Kriegsmarine Admiral

Can you please tell me the classes of the Order of Osmaniye and Order of the Medjidie he is wearing on the photo? And are they both with Swords?

Kettner served as Commandant of the Light Cruiser „Breslau“, from 16 August 1914 „Breslau-Midilli“ (01 October 1913-23 January 1915).

He was also Chief of Staff of the Special Command Unit Turkey (Sonderkommando Türkei) (28 September 1917-03 November 1918).

Thanks!

12 minutes ago, 1812 Overture said:

I need a photo without a number, can you send it?

See here: https://gmic.co.uk/topic/76325-char-konteradmiral-curt-kalau-vom-hofe/

3 minutes ago, Komtur said:

See here.

Thanks. So are they the same thing or?

Does anyone know the difference between the Preußisches Gedenkabzeichen für Flügeladjutanten and the Flügel-Adjutant Erinnerungszeichen? Or are they the same thing?

Does anyone have a photo of the Preußisches Gedenkabzeichen für Flügeladjutanten?

Thanks

Hello, does anyone have any more info about the German Prisenhöfe [Prize Courts] during WW2? What were their tasks? And where could I find more info about them (online, books)? Can aynone please explain in more detail what did the Prisenhöfe do? They were courts. I know it's something about international maritime laws and the seizure of ships and it's cargo in international waters. But the information avaliable online is not that extensive. I only found short articles about Prize Courts in general on the Wikipedia and Britannica.

I also found the list of all the Prisenhöfe and the officers that were active there: https://www.axishistory.com/list-all-categories/201-germany-kriegsmarine/kriegsmarine-unsorted/7999-prisenhoefe

I also know about a book called "Völkerrecht und deutsche Prisenrechtsprechung im Zweiten Weltkrieg". Did anyone ever come across this book? Would you recommend this book for a further research of this subject? Are there any other books about German Prisenhöfe during World War 2, preferably in english? My German is not so good.

Thanks!

Please help me confirm the awards on his photos.

His list of awards I have (1899 Rangliste and Excel Gesamtliste):

-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 1. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Brillanten (18 September 1899)
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden 1. Klasse mit Schwertern am Ringe (16. 01. 1898)
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub, Krone und mit dem Stern (11. 11. 1895)
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden 2. Klasse mit Schwertern und Stern mit Schwertern am Ringe (20. 01. 1895)
-Königlich Preußische Kriegsdenkmünze 1864 für Kämpfer
-Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Centenarmedaille 1897
-Kolonial-Denkmünze mit Spange „Kamerun 1884“ (Posthumously)
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 3. Klasse mit der Schleife
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 4. Klasse
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden 3. Klasse
-Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz
-Ehrengroßkreuz des Großherzoglich Oldenburgischen Haus- und Verdienstordens des Herzogs Peter Friedrich Ludwig
-Ehrengroßkomturkreuz des Großherzoglich Oldenburgischen Haus- und Verdienstordens des Herzogs Peter Friedrich Ludwig
-Großkreuz des Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischen Hausordens
-Großkreuz des k.u.k. Österreichischen Franz-Joseph-Ordens
-Kaiserlich Russischer St. Annenorden 1. Klasse
-Kaiserlich Russischer St. Stanislaus-Orden 1. Klasse

First photo below:

1 Kronen-Orden 1. Klasse mit Schwertern am Ringe ???

2 Roter Adler-Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Krone ???

3 Großherzoglich Oldenburgischen Haus- und Verdienstordens des Herzogs Peter Friedrich Ludwig, Ehrengroßkreuz or Ehrengroßkomturkreuz ???

4 Russischer St. Stanislaus-Orden 1. Klasse ???

5 ???

6 Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz

7 Königlich Preußische Kriegsdenkmünze 1864 für Kämpfer

8 Stern of the Roter Adler-Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Krone ???

9 Stern of the Kronen-Orden 1. Klasse mit Schwertern am Ringe ???

10 Großkreuz des Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischen Hausordens ???

11 ???

12 Stern of the Großherzoglich Oldenburgischen Haus- und Verdienstordens des Herzogs Peter Friedrich Ludwig, Ehrengroßkreuz or Ehrengroßkomturkreuz ???

Second photo below:

13 Kronen-Orden 1. Klasse mit Schwertern am Ringe ???

14 Roter Adler-Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Krone ???

15 Großherzoglich Oldenburgischen Haus- und Verdienstordens des Herzogs Peter Friedrich Ludwig, Ehrengroßkreuz or Ehrengroßkomturkreuz ???

16 Russischer St. Stanislaus-Orden 1. Klasse ???

17 Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz

18 Königlich Preußische Kriegsdenkmünze 1864 für Kämpfer

19 Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Centenarmedaille 1897

20 ???

21 ???

22 Großkreuz des Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischen Hausordens ???

23 ???

24 ???

Thanks!

As you can see by the uniform he is wearing, he served in the Ottoman Navy. To be more precise, he was in Ottoman service from 1892 until 1903, and he reached the rank of Vice Admiral (Ferik Amiral) in the Ottoman Navy. He was a Naval Advisor and Wing Adjutant to Sultan Abdul Hamid II, an Association Leader and served as Ottoman Fleet Chief during the war with Greece in 1896/97.

Before the Ottoman service he was in the Kaiserliche Marine. He left the Kaiserliche Marine on 17 May 1892. After that he was given the Char. of a Kapitän zur See in 1894 and the Char. of a Konteradmiral in 1901.

For more info about his awards see here: https://gmic.co.uk/topic/76318-awards-of-char-konteradmiral-curt-kalau-vom-hofe-help-needed/

16 hours ago, P.F. said:

Interesting. 3, 8 & 9 look correct to me. Perhaps there is an "expert" on Turkish medals that could chip in here.

Pierce, what about number 7? Do you agree it's the Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz? The ribbon fits in my opinion.

Thank you very much Demir!

Regarding number 6 (the Liakat Medal). Do you have a guess regarding the Class, Silver or Gold? And you are sure it is the Liakat Medal, and not the Greek War Medal 1896 you mentioned?

It is Liyakat, they usually were awarded with IMTIYAZ. Suspension is also typical for Liyakat. It must be Silver Liyakat otherwise it should have been placed between the two Imtiyaz Medals, after Gold Imtiyaz. (If there were lines on the ribbon (4 red 3 green) then it would have been the Greek War Medal 1896, since he was at the Ottoman Court that time. But the Greek War suspension is totally different). 

Admiral Wilhelm Souchon (left) and another unknown recipient

Kriegsmarine Admiraloberstabsarzt Sigmund Moosauer

Kriegsmarine Konteradmiral Hermann Lorey (far right)

Kriegsmarine Vizeadmiral Adolf Pfeiffer

Kriegsmarine Vizeadmiral Gustav Kieseritzky

Kriegsmarine Vizeadmiral (Ing.) Karl Kaufmann (right) and another unknown recipient

Kriegsmarine Admiral Otto von Schrader

Karl Dönitz

Kriegsmarine Admiralrichter Paul Becker

Kriegsmarine Konteradmiral (Ing.) Max Peters

Kriegsmarine Konteradmiral Friedrich Traugott Schmidt (left)

Kriegsmarine Generaladmiral Rolf Carls (3rd from the right)

Croatian General Ivan Perčević (Independent State of Croatia period).

Kriegsmarine Generaladmiral Wilhelm Marschall

Konteradmiral Walter Isendahl

2 minutes ago, P.F. said:

Interesting. 3, 8 & 9 look correct to me. Perhaps there is an "expert" on Turkish medals that could chip in here.

Thanks Pierce. Yes, I asked Demir, the host of the "Turkey" section for help. Let's wait and see if he can help with the Turkish decorations.

Hello, I need help with the awards of this interesting officer.

As you can see by the uniform he is wearing, he served in the Ottoman Navy. To be more precise, he was in Ottoman service from 1892 until 1903, and he reached the rank of Vice Admiral (Ferik Amiral) in the Ottoman Navy. He was a Naval Advisor and Wing Adjutant to Sultan Abdul Hamid II, an Association Leader and served as Ottoman Fleet Chief during the war with Greece in 1896/97.

Before the Ottoman service he was in the Kaiserliche Marine. He left the Kaiserliche Marine on 17 May 1892. After that he was given the Char. of a Kapitän zur See in 1894 and the Char. of a Konteradmiral in 1901.

The oldest Marine Rangliste I have is from 1894, so I can't check his awards.

But thankfully, I found a couple of his awards in the Excel Gesamtliste:

- Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub (28. 11. 1898)

- Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 3. Klasse mit der Schleife

- Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 4. Klasse

- Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz

- Venezuelanischer Orden der Büste Bolivars ohne Klasse (awarded in 1880 when this order had only one class)

It's important to note that until 21 November 1888 his name was "Curt von Hoven", and on that date his family name was changed to "Kalau vom Hofe".

My first question is: Does anyone have additional info about his awards, and especially foreign awards? Perhaps his entry in the 1891 or 1892 Rangliste?

And secondly, I would be very thankful if you could help me identify the awards we can see on his photo.

1 Is this the Order of the Medjidie, and which Class?

2 Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub (can you guys see the Oak Leaves above the cross?)

3 Venezuelanischer Orden der Büste Bolivars

4 Is this the Imtiyaz Medal? Number 5 also looks like the Imtiyaz Medal. So is it possible that this one is the version in Gold, and number 5 the version in Silver?

5 Is it also the Imtiyaz Medal (in Silver) or something else? Perhaps the Kaiserlich Türkische Verdienstmedaille vom Roten Halbmond (Medal of Merit of the Red Crescent, i.e. the Turkish "Red Cross"), which was a similar sized medal and had a similar ribbon colour/pattern that could look the same on a black and white photo?

6 Is this the Liakat Medal? And which class could it be, looking at Hofe's rank and Ottoman service, Silver or Gold?

7 Is it the Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz or something else? The "thing" above the cross throws me off, it looks like a crown.

8 Pretty sure this is the Königlich Preußische Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge 1870–71 für Kämpfer (Medal for the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71)

9 This looks like the Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Centenarmedaille 1897. It's odd because he was in Ottoman service when this medal was being awarded (1897), but I guess he was eligible for it nevertheless?

10 Is this the Order of Osmaniye, and which Class?

11 Is this the Breast Star of the Order of the Medjidie he is wearing around the neck (number 1)? And which Class?

He is also wearing a sash. Can anyone determine to which order does the sash belong?

Thanks for any help!

Hello,
does anyone have the digital versions (PDF) of the Kaiserliche Marine Rangliste for the years: 1897, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1906 ? Or do you know where to find them?

I can offer the others (from 1894 until 1914, except the ones I'm missing) for exchange.
Feel free to contact me through personal messages here on the forum.
Thanks

It's the Wilhelm-Ernst-Kriegskreuz.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm-Ernst-Kriegskreuz

On 12/04/2020 at 19:12, saschaw said:

I agree he's wearing the Colonial and China medal, and the precedence is proper as well, according to a Steinhauer & Lück sales catalog from January 1939 that includes such a list. Not knowing much about the clasps, I had a look at the excel "Gesamtliste" published on German SDA forum by member "CSForrester". It mentions a clasp "KAMERUN 1884" given to a Hoffmann, but I'm not sure this if is your man. However, no other clasp to a Hoffmann is mentioned there, so it should be him...

Thanks saschaw.

I think you are right. I have the same excel "Gesamtliste" and the Hoffmann mentioned there served on the "Olga" in 1884. Char. Konteradmiral Fritz Hoffmann served on the "Olga" in 1884 with the rank of UnterLt z.S. It must be him then.

With the 1918 Rangliste I can confirm he was awarded the Roter Adler-Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub.

Can anyone confirm he was awarded the Roter Adler-Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Stern mit Schwertern on 01 April 1918? The source for this information is the Excel Gesamtliste I was given on this forum. However, the surname is written as "Jacobsen". But I think it could be a typo because Hermann Jacobsen is listed as Vizeadmiral z.D. where his RAO is written.

Thanks for any help!

On 07/04/2020 at 08:53, 1812 Overture said:

There must be a medal for this colony

Can you please explain? 

I have another question regarding the Roter Adler Orden.

Let's say an officer had the Roter Adler Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern.

If he was awarded the Stern zum, would the Stern also have the Eichenlaub und Schwertern or just the Schwertern if it was written in the Rangliste as RAO2ExmSTx?

What does the abbreviation BL5 mean?

EDIT: It's the Belgian Order of Leopold, Knight's Cross. Should be 4 instead of 5.

Another photo of Char. Konteradmiral Paul Hofmeier from "Deutschlands Admirale" Band 2.

Full list of awards:

-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub (17. 01. 1904)
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden 2. Klasse mit dem Stern (11. 10. 1906)
-Königlich Preußische Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge 1870–71 für Kämpfer
-Königlich Preußische Kaiser Wilhelm-Centenarmedaille 1897
-China-Denkmünze in Bronze
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 3. Klasse mit der Schleife
-Königlich Preußischer Roter Adler-Orden 4. Klasse
-Königlich Preußischer Kronen-Orden 3. Klasse
-Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz
-Komturkreuz 2. Klasse des Königlich Sächsischen Albrechts-Ordens
-Komturkreuz des k.u.k. Österreichischen Franz-Joseph-Ordens
-Kommandeurkreuz des Portugiesischen Ritterordens von Avis
-Venezuelanischer Orden der Büste Bolivars 2. Klasse

6 hours ago, 922F said:

Cannot determine whether things between unknown neck cross arms are swords or the foliate device found between St. Anne cross arms.  They seem to be the same size in all visible angles so I plunked for St. Anne [also because it is on the list!]. 

But I thought the cross arms of the St. Anne were red? They are clearly white on the photo.

Can anyone help me with the two round medals please?

All the awards on the photo match his known awards. Only the two medals for colonial service can't be confirmed by the Rangliste.

In my opinion the 3rd medal on the medal bar is the Kolonial-Denkmünze with an unknown Spange.

The 4th medal looks like the China-Denkmünze.

We can rule out the Südwestafrika-Denkmünze because the stripes on the ribbons don't match (they are horizontal on the Südwestafrika-Denkmünze).

Is it correct that on the German medal/ribbon bars the Kolonial-Denkmünze comes before the China-Denkmünze? That would help determine which Spange to look for.

I can easily confirm the China-Denkmünze by looking at his career:

- Departure to Shanghai (19 August 1901-23 September 1901)

- Commandant of the Light Cruiser "Seeadler" (24 September 1901-11 October 1903)

- Journey Home from Tsingtau (12 October 1903-09 January 1904)

My guess for the class of the China-Denkmünze is Bronze (für Kämpfer). Do you agree this is the class? And do you agree the 4th medal is the China-Denkmünze in the first place?

Again, looking at his career, there is indication that he spent some time in East Africa. That would make him eligible for the Kolonial-Denkmünze, I think?

- Departure to Mumbai (07 March 1895-16 May 1895)

- First Officer on the Cruiser "Seeadler" (17 May 1895-12 May 1897) (Note: this is the same "Seeadler" as above)

- Journey Home as Transport Leader on Board the Steamer "Reichstag" from Zanzibar to Marseille (13 May 1897-03 June 1897)

If we look at the Wikipedia page of the "Seeadler" we find it was deployed to East Africa during the time period Hoffmann was serving on it as First Officer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Seeadler#Deployment_to_East_Africa

My two questions for this award are:

Do you agree the 3rd medal is the Kolonial-Denkmünze?

Does anyone know what the Spange could be? The possibilities (in my opinion, I may be wrong) are: "Deutsch-Ostafrika 1895, 1896 or 1897".

Thank for any help!