Bronislaus recruit service began in Pommersches Pionier Bataillon Nr.2 in October 1910 – Bronislaus had then 21 years old. He served between 1910 – 1912 in the 3rd Kompanie Pommersches Pionier Bataillon Nr.2 – Koen. Pr. Ingenieur-Corps.



Prior to 1914, the engineers in Imperial German Army wore the dark blue (Dunkelblau Weffenrock’s) waffenrocks model of 1895, which characteristic feature was black colour of the collar and cuffs in “Swedish” style ended with red piping. Another important feature of the German engineers were buttons in silver colour. It should be borne in mind that the metal parts of the pioneer pickelhaube glittered in silver colours, as were made of alpaca. The red shoulder straps with embroidered yellow thread number of the battalion were sewn onto the shoulders. Due to the type of work performed by engineers, often instead of black trousers they wore work trousers (drillichhose). Inherent tool – a piece of engineer equipment was a long shovel, pick or axe attached to the belt via a special snap hook. Bronislaus hitting in 1910, the Pomeranian pioneers received surly a blue waffenrock like that.




From that time I got his Military book (Soldbuch) without covers and almost empty only on the first two pages are additional information presents Bronislaus and Kleines Schieß-Buch with results of the shooting training.


The Soldbuch

(Page1)
Nationale des Buch-Inhabers (personal data of the book’s owner)

1. Vor und Zuname (name and surname)
Bronislaus Kubasik
geboren am (born on) 6.10.1889
zu (in) Witkowo
Kreis (district) Witkowo
Regirungs-Bezirk (region district) Bromberg (Bydgoszcz)

2. Des Vaters oder der nächsten Angehörigen ( the parents or next of kin)
a)Stand (estate) Bäcker Wallentin Kubasik
b)Name Wallentina geb. Ortaczewska (Walentina Ołtarzewska)
c)Wohnort (place of residence) Gnesen (Gniezno)
d)Kreis (district) Gnesen (Gniezno)

3. Konfession (faith) Kath (catholic) Profession Maurer (bricklayer)

4. Verheirathet seit (married since) NONE
mit (to) NONE
der Ehefrau Wohnort (the wife residence) NONE
Kreis (district) NONE
hat Sohn (son) Tochter (daughter) NONE

5. Datum des Eintritts in das Heer: (date of entry into the army)
13 October 1910 beim (where)
3.Kompanie
Pom.Pionier-Batl. No.2



(Page2)
des Wiedereintritts (re-entry) NONE

6. Ist Inhaber folgender Orden und Ehrenzeichchen: (the owner holds the Orders and Decorations)
NONE

7. Signalement des Inhabers: (itemized description of the holder)
Größe (size) 1M. 69cm. 5Mm
Statur (stature)
Kinn (chin)
Nase (nose)
Mund (mouth) gew (Probably shortcut of “gewöhnlich” – usual)
Haar (hair) d.blond – dunkel blond (dark blonde)
Bart (beard, mustache) im entstehen (in the making)
Besondere Kennzeichen: (special features)
Narbe am linken hand gelenk (scar on left hand wrist)
Stiefelm (boots)
L. 30 (länge – length)
W. 6 (weite – width)
Brustm 86/91 (brust – chest)

Ausgefertigt (prepared)
Stettin (Szczecin) am (on) 15 Oktober 1910


(Page3)
Inhaber hat zu empfangen: (holder needs to receive)

Die Löhnung: (the wages)
pro Monat – 6,60M (per month – 6,60Mark)
pro Dekade – 2,20M (per decade – 2,20Mark)
pro Tag – 0,22M (per day – 0,22Mark)



A close-up of the Koen. Pr. Ingenieur-Corps Pomm.Pionier Bataillon No.2 stamp.


Kleines Schieß-Buch


On the first page are additional information regarding the Bronislaus rifle (gewehre).
Gewehre Nr: (rifel number) 32
Fabrik Nr: (production number) 5774
Anfertigungsort: (production) Berlin
Kaliber: (caliber) 7.91 – In my opinion it should be 7,92. Standard caliber of Mauser 98 rifle.
In Gebrauch genommen: (take into use) 1.10.07



Probably all shootings were executed on the polygone in Kreckow (Krekow) – Truppenübungsplatz Kreckow bei Stettin, however stays at polygone in Hammerstein Truppenübungsplatz Hammerstein are not excluded. On the one of the pages clearly visible is note “5.7.12 Stand 5. Kreckow “, which indicate date 5.7.1912 place Kreckow and standing shooting position.




After finishing recruit service in October 1912 Pionier Bronislaus returned to his family in Gnesen.

One Response to “Recruit Service”

  1. egbert says:

    Milosz, please contact me via email about my Grandfather in Gnesen

I would be happy to hear from you

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