My Great-Grandfather in the First World War

Josef Anton Schmid was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1887. He was the son of Louise and Johann Baptist Schmid, who was Bavarian-born. Josef maintained ties with Germany, holding dual citizenship.

He spent some time in his late teenage to early adult years as a seminarian in the Diocese of Chur, Switzerland, leaving in 1906. He apparently did not pursue a religious career, but allegedly began nursing work. He later married his first wife in 1913.

In August of 1914 all great european powers were at war. The reasons that led Josef to join the German army are unknown. Having some previous experience in nursing, he enrolled as a “Sanitäter” and was on the Easter Front in 1915.