Bernhard H.Holst

Hi Rick. Thank you for showing these precious items. Without wanting to steal your thunder: I broke down and bought the first St. Henry at the SOS show on a medal bar and am sorry I waited as long as I did. Read through the reference book on recipients again. Found that also some participants in the 1914-18 campaign who were bestowed with th order. The crosses were handed out after their return from Africa.. Thanks again, Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: entry reads as "Urlauber Marsch Bataillon R 2. Kompanie Wehrkreis VIII" Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Paul. I can easily provide this reference: Fritz Wuellner " Die NS-Militaerjustiz und das Elend der Geschichtsschreibung. Ein grundlegender Forschungsbericht" Baden-Baden Nomos Verlag 1991 ISBN 3-7890-1833-3 This book contains one chapter dealing with penalty systems, (penitentiary, Feldsonderbataillon, Straflager). Probation system: Probationary formations, differences between 999 formations and 500 Bewaehrungstruppe.; Feldstrafgefangenen-Abteilungen; A series written by a former officer serving in 500 z.b.V. appeared in the Soldatenjahrbuch over a period of several years. I will make an effort to locate the pertinent issues.. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: I have some Germasn language reference material on penal and probationary units of the German Armed Forces. No mention was made of any employment as pilots but as was already mentioned loss rates were high. Employment in missions of extreme danger were commonplace. Also some units were utterly destroyed in combat. Bernhard H. Holst

hello: inscription of photo reads:" Verlobungsbild 21.6.1942 Tante Lenchen und Onkel Rolf" Or ":engagements picture, aunt Lenchen and uncle Rolf" Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. From my own recent ( 2007) experience asking for the records of three of my uncles of whom my godfather was killed in Italy on 15.Apr. 1945 I received a similar answer. It was requested by the WAST to furnish authorisations from "Erbberechtigten" ( survivors who are entitled to an inheritance) Now there are : -1. no survivors of one; -2: all over the world; -3. who knows. By contrast: R.K.T. W. Hund was provided with his service records via a good internet correspondent from the US National Archives. They reached him shortly before his deat. He informed the helpful person that his requests for his own records were refused by the Bundesarchiv. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Paul and any readers. The thread in which parts of the entries are shown belonged to a member of "Landesschuetzen" unit ( Home Guard equivalent) . These third or even fourth rate units were equipped with obsolete and or recovered weapons from the first successful campaigns in Europe.. I do remember seeing such Landesschuetzen guarding US Army PoW's in late 1944 in Saxony who were equipped with Lebel rifles. It seemed at the time that some weapons were taller than the guys to whom that monster weapon belonged. . Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: I must agree with David upon applying his reading of the entry. I believe these units to have been the most severe assignments as punishment then in existence . But as David mentioned we do not know whether he belonged to the cadre or as member/inmate (?). Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Douglas: 1.Sep. 44 Beurteilung der Kriegsbrauchbarkeit. Urteil: K.V. ( kriegsverwendbar ) or (Medical examination) evaluation of frontline service fitness. result: fit for frontline service Bernhard H. Holst

page 20: to be employed firstly as rifleman;, secondly as light machine gunner; page 21: from 5.June to 6.June 44 Horse Gas Course. ( I understand this to have been a gas protection course for horses) Bernhard H. holst

Douglas: I am not sure about it ( I read only Feld...Gefechts Abteilung 14/Stab) or Feld... Combat Detachment 14/Staff

Hi Chris. I read the entry as " Zahnbruecke gebrochen und Zellgewebentzuendung rechtes Knie" ( for those who may have difficulties with the German language : dental bridge broken and cellular tissue inflamation right knee). BTW: I have just received a group of an NCO I.R. 105 (6.Saech.) who was wounded at Verdun, survived the battles there. Unfortunately I am unable to post data> Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: additional docs: -Kriegsverdienstkreuz ( no class distinction). to Fw. Eduard Beddies, Fussart.Rgt. General Feldzeugmeister ( Brandenburgisches) Nr.3 ,8..Batterie on 1.Feb.1917. L.lower corner shows K 1224. same recipient : Bewaehrungsabzeichen zum KVK II.Kl. on 31.Jul.1918, now Fw. and Off.Stellvertreter, same unit. L.lower corner shows K 4355. BTW: if memory does not trick the Ist class as well as the Bewaehrungsabzeichen were instituted as late as 1918. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: I.- Kriegsverdienstkreuz zweiter Klasse Uffz. Otto Thomas of 8.Jun.1918 shows the number in lower left corner as K 2815; II.- Kriegsverdienstkreuz ( w/out further class distinction) to Kanonier August Effe , K. Flak Batterie 7, shows no number on the document , dated 19.Feb.1918which is not trimmed. BTW: these Kraftfahr Flak Kompanien were also effective in fighting allied tank attacks (mentioned in the German Reichsarchiv volume about the "Tankschlacht von Cambrai". I have somewhere in my "archives" a document of the "Bewaehrungsabzeichen" which I must retrieve and mention in this thread. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Ulsterman. If memory serves me right present day Somalia at one time was controlled by Great Britain, Italy and France. This may explain the Somalia bar. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Kevin. Medaille Coloniale awarded in 1952 has a wide slider while a second privately purchased later ( time frame ??) has a narrow one . Unfortunately I am unable to post pictures. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. I am glad you were able to obtain this picture. To me it means a lot to associate a face with documents. Gordon McGregor seems to be able to access Namibia archives pretty well. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris and Veteran. I am in receipt of the Card du Combattant for some years which also substantiates the Croix du Combattant.. Obtained as Veteran described and also by me in an earlier post reply. Upon the strong recommendation received from a former officer of the unit I belonged to during two tours of duty in Indochina ( 2. Groupement Amphibie / 1. Regt. Etranger de Cacallerie) I have recently submitted a letter to the Bureau des Anciens de la Legion Etrangere requesting a clarification of any medals I am entitled to after my discharge in 1957. During my active service in the field I have witnessed the occasional "massive" descent of decorations but also on at least one occasion the mandate from "higher ups" that no requests for decorations be submiitted . This instance involved a very unfortunate affair the telling of which has no place in this thread. BTW: it seems the three of us represent three generations or so of fellows having served in a number of conflicts of which I was marginally involved in the two lost ( Indochina and North Africa ) but have no regrets. Chris, best of luck in your endeavor. Veteran, I always read your posts with great interest. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Gordon. Thank you for showing this document. Of note is his early discharge date of 9.Nov.1917. I wonder if the injuries suffered did not cause him to be invalided from the service. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Don. Not necessarily. This officer's actual, initial assignment may have been to Gebirgstruppe which remained his branch or arm . He was later assigned to a Jaeger formation of which several were formed during the war as you may well know. His rank at the time of the D.K.i.G. award was Oberleutnent indicating "aktiv" or regular army not Oblt.d.R.which supports my thinking expressed here Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Thank you for showing this as this regiment and others (Hanoverian)from my home area are dear to my heart. I would guess that the Gold Wound badge was given on account of a severe wound resulting in loss of limb or such. In support of this thinking I quote the job decription of "Schrankenwaerter" ( railroad crossing guard) in the award doc. for the Hindenburg Cross which job could still be handled by a somewhat invalid person. This regiment (2.Hann.)Inf.Rgt. Nr. 77 lost more than 5200 who died in action. One officer ( on detached duty) won the PLM, seven the Hohenzoller. Five enlisted personnel were awarded the rare Kgl. Preuss. militaer-Verdienstkreuz in Gold. A total of 146 E.K. I class and 4 965 EK Ii class were awarded per the regimental history. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Don. While I do not intend to steal any thunder from the experts you did mention here are my two cents worth: Last name to me reads as "Friedrich". The D.K.i.G and in S. reference book by Horst Scheibert and the one by V. Scherzer list an Oberleutnant Waldemar Friedrich, I./Jg.Rgt. 207 as recipient of the D.K.i.G. with date of 21.May 1943. The first name of Waldemar could be identical with what appears on the name tag you pictured.. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello: The R.K.T. pictured is the Kpt.z.S. Werner Hartmann, DoB 11.Dec.1902 and DoD 26.Apr.1963. U-Boat commander and the 645.recipient of the Oak-Leaves. His last assignment was that of commander of the Marine Gren.Rgt. 6 in the 2.Marine Inf.Div. in northern Germany. This regiment was deployed in and around my home town in the last stages of the war. Kptn.z.S. Hartmann with staff had a brief orientation or such in very close proximity of our house and I was told of his name then. Bernhard H. Holst

hello : Chris came quite close: this item looks very much like the French made US Signal Corps Radio 300 (SCR 300) a backpack voice only radio introduced during WW II. Used by french forces in Indochina in 1940's early 1950's( late 1953). BTW: I was a company radio operator handling one like this in 1951 to 1953 on active service there, our units were Motorola made and refurbished in Japan. Batteries made in France and on one occasion sabotaged very clevverly. Replaced by a slimmer, lighter unit with better capabilities during later part of 1953 but after my end of tour. The picture seems to have the combat antenna attached, there was also a collapsible long one in the radio set which ensured a better reception over longer distance or in heavy vegetation often encountered even in the Tonking delta region. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers: Only recently was it brought to my attention that an officer under whose orders this writer served while on service with the 2.Groupement Amphibie of the 1. R.E.C. (1.Regiment Etranger de Cavalerie) during 1952-1953 and in 1954, died in action on 28.September 1958 . Capitaine Xavier de Cacqueray-Valmenier was in command of 3.Escadron 4.Regiment des Chasseurs when he died during a night operation in the Constantine region of Algeria. His close family has provided several officers to the French Foreign Legion as described by a nephew of his from whom this information has come. A brother of Xavier de Cacqueray lost a leg in Dien Bien Phu , another served with the paratroopers while another member of the family served in the 2.R.E.I.. This post is meant to memorize a fearless officer, who set an example to the men he commanded , was willing to learn in the field when first assigned to serve with troops and was always fair minded in his dealing with subordinates. During his career which ended at the age of thirty years he had become an Officer of the Legion of Honor, was five times cited and wounded three times . His former regiment in 1992 honored him by naming a regimental facility after him. Here is a link for any reader who would like to see a picture of him and read about him : www.4rch.fr/images/metier/2/img/capitaine.htm Thanks to all readers who spent time to read this, Bernhard H. Holst