Arthur Greiser - Early Life and Career

Early Life and Career

Born in Schroda (Środa Wielkopolska), Province of Posen, Imperial Germany, Greiser was the son of a minor local bailiff (Gerichtsvollzieher). In 1903, he was enrolled at the Königlich-Humanistische Gymnasium (Royal Humanities College) in Hohensalza and is believed to have learnt to speak Polish fluently. In August, 1914, he joined the Kaiserliche Marine as a Kriegsfreiwilliger. He served at the naval forts in Korugen, Falkenstein, and in the fortress tower of Laboe from August, 1914 to July, 1915. He was then assigned as an Artilleriebeobachter or artillery observer in Flanders as well as participating in minesweeping operations in Friedrichsort. In April, 1917, he volunteered for service in the Naval Fliegertruppe where he initially served as an observer with SEE I and II and then with Kustenfliegerstaffel I and II. From August, 1917 to August, 1918, he was assigned as a naval aviator to Marine Schutzstaffel I. During this time, he was transferred to Seeflugstation Flandern II (Ostende) and he later flew with the Seefrontstaffel and MFJ IV. From December, 1917 to January, 1918, he was attached to the KE-Schule Langfuhr (near Danzig). While deployed to combat duty, he flew missions over the North Sea between the southern English and Belgian coasts. He was later shot down and wounded by gunfire. On 30 September 1919, he was classified as 50% war-disabled and discharged from naval service. He earned the Iron Cross (First and Second Class), the Cross of Honour 1914–1918 Combatants medal, and a Wound Badge Black Class in 1914. From 1919 to May 1921, he served in the Freikorps Grenzschutz Ost and fought in the Baltic states.