The Prussian

Hello! Because he was ill in hospital, I can´t imagine he died because of any war-trouble. Another idea: Young Elsa Meta (last name unknown) lost a close relative in the war (father, brother). Between 1918 and 1934 she´s got married with this Mr. Motschmann and so she changed her last name. That´s why she owned his military papers. Unfortunately we can´t see, WHO died in the war, only the recipient of the cross. BUT maybe we have luck! Elsa Meta is a rare first name. I checked Ancestry with "Elsa Meta" and "Hohenleuben". ONE SINGLE MATCH: Elsa Meta Seidemann (born Oct 11, 1891). Checking the casualty lists, I´ve found five Seidemann from Gera*, who were k.i.a. 1) Friedrich, k.i.a. 1916 (Pionier-Regiment 19) 2) Max, k.i.a. 1918 (no unit) 3) Otto, k.i.a. 1918 (no unit) 4) Paul, k.i.a. 1916 (Leib-Grenadier-Regiment 8 ) 5) Willi, k.i.a. 1915 (Infanterie-Regiment 176) Totally there are 37 k.i.a. Seidemann in the casualty lists. * Hohenleuben belonged to Gera, since 1922 to Greiz. 1840 it had 2103 inhabitans, 1947 only 2512. So around 1900 maybe 2200 (just a guess) Another idea. The mother of Mr. Motschmann received the cross for another killed son and gave it to her daughter-in-law Elsa Meta There are 12 k.i.a. Motschmann in the casualty lists.

Hello! I could check his personal files: https://www2.landesarchiv-bw.de/ofs21/olf/struktur.php?bestand=13908&klassi=001 The same infos as in the papers. Unfortunately the files of "Genesenden-Kompagnie" of 1.Ers.Btl. is missing.

Hello! That´s strange... I read: "confirmed as pension recipient". I can´t find any wounds. The World War Cross of Honour for Widows and Parents was established on 13 July 1934 at the request of Reich President Paul von Hindenburg together with the two other World War Crosses of Honour. It was the first state honour to commemorate the First World War. The Cross of Honour of the World War was awarded in 3 variants: Cross for Frontline Combatants, Cross for Veterans, Cross for Survivors (widows and parents). However, only one version could be applied for. The cross was issued by the city administration, police authorities or other state authorities. The cross was issued a total of approx. 10,000,000 times in the 3 types and is therefore not rare. Widows and parents of soldiers who died or were missing in war or captivity were considered survivors. Widows were women whose marriage was concluded before 31 December 1918. Parents also included step-parents and adoptive parents. The cross for surviving dependants is the least awarded of the three crosses. The ribbon differs from the ribbon of the other two crosses. His units: 29.12.14: Ersatz-Rekrut, 3.Rekruten-Depot, 1.Ersatz-Bataillon, Inf.Rgt.167 "Nur garnisonsverwendungsfährig" (suitable for garrison use only) 7.9.16-17.9.16: Garnisons-Kompagnie 2, I.Eratz-Bataillon Inf.Rgt.167 17.9.16-26.9.16: ??? hinter der Front 26.9.16-30.1.17: 14./Inf.Rgt.112 30.1.17: 6./Inf.Rgt.112 22.2.17: Hospital (as "ill", not "wounded") 19.4.17: Ersatz-Bataillon, Genesenden-Kompagnie Inf.Rgt.112 15.4.18: discharged to "Landwehr I" as Pensioner and promotion to Gefreiter For me, the award is not justified

Hello Mike! I assume, you know this page? https://www.royalsaxonarmy.co.uk/index.php/our-publications

Hello! G.G. means "Gewehr-Geschoß". Rifle-bullet. l. U-arm = linker Unterarm = left forearm. That was the reason for the wounded badge. By the way. The 1934 Cross was not a war medal. It was awarded to all front-line soldiers who took part in the war.

A hit in the bull´s eye! Minenwerfer-Kompagnie of Inf.Rgt.343! He served from 2.5.1915-12.10.1918 in that regiment Before he served with IR175. Casualty list of Otto Semrau: http://des.genealogy.net/search/show/1123965

Many Thanx! But that was not enough for a wound badge...😁 And I have a problem with Minenwerfer-Kompagnie 343. An MWK with that number did not exist! But I´ve got some crazy ideas in my crazy head... The Inf.Rgt.343 was formed by: I.Btl. of Ers.Btl./IR129 II.Btl. of Ers.Btl./IR141 III.Btl. of Ers.Btl./IR175 August 8, 1918 a Minenwerfer-Kompagnie was set-up in that regiment (formed by Minenwerfer-Kompagnie 86) Maybe he was transferred to Inf.Rgt.343 and came in their MWK? Note: The Inf.Rgt.343 belonged to the 86th Infantry Divison. And the medical company 86 was in that Division too!

Hello! Yes! The name could help. 9.3.-19.3.17: Revierbehandlung (sick or wounded-treatment in the regimental area. 25.4.17 Sanitätskompagnie (Medical company) N°86. In March/April 1917 the regiment was at the Somme and the "Siegfried-Front". But why? I can´ t read.

Great! That makes sense!

Hello! A double-eagle doesn´t seem to be british... Are you sure the helmet is british?

Hello! According to the medals he probably will be Colonel Jarnac Here are the close-ups:

Avec plaisir! Amicalement, Andy

Bonjour Joel! I´ve got the following informations: Born 26.9.59, died 3.7.36 18.10.03-27.1.08: Commander 1.Garde-Feldartillerie-Regiment 27.1.08-1.10.13: Commander 1.Garde-Feldartillerie-Brigade 4.9.13-1.9.16: Commander 36.Infanterie-Division 31.8.16-8.3.17: Commanding General Gen.Kdo. z.b.V.53 8.3.17-23.11.17: Commanding General XXV.Reserve-Korps 23.11.17-15.12.18: Commanding General VI.Armee-Korps

Hello! Thanks a lot for those informations! I will have a closer look, when the photo will arrive!

Oh, that's pretty early... I don' t have any ranklists of that era.

Hello David! From wich era are you talking about? I couldn´t find him in the ranklist of honour.

Hello! According to the document of the China-Medal: The signature is from Oberst v. Wrochem. Ranklist 1901: Oberstleutnant (22.5.99) in 6th Eastasian Infantry Regiment Ranklist 1902: Oberst (16.6.01) Commander of Inf.Rgt.Nr.43 So he was "Transportführer" between his duty in China and his service in IR43! Before he was in China, he was in the staff of Inf.Rgt.20

Hello! I´d like to know if it´ s possible to "baptize" this french colonel? We have the following facts: 1) The photo studio did exist from 1896. 2) He wears: a) Officers cross of the Legion of Honour b) 1901 China expedition commemorative medal c) Colonial Medal d) Royal order of Cambodia e) Commander cross, order of Nichan el-Anouar 3) The photo shows him as a regimental commander (Colonel) in Infantry Regiment N°16 in St.Étienne 4) Because of the China medal, the photo must have been taken after 1901. 5) The commanders of that regiment from 1901-1910 were: 1901: Jules Pierre Ernest De Jarnac 1902-1906: Louis Joseph Paul Albert Carrier 1907-1908: Joseph Arthur Ernst 1909: ? 1910: Joseph Nicolas Edmond Vaimbois All of these officers were officers of the Legion of Honour Do we have a match??? Thanks a lot in advance!

Nice thread, Chris. Here are a few of my collection...

Hello Gordon! Another interesting book about austrain cap-badges is: Published 1991 in Ljubljana (Slovenia) in german/english language. There are no descriptions of the badges, but I think more then a thousand badges are shown! 282 pages. The book is very rare, but I also have a pdf (24MB) of it, unfortunately in a lower quality. You´ll find all austrian badges according to each branch including remembrance-badges, front-badges, christmas-badges and cloth unit-number-patches. By the way, my collection raised during the last years. Edelweiß-badges: Austrian/german cap-badges (austrians only, if germans could have worn them..)

Hello! The Inf.Rgt.328 had a star (the personal sign of v. Scotti upon their shoulder straps). Here is Hermann Küpper of that regiment.

Hello Kornel! Maybe you should better ask in the NZ chapter? https://gmic.co.uk/forum/9-commonwealth-realms-canada-new-zealand-australia-medals-militaria/

Hello! Indeed, very interesting! Note the 2nd unit, s.Art.Abt.616. That unit was formed August 26, 1939, just one week before the war broke out. The number of units he served with is interesting too!!!

Hello! The man was Pr.Lt. Carl Muskewitz. Ranklist 1866/67: 4. Rheinisches Landwehr-Regiment Nr.30, 1. Bataillon in Trier, Train. The commanding General of VIII. Corps was General d.Inf. Herwarth v. Bittenfeld Probably he did a good job in 1866, because four years later, in the Iron Cross list of 1870/71, he received the Iron Cross 2nd class in the same duty! Here his rank was already Rittmeister: In ranklist 1870/71 he was listed as Rittmeister in 8. Landwehr-Regiment Nr.70, 1.Bataillon in Trier. In 1872 he left the army. His first ranklist-entry was 1860, he used to be Sec.Lt. in 1. Rheinisches Landwehr-Regiment, 1. Bataillon, Aachen, Train. That means he never was an active officer. He served as a one-year-volunteer in 1859, promoted to Sec.Lt. and then he served as an officer of the Reserve, later officer of the Landwehr.

Too much work...I´m a lazy old man...😄