Dave Danner

Hübner, Fritz *8.4.1872 Hptm., FAR 71, 18.6.15 Major, 26.5.18 zur Disposition gestellt und zum Bezirkoffizier beim Landwehrbezirk Thorn ernannt, z.Zt. in der II. Ersatz-Abteilung des FAR 71, 1920 Char. als Oberstleutnant a.D., 1920-1921 Regierungsrat beim Versorgungsamt, Kriegsministerium. Hübner, Johann Georg Adolf *3.7.1874 in Ostrowy, Rußland, †10.5.1939 in Liegnitz Hptm., IR 154, 15.7.18 Major Fritz only listed "EK1 & 2, u.a." among his decorations, so he can be ruled out. Georg was not a Major in time, so he too is out. So you are correct as to Hans. Hübner, Hans Friedrich *31.1.1871 in Wittenberg Hptm., Kriegsschule Cassel (Unif. IR 55), ins Feld mit RIR 83, 28.11.14 Major, xx.11.14 Fhr. III./RIR 252, 14.2.15-xx.xx.xx Rgts.Fhr. RIR 252, 18.8.17 Kdr. I./RIR 83, 19.3.18 Kdr. RIR 83, 22.6.18 erkrankt, Oberstleutnant a.D.

It is Krentruperhagen, Oerlinghausen. Holzkämper received the LK on 29.6.1915.

There were differences in the design (including the coat of arms and the motto) and the naming of the different classes. The statute ribbon was, I believe, the same, but for the Royal House Order, as with other Prussian orders like the Red Eagle and Crown Orders, awards with swords were typically made on the Iron Cross ribbon (this is a simplification - the variations in Prussian orders is a book in itself). Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, Knight's Cross with Swords: Princely House Order of Hohenzollern, Honor Cross 3rd Class with Swords:

The Princely House Order of Hohenzollern and the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern were separate orders, awarded by different branches of the House of Hohenzollern.

As an IR 55 officer, his Gefechtsspangen should be: SPICHERN [also spelled SPICHEREN] COLOMBEY-NOUILLY GRAVELOTTE-ST. PRIVAT METZ

Nicolas, Kämper can be ruled out because of the DA. Below are the known (to me) recipients of the AK and the SLK who cannot be ruled out because of other decorations. Wedelstädt, as a Generalstabsoffizier, probably had other decorations we don't know about, so he might be ruled out as well. Polysius and Zach are unlikely - they received the SLK because of their units, and the AK because of their Anhalt citizenship, but had no connection to Oldenburg. Since there are no rolls for the Oldenburg Friedrich-August-Kreuz, we cannot say for certain whether any of them had that cross. However, Gerlach, Gersdorff and Mannlich-Lehmann were 1.GDR officers. Both the Großherzog von Oldenburg and the Herzog von Anhalt were à la suite to 1.GDR, and both made numerous awards of their crosses to that regiment. So each of the three is a likely candidate for your chain and/or the medal bar. Mannlich-Lehmann was a cadet or Fahnenjunker in Berlin at the time of the wedding, so he might have participated, but been too junior to receive a Braunschweig decoration. Gersdorff was also in Berlin, so he might have participated in the wedding as a civilian. Gerlach, Karl August Bogislav Bernd Hermann Jakob v. *2.12.1883 in Köslin, †11.10.1945 in Friedenshütte, O./S. (verschleppt) 5.Fkherr auf Parsow u. Schwemmin, Kr. Köslin, Herr auf Stadtgut Körlin a.P., Trienke u. Drosedow, Kr. Kolberg, Ref.a.D.; Lt.d.R. (Belgard) d. 1.GDR, OLt.d.R., Rittm.d.R.a.D. EK1, AK (31.1.16), SLK (19.10.16) Gersdorff, Wolfgang v. *20.9.1878 in Kloster Jerichow, Jerichow II Dr.phil., Dramaturg d. Kgl. Schauspiele Berlin; Lt.d.R., 4./1.GDR EK2, AK (30.11.17), SLK (28.8.17) Mannlich-Lehmann, Max Erdmann Felix v. *14.1.1894 in Berlin Fhj., 1.GDR, 18.12.13 Fähnr., 6.8.14 Lt. (Pat. 2.9.14), nach d. 1.WK wohnhaft als OLt.a.D. in Dresden EK2, AK (30.11.17), SLK (7.6.16) Polysius, Otto *22.1.1895 in Dessau Sohn d. Hzgl. Kommerzienrats Dr.Ing. Otto Polysius; 18.9.15 Fähnr., JB 7, Stab XXXIX.RK, 30.7.16 Lt., vorl. ohne Pat., 31.10.17 mit Pat. v. 30.7.16 z.d. Res.Offze. d. JB 7 vers., 1.11.17 verletzt, Lt.a.D. EK2, AK (16.12.15), SLK (18.2.16) Rath, Egon Anton Constantin Richard v. *4.12.1890 in Magdeburg Lt., IR 53, 27.1.16 OLt., Hptm.a.D. EK2, AK (20.5.15), SLK (30.6.16) Wedelstädt, Ludwig Erich Theodor Adolf Wilhelm Martin v. *1.8.1882 in Clötze, Gardelegen, †1954 OLt., kdrt. z. Gen.St. (22.3.02-26.12.14 im IR 26), 19.10.14 Hptm.i.G. (Pat. 8.10.14), Hptm.i.G., Gen.St. VII.RK, Gen.St. AOK 2, Maj.a.D. EK1, AK (3.12.15), SLK (29.12.16) Zach, Karl *5.10.1888 in Coesfeld 20.12.11 Dr.phil. (Berlin), Chemiker in Dessau; Lt.d.R. (Dessau) d. HR 7, 7.Art.Mun.Kol. d. XVI.AK, OLt.d.R., Adj. d. Kdr. d. Mun.Kol.u.Tr. d. XV.RK EK2, AK (29.2.16), SLK (26.4.15)

The medal bar is post-1934, where Imperial-era regulations were not always followed. I actually have a handful of names, with one strong possibility, to go with it. I wonder where it ended up.

If it's the same as Soviet practice, these little books listed all your awards.

Thanks! I found another recommendation from the same commander with similar wording. Despite the bad handwriting, this appears to confirm "dienstliche". However, in this one, either "Bewährung" has replaced "Berührung", as in the first recommendation, or I misread that one. Any thoughts?

I had that thought as well. Does that make sense in context - "besondere dienstliche Tüchtigkeit"?

One more, for a Gefreiter in a Divisions-Brückentrain: "Besondere [__nstliche] Tüchtigkeit, Berührung auch im feindlichen Feuer."

I have no idea which Major von Gellhorn commanded Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 22 in 1917, so I will go ahead and post it here. Similarly, I have no idea which Major von Zeschau commanded Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 51 in 1917, presumably one of the Saxons rather than the Prussian Walter who was a cavalry officer.

There is no connection between where one served and whether one had the Austrian, Bulgarian and/or Hungarian war commemorative medals. As scottplen says above, you simply applied for them. Some applied for all three, some for none, and some for a combination of them. 2300 is what Nimmergut gave for one version (late war zinc). There were about 15000 awards according to Stijn David's research. The Bravery Medal was mainly awarded to Saxe-Altenburg citizens or to members of Saxe-Altenburg contingents. The main one of these was Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 153, which accounts for over 5000 awards. There were also Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 36 with about 500 awards and Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 264 with about 300 awards. A number of other units also received upwards of 100 or more medals, but these would have been mostly to Altenburg natives in those units. These include IR 184, IR 361, RIR 66, RIR 231, LIR 93 and Landsturm-Infanterie-Bataillon Altenburg IV/6.

By princely decree dated 1 January 1916, silver swords were authorized for awards of the Silberne Medaille für Verdienst im Kriege when awarded on the ribbon of the Ehrenkreuz for merit "vor dem Feinde". For war merit in the Etappe or Besatzungstruppen, the medal was awarded on the blue ribbon without swords. Gilt swords were authorized for the ribbon of the Ehrenkreuz.

There are no known awards of the SEK4X to Württembergers.

Now the question I have, which I have had no luck finding a definitive answer to, is this: Is this Heinrich Krumme the same as the Heinrich Krumme born 22.10.1894 who was a Hptm.d.R. (RDA 01.08.38) and then Maj.i.G.d.R. (RDA 01.05.42), Friedensdienststelle Bochum, 01.05.42-15.06.44 Ib 199.ID, 30.08.44-25.11.44 beim OQu. d. Wehrm.Bfh. der Niederlanden, 01.12.44-25.02.45 Ic II.Armeekorps, 20.03.45 Außenstelle GenQu. im WKr. X?

Awards for merit on the battlefront from 20 September 1918 (the date the clasp was authorized) on would be with the clasp. If one already had the cross for merit on the battlefront, your memory serves you right: it was up to the individual to obtain the clasp himself. From the Großherzogliche Militärkanzlei: "Eine Nachlieferung der Spange für Verdienste in der Kampffront findet nicht statt, es bleibt dem einzelnen überlassen, sich diese selbst zu beschaffen."

Some supplemental information on Wolf Grandke from HR 13, whose known decorations were the HOH3X and a pre-war JK5: Grandke, Hans Wolf Otto Friedrich 28.02.1905 in das Husaren-Regiment Nr. 5 eingetreten 21.04.1911 in das Husaren-Regiment Nr. 13 versetzt 18.06.1915 Rittmeister 06.12.1915 2. Adjutant der 6. Kavallerie-Division 27.11.1917 in das Husaren-Regiment Nr. 13 zurückversetzt und der 8. Landwehr-Division zur Verwendung bei der Infanterie überwiesen 05.12.1917 dem Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 111 zugeteilt 12.02.1918 der 47. Reserve-Division überwiesen 15.10.1914 EK2 xx.10.1916 EK1 xx.06.1916 OK1&2 The 47.RD was dissolved on 2. August 1918 and he was Bataillons-Führer of III./RIR 16 when he was killed a month later, but I don't know when he went to RIR 16, or in which unit he was when he received the HOH3X.

Schönau-Wehr, Eberhard Adolf Rudolf Johann Freiherr von *04.04.1877 auf Wehr, Großherzogtum Baden †23.01.1965 in Freiburg im Breisgau Mitherr auf Wehr, Schwörstadt und Wieladingen Hofmarschall der Großherzogin Hilda von Baden 07.03.1896 char. Portepée-Fähnrich im Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 113 18.10.1896 Portepée-Fähnrich 20.07.1897 Sekondelieutenant 09.07.1900 in das 4. Ostasiatische Infanterie-Regiment versetzt (China-Expedition) 06.06.1901 in das 2. Ostasiatische Infanterie-Regiment versetzt 04.08.1902 in das Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 113 wieder angestellt 20.07.1907 Oberleutnant 27.01.1913 Hauptmann xx.xx.1914 leicht verwundet als Chef der 12./IR 113 16.05.1920 Waffenoffizier (Infanterie) beim Wehrkreiskommando V 01.10.1920 im 14. Infanterie-Regiment bzw. 14. (badischen) Infanterie-Regiment xx.xx.1921 Major xx.xx.1922 RDA als Major vom 18.05.1920 (18) erhalten xx.xx.192x verabschiedet (zw. Mai 1926 und Mai 1927 Ranglisten) xx.xx.1935 Oberst (E) mit RDA vom 01.10.1929 01.11.1935 Kommandeur des Wehrbezirks Tübingen (laut Stellenbesetzung) I am not sure of the promotion date to Major. It was between the 01.10.1920 and 01.10.1921 Reichsheer Stellenbesetzungen. New Reichsheer RDAs were assigned around September 1922, I believe. He's in the 12.10.1937 Stellenbesetzung, but not in the 1938 Stellenbesetzung, so he was retired between those. He was an Oberst z.V. in 1940, according to the HPA personnel file of one of his sons. Ritter des Großherzoglich Badischen Militär-Karl-Friedrich-Verdienstordens (BV3) Ritter des Königlich Preußischen Hausordens von Hohenzollern mit Schwertern (HOH3X) - plus about a dozen more decorations and campaign, commemorative and service medals

Otto Glenk was a Leutnant der Reserve in Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 49. Karl Glenk, born 8.12.1886, was the Leutnant der Landwehr-Pioniere I (22.6.1916) in the 1. Landwehr-Pionier-Kompanie des XIII. Armeekorps. He received the WsM in 1915 and the WF3bX on 20.1.1917.

Schöhneit, Heinrich Christian Wilhelm *15.11.1890 in Altona (Ottensen) *11.02.1884 in Ahrensburg Leutnant, Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 78, 05.10.16 Oberleutnant, Hauptmann a.D. He was an Oberstleutnant in World War II, but I have not seen his file, so I don't have any further details.

Notwithstanding this, awards continued to be made. Possibly because they were Imperial to the bone, many officers did not really care what a bunch of politicians in Weimar thought of their traditions. And awards continued to be made with official sanction. The Reichswehr stopped accepting new recommendations for war awards around 1920, but continued to process existing recommendations, and there was still an exception for returning prisoners of war. For Prussia, this was limited to general awards (e.g., EK1&2, Verdienstkreuz für Kriegshilfe, Rote-Kreuz-Medaille, Dienstauszeichnung), rather than knightly orders associated with the old monarchy, like the House Order of Hohenzollern. But other states had different practices. Saxony: the Heeresabwicklungsamt Sachsen processed award recommendations for Saxon war decorations, including knightly orders. For example, Erich von Loßnitzer was awarded his Militär-St.-Heinrichs-Orden on 21.1.1920. Like Fritsch, Hptm.d.R. Ernst Seydel, Hptm.d.R. Walter Eichler, and OLt. Heinrich Gerlach were awarded the SA3aX on 18.6.1920. On the same date, the SA3bX was awarded to Lt.d.R. Rudolf Berger, Lt.d.L. Rudolf Böhmer, Lt.d.R. Wolfgang von Boetticher and Lt.d.R. Alfred Johnson, and the Verdienstkreuz mit Schwertern was awarded to Proviantamtsinspektor Richard Engst. From the Schutztruppe für Kamerun, Lt.d.L. Johannes Gläser and Lt.d.R. Richard Wolf received the SA3bX on 1.9.1920 and Stabsveterinär Dr. Ernst Artur Gottschalk received the SA3aX on 19.10.1920. Bavaria: The Heeresabwicklungsamt Bayern announced that it would stop processing Vorschläge for most military decorations on 31.5.1920, with 30.6.1920 being the Abschlußtermin for the Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden and the Militär-Sanitäts-Orden. Only prisoners of war returning after those dates could still be considered for awards, and then the proposal had to be made within 2 months after their return. Awards were still being gazetted in the Verordnungsblatt in December 1920. These included the Militär-Verdienstorden, the Militär-Verdienstkreuz, the Tapferkeitsmedaillen and the Verdienstkreuz für freiwilligen Krenkenpflege. Württemberg I am not sure about. The Heeresabwicklungsamt Württemberg did have an office for Ordensangelegenheiten. I have seen some post-war award recommendations denied, but I do know of post-war awards. For exampe, the later-Generalmajor Hermann Harttmann from the Schutztruppe für Kamerun was awarded the WM3 in January 1920, although he had been nominated in 1917. Mecklenburg-Schwerin continued to award the Militärverdienstkreuz into the 1920s. The last known award of the Mecklenburg-Strelitzsches Kreuz für Auszeichnung im Kriege was in January 1924. Awards of the Friedrich-August-Kreuz were made by the Oldenburg Militärkanzlei through at least 1920. I have seen mid-1920s correspondence in a Wehrmacht personnel file from the former Flügeladjutant to the Großherzog regretting that no one was left to approve an award, but telling the officer in question he should consider himself as having earned the award. The Sachsen-Weimar Hausorden der Wachsamkeit oder vom Weißen Falken was awarded with swords into 1920. As a Hausorden, technically it could still be awarded even after that point, although without any official sanction. The final award of the Schaumburg-Lippisches Kreuz für Treue Dienste 1914 was made in 1923. The final official awards of the Lippisches Kriegsverdienstkreuz were made in 1922 and the last award of the Kriegsehrenkreuze für heldenmütige Tat was made in 1921. Since it was a Hausorden, the Ehrenkreuz continued to be awarded, even with swords after that point. Several Wehrmacht officers had late awards of Kriegsverdienstkreuz and Ehrenkreuz mit Schwertern, although in most cases these were backdated to November 1918. The Bremisches Hanseatenkreuz was awarded into 1923. The Haumburgisches Hanseatenkreuz was awarded into at least 1922. The Lübecksches Hanseatenkreuz was awarded into 1921. The Saxon duchies are an odd case. Awards of the Ernestinischer Hausorden with swords continued to be made into the 1930s at least, and the Reichswehr's and Wehrmacht's attitude toward them varied from time to time. Other awards of war decorations were also made after the war. Major a.D. Heinrich von Hanstein, for example, was awarded the Carl-Eduard-Kriegskreuz and the EH3aX in 1928. Anhalt and Schwarzburg stopped processing awards with the abdications in November 1918. Other stated I am less certain about. I have not come across any post-1918 awards from Baden, Hessen or Braunschweig, but I cannot say for certain there were none.

It was a colonial award.

Regarding Ottos, the Lt.d.R. Otto from Jäger-Regiment Nr. 4 who received the HOH3X on 16.8.1918 would be from JB 11, RJB 5 or RJB 6. The RJB 5 history has an award list, so it can be excluded, so that leaves JB 11 and RJB 6. I can't find a Lt.d.R. Otto in RJB 6, but I also don't have a battalion history. The JB 11 Otto, however, is the most likely candidate: Otto, Adolf Gerichtsreferendar, 18.8.1922 Dr.jur. (Gießen), in 1931 Rechtsanwalt in Schmalkalden Lt.d.R. d. JB 11, Bataillons-Adjutant SMK, ÖM3K Dr. Otto was the author of the battalion history, Kriegstagebuch des Kurhessischen Jägerbataillons Nr. 11, 1914-1918.

There are a bunch of Schmidts who received the HOH3X late in the war whose first names are unknown. The only Ernst Schmidt I can find connected to Lüdenscheid is Ernst August Schmidt, *28.3.1889, Rektor & Volksschullehrer in Lüdenscheid. I do not know where he was born, so I haven't found him in any casualty lists which might allow us to connect him to a unit. I do have a name for one of the late-war Schmidts: Schmidt, Anton, *6.1.1893 in Paderborn, HOH3X on 30.10.1918 as a Lt.d.R. in IR 369. He was wounded on 24.10.1914 as a Kriegsfreiwilliger in IR 158, and twice wounded (1916 and 1918) as a Lt.d.R. in IR 369. Further on HOH3X- and Ritterkreuzträger Gustav Hertz: you can also add to his awards the Krimschild, the Commander Cross with Swords of the Order of the Star of Romania on the Ribbon for Military Virtue (Rum3XT), and presumably the Romanian Crusade Against Communism Medal.