Bernhard H.Holst

Hello: The officer meant here in Chris' inquiry as well as his brother listed by Dave seemed to have had an artistic nature. Wulf resigned from the military to pursue a career as painter and also sketching fashions. He sure saw his country and Paris. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. The Ehren Rangliste shows three possible Hauptleute Schwerdtfeger: - Hptm. a.D.Schwerdtfeger , recalled to service. Employed II. Ers.Abt. FAR 39, prior to retirement assignment to FAR 5; - Hptm. Schwerdtfeger in Fussart..R. von Hindersin (1.Pomm.) Nr. 2 ; Survived the war. - Hptm. Schwerdtfeger, 2.Wuertt. F.A. Nr.29 Prinz-Regent Luitpold von Bayern, died in action 26.July 1915 near Szarlat ( Narew ), The system in use at the time excluded first names unless more than one with same last name in the identical unit. This of course throws obstacles in researchers' way. I hope above helps. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. You make reference to the changes going on 1935/36 and rightly so. For those readers perhaps not familiar with history: -in 1935 Germany against the Versailles Peace treaty conditions, re-entered the " demilitarized " left bank of the Rhine River with army troops; -re-introduced universal military service by institution of the draft. Many retired officers or employed in other professions than military ones, reentered the ranks of the officer corps L-Oficers or supplemental officers. Thank you for showing this document. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. Here is my guess and it is no more than that. The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg apparently instituted a distinction along the lines given by Jock above during January, 1934 and the Senator in charge of Internal Affairs of the city awarded this distinction to the Hauptmann of the Schutzpolizei in December of that year. It reminds me a bit of the " Alter Kaempfer" chevron that members of the SS wore on their right uniform sleeve to denote their membership before 1933, the year of the " Machtergreifung" ( assumption of power by A. Hitler).Of note are the several distinctions instituted by Gauleiter in the form of breast badges. I am not aware of any clean-up on a national basis of this hodge-podge system similar to the 1935 edict which prohibited the wear of the multitude of Freikorps, Veterans Association etc awards with few exceptions. A clue may be found in the party organisation guide following 1935 which may make mention of such matters. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. Found this Legion d'Honneur insignia of a knight with just some repairs to enamel on front and rear sides. l Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Never heard that before ( selten so gelacht!) Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. Thanks to Chris and Naxos. In case some readers wonder why on the Stein, Chris showed in much details in another thread, the Bavarian Jaeger are shown in blue tunics. Pre 1918 Bavaria had a number of state rights which it very much guarded. Included are matters regarding the Bavarian Army. The two Bavarian Jaeger Battalions pre-1914 wore uniform tunics in blue rather that green ( Saxon Jaeger a very dark, nearly blackish green. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Thanks for giving us the war assignments of this Jaeger. Having missed Verdun may have been his luck because chances are you would not have anything much to write about. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: I still had a great time following this thread even though Steins leave me totally cool. Perhaps not having ever developed a taste for beer contributed to it. Otherwise Jaeger subjects , especially Jaeger 10 ( Hann.) have my attention. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Mac I have the regimental history of Fus.Rgt. 73 ( Hann.) and could send you selected pages via e-mail.Send me a message if interested. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. On the centenary of the First World War the following are data related to the losses of the German Army Officers Corps. As source the "Ehren-Rangliste des ehemaligen Deutschen Heeres" ( Honor-Ranklist of the former German Army) was used. This list was published in 1926, reprinted by Biblio Verlag in 1987 and was based on the last pre-war ranklists of the several armies of which the German Army consisted, ( Prussian, Bavarian, Saxon armies and the Wuerttemberg contingent/ XIII. Army Corps ). The ranklist comprises only career officers and includes those retired officers who were recalled for active duty. This latter group contains officers who already served during the 1864, 1866 and 1870-71 conflicts. It then gives the units in which the officers served last during the war and their eventual fate The Deutscher Offizier-Bund collated the data of 50,000 regular officers but had to abstain from the inclusion of reserve officers which numbered around 250,000. The fatal losses of officers amounted to approximately 12,000 regular and 55,000 reserve officers. Among the regular officers ( active Offiziere) who lost their lives were 61 generals and 952 field grade officers ( rank of major and above ). Based on the years of the conflict one arrives at the following: 1914: 27 general- and 492 field grade officers; 1915: 14 general- and 155 field grade officers; 1916: 7 general- and 93 field grade officers; 1917: 6 general- and 55 field grade officer; 1918: 7 general- and 157 field grade officers. It is hoped that the above account does not give the impression that WW I was a war fought only by officers. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Rick. I have not come across information about other participants' academies losses. But in continuing the subject into the French phase of the Vietnam or rather the Indochina war ending in 1954 it was said that France lost every year the equivalent of a graduating class in that conflict. As a reference point the graduating class of the course 1948/50 named Promotion General Frere had 441 graduates. The newly promoted officers would not reach the theatre of war until after continuing training in their respective arm or not before 1951/52. Officers tour of duty in Indochina was 27 months. Of these 441 graduates 42 lost their lives in Indochina and 16 in Algeria, 6 of them had the rank of captain and 52 that of lieutenant. Bernhard H. Holst.

Hello readers. The following entry is based on an article by Brig.Gen. ( retd) Jean Boy dated Nov. 2007 and 2.Nov.2010 published by the French Army Officers Academy St.Cyr publication. The article is concerned with the 1914 graduating class the examinations of which were stopped by the outbreak of the war. All 791 ( count varies in some reports ) members were considered graduates and were to enter active service to receive four months of training. In early December 1914 they were promoted to the rank of 2nd Lt. and sent to combattant units. In January 1915 this class received the the name " Promotion de la Grande Revanche ".but other particulars normally established such as class ranking, choice of particular arm ( colonial infantry, artillery etc) did not take place. Losses of this class during WW I and later also vary in the several reports which exist. One account, that by Col. Jean Le Boulicaut in the Golden Book listing those graduates of St.Cyr who died on the Field of Honor gives fourhundred sixtythree who lost their lives as follows: - fourhundred and six died in action or from wounds during WW I; - eight in Marocco; - one in the Middle East in 1920; - one in Syria in 1924; - one in China in 1938; - twentyfour during WW II including in deportation; - two in Algeria; - twenty given without details. One member of this class was honored by the later class , the one of 1986-89 which adopted his name. Thus the 173rd class of the Ecole Speciale Militaire de St. Cyr was named Promotion General Callies. The General Jean Callies was the recipient of the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor and the Military Cros ( Medaille Militaire ). One example of the above described losses is the fate of Lt. Robert Casenave, who was so severely wounded in March of 1915 in the head and both hands , that the latter left him with only two fingers on each hand. He struggled to regain an assignment of front line duty and he joined the 46.Infantry Regiment. He was again severely wounded on March 28, 1918 and all trace of him was lost. I believe the above brief description demonstrates dedication and sense of duty of these young men during a time of war into which they were thrown from one moment to the next to fill positions of leadership. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers: Here is the award document for the Hohenzoller belonging to Major Maximilian von Zastrow, commander of the 3.Baden Feldartillerieregiment Number 50. Maj.v. Zastrow was assigned pre-war to the Prussian Guard Artillery. The 1914 Ranklist lists him as Hauptmann in the 3rd Gardefeldartillerie. The Ehrenrang Liste of 1926 shows him as retired Lt.Col. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andreas. Tough to make out especially with the tape obscuring some of the writing as you must have found yourself.. I was able to decipher after the Mle 25307 of the sergeant " et le legionnaire....Dor Mle 5672 de rentrant (??) a Masevaux. Le Capitaine Mesnil cdt de cie de mitrailleuse " Sorry I could not be of more help. Interesting document even though not dated. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. As you rightly point out it is a promotion of this fellow who was a telegraph construction tradesman. At the same time he was accepted into the civil service corps for his life's duration. Postschaffner to which rank he was promoted was the lowest rank in the postal service which also had the telegraph service under its wings. This document originated in the town of my birth and later schooling. Thanks for showing it. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chip. Your explanation makes a lot more sense than my guess. An expedient way of collecting raw material and/or reuseable equipment and such. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: Thanks for showing this commemorative regimental anniversary medal. the following is for readers wanting to know more about this Hanoverian regiment the history of which dates back to 1813. This followed the reestablishment of the Electorate of Hanover in conjunction with Britain. just prior to Napoleon I first abdication.in 1814. This regiment as a Hanoverian infantry regiment fought at the Battle of Waterloo and was granted to wear the "Waterloo" battle distinction. Kaiser Wilhelm II granted this distinction years after it had become the (2nd Hanoverian) Inf.Rgt.77 following the abolition of the Kingdom of Hanover with the war of 1866. The reverse of the medal shows the Waterloo monument/column in Hanover. Bernhard H. Holst.

Hello Rick. I can only guess that it was an established rear area collection point for un-attached, straggler type personnel. I have never before run across that , so-named unit. But to have it established makes sense to me. Conditions during the last year or so of the war made such collection points necessary, in my view. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock.. Etappen Sammel Kompanie Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: The only information I could find was a mention in Harold Geissler's ref. book on the Iron Cross. He states that a Hauptmann von Harbou, staff officer during the German attack on Liege was sent to Berlin with the news and received the Iron Cross directly. As source he gives a newspaper but no exact date is given.. It this account is accurate it reminds me of the beginning of the Battle of Verdun when Fort Douaumont was taken. The then Oblt. von Francois was sent back to give the news of the occupation of the fort. He received the Pour le Merite directly and has been the subject of discussion ever since as to his actual role in the taking of the fort. His battalion commander who wrote a book about it after the war sidesteps the matter. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Kevin. Thanks for letting us see this amazing group. Flying those planes was a challenge in itself. Very unfortunately this distinguished pilot after surviving the war, already died on 1.October 1965. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Thanks for showing this photo. Of note is also the Marksman Lanyard ( here for arty I believe and the early style long service distinction. Irish Gunner beat me to the post and even identified the regiment!! Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Your samples showing postal addresses rather than F.P. numbers seem to be those of homeland installations which were public facilities and not in need of secrecy. I doubt that other such directed mail would have made it past the local postal office. Your first letter (Mr.Rasch) was most interesting as he reports his professional affairs AND his divorce with his new engagement to be married to a lady already expecting?!? He had the cooperation of a civil servant who didi not insist on submission of the final divorce decree. And to think that the then home area would be lost forever just two years later. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Framing it for yourself would be a very nice gesture. Honoring an ex-enemy even more so. Reading Suetterlin can be tiresome even for me who after all learned it in school for perhaps the first two or three years until it was replaced nation wide .. Individual handwriting has a lot to do with the reading difficulty level. Bernhard H. Holst