Claudio Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 (edited) Dear forumites, I am proud to show my latest acquisition to you: 10er Grossenordensschnalle des General der Kavallerie Franz Maria Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels (*21.8.1876 in Düsseldorf - † 25.11.1947 in Bad Wildungen) Preussen, Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914 am Kämpferband (OEK 1909) E gs/S Preussen, Kgl. Hausorden von Hohenzollern, Kreuz der Ritter mit Schwertern (OEK 1789) Sv, Herst. Godet, RS Medaillon fehlt Sachsen-Weimar, Hausorden vom Weissen Falken RK 2. Kl. mit Schwertern (OEK 2340) S/S Waldeck und Pyrmont, Verdienstkreuz 4. Klasse mit Schwertern (OEK 2857) S Deutsches Reich 1933-45, Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer mit Schwertern (OEK 3803/1) St br, Hersteller CEJ C.E. Juncker, Berlin Weimar Republik, Schlesisches-Bewährungsabzeichen sog. Schlesischer Adler, II. Stufe mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (OEK 3306) Br/vs Preußen, Kronenorden 4. Klasse (OEK 1762) Br vg, mit Herstellerpunzen "WK" Deutsches Reich 1933-45, WH-DA 1. Kl. für 25 Dienstjahre, Kreuz (OEK 3852) E vg Deutsches Reich 1933-45, WH-DA 3. Kl. für 12 Dienstjahre, Medaille (OEK 3854) E vg Preussen, Zentenarmedaille 1897 (OEK 1965/1) GBr Werdegang: (from Wikipedia http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Maria_von_Dalwigk_zu_Lichtenfels ) Franz von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels trat am 4. August 1896 als Fahnenjunker in das Königlich Preußische Heer ein. Er kam dabei zum Königin Augusta Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 4. In diesem wurde er am 22. März 1900 zum Leutnant befördert. Das Patent wurde dabei auf den 22. März 1898 festgelegt. 1909 wurde er beim Thüringisches Husaren-Regiment Nr. 12 zum Oberleutnant befördert. Bei diesem wurde er am 1. Oktober 1913 zum Rittmeister befördert. Als solcher wurde er dann als Chef einer Eskadron eingesetzt. Auch bei Beginn des 1. Weltkrieges kam er dann als Eskadronchef an die Front. Im 1. Weltkrieg wurde er neben beiden Eisernen Kreuzen und dem Ritterkreuz des Königlich Preußischen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern mit vielen anderen Orden ausgezeichnet. Nach dem Ende des Ersten Weltkrieges führte er zuerst einen Freiwilligenverband. 1920 wurde er dann als Rittmeister in das Reichsheer übernommen. Im Frühjahr 1920 gehörte er beim 200.000 Mann-Übergangsheer als Eskadronchef zum Reiter-Regiment 10. Bei der Bildung vom 100.000 Mann-Heer der Reichswehr wurde er weiter als Eskadronchef im 10. (Preuss.) Reiter-Regiment eingesetzt. Als solcher wurde er am 1. April 1921 zum Major befördert. Am 1. Mai 1923 wurde er dann in den Regimentsstab vom 18. Reiter-Regiment nach Stuttgart-Cannstatt versetzt. Dort verbrachte er dann fast die nächsten 4 Jahre. Am 1. Februar 1927 wurde er zum Kommandeur vom 15. (Preuss.) Reiter-Regiment in Paderborn ernannt. Als solcher wurde er am 1. März 1927 zum Oberstleutnant befördert. Auch bei seiner Beförderung zum Oberst am 1. April 1930 war er noch immer Kommandeur vom 15. (Preuss.) Reiter-Regiment. Am 1. Oktober 1931 gab er sein Kommando ab. Er wurde dafür zum Kommandeur der Kavallerie-Schule in Hannover ernannt. Als solcher wurde er am 1. Februar 1933 zum Generalmajor befördert. Auch bei seiner Beförderung zum Generalleutnant am 1. Oktober 1934 war er noch immer Kommandeur der Schule. Erst am 1. April 1937 gab er sein Kommando an Gereralmajor Erich Volk ab. Er wurde jetzt als General z.b.V. beim III. Armeekorps eingesetzt. Bei der Mobilmachung vor dem 2. Weltkrieg wurde er zum Kommandierenden General des Stellvertretenden Generalkommando III. Armeekorps in Berlin ernannt. Damit wurde er gleichzeitig auch zum Befehlaber vom Wehrkreis III ernannt. Am 1. September 1940 wurden ihm die Charakter eines General der Kavallerie verliehen. Am 1. Dezember 1940 wurde er zum General der Kavallerie befördert. Am 28. Februar 1943 wurde er von seinem Kommando entbunden und in die Führerreserve des Wehrkreises versetzt. Am 31. Mai 1943 wurde ihm das Deutsches Kreuz in Silber verliehen. Am gleichen Tag wurde er endgültig aus der Wehrmacht verabschiedet. Bereits 1947 ist der General Freiherr von Dalwigk zu Lichtenfels gestorben. Thank you in advance for your most appreciated comments or additional information to this high officer. ciao, Claudio Edited December 10, 2013 by Claudio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul C Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Very, very nice. I like the way some of the medals are tied down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Posted December 8, 2013 Author Share Posted December 8, 2013 Thanks Paul! Definitely a keeper... ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redeagleorder Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 Beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.F. Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Fantastic medal bar!! Kind regards Pierce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Boonzaier Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 Ooof... ooooofffff... and WOW! I guess his WW2 stuff is long missing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulsterman Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Very cool. It's not often one sees an infantry officer transfer into a cavalry regt., even if he did start in the Guards. Looks like he got the DKs as a retirement present? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolewts58 Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 (edited) Freikorps history. He formed Freiwilligen-Bataillons von Dalwigk on November 15, 1918, but left it on December 23 to take command of the III. Batl. 4. Niederschlesien Inft.-Regt. Nr. 51, which disbanded in March 1919. He earned the Silesian Eagle with swords and oakleaves while commanding Freiwilligen Husaren-Regt. 12., before moving to 10. Preuss. Reiter-Regt. in the Reichswehr in April 1920. Edited December 10, 2013 by bolewts58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolewts58 Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 (edited) Here is the Baron in 1913, as regimental adjutant of Husaren-Regt. Nr. 12. in Torgau, wearing the Prussian Order of the Crown 4th cl., 1897 Centennial Medal and the Saxon-Weimar Order of the White Falcon RK II cl. with swords. Edited December 10, 2013 by bolewts58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Posted December 10, 2013 Author Share Posted December 10, 2013 Thanks a lot for your comments and especially many thanks to bolewts58 to put a face on this bar! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rujab Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Klasse, super medal Bar. Gratulation. Gruss Rudi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtwinVince Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Da kann ich nur zustimmen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtle Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 Very impressive and beautiful medal bar! I suppose he also got both classes of the KVK during WWII? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Posted December 11, 2013 Author Share Posted December 11, 2013 It's highly probable since he got the DKiS... ;-) I haven't got the group physically with me (was shipped to a 3rd person), but I will check when I will be able to view the other stuff which will come with the group and keep you informed on this thread. C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolewts58 Posted December 11, 2013 Share Posted December 11, 2013 Hi Claudio I'm happy I could help with the photo. It just took a little digging online. I was interested in this group, because of my interest in the Freikorps. I knew tha baron had been a major player early on in the Spartacist uprising and the border defence in Silesia (hence the Silesian Eagle). The photo just popped up when I was researching what he had done. cheers, Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Posted December 11, 2013 Author Share Posted December 11, 2013 (edited) I found another picture of him wearing the medal bar... not so clear, but it's him! Obviously it's a earlier than 1934-35 picture (no FEK - Hindenburg Cross on his bar). C Edited December 11, 2013 by Claudio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul C Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 His service record shoudl be available at the U.S. Archive in College Park, Maryland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudius Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 What an outstanding bar! Great career soldier. I really like the intra-war details that are available on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Danner Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 His service record shoudl be available at the U.S. Archive in College Park, Maryland. I had already looked through it a while ago. There are only annual officer efficiency reports (Beurteilungen) and none from late in the war when they listed decorations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted December 13, 2013 Share Posted December 13, 2013 Bah! What a yawner. Claudio - when are you going to start posting some stellar bars for a change? As usual, a stunner. Your medal bar collection continues to amaze with each new acquisition. Superb! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Posted December 13, 2013 Author Share Posted December 13, 2013 Yeah... that's right I am running out of boxes where to put them! Soooo boring... I need once to organize some nice display of some of my bars at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Your bars are so magnificent that seeing them together might cause our heads to explode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 Some pictures of his daughter's surviving photo album which came with the bar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditfeld Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Hi there I'm a bookseller in Santa Maria, CA and I just came into a sketch by Oscar Merte of the German Cavalry that is signed by General der Kavallerie Franz Maria Freiherr von Dakwigk zu Lichtenfels. I must admit I don't have too much detail about it, and you were one of the few people that came up when searching under his name. Obviously we're looking to sell it as well, but do you know any history concerning why a sketch like this would have been done, why it was signed by military personnel, etc? There's also a signature in pencil from Captain Henshiheimur. It was done in 1932, and though the sketch appears to be a copy, the signatures are real. Any info you can provide would be very much appreciated. Unfortunately this site is not allowing me to upload any images, but I can send you something separately if you wish. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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