Max Williams

Go to Internet Archive and look for RECORDS OF THE SCOTTISH VOLUNTEER FORCE 1859-1908 by Grierson at http://www.archive.org/details/recordsofscottis00grierich

Regards,

MC

Maryland

Thank you Mark. Unfortunately, I cannot find a reference to this particular unit. Maybe I'm missing something?

Max.

Can anyone help me with suggestions as to where I can find any information about this unit please? I believe that in about 1865 it was formed into an artillery unit.

Thanks,

Max.

What's the whole document you've cropped the signature and stamps bit from?

I don't have it. It's a scan been sent to me to try and help with ID. I didn't recognise the signature as it's not my area of collecting, but I've certainly heard of him. A very interesting guy.

Max.

Hi Max,

the last rank for Erwin von Heimerdinger, "re-enlisted" in WWI, was Generalmajor.

Later he had connections with an occult organization, the "Germanenorden"; he was the chancellor for some time.

Please see here, page 131:

http://books.google.de/books?id=9hMP5ZMu6b...esult#PPA131,M1

Uwe

Thank you.

Max.

Hi Max,

Oberstleutnant von Heimerdinger

commander of the

4. W?rttembergisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 65

Regards

Uwe

I'm very much obliged. Do you know anything about him please?

Max.

I'm trying to identify the signature below. He was a Oberstleutnant and commanding officer of the 65th Artillery Regiment in November 1908. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Max.

Obviously a wartime photo, as You can see a Panzerkampfabzeichen on the chest of the NSKK man behind Kraus ( probably a Transportgruppe Speer man )

.........

What is more obvious that this is a wartime photo is that Erwin Kraus is wearing rank insignia of NSKK-Korpsf?hrer, a position to which he was appointed on 21 June 1942, three days after the death of his predecessor, Adolf H?hnlein.

Max.

In case he comes back here, see http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...d=1#post2371413

Max.

Have you considered EG Frames?

http://www.egframes.net/

Thank you Leigh. I suppose I've been spoilt in the past with a local framer.

Max.

I have a number if items in my collection that I would like to mount and frame for display purposes. Unfortunately, the man who used to do my things for me is no longer around and I need to find a reliable replacement.

I want good quality mounting and framing for not only photos and documents, but also some cloth insignia and medals.

Can anyone in the London or Kent (UK) area suggest such a workshop that could accommodate my needs please? I am in south-east London, north-west Kent.

Many thanks,

Max.

Absolutely !

Such hypothetical discussions will always generate opposing opinions. Nothing wrong with a bit of healthy debating and certainly no ill feelings on my part.

Well said. I agree.

Max.

Dave,

Thanks for posting the picture.

It's not an argument...more a difference of opinion.

Max.

Article 2 of the foundation order of September 1939 merely states that the Iron Cross (and this applies to all grades)will be awarded for outstanding service by military personnel or bravery in the face of the enemy. No mention of

"tactical qualities" or "issuing direct orders as tactical commanders". The rules would quite clearly have allowed Hitler to have approved the award of the Iron Cross to any member of military personnel he saw fit on the basis of what was considered by him, as the final authority, as "outstanding service".

Your statement,-

is is still wrong. The EK was NOT just a bravery award and could theoretically have been awarded on the basis of "outstanding service".

The fact that murdering scum like Dirlewanger and Jaeckeln got the Knight's Cross just shows how low the "standards " could at times fall. Had Hitler wished to make the award to Himmler, he could have.

Gordon,

You haven't read my post. I have not stated that the EK was awarded for tactical qualities.

You now revert to supposition or theory. What actual instances of the award for non-active service can you quote?

Oh dear; you cannot accept that even criminals can be brave at times, notwithstanding some of their less admirable actions. And by the way, it's Jeckeln, not Jaeckeln.

I think we'll just agree to differ.

Max.

Not quite true, the Knight's Cross was awarded to many senior commanders for leadership. Grossadmiral Raeder commanded ships far out at sea from a base in Berlin. He was never effectively in the "front line".

There were also other examples of senior SS officers receiving the Knight's Cross for achievements which were little more than mass murder (Dirlewanger and Jaeckeln come to mind)

Not so. The EK could be awarded for simple things like taking part in a successful recce patrol - no combat bravery under fire was required.

Technically, Himmler could have been awarded the Knight's Cross, I just don't think Hitler ever considered him a suitable recipient. If he had, the rules would have allowed it, and even if they didn't could easily have been bent by the "man at the top". There were precedences though, for Hitler making it clear that he didn't want certain senior figures (specifically people like Goering) trying to add ever more awards to thier list of "achievments"

Sorry, but you are wrong.

Dirlewanger saw active service in numerous anti-partisan actions and Jeckeln also saw active service on a number of occasions as commander of various Kampfgruppe. Jeckeln was awarded the RK for personally leading a successful counter attack on 16 August 1944 in Latvia where he displayed not only personal bravery, but leadership qualities. He was also awarded the DKiG.

"Simple...recce patrols," as you call them, were nevertheless at the front and to be awarded the EK, there would have been an element of danger.

Senior commanders awarded the RK (such as Raeder) were all men who displayed leadership and tactical qualities and who issued direct orders as tactical commanders. Himmler had no personal tactical control over his W-SS commanders until he was given command of an Army Group late in the war and this lasted for a matter of weeks. Nearly all his W-SS commanders were under the orders of a local Army Group commander, not Himmler.

Max.

All that being said he rose from humble chicken farmer to one of the most fear men in germany, pretty impressive in its own way.

Oh don't get me wrong; this guy was a highly intelligent man and a brilliant organiser. He was just no military tactician. Although not agreeing with his methods, one must admire the way he cleverly gained control of the German Police system.

Max.

Just to add to Rick's post, Himmler fainted when he witnessed an Einsatzgruppe mass-execution by machinegun. That said, he displayed courage during the 1923 Putsch, holding aloft the standard - later revered as the Blutfahne - in the face of rifle and pistol fire from the policemen trying to prevent the marchers' progress in front of the Feldherrnhalle. He was also a volunteer during the First World War, although he had not finished his officer training when the armistice came into effect. Himmler would undoubtedly have received the Knight's Cross of the War Service Cross at some point, along with the two lesser classes at the same time. He might also have been given that hideous-looking neck order whose name I can't remember right now, the one with the facsimile Golden Party Badge in the middle of some sort of cross. There is also no reason why he would not have been given a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross too, given his leadership of the Waffen-SS. They would have had to award him the EK2 and EK1 at the same time. And then he would also have been eligible for the DKiS and maybe even the DKiG.

PK

Paddy,

I have to question your post here.

Himmler became unsteady on his feet when some human brain matter splashed on his boots at an Einsatzkommando Aktion. Karl Wolff helped him to steady his footing, but he did not faint or pass out.

Himmler was not at the Feldherrnhalle in November 1923 and did not carry the Blood Flag. He did not come under fire from the police units trying to stop the marchers. He was at the War Ministry with Ernst R?hm and was carrying the Imperial War Flag of the Reichs-Kriegsflagge.

Himmler could not possibly have been considered for the Knights Cross as this was a frontline award for exceptional service. The nearest Himmler got to the front was as an Army Group commander in the latter stages of the war. He never came under fire and his lack of qualities as a frontline commander were rapidly exposed and he was replaced. The EK2 and EK1 were both awards for bravery under fire. As he never came under fire, it was have been impossible for him to receive a bravery award. He could not possibly have been awarded the DKiG and the only possibility of the DKiS disappeared when he displayed a total lack of leadership qualities as an Army Group commander.

Max.

That is a very beautiful photo... but alas, it is not Maack.

The same officer is misidentified as Maack in Volume 5 of Bender/Taylor's Uniforms, Organization and History of the Waffen-SS (can't find my copy, so don't recall the page). That SS-Staf., and the one in the photo currently under discussion, wears the ribbon for the 1939 EK II (with a red center stripe), whereas Maack was a recipient of the 1914 EK II (which had a black center stripe). Maack also wore, after receiving them in 1940, the 1939 Spangen to both classes of the 1914 EK I.

If you happen to have Volume II of Mark Yerger's Waffen-SS Commanders, check page 135 and compare this man to the top photo (very shadowy, but I think you'll see the resemblance). This officer is SS-Standartenfuhrer (promoted SS-Oberfuhrer on 21.06.1944) Herbert von Obwurzer (23.06.1888 in Wien - 26.01.1945 [probably KIA in Nakel / Westpreussen], who commanded SS-Geb.Jag.Rgt. 6 "Reinhard Heydrich" from 15.08.1942 - to 00.03.1943 (he was succeeded by none other than Berthold Maack). Von Obwurzer was an officer of the k.u.k. Heer during World War I (and from 09.1919 - 05.1920 served with the "Iron Division" on the Baltic, thus explaining the Balten Kreuz I. Klasse he wears in the photo); he received the 1939 EK I & II while serving with the German Army in Poland (1939), and transferred to the Waffen-SS as SS-Ostubaf. d. R. on 01.08.1942 (with his first W-SS assignment being to the Ersatz-Bataillon of SS-Gebirgs-Division "Nord"). More information on his career available if anyone's interested.

Best wishes,

~ Mike Miller

Mike is absolutely correct. It's not Maack.

Max.

I don't think it's Epp in the painting.

Max.

Robert-

Great photos, as usual! The officer behind von Epp is Pfeffer von Salomon--former head of the SA. I don't think the Gruppenf?hrer with von Epp is Karl Fiehler--it doesn't really look like him, plus this man looks much older and weighs more than Fiehler. Interestingly, if that kepi that von Epp is wearing came up for sale, I think most collectors would reject it--look at the crooked tresse!

Erich

Erich is right, it's not Fiehler. It is Haselmayr.

Max.

That is indeed Hans Bauszus. Born 15 August 1871, he retired as an Oberstleutnant, and apparently was an SS "lounge lizard" hanging around Himmler's headquarters in case colonial issues came up.

His NSDAP number was 843,238. SS number 16,471.

SS Untersturmf?hrer 30.11.31 then jumped to

SS Hauptsturmf?hrer 30.1.33

SS Sturmbannf?hrer 31.7.33 then jumped to

SS Standartenf?hrer 20.9.33

unknown to me when he made Oberf?hrer or if he jumped that too, because final rank

SS Brigadef?hrer 12.9.37

all on Himmler's staff

He was promoted to SS-Oberf?hrer on 20 April 1936.

Max.