Glenn J

Chaps, my money is on Oberstleutnant a.D. Otto von Borcke, a retired Landgendarmerie officer commanding the I. Ersatz-Bataillon of Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 95 in Gotha during the War. Awarded his EK2 as a Sekonde-Lieutenant in Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 6. Holder of the HSH2 with the "Jahreszahl" 1914 plus everything else in this photograph. Regards Glenn P.S. That appears to FRIEDRICH von Bock und Polach and not Max.

An 1899 Rangliste does of course exist. however, it will not help you as the King and Emperor is not listed with a specific rank, only as Chief (Chef) of the Army. Regards Glenn

Chris, a Major Hermann-Gustav v. Santen was on the General Staff of the Chef des Feldeisenbahnwesens. In 1914 an Oberleutnant in Husaren-Regiment Nr. 14. Regards Glenn

Tony, apologies; I was looking at 1914! I will see if the Sanitätsbericht can help with 1915. Regards Glenn

Tony, from 31 August at St. Loup Terrier. On 10 October established as the Kriegslazarett St. Loup Terrier. Source: Sanitätsbericht über das Deutsche Heer I'm Weltkriege 1914/18, II. Band.

Chris, charakter as a Prussian Generalmajor on 19 January 1920. In normal civil practice, the chief of an Eisenbahndirektion held the title of Präsident, so it would seem the military utilized the same office title. Regards Glenn

Chris, Oberst Max Kawelmacher. Presumably still in the process of withdrawing back to Germany? Regards Glenn Here is the good Colonel (later Generalmajor).

Never seen any image of Kaiser Wilhelm II wearing the rank badges of a Generaloberst. He is most commonly seen wearing the two stars of a General der Infanterie/Kavallerie prior to his assumption of GFM Rank insignia. Regards Glenn

Great portrait Chris, his medal bar certainly would not really have been a great help in establishing his identity. Oberst Albert Brendel died on 28 March 1903 as the commander of 15. Infanterie-Regiment. He only commanded the regiment for a couple of weeks before his death. Regards Glenn

Please try again; I have cleared a bit of space. Regards Glenn

The image comes from his entry in Kurt v. Priesdorff's "Soldatisches Führertum". The scan is already at 600 dpi but I can send you a larger copy of it plus some biographical stuff in German. Please pm me with your email and I will do that. Regards Glenn

If I was a betting man, I would put money on the second bar as belonging to: Major Christian Graf zu RANTZAU who was commanding the machine gun company of the 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß on mobilisation. The decorations fit exactly according to the information I have apart from the decorations of two former wartime enemies, which he has removed from his bar! (Italian Crown Order and a Rumanian Crown Order), Regards Glenn

But, in case you are interested......... Here is General-Lieutenant Heinrich Graf zu Rantzau (pictured as an Oberst). You can clearly see the Mecklenburg Griffin Commander as his lowermost worn neck decoration in this shot. Regards Glenn

Your General is Generalmajor Richard v. Cretius, commander of 2. Garde-Feldartillerie-Brigade around 1905. Regards Glenn

Not a definition but a person: Karl Ritter von Brodeßer, the Regimental "Inhaber" (literally owner) or honorary regimental chief from 1870 to 1876. Regards Glenn

Ingo, born 5.7.1818 in Longwy in France. Died 1.2.1886 in Boppard as char. Oberst a.D. Regards Glenn

Just as a follow-up; the links show the pattern and regulations in effect from 1890. I would also be grateful for any information regarding the period prior to that. Thanks Regards Glenn

Thanks Nick, excellent stuff. Regards Glenn

Can any of our Russian experts please explain the system of Tsarist long service chevrons as worn by soldiers on the left sleeve of their uniforms prior to World War One? What was the qualifying period for each subsequent award and the significance of either a gold or silver chevron? Could the Russian name in cyrillic script also be provided for these long service chevrons? Thanks Glenn

Gentlemen, as this is Oberst (General) Bolko Graf v. Roedern, I think we can rule him out. Regards Glenn

I think the last one will be a bit trickier. He appears to be a Feldwebel-Lieutenant on the staff of the cadet school at Groß-Lichterfelde around 1880. As such he is not shown in the Prussian Ranglisten. Regards Glenn

Odulf, Ernst v. Below is wearing the regimental uniform of Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 4 with an adjutant's aiguillette. The officer from Cassel is the later char. Generalmajor Hermann Augustin as a Premier-Lieitenant in Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 83 around 1879/1880. Regards Glenn

Odulf, Andreas is correct and in fact the later char. General der Infanterie Ernst v. Below as an Hauptmann and adjutant to Prinz Joachim Albrecht von Preußen around late 1903. Regards Glenn

Hi Andreas, that is Oberst-Lieutenant Leopold Eckert of the Stab des Ingenieur-Corps around 1885. Retired as a char. Generalmajor in 1889, Regards Glenn

Andreas, also replied at the Sammlergemeinschaft. It is the later General der Kavallerie Carl v. Hänisch as a Generalleutnant and divisional commander of the Cavallerie-Division of XV. Armee-Corps around 1889. He is not wearing much of what he was entitled to! Pretty much (apart from the Ludwig Order) just his Prussian stuff. He later commanded IV. Armee-Korps. Regards Glenn