Dave Danner

Regarding Hptm. Walter Liegener from IR 18/RIR 18, he was born in 1878 in Pleß and died of a heart attack in 1940 in St. Brieuc while serving as Kommandant of Feldkommandantur 808 (V). More biographical information here: https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=265223 He entered service on 17.3.1897, so he had the Centenarmedaille, and he retired on 31.12.1922, so he almost certainly also had the Dienstauszeichnungskreuz für Offiziere.

It still does not fully answer my question, but it does give me something to talk to Andreas about the next time I see him. The medal bar is perfectly consistent with Fritsch's known awards from published sources, but it does not address the recently discovered 1920 SA3aX award. The SA3aX is a higher award than the SA3aXaR, so why he chose not to wear it is curious. Maybe he just decided to keep wearing the lower, but rarer, award. Maybe, given the post-war situation in Dresden, he never received the cross and never thought to just acquire one himself from a jeweler. Maybe he decided he did not deserve the award, since the Schutztruppe for DSWA did not accomplish much, unlike the Schutztruppe for DOA, although he does wear the EK2 given for the same service. Who knows? Oh well.

He received the Ritterkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern for the Herero war. When he left active duty in 1914 as a Rittmeister, he was given the retirement award of the Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse. Since he had a lower grade of the order with swords, his Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse was with swords on the ring. This was normal procedure in German states when one received a higher grade of an award without swords but had previously received a lower grade with swords. It does not actually make sense for Saxony since that kingdom, unlike Prussia, allowed the wear of two grades of the order at the same time. The award of the Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse with swords was one of the many retroactive awards made to Schutztruppe officers after they returned from captivity. Similarly, Fritsch's Iron Cross 2nd Class was a post-war award, made on 20.10.1919. Technically, since the monarchy was no more, there was no one who could not tell Fritsch not to wear all three classes, but with exceptions people still tended to follow the old regulations. I just don't know if even the old regulations would have allowed for wear of all three.

Hello fellow forumites, Alexander Freiherr von Fritsch was a Saxon cavalry officer in UR 18 who had previously served in the Schutztruppe für Deutsch Südwestafrika. He was placed z.D. on 20.4.1914 and was the owner of a farm in SWA when World War I started. He subsequently served again with the Schutztruppe during the brief fighting there in 1914/15. Fritsch had previously received the Albrechts-Orden, Ritterkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern (SA3bX), while serving with the Schutztruppe. When he was placed z.D. in 1914, he was decorated with the Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwertern am Ringe (SA3aXaR). On 18.6.1920, he was decorated with the Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwertern (SA3aX). As far as I know, there was no such grade of the Albrechts-Orden as "Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwertern und Schwertern am Ringe", so my question is, would he have returned the SA3aXaR when he received the SA3aX, or would he have been able to wear all three Albrechts-Orden crosses?

Hans-Joachim Gravenstein. A few things of note: there is a ribbon after the Hamburg Hanseatenkreuz and before the Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer. By the placement, it should be a WW1 Landesorden, but no other state award appears in his Personalakte other than the HOH3X, ÖM3K and HH. Also, the precedence is messed up since he put the Ostmedaille after the Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer. Finally, the last ribbon does not appear in his Personalakte. I believe it is the Deutsches Schutzwallehrenzeichen, which is often missing from Personalakten, since his command was in Koblenz in 1939 and moved to the Westwall on mobilization.

17.9.1918

It is Nikolaus. Adolf was apparently not a front officer. Nikolaus was wounded in 1915 as Adjutant of I./RIR 30. 1903 Einjährig-Freiwilliger im IR 30 27.01.06 Leutnant d.R. (I Essen) 16.02.15 OLt.d.R., z.Zt. im RIR 30 19.05.17 Hptm.d.R. 27.12.18 entlassen Adolf's promotions: 21.07.06 Leutnant d.R. 22.05.15 OLt.d.R., z.Zt. beim Kriegsgefangenenlager Gießen 12.08.18 Hptm.d.R., z.Zt. beim Ers./IR 65

A Hauptmann Freiherr von Schade was gazetted with the HOH3X in September 1917. Unfortunately, there were two such Hauptleute, and I have no idea which was the HOH3X recipient. Max was a general staff officer, so he seems like the best bet, but Hermann was an infantry combat officer, so he can't be ruled out. 1. Schade, Albert Carl Fritz Max Freiherr von, *07.05.1886 in Münster in Westfalen, gefallen 21.01.1945 in Ratibor. 27.02.1904 aus der Hauptkadettenanstalt als Fähnrich dem Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 13 überwiesen 27.01.1905 Leutnant mit Patent vom 22.06.1903 (5) 01.11.1911 zur Kriegsakademie kommandiert 19.06.1912 Oberleutnant (J21) xx.08.1914 ins Feld als Führer der M.G.-Kompanie des Infanterie-Regiments Nr. 13 24.08.1914 verwundet 12.10.1914 zum Regiment zurück 28.11.1914 Hauptmann (Vv) xx.xx.1916 im Generalstabe des VI. Reservekorps xx.xx.1918 im Generalstabe der 11. Reserve-Division 16.05.1920 im Generalstabe des Reichswehr-Gruppenkommandos 2 (laut Stellenbesetzung) 01.10.1920 im Generalstabe des Gruppenkommandos 2 (laut Stellenbesetzung) 01.10.1921 im Infanterie-Regiment 15, kommandiert zum Generalstabe des Gruppenkommandos 2 (laut Stellenbesetzung) 30.11.1922 ausgeschieden - A char. Major i.G. a.D., he was a Prokurist in Ratibor and later Hamburg, and was reactivated as a Generalstabsoffizier der Reserve. 20.01.1941 Führerreserve OKH, kommandiert zum Generalkommando des VIII. Armeekorps 16.03.1941 Ia der 305. Infanterie-Division 27.12.1941 Ia der 246. Infanterie-Division 16.01.1943 Führerreserve OKH 12.02.1943 Chef des Stabes des Kommandanten des rückw. Armee-Gebiets 582 01.04.1943 Oberst i.G. d.R. 25.08.1943 Führerreserve OKH xx.xx.1945 Führer einer Kampfgruppe Known decorations: 24.07.1915 Herzoglich Sachsen-Meiningsches Ehrenkreuz für Verdienst im Kriege 20.12.1941 Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern 12.03.1942 1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuze 2. Klasse 03.08.1942 Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" 05.08.1942 1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuze 1. Klasse 2. Schade, Hermann Carl Freiherr von, *03.10.1888 in Münster in Westfalen, † 21.11.2009 in Hamburg 14.03.1907 aus der Hauptkadettenanstalt als Leutnant, vorläufig ohne Patent, dem Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 13 überwiesen 14.06.1907 Patent als Leutnant (Vv) 01.10.1912 Adjutant des I. Bataillons 03.09.1914 Regiments-Adjutant 24.12.1914 Oberleutnant 05.10.1916 Hauptmann (N4n) 30.08.1919 zur Disposition gestellt, Hauptmann a.D. 13.09.1938 SS-Brigadeführer Hermann's SS personnel file lists the EK1 and "Landesorden", among other later awards. Since the HOH3X is a Landesorden, he can't be ruled out on that alone. The third of the three brothers Freiherr von Schade was Carl Alfred, *18.09.1887 in Münster in Westfalen, †12.05.1955 in Wiesbaden. He was an Oberleutnant (5.9.1914) in the Schutztruppe für Deutsch-Südwestafrika, and was wounded and taken prisoner in March 1915. He was not promoted to Hauptmann until 1919 (backdated to 18.9.1915), so he can be ruled out for the HOH3X. He received a Charakter bump to Major which is not shown in the Ehrenrangliste. Other than the basic awards he would have had as a ST SWA officer (EK2, wound badge, Elefant), the only known award for Carl is the Rettungsmedaille am Bande, which he received on 23.4.1926.

Winkler is Hermann Richard, *15.8.1870 in Mettkau, Neumarkt in Schlesien; Hauptmann d.R. (Schweidnitz) des Infanterie-Regiments Nr. 51; HOH3X, LD1, VAs, ÖM3K

Since I was going through bios of officers on the same roll that Woller was on, I added a bio of the rather well-decorated Erich Wollmar here: https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=264809 Three Prussian, three Anhalt and three Sachsen-Altenburg decorations.

Daniel, for some reason I thought I already sent you a bio for Woller, the Lt. in IR 46. See here: https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=154554&p=2410504#p2410504

He is in the list, misspelled as "Berckemeyer". Berkemeyer is correct, according to the Militär-Wochenblatt, the Militär-Kabinett and the Prussian Verlustlisten. Born 9.3.1891 in Burgsteinfurt, he is listed by the University as missing in action and "für tot erklärt 1.11.1918". However, according to the Ehrenmal, the Lt.d.R. killed on 1.11.1918 was from LGR 109. Rudolf Berkemeyer was a Kriegsfreiwilliger in IR 47 and served in IR 118 and RIR 118. He was wounded 5 times and is not listed as "vermißt" in any Verlustliste. Nor is there any Lt. Berckemeyer/Berkemeyer listed as "vermißt" in a November 1918 Verlustliste or later. Therefore, I cannot say for certain if he died in 1918 or not. Berkemeyer received the HOH3X on 26.1.1918. He also received the Rettungsmedaille am Bande on 16.9.1918.

Adolf Davids' Personalakte was complete through to the end of 1919. He had the EK2 (25.9.14), EK1 (3.10.16), VAs (27.5.18), BZ3bXE (19.8.15) and the Baden Regierungsjubiläumsmedaille (1902). No HOH3X. The other active Hauptmann Davids was: Davids, Heinrich Julius Kurt *06.10.1874 in Bederkesa bei Cuxhaven, Lehe, †03.07.1956 in Karlsruhe - Hauptmann (1.10.1912), Platzmajor in Rastatt (Uniform IR 16), Bataillons-Kommandeur im RIR 34, Major am 15.7.1918, 1921 Polizeimajor in Saarbrücken, Major a.D. - Cent, BZ3bXE

Quiring doesn't show up on any list I've seen. He was a Lt.d.R. in FAR 54. The Zeitschrift für das Berg-, Hütten- und Salinenwesen only lists his EK1 & 2 and the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz. His EK1 was reported in the 1916 edition of the Zeitschrift. If he did get the HOH3X, it was a very late-war one. I'm not sure about Thoennissen. Zinke didn't list his sources. If Thoennissen has an HPA file in the archives, I have not seen it. Christophe, here are a few: Rühle von Lilienstern - 18.9.1918 Rüdiger - 18.9.1918 Watzdorf - 8.11.1918

Going by the date of award, I would think Walther Haase was the Lt.d.R. in RIR 32. Otto Haase is, as Daniel says, odd. The Personalbogen says he was promoted to Lt.d.R. on 14.5.1915. The two Lts.d.R. on that date were in the LehrIR (Berlin) and RIR 34 (Hannover). I would assume Otto was the LehrIR one, since he was a student in Berlin in August 1914 and is unconnected to Hannover. Hans-Henning von der Osten was promoted to Leutnant on 29.11.1917, so a 1917 award as the Deutsche Biographie entry states would be highly unlikely.

Nelson is in an April 3 post in this thread: https://gmic.co.uk/topic/20668-house-order-of-hohenzollern-info-needed/page/50/#comment-711843 Büttner is Siegfried: https://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/buttner.php

Daniel, I don't think it is Busse. As far as I know, he did not have the SMK or the AK. He also had both the RM and the ABsM, so there should be two non-wartime round medals but I only see the one. My best guess is Theodor Kretzschmer. Based on his rank in WW1, I think the BT3b in his Reichsheer rank list entry is wrong, and it should be a BT4b. The Albrecht des Bären is the only problem. He does not have it in the 1914 Prussian Army rank list, nor in the Reichsheer rank lists. The Albrecht des Bären is a house order, however, and could have been awarded at any time in the 1920s or 1930s. It would not have had official status, but we have many examples of Wehrmacht officers wearing other 1920s/1930s-era house orders, from the former rulers of Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha and Lippe-Detmold, for example. I'd also note that in the photograph it appears to be a non-swords award, which does not fit its placement after the HOH3X among his wartime awards. Below is the only picture of Kretzschmer I could find.

Given the relative rarity of non-swords awards, even on the "Beamtenband", compared to awards with swords, I agree it's likely the Bavarian MVO had its swords removed.

Stahl, Rudolf *20.4.1884 in Barmen 21.12.1909 Leutnant d.R. des Feldartillerie-Regiments Nr. 61, ab Mobilmachung Ordonnanz-Offizier im Regimentsstabe, 22.10.1915 Oberleutnant d.R., zur Zeit im Regiment, 1917 leicht verwundet, Oberleutnant d.R.a.D. nach dem 1.WK Generaldirektor in Berlin HOH3X am 12.11.1917 - No other known decorations, but as a highly decorated and wounded FAR 61 officer, no doubt he received the Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen "Für Tapferkeit".

Pracht, Paul Wolfgang *11.9.1880 in Warmbrunn, Hirschberg - Dr.jur. (25.7.1907, Leipzig), Rechtsanwalt in Berlin, Landgerichtsrat, Amtsgerichtsrat, 1927 Landgerichtsdirektor, Vorsitzender des Landesarbeitsgerichts Berlin, Vorsitzender des Preußischen Richtervereins. - He was still listed as a Landgerichtsdirektor in the 1941 Berlin Adreßbuch, and was still living as a Rechtsanwalt in Berlin after the Second World War. - 17.12.1908 Leutnant d.R. des Infanterie-Regiments Nr. 98, ins Feld mit Regiment, dreimal verwundet (1914, 1915, 1916), 22.05.1915 Oberleutnant d.R., 21.04.1918 Hauptmann d.R., Hauptmann d.R.a.D. - HOH3X am 4.9.1918 - no other known decorations, although presumably the Verwundetenabzeichen in mattweiß. As a Justizbeamter through at least 1941, he probably also had the Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen.

Mertin, Fritz Walter Alexander *3.10.1893 in Hirschberg im Riesengebirge stud.jur., nach dem 1.WK Rechtsanwalt und Notar ebenda Leutnant d.R., 1915-1918 im Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 50, Oberleutnant d.R. a.D. HOH3X am 20.1.1918

A late-war recipient: Knoben, Ferdinand Joseph *17.4.1886 in Heinsberg, Bankbeamter in Berlin 10.09.1915 Leutnant d.R. (II Berlin) im Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 1, 2-mal verwundet. HOH3X am 21.10.1918.

Rudolf Schulze

One more example, from 1944:

No HOH3X in his Luftwaffe Personalakte: