Moving On, Moving Up

A Generalleutnant with only THREE ribbons?

Not at all as odd as it seems-- for this is one way we are able to identify "nothing" groups AS Generals-- their medal bar grade awards have "moved on up" to pinback, neck, or sash grade awards, leaving odd but very distinctive items behind.

This is Hermann von Stein (1854-1927), later General der Artillerie and the Prussian Minister of War 1916-18. Here he is in Feldgrau, anytime from his promotion to Generalleutnant in 1912 until his final promotion in 1916-- but probably around the beginning of the war in 1914.

Since this is a FIELD uniform, he has dispensed with all the inessential clutter of the other FOUR Commander grade peacetime Orders he then held. His Red Eagle Order 2nd Class with Oakleaves Star does not show, off camera.

What he has for ribbons are the spectrum shifted colors in early 20th century black and white photography discussed in "Tricks of the Light"--

1) Prussian XXV Years Service Cross (dark blue rendered this LIGHT color by the chemical processing)

2) 1897 Centenary Medal (pale yellow rendered DARK by the same)

3) Oldenburg House Order-Knight 1st Class (same dark blue "trick" as the XXV)

By the time 20th century Prussian officers earned their peacetime XXV Years Service Cross, they were within normal range of receiving a Red Eagle Order 4th Class (as Majors). No Red Eagle Order ribbon here. His 4th Class was replaced by a 3rd Class with Bow, and that in turn by the 2nd Class with Oakleaves he is shown wearing. His Crown Order 3rd Class as the normal additional award for Lieutenant Colonels has likewise migrated "off and up" to a Commander 2nd Class which he has not bothered to wear here, since that was taken as a given in the succession of awards from Crown Order 3rd up.

So ONLY his routine Prussian long service and jubilee awards remain-- along with a Knight's Cross he earned earlier in his career that was never advanced in class. Such orphaned strays at the end of "no Orders" Prussian bars are our best clue to the Unseen Awards


off and up.



Courtesy of Ulsterman.