Glenn J

The appointment and insignia of the Generaloberst/Generaloberst m.d.R. eines GFM and the char. Generalfeldmarschall is an interesting and somewhat tricky subject. The period introductory orders as published in the Militär-Wochenblatt are rather vague. The first two promotions to Generaloberst were those of the future Kaiser and King Wilhelm I as Prince of Prussia and that of Prince Carl (General-Feldzeugmeister), both in March 1854. The gazetting of both promotions does not mention that these were accompanied by the rank of Generalfeldmarschall. However in the 1854 Prussian Rangliste both are listed as having the rank of Generaloberst m.d.R. eines GFM. It appears that by default, all further appointments to Generaloberst were also accompanied with the title and dignity of a Generalfeldmarschall until the 1901 promotions of Generals von Hahnke and Graf von Haeseler to the "basic" rank of Generaloberst. Up to 1900 the Generalfeldmarschall and the Generaloberst m.d.R. eines GFM were equal in rank. One sees for example that in the 1873 Prussian Rangliste, that Generalfeldzeugmeister Prinz Carl von Preußen was the senior serving officer in the Prussian Army and senior to all the serving Field Marschals. Similary both Generalobersten Friedrich Franz Großherzog von Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Prinz August von Württemberg were senior To GFM Freiherr von Manteuffel and the two char. GFM, Herwarth von Bittenfeld and von Steinmetz. From 1901 the Generaloberst, including those with the rank of a GFM are shown below the Field Marshals. The order introducing the insignia of the Generaloberst dated 30 March 1854 is similarly frustrating; although it details the three stars of the Generaloberst/General-Feldzeugmeister, it does not specifically mention the wear of the batons of GFM rank or the details pertaining to the char. Generalfeldmarschall. To date, I have found no further introductory order describing this insignia. As however noted earlier, that these Generaloberst had the title and dignity of a GFM, it is presumed that the stars were from this point onward accompanied by the crossed batons of a GFM. The first "official" documentation that I have found detailing the permutations (batons with two/three stars) is to be found in the 1879 edition of Helldorf's "Dienstvorschriften der Königlich Preußischen Armee". I have only come across three promotions to char. GFM and these were bestowed on retirement; Carl Graf zu Dohna in 1854 and Herwarth and Steinmetz in 1871. Just to add to the confusion, although only a brevet Field Marshal, Graf Dohna is listed before Prince Wilhelm and Prince Carl until his death in 1859. Regards Glenn

Chaps, Eugen Berckhemer was born in 1866 and did not enter military service until 1884. Presumably not the guy we are looking for. Regards Glenn

Hi Dave, those very much appear to be the shoulder boards of a subaltern officer. He wears nothing that would lead one to believe that this is a non-commissioned officers‘ uniform. Regards Glenn

GreyC, he appears to have the ribbon of the Iron Cross 2nd Class in his lapel. I therefore assume this is in fact an early war photograph. Regards Glenn

Oops, sorry, it is the Baden Campaign medal of 1849. The 1813/15 is to the other side of his 25 year cross. Regards Glenn

Glenn, the Prussian 1813-1815 war medal. Regards Glenn

Glenn, that really is a wonderful rendition of Oberst Kusserow's medal bar. Much clearer now is the tiny little medal tucked between the Hannoverian Guelphic Order and the Russian Saint George; his campaign medal for the 1831 campaign to put down the uprising in Neufchâtel. Regards Glenn

Certainly, BZL2 Baden order of the Zähringer Lion Commander‘s cross 2nd class FEL4 French Legion of Honour Officer‘s Cross HG3 Hannoverian Guelphen Order Knight‘s Cross HEK2 Hohenzollern Honour Cross 2nd class RG5 Russian Saint George Order 5th class Regards Glenn

Hi, a different Kusserow; August Ferdinand Cusserow. He retired around 1846 and died on 2 March 1872. The extract from the 1835 Prussian Rangliste shows his Russian Anna and Stanislaus orders. An extract from the 1850 Prussian Rangliste shows our Ferdinand von Kusserow's orders as the commander of 14. Infanterie-Brigade. Regards Glenn

Glenn, he was awarded the RG5 in 1835/36 as a Major in the General Staff of VIII. Armeekorps. He received the swords to his already held peacetime award of the Red Eagle Order third Class with Bow on 20 September 1849 as the regimental commander of the 26. Infanterie-Regiment for the campaign in Baden. Consequently we see in your portrait his RAO3SX with a wartime ribbon but the bow of the peacetime award. Regards Glenn

Hi Glenn, super portrait of Oberst Ferdinand v. Kusserow around 1849/1850. He died in 1855 as a retired Generalleutnant. Regards Glenn

Matt, that may well be Hauptmann Erich Poser. I have a note with him at FAA 212. Regards Glenn

Nicolas, not too much but I have the following: Georg Pohl. Appointed Korpsstabsapotheker of the V. Armeekorps directly from civilian life on 19 December 1893. He was transferred to the VII. Armeekorps on 9 September 1897. He retired from military service on 12 May 1902. Regards Glenn

Hi Komtur, Excellent and thank you for the book tip! Regards Glenn

Morning Komtur, that is certainly the impression I have. See below an extract from the Royal Prussian "Ordensliste" of 1905. From this sample it can be seen that with the exception of the four non-Prussian individuals, all other awards were with the bow (m. Schl.) However, it would seem that non Prussian citizens in Reich service (Kaisermarine for example) would receive the bow/oak leaves to subsequent awards. See Admiral Hipper for instance (Bavarian). Regards Glenn

Generally speaking the bow (Schleife) is the insignia of the second award (3rd class) of the red eagle order to an individual already holding the 4th class. Depending on whether the original award was with or without swords and whether the second award was a peacetime or wartime award would result in various permutations as follows: 1st and 2nd awards respectively RAO4 (peacetime) on statute ribbon RAO3S (peacetime) statute ribbon and bow RAO4 (peacetime) on statute ribbon RAO3SX (wartime) black/white ribbon and bow with swords RAO4X (wartime) black/white ribbon RAO3SXR (peacetime) statute ribbon and bow with swords on the ring RAO4X (wartime) black/white ribbon RAO3SX (wartime) 2 black/3 white ribbon and bow Typically the award of the 3rd class with bow was for officers holding the rank of Oberst and Oberstleutnant. Below is an extract from the Militär-Wochenblatt of 23 January 1878 listing the award of the RAO3S to colonels who are for the most part regimental commanders. Regards Glenn

Chris, as I understand the situation, it was pretty much automatic when the individual reached the age limit for each levy of Landwehr service. However, an individual reserve officer could with the permission of his regimental commander remain as such always assuming he would (in peacetime) put in the necessary training obligations as required. Consequently one could encounter aged reserve officers and relatively youthful Landwehr officers. In the case of your officer, I am assuming at the time of his (voluntary) transfer into Landwehr service he had already reached the prescribed age for the 2nd levy. Regards Glenn

My pleasure, he is flanked by General Staff officers Oberstleutnant Friedrich (Ritter von) Haack and Major Eugen Trautmann. Regards Glenn

Your General is Hermann Freiherr von Stein (1859-1928) Regards Glenn

Chris, this from page 500 of the "large" ILR regimental history: Regards Glenn

My pleasure. Unfortunately none of your Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 120 candidates appear to have been awarded the WF3bX either. Incidentally, Lt. Schultz was the later Eichenlaubträger and Wehrmacht Generalmajor. Regards Glenn

Presumably this chap as seen here: http://erwin-emerich.de/reichsfreiherr-von-rassler-gamerschwang-brustbild Regards Glenn

He does not appear to have been awarded a Württemberg Friedrich Order Knight's Cross as no such award to him is gazetted in the Württemberg Militär-Verordnungsblatt. He was promoted to Oberleutnant d.R. on 27.4.15 and is still shown with UR 20 in the field as per the Stellenbesetzung of May 1915. He was serving with Train-Ersatz-Abteilung Nr. 13 in Ludwigsburg per a Stellenbesetzung of XIII. Army Corps home command in 1917. Promoted to Rittmeister d.R. on 28.4.18 Regards Glenn

Hello, he is an East German (NVA) "Offiziersschule" in his third year of instruction. Regards Glenn

Indeed, although the interwar Reichsheer lists shows him with swords to this award. Perhaps a mistake? Regards Glenn