating the Garrison Town=== | |||
Some 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: | Some 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: | ||
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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. | 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 === | |||
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 FamilySearch Catalog with other church records. For a listing see: [http://users.foxvalley.net/~goertz/mil.html http://users.foxvalley.net/~goertz/mil.html] | 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 FamilySearch Catalog with other church records. For a listing see: [http://users.foxvalley.net/~goertz/mil.html http://users.foxvalley.net/~goertz/mil.html] | ||
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::GERMANY, [STATE] - MILITARY RECORDS | ::GERMANY, [STATE] - MILITARY RECORDS | ||
== Military History == | |||
Germans were involved in the following military actions, among others: | Germans were involved in the following military actions, among others: | ||
=== Thirty Years War, 1618 to 1648 === | |||
*'''1618:''' Thirty Years' War. Protestant and Catholic. In 1648, Sweden, Denmark, and France all seized German territory. Parts of Germany were decimated. | *'''1618:''' Thirty Years' War. Protestant and Catholic. In 1648, Sweden, Denmark, and France all seized German territory. Parts of Germany were decimated. | ||
=== War of the Palatine Succession, 1688 to 1697 === | |||
*'''1688-1697:''' Palatine Wars of Succession – destroyed mainly Southwestern Germany. | *'''1688-1697:''' Palatine Wars of Succession – destroyed mainly Southwestern Germany. | ||
=== War of Austrian Succession, 1740 to 1748 === | |||
*'''1740:''' War of Austrian Succession. Prussia invaded. In 1748, Austria conceded Silesia (Schlesien) to Prussia | *'''1740:''' War of Austrian Succession. Prussia invaded. In 1748, Austria conceded Silesia (Schlesien) to Prussia | ||
=== Seven Years War, 1756 to 1763 === | |||
*'''1756:''' Seven Years War. 1763 Prussia kept Silesia. | *'''1756:''' Seven Years War. 1763 Prussia kept Silesia. | ||
=== American Revolution, 1775 to 1783 === | |||
*'''1775-1783:''' American Revolution. Several German states led by Hessen, provided troops to fight for the British | |||
*Lowell, Edward J. [http://www.americanwars.org/american-revolution-hessians.htm The Hessians in the Revolution] williamstown, Massachusetts. Corner House Publishers. 1970 reprint. | *Lowell, Edward J. [http://www.americanwars.org/american-revolution-hessians.htm The Hessians in the Revolution] williamstown, Massachusetts. Corner House Publishers. 1970 reprint. | ||
=== Napoleonic Wars, 1805 to 1815 === | |||
*'''1805-1815:''' Napoleonic Wars. German troops served throughout Europe. Rhineland was temporarily occupied by France. | *'''1805-1815:''' Napoleonic Wars. German troops served throughout Europe. Rhineland was temporarily occupied by France. | ||
=== Second Schleswig War, 1864 === | |||
*'''1864:''' War with Denmark. Prussia seized Schleswig-Holstein. | *'''1864:''' War with Denmark. Prussia seized Schleswig-Holstein. | ||
=== Seven Weeks War, 1866 === | |||
*'''1866:''' Seven Weeks War. Preußen consolidated power in a fight with Austria. In 1867, after the war the Army Reorganized. Prussia absorbed the armies of all other states except Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg. | *'''1866:''' Seven Weeks War. Preußen consolidated power in a fight with Austria. In 1867, after the war the Army Reorganized. Prussia absorbed the armies of all other states except Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg. | ||
=== Franco-Prussian War, 1870 to 1871 === | |||
'''1870-1871:''' Franco-Prussian War. Germany annexed Alsace-Lorrraine (Elsaß-Lothringen). | '''1870-1871:''' Franco-Prussian War. Germany annexed Alsace-Lorrraine (Elsaß-Lothringen). | ||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1292 German Casualties in the Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871] (Ancestry) ($) - requires Ancestry Worldwide subscription. Records are in German. | *[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1292 German Casualties in the Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871] (Ancestry) ($) - requires Ancestry Worldwide subscription. Records are in German. | ||
=== World War I, 1914 to 1918 === | |||
'''1914-1918:''' World War I. Alsace-Lorrraine (Elsaß-Lothringen) returned to France. Parts of eastern Germany ceded to Lithuania and Poland. | '''1914-1918:''' World War I. Alsace-Lorrraine (Elsaß-Lothringen) returned to France. Parts of eastern Germany ceded to Lithuania and Poland. | ||
====Service Records==== | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1631 Bavaria, Germany, WWI Personnel Rosters, 1914-1918] (Ancestry) ($) - requires Ancestry Worldwide subscription. Over 8 million records. Records are in German. | *[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1631 Bavaria, Germany, WWI Personnel Rosters, 1914-1918] (Ancestry) ($) - requires Ancestry Worldwide subscription. Over 8 million records. Records are in German. | ||
====Casualty Records==== | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2124 Germany, World War I Casualty Lists, 1914-1917] (Ancestry) ($) - requires Ancestry Worldwide subscription. Over 5 million records. Records are in German. | *[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2124 Germany, World War I Casualty Lists, 1914-1917] (Ancestry) ($) - requires Ancestry Worldwide subscription. Over 5 million records. Records are in German. | ||
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*Database of war graves from WW I and WWII [http://www.volksbund.de/graebersuche/content_suche.asp German War Cemetery records database] | *Database of war graves from WW I and WWII [http://www.volksbund.de/graebersuche/content_suche.asp German War Cemetery records database] | ||
=== World War II, 1939 to 1945 === | |||
'''1939-1945:''' World War II. Many German records were destroyed. | '''1939-1945:''' World War II. Many German records were destroyed. | ||
===Cemetery Records==== | |||
*Database of war graves from WW I and WWII [http://www.volksbund.de/en/graebersuche.html German War Cemetery records database] | *Database of war graves from WW I and WWII [http://www.volksbund.de/en/graebersuche.html German War Cemetery records database] | ||
== Additional Resources == | |||
For more historical information about the German military, see the following sources: | For more historical information about the German military, see the following sources: | ||