Kriegsmarine Admiral

12 hours ago, Deutschritter said:

18.9.1915 mit dem Charakter als Vizeadmiral verabschiedet (I still do not exactly know why)

I found this: "He disagreed with some views of Grand Admiral Prince Heinrich of Prussia, specifically with regards to using submarine warfare. To his great surprise, he was asked into retirement by the Emperor on 18 September 1915. Funke suffered from depression and died aged 67 in 1932 in Berlin, where he had lived in retirement."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Funke

1 hour ago, 1812 Overture said:

Dear Mr. Karlo，A few days ago I saw a photo of the German navy that you posted to get the breast star order from Orange-Nassau  in the Netherlands. I didn’t save it. I can’t find that article. Can you? Send me again?

I'm not sure what photo you mean, but try and look here: https://gmic.co.uk/topic/77098-char-admiral-gustav-schmidt-medal-bar-id/

Char. Admiral Gustav Schmidt had the breast star of the Oranien-Nassau.

On 18/08/2019 at 18:19, Komtur said:

Two of them (v. Gontard and Mewes) are to be seen here:

 

Who are the two naval officers on this photo?

Here is another photo of his medal bar.

This one is missing the Flandernkreuz and the last cross that is visible after the OFA2 on the above photos.

1 minute ago, Great Dane said:

Norway. King Haakon VII Coronation Medal 1905.

Thank you!

6 hours ago, avsaribar said:

Hello There !

 

Not a very clear picture ... but guessing regarding the ribbon , size and swords .. yes it is a Gold Liyakat Medal with Swords ...

Thank you.

And what about the last medal on this pre-WW1 photo? Is it an Ottoman medal?

Please help me ID his medal bar.

- Eisernes Kreuz (1914) 2. Klasse

- Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz ???

- China-Denkmünze in Bronze ???

- Südwestafrika-Denkmünze (Class unknown) ??? (see the photos of his ribbon bar)

- Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Centenarmedaille 1897

- Ehren-und Erinnerungskreuz des Marinekorps Flandern

- Herzoglich Sachsen-Meiningisches Kreuz für Verdienst im Kriege in Bronze

- Großherzoglich Hessische Tapferkeitsmedaille ???

- Fürstlich Schaumburg-Lippisches Kreuz für treue Dienste

- Herzoglich Braunschweigisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ???

- Bremisches Hanseatenkreuz

- Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz

- Lübeckisches Hanseatenkreuz

- Fürstlich Lippisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ???

- Großherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militärverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ???

- Großherzoglich Oldenburgisches Friedrich August-Kreuz 2. Klasse mit Spange “Vor dem Feinde”

- ??? (perhaps the  Mecklenburg-Strelitz Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse?)

Here is the list of his awards I compiled so far:

-Pour le Mérite mit Eichenlaub am 23. 12. 1917 als Admiral à la suite und Kommandierender Admiral des Marine Korps Flandern
-Pour le Mérite am 20. 10. 1915 als Admiral à la suite und Kommandierender Admiral des Marine Korps Flandern
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden I. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (03. 05. 1918)
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden I. Klasse (29. 08. 1910)
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden II. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und mit dem Stern (05. 09. 1909)
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden II. Klasse mit dem Stern (19. 01. 1908)
-Großkomturkreuz des Königlich Preußischen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
-Komturkreuz des Königlich Preußischen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit dem Stern
-Eisernes Kreuz (1914) I. Klasse
-Eisernes Kreuz (1914) II. Klasse
-Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Centenarmedaille 1897
-Königlich Preußische Erinnerungszeichen zur Silbernen Hochzeit 1906
-China-Denkmünze in Bronze
-Südwestafrika-Denkmünze (Class unknown)
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden III. Klasse mit der Schleife
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden IV. Klasse
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden III. Klasse
-Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz
-Ehrenkreuz I. Klasse des Fürstlichen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern
-Königlich Bayerischer Militärverdienstorden I. Klasse mit Schwertern
-Großkreuz des Königlich Sächsischen Albrechts-Ordens mit dem goldenem Stern und Schwertern
-Großkreuz des Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischen Hausordens mit Schwertern
-Großkreuz des Königlichen Ordens der Württembergischen Krone mit Schwertern
-Herzoglich Braunschweigisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse
-Bremisches Hanseatenkreuz
-Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz
-Lübeckisches Hanseatenkreuz
-Großherzoglich Hessische Tapferkeitsmedaille
-Großherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militärverdienstkreuz II. Klasse
-Großherzoglich Oldenburgisches Friedrich August-Kreuz II. Klasse mit Spange “Vor dem Feinde”
-Herzoglich Sachsen-Meiningisches Kreuz für Verdienst im Kriege in Bronze
-Fürstlich Schaumburg-Lippisches Kreuz für treue Dienste
-Kommandeurkreuz des Portugiesischen Ritterordens von Avis
-Kaiserlich Russischer St. Stanislaus-Orden II. Klasse
-Kommandeurkreuz II. Klasse des Königlich Schwedischen Schwertordens
-Großkreuz des Königlich Spanischen Ordens für Verdienste zur See
-Kaiserlich Türkischer Eiserner Halbmond
-Ehren-und Erinnerungskreuz des Marinekorps Flandern

18 minutes ago, laurentius said:

Whether the decoration comes with or without a four-pointed star (plaque in Dutch).

Thank you Laurentius.

So, HOH2a is the Komturkreuz with Star and HOH2b is the Komturkreuz without the Star?

What is the difference between HOH2a and HOH2b?

Thank you guys for all the help!

This is the first time I saw an officer wearing a neck decoration on his medal bar. Was this common? Because I thought that was against the regulations?

Anyway, there is one more medal from his medal bar that needs to be ID'd. This would be the 4th medal (in between the Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge 1870–71 für Kämpfer (I believe?) and the Centenarmedaille). I'm pretty sure it's one of the Colonial medals. Do you have any ideas? Possibly the China or Kolonial Denkmünze? And what class is it if it's the China Denkmünze? The color of the medal suggests Bronze, but during the Boxer Rebellion he was first Chief of Staff of the Naval Station of the North Sea (01 October 1897-25 September 1900) and then Executive of the Nautical Department, Imperial Naval Office (26 September 1900-03 February 1903). So I would guess Stahl (Steel) for non-combatants?

9 hours ago, Komtur said:

Could you please show us this extraordinary portrait in high resolution without the red ring marking the St.Stanislaus star?

Thanks in advance,

Komtur.

1 hour ago, GdC26 said:

When did he achieve that rank, when was he awarded the RSt2mSt and did he have a third class of the order at any time after his appointment as Vizeadmiral?

He was promoted to Vizeadmiral on 13 September 1906.

He was awarded the RSt2 on 17 October 1892 while he was a Korvettenkapitän.

He was awarded the Stern to his RSt2 on 24 September 1897 while he was a Kapitän zur See.

I couldn't find anything on him being awarded the St. Stanislaus 3rd Class.

The only 3 awards he was awarded after he was promoted to Vizeadmiral were the RAO2mEKruSt, KO1 and GkMG.

3 hours ago, GdC26 said:

Vince can no doubt speak for himself, but I agree the order looks like the St. Stanislaus. Moreover, whilst I think there is a first class star of the order, I'm not sure there is in fact a second class star. See: https://antique-photos.com/en/awardsdatabase/russian-empire/424-orden-svyatogo-stanislava.html

Hello Sandro,

I'm quite sure there was a Breast Star of the 2nd Class. The 2nd Class could have been awarded with or without the Star. The Rangliste do make this distinction.

Below is Gustav Schmidt's entry in the 1909 Rangliste. You can clearly see the "RSt2" has the addition "mSt" (mit dem Stern). That's why it's odd he would wear the 3rd? Class on his medal bar and also the Breast Star of the 2nd Class. I can find no indication he was awarded the 3rd Class of the St. Stanislaus. Only the 2nd Class in 1892 with the addition of the Star in 1897.

Regards,

Karlo

4 hours ago, VtwinVince said:

Looks like an English Diamond Jubilee Medal covering the St. Stanislaus.

Would that be the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal from 1897? In 1897 Schmidt was Commandant of the Panzerschiff "König Wilhelm". And on Wikipedia it says: "On 26 June [1897], she ["König Wilhelm"] represented Germany at the Fleet Review for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee." It would make sense he was awarded the medal then.

Regarding the St. Stanislaus. How do you know that the second to last medal (covered by the Jubilee Medal) is the St. Stanislaus? And what class would be worn on the medal bar, 3rd? This doesn't make sense, because on the full photo you can see he is wearing the Breast Star of the St. Stanislaus 2nd Class he was awarded (which is confirmed by the Rangliste).

Thank you guys!

His list of awards, courtesy of my friend from another forum:

- EK 2. Klasse
- EK 1. Klasse
- Königl. Bayerischer Militär-Verdienstorden 4. Klasse mit Schwertern
- Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz
- Ritterkreuz des Königl. Württembergischer Militär-Verdienstorden
- Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwertern des Königl. Württembergischer Friedrichs-Orden
- Grossherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militär-Verdienstkreuz 2. Klasse
- Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
- Dienstauszeichnung 1.-4. Klasse
- Kaiserl. Japanischer Orden von der aufgehenden Sonne 1. Klasse am grossen Band

Also, the photo of him wearing the Grand Cross of the Orden von der aufgehenden Sonne.

On an old thread (https://gmic.co.uk/topic/27173-henry-the-lion-commander-cross-pic/) Rick said that during WW1 Schmidt von Schwind was awarded the "BrH" (he was awarded the "BrH2b": Kommandeurkreuz II. Klasse des Herzoglich Braunschweigischen Ordens Heinrichs des Löwen). I think he made a typo and he instead meant Schmidt von Schwind was awarded the "BrKr" (Braunschweigisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz), because he already listed the "BrH2b" on his list of awards. However, "BrKr" is not listed for him in the 1918 Rangliste. I think this photo of Schmidt von Schwind holds the answer.

See the 3rd medal (after the EK2 and OFA2).

To me, it looks like the Großherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militärverdienstkreuz II. Klasse (based on the colour and shape and also the ribbon).

Or, like Rick probably meant, this could be the Braunschweigisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse.

Please tell me what do you think. Is it the MMV2 or BrKr2?

Thanks!

Please help me ID/confirm the awards on his medal bar:

- Königlich Preußische Rettungsmedaille am Bande

- Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz

- Königlich Preußische Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge 1870–71 für Kämpfer (not sure)

- China-Denkmünze (Bronze or Stahl?) OR Kolonial-Denkmünze ???

- Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Centenarmedaille 1897

- something hidden beneath the Centenarmedaille and the last medal ???

- ???

Here is the list of his awards I compiled:

-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden I. Klasse
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden II. Klasse mit Eichenlaub, Krone und mit dem Stern (19. 01. 1908)
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden II. Klasse mit dem Stern (17. 01. 1904)
-Königlich Preußische Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge 1870–71 für Kämpfer
-Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Centenarmedaille 1897
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden III. Klasse mit Schleife und mit der Krone
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden IV. Klasse
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden III. Klasse
-Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz
-Königlich Preußische Rettungsmedaille am Bande
-Kommandeurkreuz II. Klasse des Herzoglich Braunschweigischen Ordens Heinrichs des Löwen
-Großkreuz des Großherzoglich Mecklenburgischen Greifenordens
-Komturkreuz des Großherzoglich Mecklenburgischen Greifenordens
-Ehrenkomturkreuz des Großherzoglich Oldenburgischen Haus- und Verdienstordens des Herzogs Peter Friedrich Ludwig
-Kommandeurkreuz des Kaiserlichen Japanischen Ordens von der Aufgehenden Sonne
-Kommandeurkreuz des Königlich Italienischen Ordens vom Heiligen Mauritius- und Lazarus
-Großoffizierskreuz des Königlich Niederländischen Ordens von Oranien-Nassau mit Schwertern
-Kommandeurkreuz I. Klasse des Königlich Norwegischen Ordens des heiligen Olaf
-Kaiserlich Russischer St. Stanislaus-Orden II. Klasse mit dem Stern
-Kommandeurkreuz I. Klasse des Königlich Schwedischen Schwertordens
 

Thanks!

14 hours ago, Deutschritter said:

of course without the breast star (maybe Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden, which was awarded until 1936?)

I'm afraid that, without seeing the full photo of the breast star, we can only guess what it is. Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden is a good guess, but it could also be the Großherzoglich Oldenburgischen Haus- und Verdienstorden des Herzogs Peter Friedrich Ludwig, for example.

Your list of decorations is correct. I wonder, where did you find the information about his awards? I have a Facebook page called "German Admirals 1849-1945" where I posted his list of awards (although in English). Did you perhaps use that info? Because I identified the Kyffhäuser-Denkmünze für 1914/18 and the Medaille „Für Tapferkeit im Weltkrieg 1914/18“ des Bundes Deutscher Marine-Vereine from his medal bar. Since these are un-official awards, you wouldn't find them listed anyhwere in the Rangliste.

Regards

Is the last medal on his medal bar (circled red) the Golden Liakat Medal with Swords?

Thanks!

10 hours ago, Deutschritter said:

Thanks for clearing this up, Kriegsmarine Admiral, and a big thanks for this really nice picture. Here are the decorations I have for Borckenhagen, do you have any more?

No problem.

Regarding his awards. I can add:

- Königlich Norwegischer Orden des heiligen Olaf, Kommandeurkreuz 2. Klasse

- China-Denkmünze in Bronze

- Kaiserlich Russische China-Denkmünze in Silber

The rest of your list is correct.

10 minutes ago, Deutschritter said:

Gentlemen, I am not an expert, far from it, BUT as far as I have read, the Sankt-Stanislaus-Orden, 2nd class was only awarded to foreigners and always with the star. In the rangliste this would be listed as RSt2 without "mSt" because the star is not extra but a part of the award?! Or maybe in one period listed as RSt2mSt and later (after 1910) only as RSt2? I realize, my reply is not really helping ...

Does anyone have a picture of Admiral Friedrich Ludwig Wilhelm Carl Borckenhagen?

Thanks!

Since the photo was taken post-WW1 the Breast Star can't be the Sankt-Stanislaus-Orden 2nd Class. Also, the 2nd Class was awarded either without the Star or with the Star. The Rangliste always makes this distinction.

Here is a photo of Borckenhagen.

57 minutes ago, GdC26 said:

Hi Karlo,

Some (hopefully) better scans, as requested.

Kind regards,

 Sandro

These are great. Thank you!

Regards

Karlo

25 minutes ago, GdC26 said:

These are the pics I have on file Kriegsmarine Admiral. The admiral is Funke, and his awards are relatively clear in the cut out. I think I posted a further pic of Funke as well, so between these two pics, quite a lot of research should be possible. 

Kind regards, 

Sandro

I understand. Thank you once again.

Regards

Karlo

18 minutes ago, GdC26 said:

Pleasure, and yes, please go ahead. The pic above is a cut out of the pic that immediately precedes it in my posting. I posted it because it shows the decorations a bit better.

Kind regards, 

Sandro

I see. But could you post the full photo again in better quality like this cut out? The full photo is a bit grey and blurry.