Oberst (Chile 1894) Major (Preussen 1889) Gustav Betzhold, Fortifikationen Dienst and Krupp 28 cm coast artillery

[Alexander Betzhold]

Guten tag,

Someone could find any photograph or picture of Major Gustav Betzhold, Fortifikationen Dienst in Köln (Coeln), 1889, v. d. 4. Ingenieur Inspection.

Before he was:
- Hauptmann, 1886-1888, Neu-Breisach, Ingenieur Offizier v. Platz, v. d. 3. Ingenieur Inspektion.
- Hauptmann, 1885, Mainz, Ingenieur Offizier z. Fortifikationen Dienst, v. d.3. Ingenieur Inspektion.
- Hauptmann, 1881- 1884, Mainz, Hessisches Pionier-Bataillon Nª11.
- Hauptmann, 1880, Strassburg, Ingenieur z. Fortifikationen Dienst, v. d.3. Ingenieur Inspektion.

Since 1889 to 1896 he was contracted as Oberst for the Kusten Befestigungen in Chile, in Valparaiso y Talcahuano harbors, to install 28 cm Krupp coast artillery cannons.

He come back to Germany in 1896, and dead in 1902.

[GregSingh]

Interestingly born in Krakow.

Unfortunately Galería de Hombres de Armas de Chile (Tomo III) does not have a photo of him.
Perhaps one of the biographical sources listed there might have one.

Betzhold.jpg

There are some nice group photos of Emil Körner. Perhaps Betzhold and Januskowski are there as well, as they both were his most trusted advisors.

Emilio_Körner_y_Estado_Mayor_Congresista_(1891).JPG

Emilio Körner y Estado Mayor Congresista (1891)

[Glenn2438]

Hello Alexander,

I am afraid I do not have an image of Colonel Betzhold.

I can, however give you some further information regarding his career.

He entered the Prussian army as an "Avantageur" on 1 October 1862 in Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 5 . Transferred to PB 6 in September 1863, he was promoted to Portepee-Fähnrich on 13 January 1864 in Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 3. He was commissioned as a supplementary Seconde-Lieutenant on 1 November 1864.

Further promotions:

Premier-Lieutenant: 24 June 1871
Hauptmann: 18 May 1876

He was appointed as a company commander in Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 11 on 11 December 1879

Major: 17 April 1888 and retired with the uniform of PB 11 on 22 May 1889.

Regards
Glenn

[Alexander Betzhold]

[Alexander Betzhold]

Thanks for the picture of Körner, but Betzhold is not in that group, he arrived to Chile in 1889, was neutral during the Civil War of 1891, and after had a second contract as Colonel (asimilated to chilean Army rank), until 1896 when he returned to Germany.


quote=GregSingh post_id=2357468 time=1628327511 user_id=55344]
Interestingly born in Krakow.

Unfortunately Galería de Hombres de Armas de Chile (Tomo III) does not have a photo of him.
Perhaps one of the biographical sources listed there might have one.


There are some nice group photos of Emil Körner. Perhaps Betzhold and Januskowski are there as well, as they both were his most trusted advisors.


Emilio_Körner_y_Estado_Mayor_Congresista_(1891).JPG
Emilio Körner y Estado Mayor Congresista (1891)
[/quote]

[Alexander Betzhold]

Thank you for the information about career in the Preussisches Armee.

I found this picture, I believe in uniform of Major, 1889, when he was in the fortifikationen dienst in Coeln.

Best regards

[hselassi]

--- Photo from 40 Years of German Military Instruction in Chile book

Alexander, sorry that this question is off topic, but in this book, the Spanish is horrendous. The complete elimination of "y" (i vs y and mui vs muy) along with g (rejimiento vs regimiento) makes it look like it was written by a 6 year old. Is this just a bad translation (maybe the book was written in German and phonetically translated to Spanish) or was there a "simplification" movement in Chile (as there have been in several occasions with English, Farsi, Mandarin, etc.)?

Regards,
/s/ Harry

[Alexander Betzhold]

I' m agree, but that publication is around 1920 in Santiago of Chile, at that time in spanish language was usually used "i" like "y", and "j" like "g".

But my intention is not the text translation, I need help to identify the picture with german uniform and rank, unit (PB 11 or Fortifikation Dienst), and condecorations, because I found the attachment data on the "Rang und Quartierliste der Königlich Preussischen Armee für 1889", but Im not sure of the medaills images.

Best regards
Alexander

[Glenn2438]

The photo most certainly depicts a Major of the Prussian Ingenieur- und Pionierkorps. The only difference between PB 11 and an Ingenieur-Offizier attached to the 4. Ingenieur-Inspektion would be the number in the epaulette field (obviously not discernible in this photo). Either an Arabic 11 or Roman IV.

The awards also appear to match:

Red eagle 4th class
Prussian long service award
KDM 70-71 (not listed in the Rangliste)
Hessen Philipp Knight‘s Cross
Silver award for the floods of 1882/83 (GHsE).

Regards
Glenn

[Alexander Betzhold]

Thank you for the explannation !!, that KDM 70-71 was not in my records.

[Alexander Betzhold]

Another request, the following picture of Betzhold in german uniform wich rank it is?, Hauptmann, Premier Leutnant or second Leutnant ?, Belong to a pionier bataillon or garde pionier bataillon?

I know in the French-German war of 1870-71 he was Adjuntant in preussischen Generalkommando in Hannover, in 1872 was in Glogau.

Best regards,
Alexander

[Glenn2438]

Alexander,

as he is not wearing the KDM 70-71 from the Franco-German war of 1870-71 or an adjutants' sash, he is presumably pictured as a Seconde-Lieutenant in Pionier-Bataillon Nr. 3. It is possible that he is already a Premier-Lieutenant but has yet to receive the KDM which was generally distributed in 1871-1872. Due to the resolution of the photograph, I cannot easily recognize any rank stars on the shoulder boards so it is difficult to be certain. According to the Militär-Wochenblatt, he had been serving as adjutant to the first engineer officer (Oberst Dieterich, Inspekteur d. 2. Pionier-Inspektion) in the Generalgouvernement der Küstenlande from which he was demobilised on 25 April 1871. He remained as adjutant to the Inspekteur d. 2. Pionier-Inspektion until transferring in the same function to the 3. Pionier-Inspektion on 13 May 1873.

An engagement (Verlobung) announcement in the Militär-Wochenblatt of 1871 shows his engagement to Fräulein Anna Heinrichs of Hannover.

Regards
Glenn

[Alexander Betzhold]

Thanks a lot for the great explanation!!

Maybe someone could help me with the military career of the Rossarzt Robert Reff (KR-7 1894-1896 Halberstadt) that I ask for in other Post.

Best regards