Dave Danner

Last but not least, Rudolf Witzig, famous for the battle of Fort Eben-Emael.

Ludwig Bauer Wilhelm Anhalt

Karl Herzog Klemens Behler

Günther Bahr, night fighter ace Herbert Kaminski, fighter pilot

The following photos are neat, because they pair up a World War II photo with a post-war one. I'm not sure who did them; I found them on a military photos forum, and the person who posted them there didn't say where he got them (they weren't his own work; he didn't even know who the people were). If anyone has seen the pairings before, let me know so they can be properly credited. Friedrich Anding of the Großdeutschland Division Friedrich-August Freiherr von der Heydte, who led the last major German airborne operation of the war.

Florida death records have a Gordon Percival Chase who died in St. Petersburg. Born 26 Jan 1916, died 26 Apr 1993. There's another Gordon P. Chase, born 6 Mar 1918, died 23 Sep 1992 in Baltimore, whose age would be in roughly the right time frame (Chase was a Lieutenant, USNR in 1942 and a Lt. Commander at the time of the actions for which he got the Navy Crosses). My instinct says our guy is the former; he also lived in Pensacola at some point in the 1980s, and Pensacola is the home of naval aviation. There was a Robert Featherstone Birch, born 25 Jan 1892 in Chicago, Illinois, in the World War I and World War II draft indexes. He is too old, so perhaps the father. There are several Robert F. Birch's born in the late 1910s and early 1920s who would be the right age in World War II. The most likely would seem to be one born 14 Jul 1920 in Geneva, Illinois, who died 22 Dec 1991. Geneva, Illinois is the residence listed on the elder Robert Featherstone Birch's draft cards.

Also, if the Vizefeldwebel und Offizierstellvertreter was Friedrich August Zöller, Rick's right about the silver grade. His MVK was a 2nd Class with Crown and Swords. Here is some more biographical information on him: Friedrich August Zöller, Vfw.d.L. I u. Offz.Stellv., born 22.6.1886 in Schierschnitz, Sonneberg, S-M. From 5.8.1914 to 23.4.1917 with bay. RIR 5; then 8.IR; promoted to Offz.Stellv. on 20.12.1916; killed in action 7.6.1918. 14.1.1916 EK2 12.9.1917 BMV5bXKr 28.3.1918 BDA3 1.2.1918 SMM

Oberst d.R. Wolfram Kertz, wearing the even less commonly seen miniature Ordenspange.

Given the political and social realities of West Germany, there probably weren't alot of opportunities for German officers to wear full-size medals. Heck, I don't think I ever wore full-size medals except at a Presidential inauguration. In the picture, Graf von Kielmansegg is wearing his at his retirement ceremony.

Johannes Steinhoff, Inspekteur der Luftwaffe Josef Kammhuber, Inspekteur der Luftwaffe Admiral Armin Zimmermann, Generalinspekteur der Bundeswehr

Johann-Adolf Graf von Kielmansegg

For some reason I can't see your attachments. Is anyone else having this problem? Here is Smilo Freiherr von Lüttwitz: and Friedrich Foertsch:

Unfortunately, none of these four pan out from the regimental rolls. None got the Baden decoration. 1) Gefreiter Karl Böttner of 3rd Company Kurt Böttner, born 22.4.1891 in Sonneberg, S-M, Kaufmann in Würzburg. Promoted to Unteroffizier on 7.3.1918 24.8.1916 Bavarian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with Swords (BMV5cX) 8.11.1917 SMM 23.3.1918 Bavarian DA 3. Klasse (BDA3) 19.5.1918 EK2 2) Gefreiter Friedrich Dreßler of 6th Company Friedrich Karl Dressler, born 30.9.1890 in Saalfeld a/Saale, Schreiner in Munich. 27.2.1916 SMM (A.E. v. 27.2.16 Ihr. K. Hoh. der Frau Herzogin Charlotte v. Sachs.-Meiningen) 19.1.1918 EK2 (Verf. d. 14.b.I.D. No. 275/IIa) 3) Gefreiter Artur Jakob of 9th Company Arthur Jakob, born 30.1.1891 in Beuern, Schalkau, S-M. Promoted to Unteroffizier on 10.5.1916, transferred to bay. 22.IR on 7.6.1917 11.6.1916 EK2 20.8.1916 SMM (maybe 28.8.1916) 14.10.1916 BMV5cX 4) Unteroffizier dR Christian Kallenbach of 9th Company Christian Kallenbach, born 17.5.1889 in Leimbach, S-M., Schneider in Leimbach. Promoted to Sergeant on 12.3.1918. 11.11.1916 EK2 1.2.1918 SMM 2.8.1918 Verw.Abz.schw. 4.4.1918 BDA3

He is still listed in the 15. April 1918 Bavarian rank list for active officers. Would that have been the case if invalided out?

And the reverse:

Crisper images:

Hptm. Holler survived the war. He was char. as a Maj. a.D. with permission to wear the uniform of 17.IR on 26. Okt. 1920. Regards, Dave

Alois Holler was promoted to Oberleutnant in mid-1914. He received the BMV4X on 30.11.14. He received his BZ3bX in March 1915 while still with 8.IR (whose Inhaber was the Grand Duke of Baden). He was killed in action as a Hauptmann on 7.4.17 at Arras (St. Laurent), while still serving with 8.IR.

Seven people were awarded four Navy Crosses in World War II: Samuel Dealey, Eugene Fluckey, Slade Cutter, Glynn Donaho, Anton Gallaher, Harold Mazza and Dudley Morton. Roy Davenport was awarded five Navy Crosses. Chesty Puller also received five Navy Crosses, but these were in three different conflicts (Nicaragua (2), WW2 (2) and Korea). Preston and Vejtasa don't show up in the Social Security Death Index, though Vejtasa's wife appears to have died in 2004.

By the way, Paul's example is interesting. Even though Schmidt was a Bavarian officer, both his Bavarian awards came well after his Prussian ones. Even the two Mecklenburg-Schwerin awards, which he got because the Grand Duke was Inhaber of the Bavarian 21st Infantry Regiment, came before Bavarian awards.

There was no specific order. Typically, one might be put in for the EK2, and the home state would respond by awarding its analogous basic award too. But because the award procedures were different, the state award might be awarded first. In other cases, the officer might be put in for the state award first, and the EK2 recommendation might come later. In some cases, not at all - you sometimes see medal bars with a state award and no EK2 (less likely for officers, but common soldiers in a state regiment might get only the state award). In yet other cases, an officer might get the EK2 and the state wouldn't respond. If he got his state's basic award, it might come later for an unrelated act of bravery or military merit. As for the EK1, assuming the officer got one at all, it might come before or after any state award. It could also come for a separate act or acts of valor, or might come for the same deed(s) as a state award. Paul gave you a Bavarian example. Here is an Oldenburger: Carl Becker OFAK2: 14.7.15 EK2: 23.7.15 OFAK1: 13.8.16 EK1: 17.6.17 HOH3X: 8.7.18 OV3bX: 23.8.18 And a Mecklenburg-Strelitzer: Kurt Kruse EK2: 22.10.14 MStK2: 30.6.15 EK1: 16.2.17 MStK1: 2.8.17 HOH3X: 2.10.18 And a few Saxons: Werner Freiherr von Beschwitz EK2: 16.10.14 SA3aX: 20.6.15 SH3: 3.8.16 SA3aXKr: 11.11.17 EK1: 24.12.17 Albert von Funcke EK2: 20.9.14 SA3aX: 10.12.14 EK1: 29.2.16 SA3aXKr: 25.5.16 SH3: 25.5.17 SV3aX: 12.11.17 SH2b: 9.9.18 Max Beyer: EK2: 27.1.15 EK1: 21.8.15 SV3aX: 2.10.15 Max Baumgärtel EK2: 30.12.14 SV3aX: 25.5.15 EK1: 19.7.15 SH3: 16.10.15 SA3X: 28.8.16 HOH3X: 29.11.16 Hans von Schönfels EK2: 24.10.14 EK1: 5.11.14 SA3aXKr: 10.12.14 SH3: 28.2.15 SV3aX: 4.8.16 SA3X: 8.12.16 SH2b: 15.11.17 KO2X: 29.10.18 Eugen Naumann EK2: 20.11.14 SA3aX: 20.2.15 EK1: 1.5.15 SH3: 21.7.15 SV3aX: 29.8.16 SA3X: 3.7.17 SH2b: 1.9.18 Hans von Mangoldt-Gaudlitz EK2: 16.9.14 SH3: 7.11.14 EK1: 12.1.15 SV3aX: 5.6.16 HOH3X: 1.10.16 SA3X: 21.2.18 KO2X: 31.10.18 Ernst Freiherr von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen EK2: 8.9.14 SH3: 24.11.14 EK1: 5.12.14 SA3aX: 6.11.15 SV3aX: 25.5.16 Georg Freiherr von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen EK2: 9.1.15 SV3aX: 19.3.15 EK1: 13.8.15 SH3: 11.11.17 SH2b: 17.4.18 PlM: 8.9.18

You could receive multiple awards as you moved up in rank, but - correct me if I'm wrong - you would only wear more than one if: 1. MVK as enlisted and later MVO as officer. 2. Peacetime award and wartime award (Art. XI of the Statutes: "Kriegs- und Friedensdekorationen werden nebeneinander, auch in verschiedenen Klassen, getragen;") 3. Awards with swords from separate wars (Verordnung d. bay. KM, 11.6.15: allowing that "... jene Militär-Verdienstorden und Militär-Verdienstkreuz mit Schwertern, welche vor August 1914 erworben wurden, neben den in diesem Kriege verliehenen Kriegsdekorationen des Militär-Verdienstordens weiter getragen werden dürfen.") The most MVOs I can remember seeing is on Franz Ritter von Epp. His were from separate conflicts: a 3rd Class with Crown and Swords from World War I (as well as a pinback Officer's Cross later in the war), a 3rd Class with Swords (Knight 1st Class) from the Herero War, and a Knight 2nd Class with Swords from China (no flames).

The vast majority of awards of the MVK 2. Klasse mit der Krone und Schwertern were to Offiziersstellvertreters. Also, besides Unterzahlmeisters, a number of awards to Oberfeuerwerkers, Ober-Musikmeisters, and at least a few to some other oddball ranks like Wallmeister. Also, I think most awards to Zahlmeister-Stellvertreters (Unterzahlmeisters), like other Beamtenstellvertreters, would be "am Bande für Kriegsverdienst". In the navy, awards to various petty officer ratings, including: Oberbootsmann, Obersteuermann, Oberstückmeister, Marine-Ingenieuroberaspirant, Obermaschinist, Funkentelegraphie-Obermeister, Obermeister, Obermaterialienverwalter, Torpedo-Obermaschinist, Obertorpeder, Oberfeuerwerker, Oberflugmeister, Flugobermechaniker, Bootsmann, Steuermann, Vermessungssteuermann, Marine-Ingenieuraspirant, Maschinist, Torpedo-Steuermann, Torpedo-Maschinist, Torpedo-Mechaniker. Also, in later years, there were a number of awards to Vizefeldwebels and Vizefeldwebels der Reserve. Presumably these were second awards to those who already had received the 2. Klasse mit Schwertern.

I don't know much about the medal, but it is for the WAD, not KhAD. At least that's the acronym on the bottom of the medal. KhAD, or "State Information Service" (Khedemat-e Ettala`at-e Dawlati), was the name of the Afghan KGB-equivalent until 1986 or so, when it became WAD, the Ministry for State Security (Wizaarat-e Amniyat-e Dawlati). So that would date the medal between 1986 and the fall of the Communist regime in 1992. Dave

Something is fishy about the names there. I agree that the name written there is Dallwitz, but there was no General von Dallwitz. According to the 1917 edition of the Gothaisches genealogisches Taschenbuch der uradeligen Häuser, the highest ranking member of the Adelsgeschlecht "von Dallwitz" in 1917 was a Major a.D., Johann Sigismund Günther von Dallwitz, born in 1864. There was a higher ranking civilian: Johann von Dallwitz, the Prussian Minister des Innern from 1910 to 1914 and Reichsstatthalter in Elsaß-Lothringen from 1914 to 1918, but I don't see how you get from a Reichsstatthalter in Strasbourg to a General in Silesia. "Dallwitz" also shows up in the names "Wegner von Dallwitz" (also "Dallwitz-Wegner") and (Reichs-) Freiherr von Canitz und Dallwitz, but no WW1 generals for these either. But furthermore, I can't find a "von Denne" in any of my sources for German or Austrian officers. Actually, I can't find a family "von Denne" anywhere. And there are lots of Brinckmans, Brinckmanns, and Brinkmanns, but no Brinkmans. Nor Volkamp. Volkamp, Brinkman and van Denne are Dutch names, though. So there's a possibility for some of them. But no "van Dallwitz"s. The only lieutenants Trenker I've come across are Austrians. Maybe someone added false names for some reason?