Glenn J

Rick, Rittmeister Wilhelm Konstantin Ludwig Martin v. Lowtzow (6 May 1867) Formerly a regular officer in 2 Gro?herzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 18. He went into reserve status in that regiment on 25 November 1898. From 1 July 1903 he was attached for regular service to Husaren-Regiment K?nigin Wilhelmina der Niederlande (Hannoversches) Nr. 15 where on 14 June 1904 he returned to active duty provisonally without a Patent which was duly granted on 22 April 1905. He retired on 21 July 1908 with the charakter of Rittmeister. He received a Patent as a Rittmeister a.D. on 22 May 1915 whilst serving on the staff of the 17. Infanterie-Division. Sek. Lt.: 18.1.91 Oberleutnant d.R.: 14.9.00 D/22.4.05 char. Rittmeister: 21.7.08 Rittmeister a.D.: 22.5.15 Regards Glenn

Ernst Rosenhainer (Landwehrbezirk Neustrelitz) was commissioned into the 7. Th?ringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 96 on 19 November 1912. I have not yet found ahis promotion to Oberleutnant d.R. Regards Glenn

Hi JJ, not that I am aware of. Generaloberst/Feldmarschall Erzherzog Friedrich was Oberkommandant or supreme commander of the entire A-H Army for the first two years of the war. It may refer to the entire area of operations on the southern sector of the eastern front. Regards Glenn

A little on Count Bassewitz's military career: He entered Husaren-Regiment Nr. 12 as an avantegeur (Fahnenjunker) on 22 April 1888 and was promoted to Portepee-F?hnrich on 13 December 1888. Commisioned as a Sekonde-Lieutenant on 21.9.89 and promoted to Premier-Lieutenant on 27.1.98. He retired with Pension on 17 December 1898. Regards Glenn

Bob, very much a General Staff high flyer. This from the Offizier-Stammliste of I.R. 16. Regards Glenn

David, WV2 = Waldeck Military Merit Cross 2nd Class Oberstabsarzt 2. Klasse = Hauptmann 1. Klasse (pay grade) Stammliste des Th?ringischen Ulanen-Regiments Nr. 6 Regards Glenn

David, Stabsarzt Dr. K?nig was serving as the battalion medical officer of F./3. Hessisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 83 when he retired on 15 November 1877. He was granted the charakerisiert rank of Oberstabsarzt 2. Kl. on retirement and permission to wear the uniform of the medical corps. Regards Glenn

David, you have the wrong first name. FAR 10 Frhr. v. Stetten was August Philipp Heinrich (1 Jan 1832-22 Aug 1896). This from Kleist. Regards Glenn

RNLSGC, Paul Foerstner (Landwehrbezirk Stolp) was commisioned into the Colbergisches Grenadier-Regiment Graf Gneisenau (2. Pomm.) Nr. 9 on 13 May 1895 with a Patent of 13.5.95 V4v. Seems he was a late starter as he was already around thirty when he was commissioned and he had already transfered in Landwehr status by 1897/1898. Promoted to Oberleutnant der Landwehr Infanterie I on 15 September 1905 and to Hauptmann der Landwehr Infanterie I on 19 November 1912. Regards Glenn

Alex, Vollrad von Eickstedt: F?hnrich: 18.10.01 Leutnant: 14.8.02 (Patent 19.8.01 Qq) Oberleutnant: 18.8.10 S10s Hauptmann: 8.10.14 N10n Regards Glenn

Rick, best I can do without it getting blurry. Owner said Opa perhaps served in Norway?? Regards Glenn

Can anyone please help with the rank and organisation of this individual? I understand that he is German from the owner of the photograph. Thanks Glenn

Here is an extract. Regards Glenn

Chip, well I have copies of all the relevant Armee-Verordnungsbl?tter. From these I have produced a chronology listing changes in titles and insignia which allows fairly rapid look-ups for the relevant orders. Regards Glenn

Chip, in fact it could be an Oberapotheker prior to the 29 May 1902 change of insignia for military pharmaceutical officials. Prior to the AKO of 14 May 1902 (KM Nr. 1321/5. 02. M.A. of 29 May 1902) the military pharmaceutical officials wore an epaulette with Carmine field and dark blue underlay with a gold embossed half moon. Following these orders the half moon changed to silver and the underlay also to carmine. Regards Glenn

Chip, the Oberapotheker had a underlay (Unterfutter) colour of Carmine red. That appears to be dark blue? Regards Glenn

Rick, I can confirm that the Rittmeister was Moritz Friedrich Wilhelm Julius Frhr. v. Blomberg and the Stabsarzt was Karl Gotthardt Eberhard Frhr. v. Blomberg. Karl Frhr. v. Blomberg was promoted to Oberstabsarzt d.R. on 28.11.14 whilst serving with Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 58. Regards Glenn

jj08, although I would tend to agree that the board looks like that of a junior grade official in the General Staff or War Ministry (Carmine field and gold embossed half moon), the problem is, is that in Prussia, these middle ranking officials did not wear a uniform in peacetime and consequently there would be no need for the epaulette in the field. In fact the dress regulations for the Militray Administration "Zusammenstellung der Uniformen und Abzeichen der Beamten des K?niglich Preu?ischen Heeres vom 5. Oktober 1908" does not show that the Kanzleisekret?r in the General Staff as being entitled to epaulettes. The case was different in Bavaria. Although "Das Deutsche Heer" by Kn?tel, Pietsch and Collas is indeed a wonderful resource, it only deals with the situation as at 1914. The titles and rank insignia were perpetually changing and I have consulted the following resources in my studies of this subject for Prussia: Prussian Armee-Verordnungsblatt (1868-1918) Zusammenstellung der Uniformen und Abzeichen der Beamten des K?niglich Preu?ischen Heeres vom 5. Oktober 1908 Siekmann's Taschenkalener f?r Beamte der Milit?r-Verwaltung (various years) Dienst-Vorschriften der K?niglich Preu?ischen Armee, Zweite Abteilung, I. Anzug, 1879 There are of course further titles (including modern works) on Bavaria and period works for Saxony. The W?rttemberg Milit?r-Verordnungsblatt details the uniforms and insignia as related to W?rttemberg as changes occured. Regards Glenn

Rick, the 1918 list is monumental.....2286 pages and everyone with a first name (including reservists). Those pesky Prussians could learn a few things from this! Regards Glenn

Christer, Rick, Rittmeister G?sta Bruzelius spent his entire career with the k.u.k. Heer in k.u.k. Dragoner-Regiment Erzherzog Joseph Nr. 15. According to the regimental history "Wei?e Dragoner im Weltkrieg", he was a former Swedish Army officer aspirant. He entered DR. 15 as a Kadett in 1911 and was commissioned as a Leutnant on 1.11.13. He was apparently a well liked and dashing comrade whose German was less than perfect. Promoted to Oberleutnant on 1.7.15 and to Rittmeister some time after May/June 1918. The extract from the 1918 Rangliste shows then Oberleutnant Bruzelius's decorations. Regards Glenn

Joe, as a further aside, certainly at the beginning of the war the majority of Offizier-Stellvertreter were appointed from the Vizefeldwebel der Reserve (i.e former one year volunteers) and it is safe to assume that these guys would have their own private purchase helmets. Regards Glenn

Joe, the Bekleidungsordnung of 1896 (Clothing regulations) clearly states that the Offizier-Stellvertreter wears the uniform and equipment of the Vizefeldwebel. They were authorized to wear the officer pattern sword slung on an internal belt as for commissioned officers and the officers' pattern pack for dismounted branches. See also Kraus page 260. Regards Glenn

Christer, Major Paul Hardt. Regards Glenn

Joe, the Offizier-Stellvertreter was not entitled by regulations to wear an officers' pattern helmet. However according to Kraus that did not entirely stop the practice! Offizier-Stellvertreter were also cautioned against the wearing of the officer pattern caps, Paletot, cloak and Litewka etc. As a SNCO the Offizier-Stellvertreter was entitled to the issue helmet with NCOs cockades. The Offizier-Stellvertreter was still classified in the rank group of Unteroffizier mit Portepee whereas the Feldwebelleutant was classified as a junior officer. Regards Glenn

This from a wartime illustrated weekly: Regards Glenn