Glenn J

I think he maybe rather problematical to identify. His epaulette insignia cannot readily be ascertained plus the fact he is retired (probably for many years) as evidenced by the “außer Dienst” bridles on his epaulettes. He will not therefore be listed in any army list at the time of this photograph. Regards Glenn

Hi Christophe, I agree! I misread the Militär-Verordnungsblatt. His initial award was just with swords. Regards Glenn

Chris, Christophe, I had already considered Herr Simon as a likely candidate. However, there is just one small problem: He was awarded the BMV4X with a CROWN (22 January 1915) which is not seen here?? Regards Glenn

Indeed he was. He was already an Hauptmann i.G. before the war attached to the Prussian General Staff in Berlin. His former infantry regiment was 12. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Arnulf and not the Leib-Regiment. Incidentally, he was executed as a member of the anti-Hitler resistance following the failed assassination attempt of July 1944 (23 Jan 1945) Regards Glenn

He is not Franz Sperr. Regards Glenn

Great Photo Chris, Your Leib-Regiment officer is Otto Ritter von Hübner, commanding Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 2. In peacetime, commander of the cadet corps in Münich with the uniform of the Leib-Regiment. The two generals are Generalleutnant Otto Ritter von Gyßling and General der Kavallerie z.D. Otto Ritter von Schmidt respectively. Regards Glenn

Hi Claudius Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-Colonel) Regards Glenn

The man himself, spelt in the Ranglisten as Berckekfeldt. Regards Glenn

Morning Claudio, I think this is conclusive; from an extract of a Kriegs-Rangliste of III. Bavarian corps showing Major Trautmann's awards. From top to bottom: Bavarian Jubilee Medal BMVO3 with Crown and Swords Bavarian Long service Decoration (DA) 25 years Prussian Centenary Medal Prussian EK2 Prussian EK1 Prussian Hohenzollern House Order 3 with Swords Saxon Albrechts Order Knight 1st Class with Swords Hamburg Hanseatic Cross Austro-Hungarian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class Mecklenburg-Schwerin Military Merit Cross 2nd Class Regards Glenn

Difficult to be absolutely certain, but I think this chap may well be the then Major i.G. Eugen Trautmann. Regards Glenn

my pleasure, a slightly different angle as published in "Die Führer des Reichsheeres 1921 und 1931" Regards Glenn

Morning, Reichsheer char. Generalmajor a.D. Friedrich Hohmann, formerly commander of Artillerie-Regiment Nr. 6 and wartime ARKO 203. Regards Glenn

David, the gentleman is a Warrant Officer Class One in the Coldstream Guards. The peak is fitted with the five rows of “Russia braid” of a WO1 and tailored at a steep angle to rest on the bridge of the wearer’s nose as is customary in the British Foot Guards regiments. Regards Glenn

The 1904 regulations state quite simply: "as per officers of the mounted branches, with silver fittings etc". A royal decree of 15 April 1913 introduced the wear of the central coat of arms in coloured enamel. Regards Glenn

Hi David, note the crown surmounting the Johanniter Order below his Crown Order Commander's cross with swords. The Ehrenritter just wore a cross without the crown. Regards GLenn

Hi guys, a combination of experience, knowledge of uniforms and awards.plus countless hours compiling spreadsheets with awards. And sometimes a bit of luck! Regards Glenn

Hi Ian, hope all is well with you. Oberst Friedrich von Kettler, ARKO 238. Regards Glenn

Hi Chris, I should very much think so: Otto Graf zu Castell-Castell and Wilhelm Freiherr von Leonrod, both wearing the uniform of a Flügeladjutant to the King of Bavaria. Regards Glenn

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