Bernhard H.Holst

Hello readers: Just having access to a computer while traveling the Black Hills region of South Dakota I have read this post with great interest. I take the liberty for sentimental reasons to add little bit of information on this very distinguished regiment, the 13.DBLE. - this regiment has the sad distinction of having lost in action three of its regimental commanders (chef de corps) , Lt,.Col. Prince Amilakvari during the battles in North Africa in 1942, Lt.Col. Segretain during an ambush on a convoi in Annam, Central Vietnam and lastly Lt.Col. Gaucher at Dien Bien Phu on the opening battle on 13. March, 1954. That night the III./13.DBLE practically disappeared. While on active duty in Vietnam (Tonkin) 1951 - 1953 and again in 1954 my unit (an amphibious formation of the 1.REC) we oftentimes operated with units of the 13.DBLE, mainly the III/13.DBLE. I had a dear friend who died of wounds in Central Vietnam in 1952 during his second tour of duty and still in 12./13.DBLE. I had the good fortune to encounter him before his death a few, too few times during operations and his comrades always gave matter of fact reports of the spirit this unit possessed.I believe that this regiment again and again displayed a great combat performance. This also goes for the Vietnamese personnel integrated in the I. - III. Battalions and the IV. Battalion consisting of nearly all Vietnamese. As you may know the French Forces call that "esprit de corps" which is also something which persists even with transfers to other regiment(s) one maintains a particular tight attachment to one or the other. Nostalgia wrote the above and this writer indulged. As Veteran wrote of his former regiment and one could add others (6.REI dissolved a longtime ago and is now the 6.REG; 5.REI became the 5.Regiment Mixte du Pacifique and so on . The French Army respects traditions and I believe performance in the field does reflect that. The British Army I believe went through more than one transformation since WW I without suffering in quality. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers: I have visited this website and found with a random search several members of the French Foreign Legion who belonged to units deployed in France and lost their lives . Some caution is advised searching in the lists of all conflicts: the results may be sometimes disappointing because of assumed names while serving, will not bring up the personnel you are looking for. Also transcription of foreign names, locales and such leave a lot to be desired. I encountered a lot of that while searching the lists of those who lost their lives in Indochina. Bernhard H. Holst

Dear readers; on 28. September is once again the anniversary of his death in action of a French officer under whom this writer served in Vietnam in 1952-1953 and again in 1954. Le Capitaine Xavier de Cacqueray died of his wounds still on the field on the 28.September 1958 in Algeria. After his death he was made Officer of the Legion of Honor and received a Palm with the Croix de Valeur Militaire. He was thus cited five times beginning with the Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 for action as a sixteen year old in the Resistance, three citations Croix de Guerre Theatres d'Operations Exterieur during the conflict in Indochina and this last one after his death in Algeria. As reported earlier the 2012 class of the Ecole Speciale Militaire de St.Cyr elected to bear the name of this gallant officer. The naming of each class after a distinguished officer or other prominent military event is of long standing. This writer was able to attend a special day of remembrance of this officer ( Journee du Parrain ) following the invitation by the family and the 2012 class of St.Cyr at the Ecole Militaire in Paris this past March. During this memorable day acquaintance was made with members of the family, a former officer and comrade of this officer in this writer's regiment in Vietnam , other former and present officers. In all a grand day if only to have set foot where Napoleon I once stood. Bernhard H. Holst once served with the French Foreign Legion

Hello : correction to the website address I posted above: http://www.memoirede...efense.gouv.fr/ But it will not accept the entire website address which is ...memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/ Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Ostprussenmann. You may want to attempt the following website for information on military personnel who lost their lives in service with French Armed Forces: http://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/ I have tested the section of those who died in WW II and found personnel listed who were serving in the French Foreign Legion on "both sides" (i.e. Vichy and Forces Francaises Libre). BTW: this included one man who was detached as anti-aircraft crew on board of a tanker which was lost at sea. Another man who was executed in France in 1944 and listed as a member of the Forces Francaises de l'Interieur I was not successful in regards to the section WW I because the computer system froze up on me. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Thierry. The only source for additional information concerning Ritter v. Zottman's military awards could be a reference book to the Generals of the German Police to 1945. I am only aware of reference books of those Police Generals who also held rank in the Waffen-SS. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Thierry: based on "VITTUTI PRO PATRIA Der koeniglich bayrische Militaer-Max_Joseph_Orden, Kriegstaten und Ehrenbuch 1914 -1918 " published by the Order in Munich, 1966: Gen.Maj. d.Schutzpolizei a.D. was the son of Gen.Lt. Max Zottmann and Agathe , nee Fleischhauer. Entry as Faehnrich on 14.July 1902 into 2.I.R. ; Lt. on 12.March 1904 and transferred to 4.I.R. in Metz. and on 1.October 1910 assigned to 1.I.R. in Munch. Married on 18. October 1911 to Christiane, nee Honold. One son. Oberlt. on 7.March 1912 in 1.I.R. Adj. of Bezirks Kommandos II, Munch. 9.August 1915 Hptm. and Battalion Commander in R.I.R. 1. Discharged on 11.Oct.1920 with rank as characterlicher Major. Combats 1914 in Lorraine in front of Nancy-Epinal, Position warfare in the central Vosge Mountains into 1915 and 1916 Battle of Verdun and on the Aisne River. 1917 on the Somme, in Flanders, in the Artois area, Spring Battle in Arras Area. Position Warfare near La Basseee, near Zandvoorde, Dixmuiden. Admitted to the Order of the M.M.J.O. on 9.April 1917. 1918 Battle near Armentieres, here severely wounded.. As of February 1919 to 8.October 1922 v.Zottman was Wehramtmann ( Defenseofficial) in the government of Oberpfalz and Regensburg.In several positions of Statepolice, promoted to Major 1. June 1923 and 1.February 1932 Oberstleutnant followed to Oberst on 1. May 1933. Retired on 1.November 1934 when he reached the age limit. WW II: On 26.Aug. 1939 as Major commander of I./E.R. 212 then in Wehrersatz-Inspektion VII Munch. He then transferred to the police forces. Promoted to Oberst d. Schutzpolizei on 22.Jan. 1939 in Munich. 1.Dec.1939 transferred to the Ministry of the Interior, Main Office Ordnungspolizei in Berlin in charge of the Rangliste of the German Police. On 1.Dec. 1941 Befehlshaber der Ornungspolizei der Westmark and Lorraine. On 3.Mar.1943 Inpector of the Unkrainian Schutzmanschaft on the staff of Befehlshaber der Ordnungspolizei Ukraine. Promoted to Gen.Maj. der Schutzpolizei on 1.Apr.1943 remaining in his assignment. Discharged from active service on 31.Dec.1943. Prisoner of War of the U.S.Forces in Upper Bavaria from 1945 to 1947. Ritter v. Zottmann died on 17.Jan.1966 in Herrsching on the Ammer Lake. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: in addition to Uwe's links the Biblio's reference series on Knights Cross recipients, here those of the infantry,volume One quotes the supplement to the Armed Forces Daily Communique dated 10.Sep.1944: The 98. Inf.Div., lead by Gen.Maj. Reinhardt distinguished itself during the severe defensive combats on the Adria Coast through outstanding perseverance (holding its ground). The division from 1. to 9.Sep. 1944 disabled 40 tanks. On 7.Sep. Uffz.Bauer distinguished himself especially during the retaking of the locale Il Palazzo. This courageous Unteroffizier belonged to the four men, including three officers, of the 98.Inf.Div. who for the extraordinary defensive deed of this division which was rebuilt after its destruction on the Crimea Peninsula, were awarded the Knights Cross. Uffz. Bauer died following his wounding at the Main Dressing Station St. Lamzo near Morciano south of Rimini (Italy) on 26.Oct.1944. After death and with date of 1.Oct.1944 he was promoted to Felswebel. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Christer. The "shooting award" appears to be the fouragere in the colors of the Legion d'Honneur with which this regiment was decorated on 3.Sep.1918. The soldier wears the croix de guerre 1914-18. Bernhard H. Holst

Harrier: the K.M.Rangliste of 1.Sep.1944 lists AF (as you picture the position of "F") meaning Faehnrichartillerielehrgang. I believe that to also pertain to entries in earlier Ranglisten. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers: I agree that this officer very much resembles Gen.Oberst Gotthard Heinrici,DoB 25 Dec.1886 and DoD 13 Dec.1970 .Hohenzoller in WWI and Oakleaves and Swords on 3 Mar.1945. Literature available to me does not indicate a son or sons. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Dante. The inscription reads: Zum freundlichen Gedenken Loebau Sa. (Sachsen) 1947 Erzpr. (Erzpriester ?) Paul Scholz

Hello readers: I am referring to the French website www.france-phaleristique.com which is not an official government website but relies on the Journal Officiel. To see two more recent exclusions and radiations, go to Ban and select Legion d'Honneur with date of 30 Juillet 2010. (Award originally to civilian). Then to Medaille Militaire with date of 30 Juillet 2007. These revocations appear to be rather rare this writer having followed these threads for some years now. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Captain. Going strictly by memory (which is not what it used to be and my library being in total disarray) this could pertain to an uprising in German East Africa, I believe in 1905. This was ruthlessly suppressed. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: to elaborate somewhat on the information Veteran gave: At the conclusion of my six years enlistment with the French Foreign Legion in early 1957 I was provided with my "Livret Individuel" which corresponds very close with veteran's detailed description of the "Etat de Services". It includes my time spent at the various units, the transit thereto, special training etc. All entries are in a very legible handwriting and to me is a very detailed record of my service. Bernhard H. Holst ex sergent , 1er RE and brigadier-chef 1er REC

Hello Chris and Uwe. 2nd entry, last word in (....) I believe to be the location name of the hospital but cannot decipher it. The same would go for the next two entries. A SWAG of mine would point to Romania, Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers: I can only confirm Naxos' statement> L.Ganghofer was indeed a very popular writer and I remember reading his books while growing up. But I was unaware of his activities during part of WW I and his being wounded. Thanks, Naxos for bringing it to our attention. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Gordon. The wording in the wanted bulletin " traegt" (wearing)the named decorations following make me wonder whether these decorations were actually earned by this person. He already inflated his rank to Unteroffizier and also masquerading as a highly decorated NCO would decrease the risk of detection. Just my feel of this case. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Brian: I should have pointed out that the time frame of my reading the sensational writings of the Boer War took place in Germany in the early 1940's when the anti-British propaganda ran at high revolutions. Of course propaganda regardless of its origins has an effect on young people's minds. Any objective writing about such matters were impossible prior to 1945. Only after the end of WW II were other writings available and more so after my arrival in the USA with well equipped public libraries and publishing sources galore. I must admit that I have not yet arrived at conclusions about this complicated conflict, only that in IMHO the subsequent events seemed to indicate a solution acceptable to all sides. The outbreak of WW I with the events around German South-West Africa showed only a feeble attempt by some Boer elements to reverse the earlier outcome. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. I noticed the distributor of the card. For those who may not read German: "German Center for ending the Boer War, Munich". I was aware that a sizable number of Germans were in sympathy with the Boers. As a youth we used to read lots of cheap booklets glamorizing the Boers' stand against the British. More serious reading I only began once I had easier access to such books. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Paul. Mr. Wildner was a native of Austria where he also resided after the war. Austria had different statutes/laws with which I am even less familiar than Germany's postwar. The persons so involved in Germany had all lost their lives mainly in connection with the 20 July, 1944 plot. So the matter did not come up postwar. Veit Scherzer states that judicial authorities in Berlin reported not to have received any demands to reverse the loss of decorations by sentences prior to 1945. Of course there is a judicial side and a side we could apply that they earned their decorations and therefore are forever entitled to them. Veit Scherzer has all such recipients in his reference book in a separate section together with other personnel for which the award status is unclear or not supported by official records. Bernhard H. Holst

hello Paul. The recipient was the later Uffz. Anton Wildner, K.C. with date 10 Sep. 1944 as Obgf. DoB 24 May 1920, DoD 3 Jun. 1970. Injected with petroleum in one arm during his leave following K.C. award. Doctors detected smell and reported. Military court sentenced him to three years but reviewing authority demanded new trial at which he was sentenced to death. Records being incomplete but A. Wildner survived. Information I received indicated that he had lost the arm. As to revoking awards: this seems to be somewhat unclear. The law before 1945 made the loss of awards somewhat automatic upon sentencing following trials for severe offenses. Sources: F. Wuellner , Die N.S. Militaerjustiz und das Elend der Geschichtsschreibung. V.Scherzer, Ritterkreuztraeger 1939-1945. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Gordon: Thank you for clarifying this still misinterpreted subject. Of note as illustrated in your #2 is that your man was discharged in late 1939 and not called back until 1942 into a Landesschuetzen unit then transferred to the Feldstrafgefangenen outfit. There the last entry clearly listed him as being on staff. So we can safely believe that he belonged to the cadre all along. Some books in the German language have been published shedding light on the Wehrmacht's judicial system. BTW: in 1944 a Knightscross recipient (other ranks) was sentenced to death in Vienna for self mutilation. The literature is somewhat incomplete but he survived this ordeal. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. After a few squints: contents are mainly about field kitchen in a village which is quite damaged (Ornes/Verdun battlefield?)Gripes about food (sounds familiar)etc. The lower part with mixed writings (often done to save space) was beyond me. Bernhard H. Holst