Glenn J

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

Claudio, I am not going to comment on the entire Wikipedia article but it is in error regarding the dates of introduction of the rank. In the case of the Landwehr it was introduced per cabinet order of 1 February 1843 (not 1846). And in fact it was in 1846 that the rank was introduced for the active army (not 1873).The cabinet order of 6 January 1846 authorized the promotion of the senior Sergeant in a company with a minimum of 15 years service to the rank of Vice-Feldwebel/Wachtmeister as long has he possessed the necessary ability to deputize for the Feldwebel/Wachtmeister. Regards Glenn

I have checked every edition of the Prussian Rangliste from 1871 to 1888. No officer from IR 31 has that combination of awards. Regards Glenn

Actually Major Julius Gustorf is looking good! Adjutant of the IX. Armee-Korps in 1880. Regards Glenn

Chaps, unfortunately, the basic problem is that his orders are not particularly unusual. This is exacerbated by the fact that he is wearing a Prussian infantry uniform whilst photographed in a Mecklenburg-Schwerin garrison town. He is clearly not wearing the uniform of either GR 89 or FR 90. Added to this, we are at this time unclear of the exact time frame the photograph was taken; it could be anytime between 1871 and probably the mid eighties. If we assume it is in fact 1880, there are nine infantry officers with the combination of an RAO4X, EK2 13 and an MMV2. Of these only two are listed with the Dienstauszeichnung: Oberst von Gaza of IR 67 Oberst z.D. von Runckel of Landwehr-Regiment Nr. 48. The other seven are: Major Gustorf of FR 34 Hauptmann Frhr. von Mirbach of the Garde-Füsilier-Regiment (It is definitely not him) Hauptmann von PLaten of IR 64 Hauptmann von Schierstedt of GR 89 Hauptmann Struensee of IR 24 Hauptmann von Wagenhoff of FR 90 Hauptmann von Wrochem of FR 90 Hopefully the rear of the photograph may provide some additional clues Regards Glenn

Enzo, is that not the officer's 25 year service decoration? Regards Glenn

Arho, do not be disheartened. It is a wonderful photograph and possibly, given time will be identified. The problem with Herr Kühne is that he is listed in the 1830 Rangliste with just an EK2. Presumably his Austrian and Russian awards date from the Befreiungskriege and would therefore be listed if that were he? Regards Glenn

Most definitely. Note the Flügel-Adjutant badge of Kaiser Wilhelm I. Freiherr v. Seckendorff was the only naval recipient of this badge. Regards Glenn

Hi David, just a couple of lines. The page number is 724 and the title of the book is: Geschichte des 1. Kurhessischen Feldartillerie-Regiments Nr. 11 und seiner Stammtruppen by Stabsarzt Dr. Wilhelm Haß, Marburg 1913. Regards Glenn

David, Georg Müldner served as the Regiments-Quartiermeister of the Kurhessische-Artillerie-Regiment. This from the regimental history of FAR 11. Regards Glenn

Hi David, Please do. Regards Glenn

David, here are a couple I have including a post war image. Regards Glenn

Hi Komtur, I actually think that is Müldner behind this guy’s left shoulder. Perhaps Freiherr von Sell. Regards Glenn

ArHo, we have met Albert Schenk earlier in this thread. Unfortunately one cannot perform miracles on identifying obscure officers wearing just the Überrock. Regards Glenn

Jon, I think Dave will not mind me answering this; No, General v. Prittwitz did not buy the medal but paid for it to be included in the Almanac. He would have been awarded the medal in steel for his involvement in support of the efforts in China, for example the provision of troops from his corps for the expedition. as Dave alluded earlier, the DOA was a vanity affair and as one had to pay by length of entry for submissions in the almanac, the more parsimonious subscribers omitted their lesser awards such as campaign and jubilee medals. Regards Glenn

Hi Andy, indeed and there was further reorganisation in 1913. With effect 1 October 1913, the Bespannungs-Abteilungen of Foot Artillery Regiments 6, 9, 13, 15, 16 and 18 had their establishment of personnel increased to each form two detachments which were named the 1. and 2. Bespannungs-Abteilung of their respective regiments and attached to the I. and II. battalions of their parent regiment respectively. In effect then, the sabre can further be dated between October 1912 and October 1913. Regards Glenn

Brian, Andreas pretty much explains it. It refers to the Bespannungs-Abteilung or horse drawn detachment of the regiment. As originally formed, the foot artillery was specifically detailed for use in the manning of fortresses. However as doctrine changed in the late nineteenth century, elements of the foot artillery were to accompany the army in the field for such tasks as siege work and the like. To that end, an horse drawn component was established for foot artillery regiments, initially provided by the Train branch but from 1902 onwards as an integral part of the foot artillery. Regards Glenn

Jon, I mentioned the Deutsche Ordens-Almanach. Both the 1904/05 and 1908/09 are available on line. See here: https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/eb/2013/0153/ https://archiv.ub.uni-marburg.de/eb/2013/0152/ Here is General von Plessen's entry from 1908/1909. His campaign medals for 1866 and 1870-71 are highlighted. Regards Glenn