New Company: Schutztruppe Erkundigungskommando

[oabee]

Well, here's another one that I came up with, complete with suggestions for miniatures. Not sure where I got the inspiration for this, except that I had purchased Dark Sword's Desert Wings and wanted to work her in somewhere. Still another tentacle for the Society of Thule as it seeks to seize control of the world. [cue the manic laughter]

PDF here:

http://wrgmr.com/pdfs/schutztruppe.pdf

EDIT: because of discussion about my use of the term Erkundigungskommando for the unit name of the Company, I am including a PDF with the Company renamed Erkundungskommando, which is more accurate. There was mixed opinion about which term was best, given the time period involved, so in the best spirit of IHMN I am letting you be the judge and choose the one you prefer. For the discussion of the correct translation of Reconnaissance Patrol in German, be sure to read the entire thread! Erkundungskommando is here:
http://wrgmr.com/pdfs/schutztruppe2.pdf







Enjoy!

Mike O

PS: My personal favorite minis are the Askaris: I have a pack of their infantry, and they are very nice. [I actually ordered them on New Year's Day, and received them on the 4th: great service here in the States.] Their rifles are in scale, and don't look like bazookas, as many other lines of miniatures do. They will form the basis of my Company. I plan to purchase the Mountain Gun and crew, and get a Maxim MG from Pulp Minis (or somewhere), using the Askari Mountain Gun crew for either one. No plans at the present for mounted troops.

PSS: By the way, Gen. Lothar von Trotha was real, and did commit atrocities against African natives. In 2006, Munich changed the name of von Trotha Strasse to Herero Strasse to honor the victims of that tribe, more than 80% of which died due to his actions. Ernst von Trotha is fictional: the General was married, but I do not know if he had any children.

[Craig]

I really love the research and the detail you put into your companies Mike. Another superb effort!

PS: make sure Curufea gets a copy for the compilation.

[Bullshott]

An excellent list for a nicely balanced company.

I have enough figures to make up this company ...

[Eisenfaust]

Not only do I look forward to using these excellent companies you've designed, but I always learn so much from your write-ups. Thank you!

[Curufea]

PS: make sure Curufea gets a copy for the compilation.

Yep - save me from typing it in as I read it
Although I've only reformatted 7 so far, at least I can link to them.

[Cherno]

I might be wrong here because I don't know much about historic German troop types, but I'm pretty sure that the word should be "Erkundungskommando" - Erkundung for Recce/Reconaissance or Scouting. "Erkundigung" comes from "erkundigen" which more or less means to get information about something via asking, as in "Erkundigen Sie sich beim Informationscenter" - "Get more information at the info center" or "ask for more infprmation at the info center".

Today, the term would be "Aufklärungskommando" (as in the modern Bundeswehr troop type "Panzeraufklärungstruppe" - Armored Reconnaissance/Scouts")*

*Although I think this particular troop type has been cut from the Heer a few year ago.

[Michi]

I might be wrong here because I don't know much about historic German troop types, but I'm pretty sure that the word should be "Erkundungskommando" - Erkundung for Recce/Reconaissance or Scouting. "Erkundigung" comes from "erkundigen" which more or less means to get information about something via asking, as in "Erkundigen Sie sich beim Informationscenter" - "Get more information at the info center" or "ask for more infprmation at the info center".

Today, the term would be "Aufklärungskommando" (as in the modern Bundeswehr troop type "Panzeraufklärungstruppe" - Armored Reconnaissance/Scouts")*

*Although I think this particular troop type has been cut from the Heer a few year ago.

I like "Erkundigungskommando". 
I imagine those guys running around and gently ask everybody they meet "Excuse me, could you tell me the way to...?" or "Would you mind telling me the time please?"

[oabee]

I got the term Erkundigungskommando from Vocabulary of German Military Terms and Abreviations by the Great Britain War Office, 1917. This is available online, just google it. I was trying to find an innocent name to disguise the Company's covert purpose.

I just checked again, and, despite the ravages that age has visited upon my mind, I wrote it down just as they said.

I agree with Michi: I like it. I have an open mind though, and am always open to suggestions from my German speaking colleagues.

[von der Tann]

I got the term Erkundigungskommando from Vocabulary of German Military Terms and Abreviations by the Great Britain War Office, 1917. This is available online, just google it. I was trying to find an innocent name to disguise the Company's covert purpose.

I just checked again, and, despite the ravages that age has visited upon my mind, I wrote it down just as they said.

I agree with Michi: I like it. I have an open mind though, and am always open to suggestions from my German speaking colleagues.

I was just staring at the book and it really says Erkundigungskommando. Sounds a bit funny to a German but hey - if you like it.
To be honest, I would have said Erkundungskommando also, mainly because we used that term in the military - same as Vorrauskommando ... people who go in first to prepare the arrival of the main body of troops.
But maybe its on of those language things where after a hundred years things that were indeed used start to sound funny and wrong. Google (almighty instrument of internet search it is) actually did not find anything but this post for the word Erkundigungskommando . So I am at a loss here ...

[Cherno]

I have 3 results with the term, one is this thread, one is about a planetary excursion team from Perry Rhodan, and one is some book about World War 2.

[former user]

well, it might be correctly written in the source, but it really sounds funny ot antiquated to modern german-speakers
which is actually a bonus 

I guess the german anglisms sound as funny as the english germanisms to german ears....

[oabee]

Here's an entry from another source, which supports what von der Tamm posted : Military Vocabulary, German-English and English-German by F. G. Zimmerman, London, 1915:



The Babylon 10 online translator defines Erkundung as "nf. reconnaissance, scouting, act of gathering information about an enemy; collection of data, exploration, examination"

So......Erkundungskommando would be correct?  What say you, speakers of German?

well, it might be correctly written in the source, but it really sounds funny ot antiquated to modern german-speakers
which is actually a bonus

Exactly. Remember, in all things relating to IHMN, that the first three words of the rulebook are "It is 1895...."

I can live with Erkundigungskommando or Erkundungskommando, and would be further interested in your opinions. In choosing a title for the Company, I was quite literally going through the Vocabulary of German Military Terms and Abbreviations line by line until I found something appropriate.    If people have other ideas, let me know!

Mike O

[former user]

please leave it at that 

just remember, when You start using german, be aware that germans will try to correct You - I believe it is cultural heritage or so 

[Michi]

So......Erkundungskommando would be correct?  What say you, speakers of German?

Mike, that is correct.
Erkundung = Reconnaissance
Erkundigung = E/Inquiry or Query

"Erkundungskommando" would be the most plausible term. It sounds modern and actually is the term used in the Bundeswehr nowadays for the forward contingents that scout and prepare assigned areas for the arrival of the main contingents.
However I already said that you should leave it like that. It sounds odd and by that possibly believably antique. By the way: If you google for "Erkundigungstrupp" you´ll get more hits. This still is no proof, perhaps only wrong use of German language, but you have a point there.
And I perfectly second what former user writes:

please leave it at that  

just remember, when You start using german, be aware that germans will try to correct You - I believe it is cultural heritage or so  

[Thorwin]

My Bavarian (not german) advice take Erkundungskommando (modern) or Aufklärungsabteilung which is a more Old School military term.
Erkundigungskommando is like... Hello sir, how are you doing? Before we start this little engagement, would you mind me asking about your favourite colour.