{"id":396124584,"image":{"id":1026,"uuid":"d71d04b9-012d-437f-971c-ded585cfd8da","name":"Otto en Robert Frank in uniform","title":"Foto van Otto en Robert Frank in uniform","alt":"Fototgraaf: onbekend. Collectie: Anne Frank Stichting.","url":"https://images.memorix.nl/anf/thumb/1920x1080/788fe7ee-d718-5ccc-14c8-77cee1a91aba.jpg","path":null,"filetype":"image","description":"Otto (links) en zijn broer Robert in dienst van het Duitse leger tijdens de Eerste Wereldoorlog 1914-1918.","author":"De collectie kan worden ingezet voor het publiek,","copyright":"Publiek domein"},"url":"https://research.annefrank.org/en/onderwerpen/28944476-d02e-4389-a3a5-632b3f64c6e5/","published":true,"uuid":"28944476-d02e-4389-a3a5-632b3f64c6e5","name":"Otto Frank in World War I","name_nl":"Otto Frank tijdens de Eerste Wereldoorlog","name_en":"Otto Frank in World War I","description":"
The archives of the Prussian army in Potsdam were completely lost in bombing raids during World War II. As a result, primary source material is no longer available. On the basis of Otto Frank's field mail, among others, this entry lists facts about Otto Frank during the First World War, as far as these are available.[1]
\r\n\r\nAfter the outbreak of World War I, Otto Frank first worked for about a year as a (replacement) manager at a Hammerwerk (coarse forge) in Plettenberg. This company made horseshoes for the army and was therefore important for the war effort.[2]
\r\n\r\nOn 6 August 1915, Otto Frank reported for training as a gunner in the Erst. Fußartillerie Regiment No. 3 of the General-Feldzeugmeister Kaserne in Mainz (Germany).[3] To his sister Lenie, Otto wrote from the barracks on 13 August 1915: 'Mir geht es dauernd gut + habe ich mich noch selten so sorglos gefühlt. Den Dienst strengt mich absolut nicht an. '[4] In his Lebenslauf, Otto Frank mentioned that he was stationed on the western front from autumn 1915.[5]
\r\n\r\nIn December 1915, he and his unit were posted to the vicinity of Bapaume (France). He was an observer and operator there and experienced the Somme offensive in 1916.[6] Marschtruppchef of Otto's division was Alfred Bürk. On his recommendation, Otto became a non-commissioned officer.[7] Otto's year-mate from the Lessing Grammar School, Heinrich Beeres, served in the same regiment Fußartillerie (infantry regiment). He died in a lazaret in Stenay on 23 March 1916.[8] According to his field post records, Otto Frank served first as a gunner and then in the rank of Gefreiter (corporal) with Artillerie Messtrupp 1 of the 52nd Infantry Division until the end of 1916.[9] In late 1916, early 1917 he was Unteroffizier with Artillerie Messtrupp 1 of the 14th Infantry Division and in spring 1917 with Artillerie Messtrupp 1 of the 58th Infantry Division.[9] His unit joined the strategischen Rückzug of February 1917.[10] In summer 1917, he held the non-commissioned officer rank of Vizefeldwebel (sergeant).[11]
\r\n\r\nThe Feldpostkarte sent by Otto Frank to his brother Robert on 27 March 1918 shows Otto as Unteroffizier. The baton on his uniform shows that he had been awarded the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse. He was by then part of Lichtmesstrupp 139.[12] For the Frühjahrsoffensive of St Quentin, he was appointed a reserve lieutenant and transferred to Lichtmesstrupp 172.[13]
\r\n\r\nOtto Frank kept in touch with his family through field post cards and letters. Both his brothers, Robert and Herbert Frank, also served in the army. Mother Alice Frank-Stern and sister Hélène were auxiliary nurses.[14]
\r\n\r\nAccording to Otto's Lebenslauf, his demobilisation took place in Posen (present-day Poznan, Poland).[5]
\r\n\r\nThe family story that Otto Frank only returned to Frankfurt am Main on foot after the end of the war after a long time, because he first had to bring back requisitioned horses (earlier during the war) to a peasant family in Belgium, northern France or Pomerania, has been handed down orally in different versions.[20] This is difficult to reconcile with the circumstances of the time and the family story cannot be confirmed by facts.
\r\n\r\nDe archieven van het Pruisische leger in Potsdam zijn bij bombardementen tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog volledig verloren gegaan. Hierdoor is geen primair bronnenmateriaal meer beschikbaar. Aan de hand van onder andere Otto Franks veldpost zijn in dit lemma, voor zover mogelijk, feiten over Otto Frank tijdens de Eerste Wereldoorlog op een rijtje gezet.[1]
\r\n\r\nNa het uitbreken van de Eerste Wereldoorlog werkte Otto Frank eerst ongeveer een jaar als (vervangend) bedrijfsleider bij een Hammerwerk (grofsmederij) in Plettenberg. Dit bedrijf maakte hoefijzers voor het leger en was daarom belangrijk voor de oorlogsvoering.[2]
\r\n\r\nOp 6 augustus 1915 meldde Otto Frank zich voor zijn opleiding tot kanonnier bij het Erst. Fußartillerie Regiment nr. 3 van de General-Feldzeugmeister Kaserne te Mainz (Duitsland).[3] Aan zijn zus Lenie schreef Otto op 13 augustus 1915 vanuit de kazerne: 'Mir geht es dauernd gut + habe ich mich noch selten so sorglos gefühlt. Den Dienst strengt mich absolut nicht an.'[4] In zijn Lebenslauf vermeldde Otto Frank dat hij vanaf de herfst 1915 gestationeerd was aan het westelijk front.[5]
\r\n\r\nIn december 1915 kwam hij met zijn onderdeel in de omgeving van Bapaume (Frankrijk) terecht. Hij was daar waarnemer en telefonist en maakte er in 1916 het Somme-offensief mee.[6] Marschtruppchef van Otto's afdeling was Alfred Bürk. Op zijn voordracht werd Otto onderofficier.[7] In hetzelfde regiment Fußartillerie (infanterieregiment) diende Otto’s jaargenoot van het Lessing Gymnasium, Heinrich Beeres, die op 23 maart 1916 in een lazaret in Stenay stierf.[8] Volgens de gegevens van zijn veldpost zat Otto Frank eerst als kanonnier en vervolgens in de rang van Gefreiter (korporaal) bij Artillerie Messtrupp 1 van de 52. Infanterie-Division tot eind 1916.[9] Eind 1916, begin 1917 was hij Unteroffizier bij Artillerie Messtrupp 1 van de 14e Infanterie Division en voorjaar 1917 bij Artillerie Messtrupp 1 van de 58. Infanterie Division.[9] Zijn eenheid ging mee in de strategischen Rückzug van februari 1917.[10] In de zomer 1917 had hij de onderofficiersrang van Vizefeldwebel (sergeant).[11]
\r\n\r\nDe Feldpostkarte die Otto Frank op 27 maart 1918 aan zijn broer Robert stuurde, toont Otto als Unteroffizier. Aan de baton op zijn uniform is te zien dat hij onderscheiden was met het Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse. Hij maakte toen inmiddels deel uit van Lichtmesstrupp 139.[12] Voor de Frühjahrsoffensive van St. Quentin werd hij tot reserve-luitenant benoemd en naar Lichtmesstrupp 172 overgeplaatst.[13]
\r\n\r\nDoor middel van Feldpostkarte en brieven hield Otto Frank contact met zijn familie. Zijn beide broers, Robert en Herbert Frank, dienden ook in het leger. Moeder Alice Frank-Stern en zus Hélène waren hulpverpleegsters.[14]
\r\n\r\nVolgens Otto’s Lebenslauf vond zijn demobilisatie plaats in Posen (huidige Poznan, Polen).[5]
\r\n\r\nHet familieverhaal dat Otto Frank na afloop van de oorlog pas na lange tijd te voet naar Frankfurt am Main terugkeerde omdat hij eerst nog (eerder tijdens de oorlog) gevorderde paarden terug moest brengen naar een boerenfamilie in België, Noord-Frankrijk of Pommeren, is mondeling in verschillende versies overgeleverd.[20] Dit valt moeilijk te rijmen met de omstandighden van die tijd en het familieverhaal kan niet door feiten worden bevestigd.
\r\n\r\nThe archives of the Prussian army in Potsdam were completely lost in bombing raids during World War II. As a result, primary source material is no longer available. On the basis of Otto Frank's field mail, among others, this entry lists facts about Otto Frank during the First World War, as far as these are available.[1]
\r\n\r\nAfter the outbreak of World War I, Otto Frank first worked for about a year as a (replacement) manager at a Hammerwerk (coarse forge) in Plettenberg. This company made horseshoes for the army and was therefore important for the war effort.[2]
\r\n\r\nOn 6 August 1915, Otto Frank reported for training as a gunner in the Erst. Fußartillerie Regiment No. 3 of the General-Feldzeugmeister Kaserne in Mainz (Germany).[3] To his sister Lenie, Otto wrote from the barracks on 13 August 1915: 'Mir geht es dauernd gut + habe ich mich noch selten so sorglos gefühlt. Den Dienst strengt mich absolut nicht an. '[4] In his Lebenslauf, Otto Frank mentioned that he was stationed on the western front from autumn 1915.[5]
\r\n\r\nIn December 1915, he and his unit were posted to the vicinity of Bapaume (France). He was an observer and operator there and experienced the Somme offensive in 1916.[6] Marschtruppchef of Otto's division was Alfred Bürk. On his recommendation, Otto became a non-commissioned officer.[7] Otto's year-mate from the Lessing Grammar School, Heinrich Beeres, served in the same regiment Fußartillerie (infantry regiment). He died in a lazaret in Stenay on 23 March 1916.[8] According to his field post records, Otto Frank served first as a gunner and then in the rank of Gefreiter (corporal) with Artillerie Messtrupp 1 of the 52nd Infantry Division until the end of 1916.[9] In late 1916, early 1917 he was Unteroffizier with Artillerie Messtrupp 1 of the 14th Infantry Division and in spring 1917 with Artillerie Messtrupp 1 of the 58th Infantry Division.[9] His unit joined the strategischen Rückzug of February 1917.[10] In summer 1917, he held the non-commissioned officer rank of Vizefeldwebel (sergeant).[11]
\r\n\r\nThe Feldpostkarte sent by Otto Frank to his brother Robert on 27 March 1918 shows Otto as Unteroffizier. The baton on his uniform shows that he had been awarded the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse. He was by then part of Lichtmesstrupp 139.[12] For the Frühjahrsoffensive of St Quentin, he was appointed a reserve lieutenant and transferred to Lichtmesstrupp 172.[13]
\r\n\r\nOtto Frank kept in touch with his family through field post cards and letters. Both his brothers, Robert and Herbert Frank, also served in the army. Mother Alice Frank-Stern and sister Hélène were auxiliary nurses.[14]
\r\n\r\nAccording to Otto's Lebenslauf, his demobilisation took place in Posen (present-day Poznan, Poland).[5]
\r\n\r\nThe family story that Otto Frank only returned to Frankfurt am Main on foot after the end of the war after a long time, because he first had to bring back requisitioned horses (earlier during the war) to a peasant family in Belgium, northern France or Pomerania, has been handed down orally in different versions.[20] This is difficult to reconcile with the circumstances of the time and the family story cannot be confirmed by facts.
\r\n\r\n