91-old-inf-reg

@VtwinVince Those are still quite nice crosses. The rarity among those is the Weimar-Freistadt era 1st class cross, I’ve only ever seen post 1945 examples. @BlackcowboyBSWow, it really is small isn’t it! That’s quite funny! Very nice guy isn’t he? I know the him of all people would find it the funniest how it came full circle like this! He’s really great to work and research with; Plus, he’s the go-to-guy when it comes to Oldenburg!

@graham and @v.Perlet, Thank you for the kind words! I know that it’s a great piece if I am able to impress you graham! Thank you! I had seen a bar come up for sale a couple of years ago with this cross with 4 other Oldenburg awards, one of which was a Non-Combatant Friedrich August Kreuz! I was to worried about it being a fake that I never pulled the trigger so to speak. I later found out it most certainly is authentic and is now in the collection of a good friend of mine. How envious I am! Regards

Hello all, I wanted to share something that I’ve been lusting after for years with out end, and finally was able to have the extreme pleasure to obtain, the Verdienstkreuz des Oldenburger Kriegervereins. With only 154 that are confirmed to be have been awarded by 1915, by 1918 it’s been concluded that under 200 of these crosses were ever awarded. The pictures can’t go do this cross justice in just how beautiful it truly is. I am so honored to be have a small, yet, in my eyes, a very significant and special piece of Oldenburg history.

What a great piece! I love how the case mimics so closely to the EK I case.

WOW! Only being awarded less than 150 times by 1918 and you have not one but TWO examples and a case! I think it has to be recognized just how impressive that is! @BlackcowboyBS and @Trooper_D, I think the goddess represented is actually the goddess Ariadne. Known mythologically for helping Theseus defeat the Minotaur, thus ending the ritual of sacrificing 7 men and 7 maidens every 7 or 9 years and thus is attributed with life saving. The wreath is known as “the crown of immortality”, quite fitting for a life saving medal. The mythology behind the crown is that the crown was given to her by Dionysus. The eight stars above Ariadne’s head are the eight stars seen in the constellation “Corona Borealis”, the crown placed there by Dionysus. Further, this was also the general depiction of her crown by artist for hundreds of years. I hope this was of some help, Best

@DeutschritterNo that’s not a Dienstauszeichnung it’s the Mecklenburg-Schwerin Militär-Verdienstkreuz II Klasse 1870

@BlackcowboyBSI am speechless! I have quite the appreciation for Theodor Kermess' bar with the Peter Friedrich Ludwig Haus und Verdienstorden ehrenkreuz III klasse! As I think I remember reading something Rick wrote that people in similar positions to Herr Kermess would be jealous about him having the Verdienstkreuz fur Kriegshilfe and absolutely nuts to have BOTH the VfK and the non-combatant EK! Bars with first world war and 1870 and prior awards are among my favorite to say the least! I doubt there is a thorough awards list of the Verdienstkreuz fur Kriegshilfe, I wish I could help. Your last two bars are absolutely fascinating! The history that is told by them alone is what had drawn me to collecting and researching. I wish you the best of luck in the further narrowing down of names for an identification. All of your examples are the envy of any Braunschweig collector and rightfully so! You should be proud to have such example preserved and in your collection!

As I think I can make out the word "Stalingrad" this leads me to ask is he could have been attached to army group south.

@drspeck and a Godet bar to boot! This is an amazing bar! I love the enameled RAO crown! Both attachments made of real silver to! Congratulations!

That’s absolutely phenomenal! It’s documentation like that which is practically invaluable! Thank you!

Here is an updated and as complete as I can find, list of the Grand Dukes Awards: Prussia: Schwartz Adler Orden Kette Hohenzollern Haus Orden Kette Roter Adler Orden Großkreuz 1870 Eisernes Kreuz II Klasse mit 25 Jahre Eichenblattspange Wiederholungsspange 1914 Eisernes Kreuz 1914 I Klasse Dienstauszeichnung I Klasse 1870-1871 Preussen Kreigsdenkmünze für Kampfer mit Spangen: -Gavrilot-St. Privat -Metz -Paris 1897 Kaiser Wilhelm I Erinnerungsmedaille Zentenarmedaille 1878 Preussen Kaiser Wilhelm I Goldene Hochzeit Medaille II Klasse Bayern: Haus-Ritter-Orden vom Heiligen Hubertus Sachsen: Hausorden der Rautenkrone 1915 Kreigsverdienst kreuz Mecklenburg-Schwerin: Wedischenkronen Orden Kette/ Großkreuz 1870 Mecklenburg-Schwerin Militärverdienstkreuz II Klasse 1914 Mecklenburg-Schwerin Militärverdienstkreuz II Klasse Mecklenburg-Schwerin Großherzog Friedrich Franz II verdienst Medaille in Silber Gedächtsmedaille Franz Friedrich III Oldenburg: Kapitular Abzeichen Großkreuz Haus u. Verdienst orden von Peter Friedrich Ludwig Kette, Großkreuz Haus u. Verdienst orden von Peter Friedrich Lugwig Ehrenkreuz I Klasse 1902 Verdienstkreuz des Oldenburg Kreigsverein Baden: Hausorden der Treue Großkreuz Orden Berthold des Ersten Großkreuz mit Schwertern Hesse: Ludewigsorden Großkreuz Sachsen-Ernestinische: Hausorden Großkreuz Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach: Haus Orden der Wachsamkeit / Weißen Falken Großkreuz mit Schwertern Saxe-Altenburg: 1902 Medaille zum 50 Jahren regisrungjubiläum Anhalt: Hausorden Albrecht des Bären Großkreuz Braunschweig: Heinrich des Löwen Großkreuz Kriegsverdiesntkreuz II Klasse Schaumburg-Lippe: Militärverdiesntsmedaille mit Säbeln 1914 Kreuz für Treue Dienste II Klasse Waldeck-Pyrmont: Verdienstorden I Klasse mit Krone Verdienstorden I Klasse mit Krone und Schwertern Hamburg: Hanseatenkreuz Lübeck: Hanseatenkreuz Bremen: Hanseatenkreuz Austria: St. Stephans-Orden Großkreuz Militär Verdienstorden I Klasse mit Kriegs Dekoration Franz Josef Orden Großkreuz Türkische: Goldene Imtiaz-Medaille mit Schwertern Silberene Imtiaz-Medaille mit Schwertern Goldene Liakat-Medaille mit Schwertern Eisernes Halbmond Russia: St. Alexander Orden Großkreuz St. Anne Orden Großkreuz Denmark: Knight of the Order of the White Elephant Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold Italy: Knight of the Order of the Annunciation Sweden: Knight of the Serephim United Kingdom: Honorary Grand Cross of the Road Victorian Order

@chuckits the Herzoglich Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden Komturkreuz mit Schwertern

Oberstleutnant Paul Kienitz IR 78 (Courtesy of IR 34 - Feldgrau-Forum) Generalmajor Gunther Weichardt IR 91 - IR 551 Oberst Bodo von Harbou Leutnant der Reserve Friedrich Schumann IR 91 Leutnant der Reserve Hellmuth Gabriel IR 91

Heres the complete list for: Generalleutnant Wilhelm von der Lippe - 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II und I Klasse - Oldenburg Friedrich August Kreuz II und I Klasse - Deinstauzeichnung I Klasse - Zentenarmedaille - Mecklenburg-Schwerin Hausorden der Wendischen Krone Ritterkreuz I Klasse - Oldenburg Haus und Verdienstorden Ehrenkomturkreuz mit Stern - Oldenburg Kapitular Orden - Roter Adler Orden II Klasse - Kronen Orden II Klasse - Waldeck und Prymont Verdienstkreuz I Klasse mit Krone und Schwertern - Sachsen-Ernistine Hausorden Komturkreuz mit Stern - Russland Annen Orden Ritterkreuz I Klasse (Courtesy of IR34-Feldgrau-Forum) Generalmajor Ferdinand von Stockhausen (5. Mai 1861 - 14. December 1915) - 1914 Eiserneskreuz II und I klasse - Oldenburg Friedrich August Kreuz II und I klasse - Braunschweig Kriegsverdienstkreuz II klasse - Roter Adler Orden IV klasse - Kronen Orden III klasse - Deinstauzeichnung I klasse - Zentenarmedaille - Oldenburg Haus und Verdienstorden Ehrenkomturkreuz - Russland St. Stanislaw Orden II klasse (Courtesy of Edelweiss21- Feldgrau-Forum)

At least a lieutenant in the police, Clearly post-1933.

@Herman, Thank you very much, this is great! Thank you for being such a great asset in this search! Regards.

Hey, Look what was shown to me! (Collection of Edelweiß21 via Feldgrau-Forum) And his peace time awards: I wish I had the full photo!! (Collection of Edelweiß21 via Feldgrau-Forum)

@Herman, Thank you again for the attached document! Just out of pure curiosity, would you mind telling me where you where able to obtain this? All the best.

@Dave Danner Perfect! Thanks so much! Now the hard part, trying to find a picture of the man!

@Dave Danner Wow! How can I begin to thank you!, this is great! I assume he had more peace-time awards, however, his awards are already becoming quite extensive. Regards.

@Herman, Thank you, this is phenomenal! From what the document states, Freiherr von. Schimmelman was a Hauptman while apart of the 2nd Westfälisches, and had to have served in it prior to 1913 This is very helpful, thank you again. Regards

@03fahnen, truly a rabbit hole in itself! Was the sampler from a salesmen or shop?

Hello all, I'm looking for any and all information regarding Freiherr v. Schimmelmann. So far what I know is that we was awarded the Pour le Merite and he is one of just two individuals, the other being Alexander von Falkenhausen, to be awarded the Oldenburg Haus und Verdienstorden Ritterkreuz I klasse mit Schwertern und Lorbeer. A real mouthfull I know. The majority of the information that I had been able to gather comes from IR 91 Oberlt. Gert Pflugrat's book: “Das Offizierkorps des Oldbg. IR 91 während des Weltkrieges 1914/18” What my main hope is, is to compile a complete list of Freiherr von Schimmelman's ranks, regiments, awards, and especially, a picture of the man. Being a winner of the Pour le Merite, I figured that this shouldn't be to difficult; However, I haven't been successful. This is what I have so far: Oberstleutnant (a. D.) Ernst Adolf Alfonz Freiherr von Schimmelmann a. D mit Uniform Infanterie Regiment 91 - Charakterisiert 9. April 1920 (14 Januar 1869 in Frankfurt an der Oder - Death Unknown) Diensteintritt: 22. März 1888 - Fähnrich - I.R. 55 9. April 1920 - Oberstleutant char. - IR 91 Oberst und Kommandeur der Sicherheitspolizei in Duisburg Pour le Merite - 16. Juli 1918 Eisernes Kreuz II u. I klasse Königliche Hausorden von Hohenzollern Ritterkreuz mit Schwertern Großherzogtum Oldenburg Herzog Peter Friedrich Ludwig Haus und Verdienstorden Ritterkreuz I klasse mit Schwertern und Lorbeer Großherzogtum Oldenburg Freidrich August Kreuz II klasse mit "vor dem feinde" Spange und I klasse. Königreich Bayernische Militärverdienstorden IV klasse Hamburg Hanseatenkreuz I can assume, due to his extended service prior to the war that he was awarded the Zentenarmedaille, Deinstauzeichnung I klasse, possibly the Roter Adler Orden IV klasse, or degree of the Kronen Orden, possibly an award from Lippe-Detmold due to his time in IR 55. Maybe @Solomon may be of some service in that department. A simple search of his name states that he authored a regimental history of Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Friedrich der Niederlande (2. Westfälisches) Nr.15 for its centenary in 1913 and he was a Hauptmann and a Kompagnie-Cheif of the regiment. - If this information is determined to be correct, could it be possible he was awarded with a Dutch award? Further, according to The Axis History Forum user "Mjölnir", writes that Major Freiherr von Schimmelmann, when awarded the Pour Le Merite, was attached to I.R. 394, an Ersatz Regiment for I.R. 163 - The duration of his time attached to I.R. 394 would be greatly appreciated. Peace time ranks and awards are most graciously appreciated. Thank you in advance for all those who aid in this inquiery Regards

Very nice! Is this an example of what a salesman would have in his shop? Similar to the samples of award ribbons? I know the Kingdom of Württemberg also had their own unique passanten, thus the next logical question to be asked is, what other German States had their own unique passanten. I can assume that the Grand Dukedoms, Duchies, and principalities all used the Prussian passanten, however, the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin has been know to have their own rules and unique uniform pieces that where adhered too, was this another example of this? I know that paradeschärpes where often unique to their state, was this also the case? Regards

@freiherr, apologies for the late response. This is amazing! How where you able to find these! Regarding Max von Kleist, did he receive the PLM or the johnniter orden? If it is the PLM, was he taken out of retirement to serve in the Great War, thus possibly when he was awarded it? Regarding General… Karl von Beck Using the photograph provided, some of his awards consist of: - Roter Alder Orden iii klasse mit scheilfe - Kronen Orden iii klasse - Zentenarmedallie - Großherzogtum Saschen-Weimar Eisenach Hausorden vom Weißen Falken Ritterkreuz i klasse - Großherzogtum Baden Zähringer Löwen Ritterkreuz i klasse mit Eichenlaub - Unknown… - Großherzogtum Oldenburg Herzog Peter Friedrich Ludwig Haus und Verdienstorden Ehrenkomturkreuz - Sachsen-Ernestischer Hausorden Komturkreuz or… - Johnitter Orden? Once again, thank you Freiheer