The German Imperial Army in the World War - Structure and Organization - Engineers

Members of Pioneer Regiment No. 23 during bridge construction. Original photographic postcard from December 9, 1915.

During the First World War the engineer arm experienced an unforeseen rise in importance and, as the daily reality of war increasingly resembled that of fortress warfare, became an important support arm for the infantry.

In 1914 there were a total of 35 engineer battalions, each with 4 companies.

Some engineer battalions had searchlight detachments, others were fortress engineer battalions.

2 battalions (No. 12, 22) belonged to the Saxon contingent, 1 to the Württemberg contingent (No. 13), 1 to the Baden contingent (No. 14) and 4 to the Bavarian contingent (No. 1-4).

Enlisted men from the Guard Pioneer Replacement Battalion. Original photographic postcard, posted on July 22, 191 (Berlin).

At the outbreak of the First World War, each of the existing engineer battalions formed 2 reserve companies and 2 field battalions.

At mobilization there were then 379 engineer companies with 70 battalions.

Subsequently individual engineer battalions were expanded into regiments (Engineer Regiments Nos. 18 - 20, 23 - 25, 29 - 30), as the need for and the importance of the engineer arm steadily grew.

Later these were dissolved again and new numbers were assigned to engineer battalions. Furthermore, more and more independent engineer companies were formed.

In total, during the First World War 425 engineer companies, 176 searchlight detachments, 70 bridge trains and 4 engineer siege trains were newly established. There were now 170,000 engineers.

Engineer in field-march outfit from the 1st Nassau Engineer Battalion No. 21 (Mainz-Kastel). Original photographic postcard around 1914/15.

Engineer in field-march outfit from the 2nd Saxon Engineer Battalion No. 22 (Riesa). Original photographic postcard around 1914/15. Clearly visible is the spade, which belonged to the large entrenching gear and was carried in a scabbard on the knapsack. It was 120 cm long.

Engineer in field-march outfit from the 2nd Westphalian Engineer Battalion No. 24 (Cöln-Riehl). Original photographic postcard around 1914/15.

Bavarian engineers from the 1st Engineer Replacement Battalion or the 3rd Engineer Replacement Company. Munich, Feb. 1916. The service cap with peak and chinstrap is worn. Regulation field caps were without peaks. Private field caps, however, were allowed to have peaks. From April 1917 these were no longer permitted to be made of leather.

Members of a Landsturm engineer company. The engineers wear the field-gray tunic, not the initially customary blue litewka. Original photographic postcard from the year 1915. There were Landwehr, Landsturm and replacement engineer units. The Landsturm engineer companies were formed with Army Corps I - XIX already at mobilization; later more Landsturm engineer companies were added. These also exchanged — where mobilized — from 1915 the oilcloth caps typical for the Landsturm for helmets with covers.

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