Kriegsmarine Admiral

I have a question about the Finnish Commemorative Medal of the „War of Liberation“ (Vapaussodan muistomitali). I know this medal could've been awarded with a Clasp. Can anyone tell me if there was just one Clasp, or multiple? What was the Clasp called? I know of this example (see below), awarded to Paul Wülfing von Ditten. The inscription on the Clasp says "SYD FINLAND". I found here: https://www.kuenker.de/en/archiv/stueck/240156 that this Clasp (that has an inscription in Swedish? is that correct?) "was intended for the Swedish-speaking inhabitants of southwest Finland and for the Swedish voluntary participants in the war". If so, why was Paul Wülfing von Ditten (a German) awarded this Clasp? Thanks!

Thank you Dave. Do you think it's Frerichs in the photo though? Given the rather unique combination of awards (the Südwestafrika-Denkmünze in particular). Frerichs entered military service on 01 April 1899, so he wasn't eligible for the Centenary Medal. Also, can you confirm the 2nd ribbon is indeed the Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz? His biography has no mention of Freikorps service, so I am unable to confirm if he was eligible for the Baltenkreuz. Also, the lack of the RAO4 (which Frerichs had) on the ribbon bar is problematic.

@Dave Danner Can you help perhaps? Thanks

Konteradmiral Robert Schall-Emden (pointed by the red arrow), Admiral of the Sea-Command-Offices (08 March 1941-14 November 1944), inspecting Kriegsmarine recruits at the Military training ground of Beverloo Camp at Leopoldsburg, Belgium, date unknown. The Staff of the Admiral of the Sea-Command-Offices (Admiral der Seebefehlsstellen) was formed in March 1941. It was formed to oversee the remaining tasks of the Operation Sea Lion (Unternehmen Seelöwe), namely forming and equipping the Landungsflottillen. The Admiral of the Sea-Command-Offices was also the administrative superior of all Marinehafenabteilungen, Flottillenstammregimenter, Transportflottillen, Artillerieträgerflottillen and Landungsflottillen. The Admiral was subordinate to the Kommandierender Admiral Frankreich, then Marinegruppenkommando West. The staff quarters were in Souverain Moulin near Boulogne, Antwerp and then Heringsdorf. It was dissolved in Ahlbeck on 14 November 1944 with its tasks being handed over to the Commander of Security Forces.

Hello, I need help confirming the identity of a Marinebeamte based on awards. There are no known photos of Ministerialrat Fritz Frerich Frerichs (1874-1946). I have a list of his awards from the Intendanturbeamten - Kriegsrangliste 1929 (see the 1st photo below): -Eisernes Kreuz (1914) I. Klasse -Eisernes Kreuz (1914) II. Klasse -Südwestafrika-Denkmünze in Stahl -Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden IV. Klasse -Landwehr Dienstauszeichnung II. Klasse -Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz I found this photo of a Marinebeamte whose visible awards match those of Frerichs (see the 2nd photo below). Ribbon bar (see the 3rd photo below): - Eisernes Kreuz (1914) II. Klasse - Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz ??? - Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer - Baltenkreuz - Südwestafrika-Denkmünze - Wehrmacht Dienstauszeichnung - Wehrmacht Dienstauszeichnung - ??? Is it possible the man in the photo is indeed Ministerialrat Fritz Frerich Frerichs? I still have some doubts: 1. The Rangliste lists the Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden IV. Klasse for Frerichs. But the man in the photo is not wearing it? 2. Is the 2nd ribbon the Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz? 3. What is the last ribbon? It doesn't look like the RAO4. Thanks!

Vizeadmiral Otto Schenk (pointed by the red arrow), Admiral of the Norwegian Polar-Coast (31 August 1940-13 August 1942), inspecting MFP-type (Marinefährprahm) landing craft, most likely in Tromsø, summer 1942.

Yes, I understand Junker is not in the rolls. But since the SEKx is listed among his awards in the Personalakte, he must've been awarded it. I wanted to know your guess for the class of the SEKx he was most likely awarded?

Thank you. Do you have any idea about the class Junker was awarded? I was thinking it's most likely the 3. Klasse. I know of another naval officer who had the Fürstlich Schwarzburgisches Ehrenkreuz. This is Hans Seebohm, who had the Ehrenkreuz 2. Klasse (pre-war) and the Ehrenkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwertern that was awarded during the war. He was born in Dillingen, Saar.

He did not have the Spange (1939) zum EK II. Klasse. 14.05.1921 Oberleutnant zur See mit RDA. vom 07.01.1920 (25)

That's correct. I hope @Dave Danner will see this thread. As I understand he has the Schwarzburg award rolls. Perhaps he can help.

Hello, Can anyone with access to the Schwarzburg award rolls help me? The Personalakte of Konteradmiral Rudolf Junker states he was awarded the "Fürstlich-Schwarzburgisches Ehrenkreuz mit Schwertern" on "7.11.1917". However, no class is indicated. Can anyone help me find out the exact class he was awarded? Perhaps the award date in the award rolls is also different. Thanks!

Thank you Demir.

Hello, Did every officer who was awarded the Order of Osmaniye or Medjidie during WW1 have it with the "Swords/Scimitars/Sabers"? Or, was it possible to be awarded these orders without the "Swords/Scimitars/Sabers" during wartime? I am finding some conflicting information regarding these two orders awarded during WW1 to later German Kriegsmarine Admirals. Thanks!

Thank you very much Johan!

Hello, I was told that Generalmajor Axel von der Lochau is wearing the Swedish Order of the Sword around the neck (see the photo below). Is that correct? Is the class of the order the Commander's Cross 2nd Class? Does anyone know the date when he was awarded this order? Thanks!

Thank you for the offer. I will think about it.

@JohanH @FRE_A_K Do you perhaps know if Hermann Bauer was awarded the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty or any other Finnish decorations? I would be interested in the exact decorations, classes and award dates. He participated in the Finnish Civil War in 1918 as the Commandant of the Battleship "Westfalen". Many thanks!

Hello, I hope there are some experts on Slovakian WW2 orders here, because I have some questions regarding the Slovakian Order of the War Victory Cross awarded to German Vizeadmiral Leopold Bürkner. The only source that proves he was awarded this order is a photo where he is wearing his ribbon bar. The 9th ribbon in the first row is the Slovakian Order of the War Victory Cross (see the 1st photo below). I don't know when he was awarded this order. But, I can tell you his rank at the time was almost certainly Kapitän zur See (Captain). I don't think he was already a Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) when he received it. Now the questions: 1. Is it possible to determine the exact class of this order from a ribbon in a black & white photograph? 2. According to the information I found (see the 2nd photo below), there were several types (four?) of ribbons for this order, is that correct? What were the differences between all these types of ribbons? 3. Which type of ribbon is Bürkner wearing? The red ribbon with the two yellow stripes in the middle or some other type? 4. Regarding the possible classes he was awarded: It surely can't be the Grand Cross or the 1st class, because these were too high classes for an officer of his rank. The 2nd class was a neck decoration. Equivalent to a Commander's Cross perhaps? The 3rd class was a badge decoration worn on the chest. Equivalent to an Officer's Cross perhaps? The 4th class was a cross worn alongside other medals on the chest. So, if we keep in mind his rank at the time (Captain), what is the most likely class he was awarded? 5. Regarding the 3rd class of this order. Since it was a badge award, is it wrong to presume it was always worn on the chest and therefore there was no ribbon replacement for this specific class? I believe this is proved by the table in the 2nd photo below where only the ribbons for the 1st, 2nd and 4th class can be seen. Is this correct? I also posted the photos of the 2nd class ribbon and neck decoration and the photo of the 3rd class badge decoration. Many thanks for any help!

Hello, Can anyone help me with this abbreviation from the Personalakte of Konteradmiral z.V. Paul Hönicke? I think it's "a. k. o." with the award date 14. III. 1905 written next to it. Is it the award date for the Rettungsmedaille am Bande that is written below it? Thanks! EDIT: I think I found my answer. "a. k. o." should be the Allerhöchste Kabinettsorder.

Hello, Can anyone help me with the awards and decorations of Konteradmiral Dr.rer.pol. Reinhold Henrici? Since he retired in 1920 and wasn't activated again until 1934, he isn't listed in the Reichsmarine Rangliste. The only award listed for him in the 1918 Rangliste is the Eisernes Kreuz (1914) II. Klasse. He also had the Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914/1918 mit Schwertern für Frontkämpfer and the Wehrmacht Dienstauszeichnungen IV. bis II. Klasse. I would appreciate if anyone can help me find any more awards for him. I also think it's very likely he was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz (1914) I. Klasse, but I can't confirm this. Thanks!

In the meantime, I found the award documents that confirm the class and award date.

@FRE_A_K Can you perhaps confirm if Conrad Engelhardt was awarded the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty 2nd Class with Swords on 07 June 1943? Thanks!

Konteradmiral Erich Schulte-Mönting, Commanding Admiral of the Norwegian North-Coast (08 November 1944-17 August 1945), inspecting Kriegsmarine sailors in Kirkenes harbour, Norway, 1944.

Konteradmiral Friedrich Lützow, Spokesman of the High Command of the Kriegsmarine (OKM) (24 December 1939-08 May 1945), visiting the Naval Hitler Youth (Marine-HJ), date and place unknown.

Konteradmiral Paul Wever, sitting 3rd from the left. This photo is very interesting because Wever is wearing all of his awards and decorations (including many foreign). See the close-up below for more information about these awards and decorations. Wever was promoted to Konteradmiral on 01 September 1941 and to Vizeadmiral on 01 October 1943. He died from a heart attack (presumably caused by a sunstroke) on 11 August 1944 in Aix en Provence, South France. His posts during WW2 include: -Chief of Staff of the Naval-Group-Command West (23 August 1939-04 December 1939) -Chief of the Department for Naval Intelligence Analysis, OKM (01 January 1940-21 June 1940) -Director of the Sub-Group Navy in the Armistice-Commission France (22 June 1940-15 January 1943) -Placed at the Disposal of the Commander-in-Chief of the Naval-Group West (16 January 1943-01 September 1943) -Commanding Admiral of the French South Coast (02 September 1943-11 August 1944) 1: Commander's Cross of the Royal Order of the Crown of Italy 2: Commander's Cross of the Royal Bulgarian Order of Saint Alexander (awarded on 31 March 1939) 3: Spanish Cross in Silver without Swords (awarded on 6 June 1939) 4: Spanish Order of Naval Merit 2nd Class with White Decoration (awarded on 23 January 1932 and approved on 28 March 1934) 5: Ottoman War Medal (Gallipoli Star) 6: Clasp (1939) to the Iron Cross 1st Class (awarded on 5 December 1939) 7: Iron Cross (1914) 1st Class 8: U-boat War Badge 1918 (awarded on 3 March 1919)