Bernhard H.Holst

Hello Jock. Let us have a go at that. It should be mentioned that this, the highest award for other ranks ( enlisted personnel ) was only given to 1773 persons during the war. Some few also received the Pour-Le-Merite after promotion to officer rank for additional deeds. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Thanks for showing these. # 44 in case it escapes viewers attention: the fellow to the right-most in the picture on his lapel wears the miniature of the Prussian Gold Military Merit Cross, the highest award for other ranks during WW I. No inscription on the back? Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Matty. I learned it in grade school for perhaps 2 years when it was replaced nation wide ( Germany ). Started with a slate. So you see that I am going back a while. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. As a little aside touching on this subject just a bit WW I aviation made large and wide progress . Included were aerial reconnaissance, artillery spotter service, infantry support and such. Some years ago the Munich auction house, Hermann Historica offered the military estate of a French airforce Brig.General who served as a N.C.O. pilot in WW I and made it to general officer at which rank he served in WW II. He lost a leg during a German bombing.. I advised a former officer of my regiment in Vietnam with whom I had been in touch, of this offer. I heard back that this officer was well known to his family in a friendship which went back to 1913. This pilot was an initial flight instructor of his father in 1913 who later served as an artillery spotter during WW I and maintained their friendship well into the future years. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Matty. In case you are unfamiliar with the "Ehrenrangliste mentioned by me, it lists only aktive Offiziere or regular officers. Not those of the reserves, ausser Dienst or such. Perhaps someone else can have a crack at reading the name. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Matt. The "Ehrenrangliste des ehemaligen Deutschen Heeres" lists only one von Dittmar ( except one general). That is a later Rittmeister von Dittmar who belonged to Ulanen-Regiment Kaiser Alexander II von Russland (1.Brandenburgisches) Nr. 3. as Oberleutnant. Killed in action as Rittmeister while serving in Res.Inf.Rgt. 130 south-west of Ripont on 15.July 1918.. The photo shows him in Ulan uniform but with a fliers qualification badge. Of course he could have reverted to ground troops for some reason. Please note that my take of the last name is somewhat tentative. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Rick. Do not feel lonely. When it comes to focusing on Suetterlin and such it can become tiresome real quick. Read your article on Belgian arty. Another good one, please keep it up when you can separate yourself from your local delights of which I have seen only a tiny bit. Bernhard H. Holsti

Hello Matt. Rudi von Dittmar perhaps. Bernhard H. Holst

hello kevin. Ref. Chef 4./SS-Pz.Pi.Abt. 12... Should it not be Pz.Pi.Bataillon rather than Abteilung? Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Rick. I join The Prussian of never having heard that term before. The German Military Dictionary does, however list " Fliegermaske"-masken for plural or camouflage against air reconnaissance which would make sense in the context you indicate.. Could there be some error in the wording/spelling re. Fliegermasten? Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Michael. Thanks for showing this. This officer had interesting assignments during his career in the Bundeswehr. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Gordon. No, I have neither. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. As a little aside I have a grouping belonging to a member of a night fighting formation stationed in Romania for the protection of the Romanian oil fields.He apparently was flying during the U.S.attack on the fields in 1943. He survived the war but was " invited" to register for military service when the Bundeswehr was instituted in 1956. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. The war time insert advises the proper authority with which to place ones enlistment request in order to avoid delays when submitted to those not involved in such matter. Volunteers are required to enlist for longer duration straight away. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. You may be right. The first sheet is the Praesentier Marsch performed when the formation presents arms. The second the Hohenfriedberger which still is very popular and based on the famous battle at Hohenfriedberg fought by Fredrick the Great (Fredrick II). No other date , perhaps on the last page or somewhere? Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. The document you show here which is at least to me a rarity, is the pledge to fulfill duty or obligation to the Fuehrer . This is short of an oath but nevertheless a commitment . As you state the left is the local Hitler Youth leader and the right the local party leader. Thanks for showing it. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. In one regard the wreath on the wall bearing the number 50 should be large enough should an enlargement of the picture of the award itself not suffice. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. The German news magazine "Der Spiegel" with date of 26 Aug.2014 published an article about the German city of Wesel having in its archive several hundred photos taken by a medic of the Inf.Rgt. 56 . This regiment was garrisoned in Wesel with staff and I. and II. Battalions and neighboring Cleve where the II. Battalion had its garrison. This regiment had its first casualty by friendly fire. The Battle of Verdun saw the regiment deployed there and at other casualty intensive battlegrounds. The total fatalities until the end of the war amounted to 133 officers KiA or MiA ( considered dead ) and 4473 other ranks. The regiment returned with 2 officers and 26 other ranks from the war. German T.V. ( ZDF ) had a documentary about this and the city of Wesel has a book about this subject. Bernhard H. Holst.

Hello Jock. Our dinnerware includes a similar dish with a 4 1/2 inch diameter and two handles. It is meant for soup and can also be used for compote. Yours was most likely part of a DAF facility which included a kitchen and dining room. Good find as usual. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Could be for children going into the fields to help with agriculture work. Those days everyone had to help. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Going strictly from memory but complete catalogs such as this fetch big money these days. Again from memory shown are also the Grosse Urkunden for the Knights Cross to the Iron Cross ( formal award documents) and higher. They come on the market once in a while. As shown the company marketing this catalog was owned by Heinrich Hoffmann, Hitler's favorite photographer who amassed a large fortune from his activities. Typical 3rd Reich art. I believe a large number of such is still in storage here in the USA including some pieces over which it is difficult to argue whether they really belong into the Nazi influenced art movement ( just M H O ). Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. I have reviewed three Allied POW Discharge papers, all issued by U.S. Authorities. One had a similar stipulation in the form of a stamp like addition on the bottom portion of the reverse. It is faint and will probably not scan well. But this is what it says: " The bearer of this is liable to arrest if he does not on reaching his home immediately alter to civilian cut or dye another color other than blue his uniform". The German language version given is slightly different in that it refers to American, German and other uniform pieces and adds to blue also olive-green. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. REF: # 4: I can not recall a like document in which the wear of uniform is allowed for a certain length of time. But then what were they to wear? Their underwear? Of course every and all offending insignia were to be removed. I recall wounded officers from our local military hospital who were given the freedom of the surrounding area and who wore their uniforms with the national eagle removed. I should check like discharge papers in some groups I have for such stipulation. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Rick. Sicherungs units were usually charged with security duties in rear areas and consisted of more aged personnel. Never the less on the eastern front especially those assignments could become dicey in a hurry. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Try again . Just enter Sicherungs Bataillon 989in Google or whatever you use. It should pop up for you. Bernhard H. Holst