Can anyone tell me anything about this WWI German uniform

jahofmann

I have a picture of one of my wife's German ancestors from WW I. I am wondering if anyone can tell me anything about his possible rank, service unit, etc. from the uniform that he is wearing in the referenced picture. Here is the link to the picture in FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/L623-8M1

He was born in the German Posen province and died during WW I.

Robert Seal_1

Hello @jahofmann.

I did not have any success finding an example of this uniform online.

Leo Sell's death was reported by "Das Ersatzbattaillon Eisenbahn-Regiment Nr. 4" = the Replacement Battalion Railway Regiment No. 4.

He was identified in his death record as: "Gefreiter der Festungs-Feldbahn-Betriebsabteilung Nr. 1, Lötzen, Eisenbahnschaffer" = lance corporal* of the Fortress Field Railway Operations Detachment No. 1, Lötzen, railway conductor.

*One source defines this rank as lance corporal, another as private, first class.

If you search the following phrases in German online you may find information (and perhaps photos of soldiers in uniform) about the regiment and the detachment to which Leo belonged:

Eisenbahn-Regiment Nr. 4

Festungs-Feldbahn-Betriebs-Abteilung.

Robert Seal_1

You're welcome, @jahofmann. I'm glad the information provided answered your question.

jahofmann

Robert, Actually that tells me kind of what I wanted to know. Thanks for the insight. You are amazing.