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For the first time in the English
language, the organisation, history and uniforms
of the Seebataillone, the Imperial German Marine
Infantry are described, illustrated and
photographed in this book.
In 1849, King Friedrich Wilhelm
IV of Prussia authorised the formation a
battalion of Marine Infantry, which was named
the Seebataillon shortly after. They were
initially intended to defend her ports and to
serve on-board ships., however Germany's new
outward looking foreign and colonial policy from
the 1880's onwards saw the Seebataillone
expanded and used as elite rapid reaction forces
around the world. They could be relatively
quickly deployed overseas in times of war,
rebellion or for international peacekeeping
duties in much the same way as the modern US
Marines or British Royal Marines.
In these capacities, they
provided Germany’s first armed responses to the
Boxer Rebellion in China, the Herero Rebellion
in German South West Africa and the Maji-Maji
Rebellion in German East Africa. During the
First World War, they fought at the Siege of
Tsingtao against the Japanese, in the early
Balkan campaign against Serbia under
Austro-Hungarian command and on the Western
Front where they defended the Flanders
coastline. The last of the German Marine
Infantry then fought as a Freikorps unit in the
German Civil War.
This 180 page full
colour book covers all aspects of the Marine
Infantry from their formation, their insignia,
overseas deployments, weapons and standards. It is richly illustrated with
illustrations, period
photographs and dozens of photographs of
uniforms and headdress from modern collections
including the Helmuth Weitze Auction House.
It's available in
print from all Amazon outlets worldwide, such
as:
Or search your
regional Amazon for 'German Marine Infantry'. Meanwhile, here's
some sample pages to enjoy. |
