Glenn J

Tricky! There are three assorted Zalmeister in the 1918 kaiserliche Marine Rangliste with a BZ3bX plus one more in the Baden rolls. Of the three in the naval list, none have the EK1 and two have additional decorations whilst already holding the EK2. Marineoberzahlmeister Franz Schmitt seems to me, to be the best possibility with an EK2 and BZ3bX and retired as a char. Marinestabszahlmeister in 1921. He may have been awarded an EK1 late in the War. The other BZ3bX winner, Marinezahlmeister Lubbe retired in that rank in 1919. Regards Glenn

Nick, Post #159. Was tricky because I was looking for a Stanislaus Commander, However, that sash is the Grand Cross of the Prussian Red Eagle Order! The breast star is that of the Oldenburg House Order. So.........Botschafter Anton Graf Monts, the ambassador in Rome. Regards Glenn

In 1913: KD2 Jubiläum Medaille Bayr. MVKrz Gold. M. v. Fr.-O Württ. Silb. VM Preuß KVM RAOM Krz. d. AE DA1 Krz. d. Haus-O v. Hohenz. EM The Almanach uses different abbreviations for the orders but has no key. Regards Glenn

In this photograph probably the Württemberg Friedrich Order Gold Medal. Regards Glenn

Andreas, Obermusikmeister Mathias Kürmeyer of 4. Infanterie-Regiment König Wilhelm von Württemberg. Regards Glenn

Does anyone have or know of a publication/history that has a decent map of the dispositions at Söll and Wörgl on 13 May 1809? I have visited both of these places many times on holiday and have never really been able to picture the scene of the fighting. There is a small memorial in the woods to the North of the town of Söll in the area of Sonnbichl but no real details. I know there was fighting at the Grattenbergl and Grattenbrücke to the east of Wörgl in the vicinity of the Brixentaler Ache and the road junction with the Wörgl - Brixen Valley road. Thanks Regards Glenn

Matt, Rudolf Wilhelm Barth, born 24 July 1881. Fähnrich: 19.5.02 Leutnant: 14.2.03 (Patent 24.1.02 B) Oberleutnant: 24.1.11 F Hauptmann: 21.5.14 Char, Major: 20.4.20 Served throughout his peacetime career in FAR 32. October 1914 in Flieger-Abteilung Nr. 24. April 1916 on the staff of 123. Infanterie-Division and from April 1918 on staff of 53. Reserve-Division. Albrecht Knight with Swords 1st Class: 2 October 14 (FA 24) - Gazetted on 17 Nov 14. Crown to Albrecht Knight with Swords 1st Class: 1 April 1916 (123 I.D,) Saint Henry Knight: 18 April 18 Regards Glenn

Nick, Robert Frhr. v. Kap-Herr was promoted to Generalleutnant with a Patent of 23.5.16. The photo above shows him as the commander of Husaren-Regiment Nr. 10, probably just after the award the Saint Anna in early 1909. Here is a wartime portrait showing him as the Military Governor of Skierniewice in the Government General of Warsaw. Regards Glenn

Stefan, nice picture of the later Generalleutnant Richard Gadegast. I have only come across a handful of named Fricke cards. I get the impression that they were sold amongst other things, to place in soldiers' barrack rooms and Guard houses etc,, so that soldiers would recognise their commanders. Regards Glenn

Charles, I think we are at cross purposes here. Bronsart was a Lieutenant, not a Lieutenant-Colonel (Oberstleutnant). A junior officer of this rank would typically have been employed as an aide de Camp (ADC) to the Divisional Commander or as an assistant in one of the staff branches. Regards Glenn

Charles, He was an Oberleutnant (Leutnant) in 1914. I would assume he was an ADC (Ordannanzoffizier) on the Divisional Staff. This was not a General Staff appointment and in any case, he retired as a cavalry captain. The Prussians never listed first names in the published Ranglisten unless two or more officers in the same regiment with the same rank had the same surname. Even this was a fairly recent innovation; before that you had the situation where numbers were appended after the name. e.g. Müller I Müller II Etc. Regards Glenn

Charles, Chris, a tenuous link I have found.: An Oberleutnant Bronsart v. Schellendorff on the staff of 54. Infanterie-Division was awarded the Mecklenburg Militär Verdienst Kreuz First Class on 20 March 1917 Leutnant der Reserve Merck of Fußartillerie-Bataillon Nr. 54 (54. I.D.) was awarded the same decoration on 24 March 1917. I would hazard the guess that the Oberleutnant was the peacetime active DR 18 Leutnant (Walter), retired as a Rittmeister. Of course Merck could still be one of the two reserve officers of that name originally from DR 18: Karl and Theodor. Regards Glenn

Matt, It is the symbol of a Kammerherr or Chamberlain, an honorary position at court. Regards Glenn

Nick, Could be gold or silver depending on regiment or branch. Michael Vorner was a General Staff Oberst promoted to that rank on 1 May 1915. Regards Glenn

Nick, amazingly, "just" a colonel: Oberst Michael v. Vorner. Regards Glenn

Nick, I had narrowed the field of suspects to just four by 1840 and all these had died by 1849. Luckily I was able to get hold of a couple more editions of the Bavarian Military Handbook for the early forties and General v. Greis was the only RSt1 recipient of the four. He was only the second regimental commander of what became the Bavarian Infanterie-Leib-Regiment. Regards Glenn

Nick, I think I have him: Generalmajor Friedrich Ritter von Greis (27 May 1879 - 6 February 1847): Saint Anna Order 2nd Class: 7 Mar 1814 Saint Stanislaus Order 1st Class: Mar 1840 His last appointment was as the Brigade Commander of 1. Infanterie-Brigade in 4. Infanterie-Division. This from the 1842 MHB, Regards Glenn

Nick Post #138: Do you think that is the sash and breast star of the Stanislaus Order? The portrait must date from 1827 (introduction of the Bavarian Ludwig Order) and the introduction of the Waffenrock in 1848? Unfortunately I only have Bavarian Militair-Handbücher dated 1836, 1838, 1840 and 1849 so he might be a bit tricky. He is a Generalmajor in this portrait with a French Legion of Honour in last place. Regards Glenn

Dave, I would hazard a guess that the general between Halder and v. Blomberg is General der Infanterie Wilhelm Adam. Regards Glenn

Chris, Have had a copy for years; a great resource. Well done on acquiring a copy. Regards Glenn

Andreas, Admiral Bachmann is shown only wearing his WW1 EK1 and EK2 in the Biblio "Admiral" series. Regards Glenn

This plate by Paul Pietsch nicely illustrates the point: Two uniforms of Generaloberst (m. d. Range als Generalfeldmarschall) Bernhard Erbprinz von Sachsen-Meiningen, one, a normal Generals' uniform and the second that of the "Chef" of Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 10. Regards Glenn

Here is General der Infanterie Alexander v. Kluck in the uniform of Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm I. (2. Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3, appointed à la suite on 10 September 1910. Regards Glenn

Charles, Remus v. Woyrsch in the uniform of 1. GRzF, of which he was appointed à la suite on 24 December 1908. Regards Glenn

And more definitively stated in "Dienst-Vorschriften der Königlich Preußischen Armee" 1879 by Oberst Karl von Helldorff: "The Generals as Regimental Chiefs, Generals à la suite of Regiments, the War Minister, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Inspector-Generals of the Artillery and Engineer Corps etc, when appearing in their respective uniforms, wear the Waffenrock with only 8 buttons......." Regards Glenn