Bernhard H.Holst

Hello Fred.

Re.# 50 the signature is that of Gen.Oberst Loerzer, longtime head of the personnel office of the Luftwaffe.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

This being the one the least awarded has been the more costly one since I started to collect militaria ( twenty Years ago).

All Hanseatic crosses are quite pretty.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Michael.

I thank you for your kind and considerate words.

To me those I personally knew shall forever remain in my memory.

I am grateful to the French government to have made enough efforts and funds available to transfer those remains of which the grave sites were known, to a national and final resting place at Frejus, France. This action was not limited to military personnel of French nationality but whoever served.

The end of that conflict is near at hand as is the date of that action. At least still remembered by some.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Marcin.

The1st inscription identifies the people pictured. # 1 is Gen.Major Freiherr v. Pletten Arnbach ( ?);

2. and 3. the adjudants, 4. the Gerichtsoffizier ( legal affairs officer);

Photo taken in April 1917 in barracks yard of ...? kaserne.

2nd description is an explanation of the picture. Here a march past a royal personage ( cannot quite read it) The sender is in the first rank.

Sender also sends greetings to another person.

3rd description is a Thank You letter to a 1st Lt. for his and the staff's congratulations at the occasion of the writers E.K.II bestowal for which he is thankful. Also for the same occasion the recipient apparently forwarded gratulatory words from a general. The writer asks to convey his appreciation to all parties.

The writer seems to be a Schirrmeister ( NCO rank) and the wording is formulated in a very respectful fashion because of his addressing superior ranking persons.

I hope this helps,

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers.

The recently expanded French Government site "Memoire des Hommes" listing the personnel Mort Pour La France during several of the French conflicts now makes it possible to locate fatal losses during the Indochina conflict based on dates of death and/or other particulars. Unfortunately the data are not complete and oftentimes distorted in the transcription and it does not seem to operate as smoothly as one could wish..

I have now located additional personnel who belonged to a mainly Vietnamese battalion, the Bataillon de Marche d'Indochine of which there were I believe three in total. These battalions were considered elite.This personnel also lost their lives in this combat.

- MORILLON, Andre Rene, Marechal des Logis (Sergeant) DoB 2 January, 1931;

- TESTAR, Kleber, Soldat de 1er classe, DoB 24 April, 1933;

- NGUYEN, Van Tai, born in 1935;

- NGUYEN, Van Ngac, born in 1933;

Having been in the field with this unit on several occasions I felt an obllgation to here record their names.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

Good luck. The Treudienst is indeed ugly. I have passed some interesting articles over time because of it.

I have some Braunschweig incl. the Frontbewaehrung also docs. I just like them with the Horse like Hanover has.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

Looking at the stockings and mountain boots worn by the two fellows on the left they certainly belong to mountain troops. The pipes in use seem typically Bavarian. The collar shields do not ring a bell and to me are non regulation.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

I hope you will be successful. I take it you are bidding in an auction?

Interesting date for the E.K.I bestowal. And of course the Braunschweig I always ilike.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

First time I come across such unit designation. Based on the issuing formation i.e. Corps level, it seems to be a small unit which was comprised of personnel in need of reduced level of duties because of health issues. Some members may have been recovering from wounds or illnesses. Perhaps a step up from Genesenen but not entirely fit for regular duty. A literal translation would not do in this case ( schonen or to spare.)

But perhaps someone can come up with a more concise explanation.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

Thank you for showing these pictures. Cannot say to have met him but would have liked to.

The first picture showing him in a ricepaddy seems a widely circulated photo, it looked familiar straight away.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Rick.

Thank you for showing these St.Henry items. I started late with Saxon medals.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

I have seen the "Rhin et Danube" arm patch still in wear. Apparently for reasons of tradition.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

Very nice document.

The Bavarian one certainly appears to be based on the same layout as the Saxon one.

Of interest ( to me ) is the little section dedicated to the date of the document's completion.

Thanks for showing them.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris and Andy.

As Andy noted quite a career in Finnish service. In WW I several times wounded and severe illnesses. Feb. to May 1917 detached to Sturmbataillon Rohr, he seemingly specialised in M.G. service.

He had the Finnish citizenship. He died shortly before returning home in soviet camp Woikowo on 30 Nov.1955.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

W/out Googling the name strikes me as being the later General Stahel charged with the defense/ retaking of some ( more than one) strategicly important places during WW II. Highly decorated. Died while a prisoner of war in the then Soviet Union.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello,

promoted from Vizewachtmeister to Leutnant der Reserve with usual noted encouragement to observe the duties which come with the rank.He was permanently assigned to Landwehrbezirk Heidelberg.

Vizewachtmeister or equivalent rank of Vizefeldwebel, so he must have belonged to some mounted or horsedrawn arm.

Bernhard H. Holst

Interesting to see he is wearing an IAB. Could you post a picture of the Red Cross certification Bernard?

Sincerely

Larry

Hello Larry.

Here is the document. For those who would like an explanation regarding this document:

the person identified therein is exclusively employed in the medical service as medical officer with troops. He is entitled to wear the Genf insignia, a stamped armband with the Red Cross and is under protection of articles , 9, 12 and 13 of the Genf Treaty of 27.July 1929.

It is stamped and signed by the deputy of the divisional medical officer of the 118. Rifle Division.

Of note is the material of the document which is reinforced by what appears to be threads of linen or such to make it wear resistant against every day wear which was required.

Bernhard H. Holst

Very nice indeed.

Do you have his wehrpass in the group?

Hello Chris.

Unfortunately not. The Red Cross certification ( wearing the Red Cross armband and the protection it affords) is among the documents, one does not see these too often.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers.

Here are two photos of Stabsarzt Pretzsch, Werner who served as a Captain ( medical corps) in a Jaeger Division on the Balkans. I have in my care his military estate. Of note are his decorations of which the black woundbadge is not shown on the picture.

His photoalbum has as dates of entering the army 1.Oct.1936 and 20 May, 1940. As discharge date 25.June 1945. Since his DoB is 28.Jan.1915 I think his overall medical training took place in the time span 1936 and 1943. The photo in dress uniform which is dated 1943 appears to have the medical corps cypher on the shoulderboards.

I have reasons to believe that his last assignment put him out of reach of Tito who would not have let him go as quickly, if he would have survived the last phase of operations and the capture at all.

I am showing these two photos as a demonstration how active service leaves some traces on a guy's appearance.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hi,

that is a possibility. Can you figure out the town? i have tried Sargsburg, Sagsburg... but I am missing something....

Hi Chris.

I read Augsburg.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris.

Could be Andi, short for Andreas?

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Taz.

Thank you for the explanation and also for the other mentioned accomodations of which only some were familar to me.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers.

I am just now reading once again " Some Desperate Glory, The World War I diary of a British Officer" by Edwin Campion Vaughn, M.C. He makes mention of a shelter he called Adrian hut. I am familiar with Nissen huts which were also used during WW II for troops and after as shelters for refugees.

Perhaps someone can offer an explanation.

Also this book is a very good read and highly recommended.

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello.

I was one of his many, many fans until just a number of years ago. Then finally I came across an article describing how during the 1933 - 1945 his dark side of character was kept hidden. A man with more than mere blemishhes...

Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers.

The Jaeger Bataillon (Hann.) 10 was entitled to wear the cufftitle "Gibraltar" and campaign/battle honors on their tschakos " Peninsula, Venta Del Pozo and Waterloo". It was deployed during WW I on different fronts and was also a component of the Alpenkorps. It counted in its ranks a number of junior officers who survived the war and continued to reach General Officcers rank during WW II. A good number of them were highly decorated. It should be pointed out that the German Imperial Army did not offer fast advancement in rank. Most company commanders were 2nd lt's. as the war progressed and battallions were then oftentimes commanded by captains and even 1st lt.'s .

Here is a list of such officers:

- Gen. d. Pz.Tr BALCK, Hermann. Oakleaves w/Swords and Diamomds, several times wounded.

- Gen.d. Geb.Tr. KREYSING, Hans. Oakleaves w/Swords, Hohenzollern.

- Gen.Lt. KIRCHHEIM, Heinrich, PLM, Hohenzollern, Knightscross to the Iron Cross.

- Gen.Lt. HACCIUS, Ernst. Knight Cross, German Cross i.Gold.

- Gen.Maj. FULLRIEDE, Fritz, Res.Jg. Btl.10 later Jg.Btl. Kirchheim ( from Jg.Btl.10 ).Oakleaves.

- Gen.Major v.STOLZMANN, Hans Joachim. Knights Cross, German Cross i.Gold.

- Gen.d.Inf. KEITEL, Bodewin, was head of the Heeres Personal Amt for a time.

I believe this to be an impressive record for a rather small formation but an elite one.

Souces: History of the Jg.Btl.(Hann.) 10, Biblio ref.series on German army generals and W.Keilig, Die Generale des Heeres.

Bernhard H. Holst

p.s. I hope to be able to soon show a picture of a Tschako for this unit for which I was searching for many years and a pre-1914 jaeger green tunic with the "Gibraltar" cuff band.

B.H.H.