Rare WW1 and Freikorps Non combat group

[Chris Boonzaier]

Dr Arno Hoffmeister... he was an economist who worked in the Posen Agricultural department.

During the war he was awarded the Prussian war service cross (with an authorization to wear it) , An iron cross 2nd class on a white ribbon with Telex announcing it, the Braunschweig Cross on Yellow ribbon (non combat), and the best part of the group... the Silesian eagle 1st and 2nd class. I have discussed this group with a couple of the leading experts of the silesian campaign and documentation for it and the general consensus is that they are non combatant awards (based on Hoffmeisters past service, his service at the time of the Silesian campaign, and the fact that it was issued by a non Freikorps entity) this makes it doubly rare as the Silesian Eagle 1st class was not supposed to be awarded for service (as opposed to combat) , them there is his large Doctor title, his Luftschutz award with congrats letter some photos of him, and a death certificate. He committed suicide with his service pistol just before leaving on a duty trip to Belgium.... I have a bunch of other info about him, but these are the docs.....

[bolewts58]

A very fine group.

You're correct that non-combattant Silesian Eagles are comparatively hard to find in relation to those awarded to military personnel. But, I have one awarded to a locomotive engineer and have had awards to doctors, civil servants and the wife of a factory owner.

Edited November 29, 2017 by bolewts58

[Chris Boonzaier]

3 hours ago, bolewts58 said:

A very fine group.

You're correct that non-combattant Silesian Eagles are comparatively hard to find in relation to those awarded to military personnel. But, I have one awarded to a locomotive engineer and have had awards to doctors, civil servants and the wife of a factory owner.

I love non Combat versions :-)

What is apparently the anomaly here is the Silesia EK1 non combat which apparently was technically not to be made to non combatants.