Image Gallery: Military
This is a collection of photos of Glückstalers and their descendants who served in the military in Czarist Russia, Soviet Russia, Germany, Canada, and the United States between about 1877 and 1967.
In Russia, general compulsory military service was introduced on 1 January 1874 as part of an extensive reform work to modernize the Russian army. All men aged 21 and older were required to do six years of active military service and then serve in the reserves for nine years. For the Germans who were now considered Russian citizens, this meant the loss of their last privilege, which many felt was a breach of previous promises. However, not all Germans from Russia were opposed to military service. A letter to the editor published in the Odessaer Zeitung on 10 October 1878 revealed that "our Germans in Germany" were also obliged to do military service. By 1877/78, Germans in Russia were already serving in the czarist army in the latest war between Russia and Turkey.
Regardless, the loss of this privilege resulted in the emigration of numerous Germans from Russia to North and South America beginning in 1874. This would eventually lead to brothers from the old country fighting brothers from the new country by World War I and World War II, which had both German-Russian immigrants and their descendants in the armed services on both sides of the conflicts.
Some of the photos in this collection were originally included in The Glückstalers in New Russia and North America: A Bicentennial Collection of History, Genealogy and Folklore [Glückstal-2004] and The Glückstalers in New Russia, the Soviet Union, and North America [Glückstal-2008]. There are many more stories, photos, and detailed history in [Glückstal-2004, pp. 503-569]. Additional photos and details have been graciously supplied by the following contributors: Ellen Barnhill, Allyn Brosz, Connie Dahlke, Steve Eberle, Barb Dante, Jaimie McEvoy, Cynthia Monaghan, Zeb Reich, Daniel Rott, Sandy Schilling Payne, Thomas Schnaidt, Duane Stabler, and Terri Thompson.
To donate photos to this collection, please contact the webmaster at gcra.webmaster@gmail.com.
Johann Staebler
Hometown: Klein Neudorf, Kherson, South Russia
Johann served in the Russian Army in the late 1870s. He is pictured here in a Russian Army dress uniform.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Bergdorf and Klein Neudorf.
Phillip Littke
Hometown: Klöstitz, Bessarabia, South Russia
Phillip served Russia in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78. He was a conscientious objector, so he was assigned to work on the bread wagon. He was denied his soldiers payout at the end of the war. Instead was given an old horse.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Georg Littke of Kassel (and later Klöstitz, Bessarabia).
Jacob Bauder
Hometown: Hoffnungstal, Kherson, South Russia
Jacob was a captain in the artillery of the "Czar's Army." This photo shows four Russian "Czarist" officers with two security officers. The notation on the back that says that "Jacob is the second from the left in the back [row]."
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Hoffnungstal
Michael Wall (Walth)
Hometown: Hoffnungstal, Kherson, South Russia
Michael, seated on the left, played coronet in a Russian Army band in Manchuria during the the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05). His sister, Barbara Voegele, remembered his homecoming in 1906 after the war: "...thousands of soldiers passed through our town [Hoffnungstal]...walking and riding on the trains....he bought a pineapple and a coconut with him..." He later married Katharina Rueb andd immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Lodi, California.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Michael was born 5 December 1880 to Wilhlem Walth and Carolina Schlaht in Hoffnungstal.
John Opp
Hometown: Glückstal, Kherson, South Russia
John was a part of a Russian military band during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05), second row, second from the left.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: John was born Glückstal in 1882.
Peter Ladner
Hometown: Glückstal, Kherson, South Russia
The original caption of this photograph read: "Peter Ladner, a resident of Glückstal. He is serving his third war for Russia. In 1900, he served as a regular soldier in combat in the war against the Boxer Rebellion 1899-1901] in China. In 1904, he was drafted for the war against Japan [Russo-Japanese War (1904-05)], and now [in 1916] against the Central Powers [Germany & Austria-Hungary]."
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Peter was born on 24 September 1876 in Glückstal to Jacob Ladner and Christina Schöll.
August Bader, Emanuel Seefried and Johannes Bader
Hometown: Marienberg, Kherson, South Russia
(left to right) August, Emanuel and Johannes served in the Russian Army. Photo circa 1918.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Marienberg
August Reich
Hometown: Stutsman County, North Dakota, USA
August immigrated to the United States and served in the U.S. Army during WWI.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: August was born in Kassel on 12 February 1896.
Jacob Daniel Friske
Hometown: Brown County, South Dakota, USA
Jakob was inducted in Aberdeen, South Dakota on 12 March 1918. Jacob participated in the battles of St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Jakob was born in Bergdorf on 24 November 1891.
Jacob Goetz
Hometown: Java, South Dakota, USA
Jacob served in WWI. Battery "D" 79th Field Artillery Camp Meade, Maryland.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Jacob was born on 14 November 1897 in Glückstal, the son of Johann Goetz and Christiana Unruh.
Chris Gross
Hometown: Eureka, South Dakota, USA
Chris served in the Infantry during WWI. He enlisted 5 August 1918.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Heinrich Gross of Glückstal.
John Rott
Hometown: Logan County, North Dakota, USA
John is pictured on the left with his buddy only identified as S. Newhorth. Photo was taken at Camp Cody near Deming, New Mexico circa 1918. He suffered lung damage from mustard gas and died on 1 January 1924.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Joseph Rott and Christina Kessler of Glückstal.
Jacob Stabler
Hometown: Eureka, South Dakota, USA
Jacob served the U.S. during WWI. Later he moved to Montana.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Jacob was born in Glückstal.
Otto Stabler
Hometown: Eureka, South Dakota, USA
Otto served the U.S. during WWI. He later moved to Montana with his brother, Jacob.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Otto was born in Glückstal.
Christopher Bollinger, Albert Seefried and Eduard Bollinger
Hometown: Marienberg
(left to right) Christopher, Albert and Eduard served in the German Army in 1942.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Marienberg
Gerhardt Wilbert Brosz
Hometown: Tripp, South Dakota, USA
Gerhardt was killed in action on 2 March 1945, just before his 20th birthday, when an enemy artillery shell struck the building occupied by his squad near Saarlautern, Germany. He was buried in Saarlautern but then moved to the U.S. Military cemetery in Neuville-en-Condroz, nine miles south of Liege, Belgium. His family chose to move him to the Tripp Cemetery, where he was buried on 2 September 1945. He was the son of Arthur and Adina Brosz.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Grandson of Katharina Lehr Brosz of Kassel.
Marvin Gross
Hometown: Eureka, South Dakota, USA
Marvin served in Pacific Theater during WWII ending his service with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He entered service on 26 October 1944.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Grandson of Heinrich Gross of Glückstal.
Henry "Hank" Eisenbeisz
Hometown: Hosmer, South Dakota, USA
Hank served in the Army.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Jacob Eisenbeisz Jr. and Katherina Jundt of Glückstal.
Erwin Stabler
Hometown: Eureka, South Dakota, USA
Erwin served the U.S. during WWII. He enlisted on 26 October 1942 and spent time in New Guinea.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of John Stabler, Jr. of Klein Neudorf.
Richard Schnaidt
Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
Richard served in the U.S. Navy as a Quartermaster 1st Class.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Grandson of Jacob and Carolina Schnaidt of Kassel.
William Schilling
Hometown: Hosmer, South Dakota, USA
Bill served in the Army in WWII.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Johann Schilling and Rosina Keszler of Glückstal.
Emil Reich
Hometown: Mercer County, North Dakota, USA
Emil served in U.S. Army during WWII in the Pacific Theater. Pictured is Emil and his father August at Camp Wolters (now Fort Wolters) near Mineral Wells, Texas.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of August Reich of Kassel.
Adolf Moser
Hometown: Medina, North Dakota, USA
Adolf was an MP and served in WWII.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of William Jacob Moser of Friedenstal with ties to Nesselrode and Freudental (Liebental).
Edwin Eisenbeisz
Hometown: Hosmer, South Dakota, USA
Edwin served Navy in WWII. Shown here with his wife, Mathilda "Mickey" Stoecker.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Jacob Eisenbeisz Jr. and Katherina Jundt of Glückstal.
Clifford Leroy Goehring
Hometown: Lodi, California, USA.
Clifford was born in South Dakota and served with the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II, specifically the liberation of the Philippines and other islands.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Edward Goehring of Kassel Charlotte Moser of Freudental.
Richard Gross
Hometown: Eureka, South Dakota, USA
Richard served in U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He entered service on 18 June 1946.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Grandson of Heinrich Gross of Glückstal.
Samuel Littke
Hometown: Melville, Saskatchewan, Canada
Samuel served in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Europe in WWII. He's shown here (back right) with his family.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Georg Littke of Kassel (and later Klöstitz, Bessarabia).
Jacob Eberle
Hometown: Edgemont, South Dakota, USA
Jacob Johann Fredrich Eberle was born in Delmont, Douglas County, South Dakota. Jake enlisted in the U.S. Army on 5 May 1942 when he was 32 years old. He served in the Army in the 7th Armored Division, 33rd Armored Engineering Battalion, 925th Ordinance Heavy Auto Maintenance Company, Tec 4th class. He received the American Theater Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal, two Overseas Service Bars, and a Good Conduct Medal. He was in battles and campaigns in Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. On 15 November 1945, Jake was honorably discharged.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Rosina Schneider of Neudorf and Gottlieb Eberle of Grossliebental. The couple was married in Bergdorf and lived in Friedenstal (Trigrady).
Emer Rott
Hometown: Bowden, North Dakota, USA
Emer served in the Navy and stationed most of his time in Attu and Kiska, Alaska.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Glückstal
Albert Eberle
Hometown: Edgemont, South Dakota, USA
Albert Gottlieb Eberle was born in Tripp, Hutchison County, South Dakota. He began his service in the U.S. Army on 6 May 1942 when he was 30 years old. He served as a Private First Class in the 29th Infantry Division and the 66th Infantry Division. He was honorably discharged 14 November 1945.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Rosina Schneider of Neudorf and Gottlieb Eberle of Grossliebental. The couple was married in Bergdorf and lived in Friedenstal (Trigrady).
Oscar Eberle
Hometown: Edgemont, South Dakota, USA
Oscar “Buddie” Henry Eberle was born in Edgemont, Fall River County South Dakota. Oscar enlisted in the military on 5 May 1942. He served as a Technical Sargent in the 15th Army Air Force Tactical Unit, 5th Bomb Wing, 2nd Brigade, 429th squadron. He was in the Air Corps of Europe and served in the Normandy European, North African, and Mid-Eastern theaters of operation.
He flew 57 missions, 56 as a flight engineer/top turret gunner and his last mission as a tail gunner. Oscar was credited with shooting down a Focke-Wulf FW-190 German fighter airplane, for which he received an Air Medal.
While he was with the Second Brigade (Bombardment Group), he took part in the invasion of Italy (September 1943); the drive toward Rome (January–June 1944); the invasion of Southern France, (August 1944); and the campaigns against German forces in northern Italy (June 1944–May 1945). Enroute to bomb a vital aircraft factory at Steyr on 24 Feb 1944, the group was greatly outnumbered by enemy interceptors, but it maintained its formation and bombed the target, receiving a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC, later called the Presidential Unit Citation) for the performance.
On 25 September 1945, Oscar was honorably discharged.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Rosina Schneider of Neudorf and Gottlieb Eberle of Grossliebental. The couple was married in Bergdorf and lived in Friedenstal (Trigrady).
Harold Weisenburger
Hometown: Bellingham, Washington, USA
During WWII, Harold (on the left) was a part of C Company of the 736th Tank Battalion. This company was chosen to cross the Rhine with amphibious tanks and hold the east bank while the Army engineers tried to get bridges built. Harold spoke German and Russian, so he was sent over the river to “retrieve” a tank that had been left behind when the U.S. Army was recalled. His daughter recounts: "Funny story and a bit dangerous! The Russians denied that it was a U.S. Army Sherman tank as they had decorated it and everything. Dad had his driver go inside to 'admire the new flooring’ and put it into gear. They put the tank first as they rammed through the checkpoint! Got it back!"
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of Katherina Bauder Weisenburger of Hoffnungstal.
Walter Nies
Hometown: Eureka, South Dakota, USA
Walter Nies was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Corp on 12 September 1942. As a Staff Sergeant, Nies was assigned to the 96th Bombardment Squadron, 2nd Bombardment Group (Heavy), 15th Air Force.
On 24 January 1944 while on his 37th mission, his B-17F Flying Fortress crashed near near Ulcinj, Montenegro on the way back to home base in Italy. The crew was captured by German soldiers and were held as prisoners of war in Heydekrug, Germany (present-day Šilutė, Lithuania). On 28 May 1944, Nies was shot and killed by a prison guard. His buddies buried him in a field.
Nearly 80 years after his death, Nies' remains were found, excavated, and confirmed through his niece's DNA. He is now buried next to his parents in Johannestal Baptist Church in Eureka, interred on 9 December 2022.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Son of John Nies of Glückstal and Fredericka Kurle of Bergdorf.
Reynold Hoffer
Hometown: Kief, North Dakota, USA
Reynold served in the Korean War.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Grandson of Johann Hoffer and Magdalena Bentz of Neudorf.
Willard Brosz
Hometown: Tripp, South Dakota, USA
Bill is pictured here being promoted from second to first lieutenant in 1954. He was stationed at Camp Detrick (now Fort Detrick), Maryland.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Grandson of Margaretha "Margaret" Lehr Brosz of Kassel.
Alice Leberman
Hometown: Lodi, California, USA
U.S. Marine Corp, 1955-1957. Alice was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Granddaughter of Karl Martel and Sophie Wahl of Kassel.
Ronald Schnaidt
Hometown: Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA
Ronald served in the Air Force in Vietnam. He was 20 years old with only three months left in his deployment. His cargo plane had finished a drop and returned to Tan Son Nhut Air Base outside of Saigon. It reloaded and took off. As was generally the case, the back of the plane remained open. Cargo shifted, pushing Ronald out the back. He died that day, April 6, 1967. He was the son of Robert Schnaidt and Viola Sulzle.
Glückstal Colonies Connection: Grandson of Christ Schnaidt and Fredericka Schanzenbach and great-grandson of Johann Schilling and Rosina Keszler, all of Glückstal.
Page last updated 6 April 2023