Glenn J

Hi, as Simius as pointed out, the buttons on the captain's tunic are a bit of an issue. However, with regards to the grenade on the collar; that is the insignia of a non staff qualified (non breveté) officer attached to the general staff. Qualified staff officers (breveté) wore "Lightening rods" or foudre on their regimental uniforms. They are model 1898 officers' tunics for the Chasseurs à cheval. Prior to this, a braided hussar style jacket (dolman) was worn. Regards Glenn

Peter, you can find them listed by year in the published British Army Lists. Many are digitized at the National library of Scotland: https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/88735803 This from July 1914. Regards Glenn

Hi ArHo, Herr Plaß received the BMV4a on 31 December 1909. Regards Glenn

Paul, I am certainly happy who the owner of the bar with the Austro-Hungarian awards was.? By the way, it is a KO3X. Regards Glenn

guys, many thanks to you both. I think a straight line or stripe of cannetille braid with gold sequins covers it. It should be noticed for completeness, that those generals of division with the function (rank and title) of a general commanding an army corps or those who were members of the superior war council wore an additional 3mm wide silver braid (soutache) above the "baguette". Regards Glenn

Hi SImi, indeed? This is an extract from the regulations and the seller of the kepi above describes it as: "et d’une baguette en paillettes et filets cannetilles d’or". Regards Glenn

Hi, thank you for your reply. I think we may be at cross purposes. I am referring to the line of braid above the oak leaves on the black cap band (bandeau). This model 1931 kepi is from the Bertrand Malvaux site. Regards Glenn

Hello chaps, I would be most grateful for a serviceable translation regarding the Kepi of French general officers. the golden braid which edges the upper edge of the cap band is referred to in the 1935 dress regulations as a “une baguette droite de 5mm”. A “straight rod” or “wand” does not seem particularly helpful. I was thinking perhaps along the lines of a “beaded trim” or such like. Perhaps one of our French speaking gentlemen can please assist. many thanks Glenn

Jon, the war pretty much phased out the Epauletten. As they were only worn on the peacetime parade uniforms, they were no longer used. When the 1915 field grey parade uniform was introduced, these were to fitted with shoulder boards. Paragraph 22 of the introductory order (A.K.O. of 21 September 1915) abolished the Epauletten. Regards Glenn

Hi Jon, a series of changes to titles, including the one you mentioned occurred with effect order of 1 January 1899 - "in order to promote the purity of the language in my army etc....." I am unsure as what you mean by epaulettes. Epaulettes (i.e. the crescent shaped parade dress badges of rank were not worn during the war. If you are referring to the shoulder boards, do you mean those worn by captains and lieutenants of the type introduced in 1888 to replace the previously worn "Feldachselstücke" of flat silver lace? Shoulder boards for general and field officers were considerably reduced in size per order 20 December 1903 from the pattern hitherto worn. Regards Glenn

Hi Chris, as Bayern points out, the Kaiser also wore a similar rig to that worn by Flügeladjutant Major Edgar von Hirschfeld in your photo. The two front straps were worn vertically and crossed over in the rear. Here is another picture of Major von Hirschfeld and his Majesty both wearing the leather belt equipment. Regards Glenn

Morning, the bearded general is Ludwig von Estorff, commanding the 103. Infanterie-Division. The occasion is the 8 May 1916 visit of the Kaiser to VIII. Reserve-Korps. Regards Glenn

Thanks chaps, Balzer is in fact Rittmeister Kurt Walzer UR 8, commanding the Leibgendarmerie. Regards Glenn

Hi David, David, from left to right: Oberst Wilhelm Hans von Frankenberg und Ludwigsdorf, Oberstallmeister. Hauptmann Hans Albert Zeyß, Auto Offizier, Marstall Major Detlef Graf von Moltke, Flügeladjutant General der Kavallerie Frhr. von Richthofen Hauptmann Leopold Frhr. von Münchhausen, Flügeladjutant, 2. Kommandant GrHQ Generalleutnant Oskar von Chelius, General à la suite Wirklicher Geheimer Rat Rudolf von Valentini, Chef, Zivilkabinett S.M. Generaloberst Hans von Plessen, Generaladjutant Generalleutnant Hans Albrecht von Gontard, Generaladjutant Generaloberst Moritz Frhr. von Lyncker, Generaladjutant Oberst Otto Karl von Estorff, Flügeladjutant Oberstleutnant Hans Heinrich XV, Fürst von Pless Generaloberst Friedrich von Scholl, Generaladjutant Major Edgar von Hirschfeld, Flügeladjutant Wirklicher Geheimer Rat, Oberleutnant d.R. Carl Georg von Treutler, Foreign office Admiral Georg von Müller, chief of naval cabinet ? Balzer Generalarzt Dr. Otto von Niedner Regards Glenn

The general at the centre is Generalleutnant a.D. Ferdinand Müller. The general in Reichsheer uniform could well be Alfons Ritter von Bram. Regards Glenn

James, this is an improvement on the one posted above, which I believe I scanned from said book some years ago. The images in the link and the photo with Heeringen and Zwehl above shows Rudolf von Borries. I have to admit, I have some issues with the portrait captioned as showing Baron Diepenrock as a "cadet in 1872." In the first instance, it shows a subaltern officer of one of the Foot Guards regiments. Otto Diepenbrock was commissioned into the 4. Garde-Grenadier-Regiment in November 1879 which wore different cuffs and collar insignia. I am wondering, if he is perhaps Friedrich Freiherr von Diepenbroick-Grüter, born 1869 who was serving in the 2. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß. Regards Glenn

Jon's photo is indeed Otto von Diepenbroick-Grüter. Here is another when he was somewhat younger. Regards Glenn

Jon, I tend to translate it as "formerly Generaladjutant to His Majesty". The impression I have, is that listing was just a courtesy to honour the former holders of these prestigious posts. Regards Glenn

Hi Sascha, FJO Ritter in 1914: From the Austro-Hungarian "Hof- und Staats Handbuch" 1915. Regards Glenn

Again, I too would disagree. Here is a portrait of Herr Will. Note the absence of the wound badge in this photograph also. Fo me, this is Karl Will. Regards Glenn

I don't think it can be Major Slevogt. He already had the BMV4b as a Major in 14. Infanterie-Regiment before his tenure as commander of 2. Jäger-Bataillon. I have spent the last two hours combing through the Bavarian Militär-Handbuch, Personal-Nachrichten and the the Ranglisten der activen Offiziere. I have found just one field officer who ONLY had the Jubilee medal and long service decoration whilst serving in that rank in a Jäger-Bataillon in 1908. The Bavarian Military Handbook was not published every year and he was not listed in 1907 and 1909 with a Jäger-Bataillon. But Major Rudolf Heller was the Major on the staff of 1. JB in 1908 having previously been an Hauptmann in 20. Infanterie-Regiment. In 1909 he is a Major in 17. Infanterie-Regiment still with just a Jubilee medal and long service decoration. This from the Ranglisten der activen Offiziere 1908. Regards Glenn

Hi Laurentius, he received the EKII on 8 October 1817 vice the deceased Lieutenant Blumenthal. Regards Glenn

Hi Daniel, I very much agree. He presumably received the South-West Africa Medal in steel for services in support of the campaign whilst serving in the Reichsmilitärgericht. Regards Glenn

This is von Gaza. I would not think it was him. Regards Glenn

As far as I can ascertain, these are the guys who are a possibility in 1875. I would probably exclude the Landgendarmerie officer. Regards Glenn Ballhorn Land-Gendarmerie Maj. RAO4X, EK2 70, DA, MMV2 Becher IR 24 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Gustorf IR 25 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Klösterlein von IR 24 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Merckel von General-Stab der Armee Maj. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Platen von IR 117 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Runckel von Landwehr-Regiment Nr. 48 Obst. z.D. RAO4X, EK2 70, DA, MMV2 Voigts-König von GR 110 Maj. RAO4X, EK2 70, DA, MMV2 Wrochem von FR 90 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 And here are the possibilities from 1871: It is of course possible that the General staff officers are not originally infantry officers: Ballhorn Land-Gendarmerie Maj. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Bentivegni von FR 90 Maj. RAO4X, EK2 70, DA, MMV2 Bülow von Großer General-Stab Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Gaza von GR 12 Maj. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Gustorff FR 35 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Heynitz von IR 24 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Holtzendorff von IR 32 Maj. RAO4X, EK2 70, DA, MMV2 Klösterlein von IR 24 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Meerscheidt-Hüllessem Frhr. von IR 24 Maj. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Merckel von Großer General-Stab Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Runckel von IR 78 Obstlt. RAO4X, EK2 70, DA, MMV2 Schell von Großer General-Stab Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Schultz von FR 90 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Seyfried 3. GRzF Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Trapp-Ehrenschild von IR 76 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2 Voigts-König von IR 24 Hptm. RAO4X, EK2 70, MMV2