Auseklis

Nice group(s)! What is this black naval/(aviation?) patch on the left?

No. It's just an error. Should realy read Luxemburg (what then was realy in Germany).

Obviously...

I wonder where this "Luxembery" might be located ?

muckaroon1960, would you mind, if show your pictures on a german forum? There might be the right guys around.

It's a party eagle, but there are some issues with this general rule. See here (in German): http://www.reichsadlerarchiv.de/vai.php

The birdy is looking to the right! So no Wehrmacht at all. It's a party eagle. And it is even to big for a vehicle penant. There are only two things with an embroidered golden party eagle this size, that come to my mind. But they are so unrealistic... Maybe someone else has a better idea first?

Metzger as a name is equaly common in France and Germany. It's typical alsacian.

At least in the early years of the war (maybe up to 1943?), this document must (usualy) have been forwarded together with a photo of the grave. That photo was then send together wit the condolence letter to the relatives.

I found a date for the German occupation of Lida, given as Sept., 20. 1915. If that is a 24th as date of wounding, it might fit. Then, I think the solution might be in this strange designation of the unit. Might this be a Russian unit? There is one that might be translated into French in this way: лейб-гвардии 1-й стрелковый его величества полк ...and this regiment was in northern Belorussia during Sept. 1915...

I would read the year of his wounding as 1919 or 1915. Since in Sept. 1915 Lida in Belorussia was already under German control, I was assuming that he was wounded during the fightings in 1919. I also did not find any evidence on French soldiers there in 1915. What is seriously wired, is the designation of his unit. What shall that be?

It's a little bit small, so I'm not sure, but wouldn't he also been entitled for a Krzyz Ochotniczy za Wojne 1918-1921?

Hello, please look here: http://www.ma-shops.com/huesken/item.php5?id=9383&lang=en&curr=USDEUR http://www.ehrenzeichen-orden.de/kaiserreich/paul-von-breitenbach-medaille-eisenbahn-tochterhort.html http://www.lewin-funcke.de/fackellaeufer,-1916.html

Sort of, for sure. The numbers should be dates, but without a year??? The date linked to Bulgaria i.e. is corresponding with the date of the signing of the treaty of Neuily-sur-Seine in 1919. But the others? A very nice item! Would be great to understand it's meaning!

The inscription is in italian. I don't get the meaning of the numbers...

About the DNA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descent_from_Genghis_Khan#DNA_evidence

Yes, that is one of the new designs. The old one was skipped in the 60's or 70's, I think it was considered to be to SS-ish... (Maybe they had a point, as it seems from your very interesting photo...) Nowerdays they are difficult to do, since only very few swimming baths offer the possibility. My wife had to wait half a year for a "Day of Sport" event. She also is holding the silver DLRG life saver badge.

Black is for 1 hour non-stop swimming. My wife did the golden one, for 2 hours swimming, some weeks ago.

Hi, should be the "Hoche". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_ironclad_Hoche

It's "Strafanstalt Celle", not "Stadt Celle"...

With a short interlude as a jail guard...

Indeed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Order_of_Kamehameha_I_%28decoration%29

Royal Order of Kamehameha I maybe? I think I've seen one in a Naval Rangliste around 1900.

Not to forget the Finns of the Königlich Preußisches Jägerbataillon Nr. 27.

Dedehansen, Is that "Kiel" as town ofthe photographers mark in the lower right corner?