Deutschritter

Gentlemen, I am not sure, if this is the correct category, but I need help with a rank: The Stabshauptmann, as we understand it today, even with the Bundeswehr, was/is a rank between Oberleutnant and Hauptmann (I. Klasse), often historically classified as Hauptmann II. Klasse. In Bavaria around 1866-68, officers like Benignus von Safferling (8. Jäger-Bataillon) and others, already Hauptmann I Klasse, would be promoted (appointed?) to/as Stabshauptmann, although the Ranglisten still showed them as Hauptmann I Klasse. Therefore my question: Was the Stabshauptmann not a rank at all but instead a Dienstbezeichnung (job title)? Maybe the senior Hauptmann I Klasse, not leadig a company, but placed into a battalion staff as deputy of a major? Thanks for any information!

Very nice picture, Giannis! Is that the Oberst z. D. Ziegler who commanded the Landwehr-Bezirks-Kommando Speyer and retired 16 December 1886? Do you have any further dates? Complete name, birth date, death date, marriage, children etc? I would love to know more! Thanks! Andreas

Gentlemen, this is what I have on Franz Ritter von Hipper, any additions or corrections would be great. Thanks! 15 April 1881 Kadett (Officer Candidate; Crew 81) ... Among others, the later admirals Richard Eckermann, Konrad Trummler, Friedrich Schultz, Karl Zimmermann, Christian Schütz and Wilhelm Sthamer belonged to this Crew. 16 May 1882 Seekadett (Officer Cadet) 21 November 1884 Unterleutnant zur See (2nd Lieutenant) without Patent 19 December 1885 Patent received 23 June 1888 Leutnant zur See (1st Lieutenant) 14 January 1895 Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant Captain) subject to patentability (Vorbehalt der Patentierung) 11 November 1895 Patent received with Rank Seniority (RDA) from 14 Januar 1895 10 June 1901 Korvettenkapitän (Corvette Captain – Lieutenant Commander) 5 April 1905 Fregattenkapitän (Frigate Captain – Commander) 6 April 1907 Kapitän zur See (Captain at Sea – Captain) 27 January 1912 Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) 17 June 1915 Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral) 11 August 1918 Admiral ... He resigned from his post on 30 November 1918, was granted leave of absence until 13 December 1918, and then, at his request, was put at disposal (de facto retired). Prussian Centenary Medal 1897 (Zentenarmedaille) Red Eagle Order (Roter Adlerorden), 4th Class Military Merit Order (Bavaria), Knight's Cross 1st Class (BMV3a) Imperial Russian Sankt-Stanislaus-Orden, II. Klasse (RSt2) Prussian Long Service Cross for 25 years (Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz; DA) Crown to his Red Eagle Order 4th Class Order of the White Falcon (Hausorden vom Weißen Falken), Knight's Cross 1st Class (GSF3a) Prussian Order of the Crown (Preußischer Kronenorden), 3rd Class Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 3rd Class (BMV3) Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, Commander II. Class (NO2b) Russian Order of Saint Anna (Sankt-Annen-Orden), 2nd Class (RA2) Red Eagle Order, 3rd Class with the Bow (mit der Schleife) Prussian Order of the Crown, 2nd Class Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 2nd Class (BMV2) Bronze Prinzregent Luitpold Medal on the anniversary medal ribbon from 1911 (BLM3J) on 12 April 1913 Red Eagle Order, 2nd Class with Oak Leaves WWI Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class Oldenburg Friedrich-August-Kreuz, Second and First Class (OFA1/OK1) Military Merit Order (Württemberg), Commander (WMV2) Star and Swords to his Military Merit Order (Bavaria) 2nd Class (BMV2mSt⚔) Pour le Mérite on 5 June 1916 as Vice Admiral Military Order of Max Joseph, Commander's Cross (BMJ2) on 6 June 1916 as Vice Admiral ... This meant, together with the order, that he was elevated to personal nobility and, after being registered in the nobility register, he was allowed to call himself "Ritter von Hipper". Großherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinsches Militärverdienstkreuz, II. Class (MMV2/MK2) Bremen Hanseatic Cross (Bremisches Hanseatenkreuz; BremH/BH) Hamburg Hanseatic Cross (Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz; HH) Lübeck Hanseatic Cross (Lübeckisches Hanseatenkreuz; LübH/LüH) Swords to his Red Eagle Order 2nd Class with Oak Leaves Albrechts-Orden of Saxony, Commander (Komtur) II. Class with Star and Swords (SA2bmSt⚔) Star with Swords to his Red Eagle Order 2nd Class with Oak Leaves and Swords Order of the Iron Crown (Austria), 1st Class with the War Decoration (ÖEK1K)

Oberst Erich Krebs (PLM): If you can add anything, that would be great. Thanks!

Gentlemen, this is what I have for Friedrich Wilhelm Erich Krebs, any additions or corrections would be great, especially WWI decorations. I am sure, I am missing several: ?? Fahnenjunker ?? Portepee-Fähnrich (Officer Cadet) 18 January 1891 Sekondeleutnant (2nd Lieutenant) 18 April 1899 Oberleutnant (1st Lieutenant) 18 July 1905 Hauptmann (Captain) 19 July 1913 Major 15 July 1918 Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) 9 April 1920 Retired mit dem Charakter als Oberst (Honorary Colonel) Prussian Centenary Medal 1897 (Zentenarmedaille) Mecklenburg Order of the Griffon (Großherzoglich Mecklenburgischer Greifenorden), Knight's Cross with the Crown (MG3mKr) Red Eagle Order (Roter Adlerorden), 4th Class Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class with the Crown (BMV4mKr) Prussian Long Service Cross for 25 years (Königlich Preußisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz) Iron Cross (1914), 2nd and 1st Class Oldenburg Friedrich-August-Kreuz, Second and First Class (OK1) Gallipoli Star (Eiserner Halbmond; TH) House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords (HOH3⚔) Pour le Mérite on 23 December 1917 as Major and Commander of the Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 27/54. Infanterie-Division Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen 1918) in Mattweiß (Silver)

Could that be the V. Armeekorps (Posen) instead of the VI. Armeekorps? Thanks! Do you know if he started his career in the 7. Rheinisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 69? Or rather in the Infanterie-Regiment „Graf Barfuß“ (4. Westfälisches) Nr. 17?

I just read this: "Rechtsritter des Kgl. Preuß. Haus-Ordens von Hohenzollern, Inhaber des Herzgl. Braunschweig. Verdienstkreuzes, des k. k. Österreich. Militär-Verdienstkr. 3. Kl. mit der Kriegs-Dekorationm, Rechtsritter des Kgl. Bulgarischen Tapferkeits-Ordens 4. Kl." ... could one of these be the ribbon in question? Brunswick, 2nd or 1st Class? Bulgarian Order of Bravery, WWI or WWII?

Three Tapferkeits-Offiziere: Ludwig Streil received the Military Merit Cross (Bavaria), 3rd Class with the Crown and Swords (BMVK3.mKr⚔/BM5c.mKr⚔) on 11 September 1914, the Bavarian Bravery Medal (Military Merit Medal) in Gold (BMVM1/BgMV) on 1 December 1914, the Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen 1918) in Gold and the Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class with Swords (BMV4⚔/BM4⚔) on 3 March 1919, among other awards. Ferdinand Hipper received the Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class with Swords (BMV4⚔/BM4⚔) on 8 November 1918. Nikolaus Puhl (1893–1954), received the Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class with Swords (BMV4⚔/BM4⚔) on 12 May 1918, he would later become lord of the manor in Landenham near Munich on the Austrian border and Lieutenant Colonel of the Wehrmacht. I imagine all three received the NCO AND the officer Leiberring? Thanks!

Unbelievable, Dave, thanks so much! His father, Christian Friedrich Wilhelm Hanstein (b. 23 September 1861), died in the Henriettenstift in Hanover on 4 March 1900 in Hanover from heart failure after an abdominal operation.Maybe his mother, Anna Wilhelmine Lina Theodora, née Happe, married again. This explains so much. About the awards, maybe you could help me out: I have the Kgl. Bayer. Militär-Verdienstorden, 4. Klasse mit Schwertern on 12 September 1917 (Verordnungs-Blatt des Königlich Bayerischen Kriegsministeriums, July to December 1917, p. 2365), could this be right, or am I confusing something? Thank you! Is it possible, he had the Beobachterabzeichen before that? Thanks!

I searched the topic for Ludwig Hanstein resp. Georg Hermann Ludwig Hanstein (1892-1918) but with no results. Apparently Prussian, is said to have joined the Fliegertruppe c. end of 1915 (before that?), transferred to Bavarian units in May 1916 (Vizefeldwebel?), was commissioned as Leutnant (der Reserve?) in c. September 1917 and fell on 21 March 1918 during aerial combat (ace with 16 victories or Luftsiege). Aerodrome website states he had the HOH3X. Does anyone know when awarded? Any other career dates would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! P.S.: Seeing how often he is mentioned in the Bavarian Verordnungsblätter, I can hardly imagine him serving in the Prussian Army. Maybe his family moved from Sudwalde (Kreis Sulingen, Province of Hanover, Kingdom of Prussia) to Bavaria when he was a child (after the death of his father, Pastor Christian Friedrich Wilhelm Hanstein, in 1900? Internet has 20 sources, but they could all be referencing one wrong source?!

This is great, thanks so much!

Gentlemen, after many hours of research (thanks to Glenn and the Verordnungs-Blätter), I have found out a few things, but I still do not know if pilot or Beobachter (any help appreciated) : Hans von Euler-Chelpin completed his mandatory military service as a one-year volunteer (Einjährig-Freiwilliger) with the Königlich Bayerisches 1. Feldartillerie-Regiment „Prinzregent Luitpold“ from c. 1890 to 1891. At some time making Vizewachtmeister? On 27 November 1914 with Patent from 18 August 1914, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant of the Reserves. On 26 October 1916, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of the Reserves with Patent from 27 September 1916. In the winter of 1916–1917, he took part in a mission to the Ottoman Empire (Deutsche Militärmission), a German ally during World War I, to accelerate the production of munitions and alcohol. In 1917, he returned to the front. On 16 March 1918, he received a new Patent as Oberleutnant d. R. from 19 May 1915. On 30 June 1918, he was promoted to Hauptmann (Captain) of the Reserves. Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class with Swords on 15 January 1915 Iron Cross (1914), 2nd Class on 4 February 1915 (sadly couldn't find a 1st Class) Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class with the Crown and Swords on 30 August 1918 Norblad Ekstrand Prize from the Swedish Chemical Society in 1927 Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1929 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer Goethe Medal for Art and Science (Goethe-Medaille für Kunst und Wissenschaft) in 1943 Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Great Cross with Star (Knight Commander's Cross)

Yes, he is very well known, BUT his military career is sparsely publicized. I'll take everything you have. Thanks! Oh well, I tried your tip, registered as a guest, was quite easy, but then of course they only let me see names, nothing else. Even for a free trial they need credit card or PayPal, I have neither.

Gentlemen, I read Hans Karl August Simon von Euler-Chelpin (b. 1873) served as a Einjährig-Freiwilliger (1891/92) with the Bavarian artillery. In WWI, he served again with the artillery, transferring to the Fliegertruppe in 1915, finally Hauptmann der Reserve. Does anyone have any exact information about promotions and especially decorations. He served for a time in the Ottoman Empire (Deutsche Militärmission). I am having problems finding out, if he was a pilot or Beobachter. I would be very thankful for any typ of information about his military career. A picture in uniform? I don't have that much hope. 😉

Phantastic additions, Dave, thank you! One question about Patent Nr. 10: I am reading 9 March, am I reading it wrong? Source: Verordnungs-Blatt des Königlich Bayerischen Kriegsministeriums, 1902, Beilage 2, p. 57 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015062987725&seq=533

This is what I have now been able to put togehther: Fahnenkadett (Kadetten-Korps) 22 July 1885 Portepee-Fähnrich (Officer Cadet) 7 March 1887 Second-Lieutenant (2nd Lieutenant) 24 March 1895 Premier-Lieutenant (1st Lieutenant) 9 March 1902 Hauptmann (Captain) 20 September 1910 Major with Patent from 28 October 1909 (27 a) Royal Order of Francis I (Kingdom of the Two Sicilies), Knight's Cross 2nd Class (Sic.Fr.3b/ScF3b) on 18 August 1891 Jubiläumsmedaille für die Armee on 12 March 1905 Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class Bavarian Long Service Cross (Königlich Bayerisches Dienstauszeichnungskreuz), II. Class for 24 years (BDK2/BD2) on 21 July 1909 Red Eagle Order (Roter Adlerorden), 4th Class (PrA4/RAO4), permission to accept and wear on 8 September 1909 Highest recognition expressed (Allerhöchste Anerkennung) by Prince Luitpold in the name of the King of Bavaria for the extraordinary achievements of Euler's company in shooting training on 27 October 1909 Military Merit Order (Bavaria), 4th Class with the Crown on 30 December 1913

That is a good queston, but the Verordnungs-Blatt des Königlich Bayerischen Kriegsministeriums 1916, suppl. Jul-Dec, p. 3844 only states RAO2 with swords. 1917 and 1918 do not state crown or star.

Thanks so much, Glenn! Many greetings, Andreas

Gentlemen, can anyone help out with a birthdate and first name(s) of said Bavarian Major Euler? Thank you!

We will probably never know. Here a small extra: Walter Rudolf Junker (12 March 1895 – 21 June 1980), son of Otto Junker and Anna Karoline, née Morat. I was not able to find out if he was married or had children.

I thought, I saw a picture with the Spange to his EK II, but this is not on the list. Let me add: This site has his promotion date as Oberleutnant zur See on 14 May 1921, but Rangliste 1922 states 7 January 1920 ... maybe patent or RDA? Thanks!

I was hoping for a SEK3, or at least a SEK 4, but the Ranglisten der Deutschen Reichsmarine strangely only have the EK 2 and 1 listed.

Neither can I, thanks anyway!

Good evening, Dave! In this picture, Folttmann (far right) is wearing a grand cross star. I read on AHF this should be the GC of the Order of Military Merit (Bulgaria) ... but I really can't make it out. Do you have any information about this? Thanks!

Thank you, Glenn! I knew nothing of the Verordnungs-Blatt until I read your post from Saturday. Now it is already valuable for my research. Here is what I have on Walter ...