Do You Know The Military Details?
We are trying to learn information on the World War I military service of Max and Kurt Häfner and Martin Nauke. What is known is that both Max and Kurt Häfner served in the Army and Martin Nauke served in the Navy. If you have any information or would like to assist us with this research, please fill out your name, e-mail and leave your comments in the Message Box in the form at the bottom of this page. Thank You.
PHOTO 2.1  Max Häfner in Artillery Company Band uniform with wife Rosa Spilger, Dresden, Germany 1917. | What is known of Photo 2.1: Max Häfner: he served as a musician in the regimental band, (musiccorps, "Schwalbennester" over the shoulder, a collar button on the collar), shoulder piece probably Reserve Field Artillery Regiment No. 23 1913: 23rd Reserve Division (1st Royal Saxon Reserve Division), 23rd Reserve Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Battery, 12th Army Corps 1914: 1915: 1916: 1917: 1918: |
PHOTO 2.2  Kurt Häfner in ambulance driver uniform, Germany circa 1917. | What is known of Photo 2.2: Curt Häfner: awarded the Iron Cross of the second class ("The 2nd Class worn with a band in the second buttonhole of the Uniform jacket"). Awarded the Iron Cross of the first class ("The 1st Class worn pinned on the left chest or with a band around the neck). His shoulder epaulet is a (K), denoting medical service column. On his collar is a "Car badge. He also wears officer's bows and straight blade originally part of the Cavalry uniform. 1914: Medical vehicles (General No. 3) 1916: 1917: 1918: |
PHOTO 2.3
Martin Nauke in Sailor uniform wedding photo with bride Gertrud Häfner, Kiel Germany, 31.12.1917. | What is known of Photo 2.3: Martin Nauke: is shown in his wedding photo with Gertrud Häfner taken in Kiel on Dec. 31 1917. He is wearing his imperial navy short parade jacket; worn by sailors or sailor's mates. Sailors and sailor's mates were issued a wide shirt with light blue sailor's collar with three white stripes, held by a black neck knot. What cannot be seen is the large "V" on his Left shoulder that signifies his rank of "Torpedo Oberheizer". The American rank equivalent would be that of Chief Engineer. He was in-charge of the ship's engines. Martin enlisted in the German Imperial Navy in 1912. His service record is as follows: 1912: 1913: 1914: 1915: 1916, 1917, 1918: |
PHOTO 2.4
S. 141 - S. M. Torpedo Boat B. 97 | What is known of Photo 2.4: This group photo was taken in Kiel in 1915 to commemorate the crew of the S. 141 who was transferred to the newly commissioned B. 97. Torpedo Oberheizer Martin Nauke (Naucke) is in the second row center. Crew members - front to back - Left to right First Row: Bronder, Grosser, Gürzan Second Row: Trimborn, Röhl, Ernst, [Otto] Tanz, [Martin] Naucke, [Wilhelm] Vogelpoth, Lehmann, Niemietz, Gerke Third row: Müller, Strauss, Bernhard, Brade, Vollbrecht, A. Hansen, Lange, [Ludwig] Held, [Kurt] Schüler Fourth row: Zöpke, P. Hansen, Schwellnuss, Hantke, Broselge, Nickel, Bachmann |
PHOTO 2.5
S. M. Torpedo Boat S. 143, circa, 1907 - 1913. | What is known of Photo 2.5: The S. 143 Torpedo boat was completed on the 10th of December 1907. It was built by the marine firm Schichau-Werke, Elbing. On August 3, 1914 at 5 pm in the Baltic Sea the boiler exploded and the boat sunk with a loss of 24 men. It was raised, repaired and renamed the T. 143. In 1930 it was demolished. |
PHOTO 2.6
S. M. Torpedo Boat S. 141, circa, 1907 - 1912. | What is known of Photo 2.6: The S. 141 Torpedo Boat was completed on the 9th of Sept. 1907. It was built by the marine firm Schichau-Werke, Elbing. On 24 Sep 1917 it was renamed the T 141. In 1919 it was decommissioned. On 3rd of Aug 1927 it was converted to a target vessel "Blitz". In 1933 it was sold for scrap. Operations that the S. 141 took part: 1913 1914 |
PHOTO 2.7
S. M. Torpedo Boat B. 97. circa, 1915 - 1917. | What is known of Photo 2.7: Just before he outbreak of WWI the marine firm of Blohm & Voss of Hamburg was building several ships in Russia and had an order to build 6 of the B. 97 class of Torpedo boats (Destroyers) in Hamburg Germany. When war was declared B&V stopped all work in Russia but after petitions from German Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, The 6 B. 97 class ships were completed. It is easy to recognize these torpedo boats for they have three funnels as compared to two of all other torpedo boats in the German Navy. At 1800 tons they considerably larger and heavier than the 800 tons of other torpedo boats of its time. Their greater size of this boat created a controversy in the navy and is responsible for this class of torpedo boat being listed sometimes as Destroyers. Operations that the B. 97 took part: 10-11 Feb. 1916: B. 97 is part of operations at the Doggerbank. 25 torpedo boats attack the X- Sloop-Flotilla, 19 torpedoes are fired, 3 hits. The British sloop Arabis (1200 tons) is sunk. 7-8 June 1916: B. 97 is sent to Flandern to support boats stationed there. 22-23 July 1916: B. 97 with 6 other Torpedo boats fight against the British cruisers Caryfort, Canterbury and 8 destroyers near the Nooed-Hinder-Lightboat. No major damages on either side. 11-19 Oct. 1917: B. 97 supports landing operations at the island of Ösel in the Baltic Sea. 11-12 Dec. 1917: B. 97 joins the B 109, B 110, B 112 to sink two merchant ships near the Tyne estuary. 14-15 Feb. 1918: B. 97 is part of operations of the II TFL against British channel patrols, two vessels are sunk, others damaged. |
PHOTO 2.8
The "B. 97" now the "Cesare Rossarol" transferred to the Itailian Navy. circa, 1920.. | What is known of Photo 2.8: At the end of the war of the 6 B. 97 class boats, 5 boats, the B. 98, B. 109, B. 110, B. 111, B. 112, were scuttled at Scapa Flow, later salvaged and scrapped. The 6th boat, the B. 97 was transferred to Italy in 1920 where it was refitted and recommissioned in 1924 as the "Cesare Rossarol". It was scrapped in 1939. |
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