Glenn J

Hi Chip, I agree that the board must be from 1873-1896 when the new pattern of board for medical officers in Generals rank was intoduced which had four separate cords as opposed to the pattern here with three. The 1896 board had one black, one silver and two gold cords. The earlier pattern as in the case with yours, one of each. This is confirmed in Helldorff's Dienst-Vorschriften der K?niglich Preu?ischen Armee published in Berlin in 1879. He actually states that the board of a general officer was 6 cm wide. Coming from that period with one rank star, the board must be that of the Generalstabsarzt der Armee - Grimm, von Lauer or von Coler. Please find below the situation as of 1879 as published in Helldorff. With regards to Wilms, I do not believe he achieved General Officers' rank. Although a Generalarzt 1. Kl. could possess the rank of a Generalmajor, it was usually a full colonel's rank. Regards Glenn

Here is a biography of Kraatz-Koschlau's career until promotion to Generalmajor from von Glasenapp in 1868. Regards Glenn

Generalarzt Dr. Robert Ferdinand Wilms (born 09 Sep 1824 in Arnswalde and died 23 Sep 1880 in Berlin. Carried on the rolls of Reserve-Landwehr-Bataillon (Berlin) Nr. 35, he served as a consulting surgeon in the war of 1870/71. In 1879, the year before his death he is shown as a Generalarzt 1. Klasse ? la suite des Sanit?ts-Corps. He additionally held the title of a Geheimer Sanit?ts-Rath. And yes, the awards match Wilms! Here is an earlier portrait. Regards Glenn

Chris, Frhr. v. Hadeln was promoted to Hauptmann on the 17th of May 1919 with a Patent opf seniority from 18.9.15. Regards Glenn

And although published officially a few days later, a further entry showing his leaving Sch?tztruppe service on the 10th of January 1919. Glenn

Chris, a couple of more snippets for you: 1. From the Milit?r-Wochenblatt showing Frhr. v. Hadeln's return to the Prussian Army and entry in the 4. Garde-Feldartillerie-Regiment. Regards Glenn

Robert, I think that may be Major Friedrich Ruchti. The senior Hauptmann in 1914 in the 6. Infanterie-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm, K?nig von Preu?en, he was attached to the Prussian Gewehr-Pr?fungs-Kommission. Promoted to Major on the 30.11.14. Regards Glenn

Hi Chip, yes, parts 1 -6. The lot I think. Regards Glenn

An M16 Oberleutnant's strap (Friedensrock) as illustrated in the extremely detailed work on Bavarian shoulder boards by Hermann Selzer. Regards Glenn

Chris, Fritz Werner Oskar Johannes Freiherr von Hadeln born 14 May 1885 was indeed the youngest brother of PLM winner Heinrich Freiherr von Hadeln. If my memory serves me right an SS-Sturmbannf?hrer Freiherr von Hadeln was KIA in 1943 as a battalion commander in the Westland Regiment of the Wiking Division. Regards Glenn

Officers were not promoted whilst POWs. However they were often promoted on release after the war and in some cases up to two grades. Regards Glenn

Rick, His Royal Highness, Prinz Ferdinand von Bourbon, Herzog von Calabrien was appointed as an Oberst ? la suite of the Royal Bavarian Army with a Patent of 27 May 1915. Regards Glenn

Found General Knappe's date of ennoblement at last. The General was awarded hereditary nobility on the 1st of January 1900 along with several other senior officers including Admiral von Koester. Regards Glenn

Christophe, a very nice photograph of the then General der Infanterie Max von Boehn. Regards Glenn

And as a Generalmajor. Regards Glenn

Claudio, Brunner as an Oberstleutnant. Regards Glenn

Rick, the Inhaber of the Bavarian 6. Feld-Artillerie-Regiment Prinz Ferdinand von Bourbon, Herzog von Calabrien sounds like a contender. Regards Glenn

Robert, VII. 49 was the Landsturm-Infanterie-Batallion Elberfeld mobilisied on the 10th of September 1914. It later became I./Landsturm Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 48 in June 1918. Regards Glenn

Paul, numerous officers from the former Royal Hannoverian Army entered Prussian service after 1866. Do you have his name? Regards Glenn

Hi Claudio, Viktor Freiherr von Rheinbaben. Still alive in 1910. Regards Glenn

Now I am back off my hols I am able to oblige: Alfred Stiller's entry in "Die Deutsche Kriegsmarine 1939-1945" Band III, by Lohmann and Hildebrand, Podzun Verlag. Regards Glenn

Rick, very interesting document signed by Burgdorf. Ziegler's RDA as a Major was 1.10.32 (12) Regards Glenn

Rick, the only suspect I have so far is one Vizefeldwebel der Reserve Pfau (Landwehrbezirk I Bochum)commissioned into the Westf. Fu?artillerie-Regiment Nr. 7 on the 19th of June 1914. He survived the war. Regards Glenn

Andy, I don't think that is an adjutants' sash. I believe it to be the pre 1849 shoulder strap (bandolier) used to carry the sword before the introduction of the waist belt. In any case this gentleman is not wearing the epaulettes of a commissioned officer and the "Feldachselst?cke" were not introduced until 1866. These appear to be the normal shoulder straps of an NCO or private soldier. Regards Glenn

Further to my last posting, my best guess until I can get my hands on a Stammliste for I.R. 31 is that this chap was Otto Louis Ernst Adolf Karl Viktor August Kurt Freiherr Treusch von Buttlar-Brandenfels, born on the 1st of May 1825 at Hildburghausen and died as a Major a.D. at Homburg on the 5th of December 1894. Baron von Buttlar of the eight forenames is the only member of the extended von Buttlar family of the right age to have been an aspirant officer at around the period of 1848/49 as per the Gotha Handbook of Barons published in 1908. Regards Glenn