Dave Danner

For tradition reasons, supposedly connected with Patton wanting the troopers to wear the patch close to their hearts, at various times different armor units wore their unit patch above or on a pocket rather than on the sleeve. There is a thread here with a bunch of pictures and some speculation: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18511 While I was in the Army, the only units I recall encountering with patches like this were the 2nd Armored Division. However, that thread shows other examples. Besides armored patches, I have seen this done in one other context: during the 1980s and early 1990s, several active divisions had as a third "roundout" brigade a National Guard or Reserve brigade. These Guard and Reserve brigades had their own sleeve patches, but would sometimes wear the patch of the division to which they were attached above the right pocket. As I recall seeing when I was at Fort Benning, Georgia, the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Georgia National Guard wore the patch of the 24th Infantry Division on the pocket while they were a roundout brigade. The roundout concept ended in the 1990s as the active Army shrank and the remaining active divisions filled out their missing brigades with those of deactivating divisions.

A small addition: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/52785-list-of-decorations-to-prussian-officers-and-men-in-1914/

Attached in PDF form is a list of awards for those interested in these sorts of things. These are awards by the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz of the Order of the Griffin (Greifenorden) and of the grand duchy's Gold Merit Medal (Verdienstmedaille in Gold). The awards were all made to officers and men of the Prussian Army on July 21, 1914. Because they were awarded after its publication, they do not show up in the 1914 Prussian Army rank list. Also, because they were not gazetted in the Militär-Wochenblatt (MWB), they do not appear in Willi Geile's publication of awards from 1914 to 1918 published in the MWB and the Marineverordnungsblatt. I don't know why they were not in the MWB. I suppose they were missed because they came out right before the mobilization. The original list, with only last name and rank and unit, was gazetted in the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg-Strelitz Official Gazette for Legislation and State Administration (Großherzoglich Mecklenburg-Strelitzscher Offizieller Anzeiger für Gesetzgebung und Staatsverwaltung). I took that list and added in given names and the birth/death years where known. My thanks to Glenn J for his help on a few names giving me trouble. For those wondering why it takes so long and there is little reward for publishing these German award rolls: This list has only about 30 names. Yet it still took hours not merely to transcribe the names, but add in the relevant information (digging through various sources to identify who was who among, for example, some 47 von Arnims, 49 Freiherrs von Maltzahn, 15 Freiherrs von Esebecks, 16 Grafs von der Groeben, 18 Grafs von Hardenberg, 34 Grafs Strachwitz, etc. who served in the war). Multiply that times the hundreds or thousands for some of the bigger awards rolls and you see why this is a labor of love for those who do it, and pretty much unrequited love at that. Mecklenburg-Strelitz Verleihungen 1914.pdf

[Entschuldigungen für Fehler; mein Deutsch ist wie Rudi's Englisch gewöhnungsbedürftig.] Zu den Verleihungen in Sauers Artikel kann ich die folgenden Informationen hinzufügen. Am 14. März 1917, anläßlich des 25-jährigen Regierungsjubiläums des Großherzogs, wurde Demfolgenden die Krone zum Ehrenkreuz des Verdienstordens Philipp des Großmütigen verliehen: Berchelmann, Dr. Wilhelm - Oberlandesgerichtsrat Rüster, Dr. Ludwig - Geh. Justizrat, Landgerichtsdirektor bei dem Landgericht der Provinz Starkenburg Obenauer, Philipp - Landgerichtsdirektor bei dem Landgericht der Provinz Rheinhessen Kolb, Theodor - Landgerichtsdirektor bei dem Landgericht der Provinz Starkenburg Walther, Dr. Philipp - Geh. Oberforstrat, Vortragender Rat bei der Abteilung für Forst- und Kameralverwaltung des Ministeriums der Finanzen Bornscheuer, Konrad - Geh. Oberfinanzrat, Reichsbevollmächtigte für Zölle und Steuern zu Hannover Rohde, Dr. Ferdinand - Geh. Oberfinanzrat, stellv. Vorsitzender der Abteilung für Finanzwirtschaft und Eisenbahnwesen des Ministeriums der Finanzen mfG, Dave

I think the grade of the House Order of Hohenzollern you are looking for would be the Knight's Cross. With swords, this was the main Prussian award in World War I that was higher than the Iron Cross 1st Class but below the Pour le Merite. I do not know how prices are of late, but I think I have seen them in the 700-800 euro range recently?

Looks like the Luitpoldkreuz für 40 Dienstjahre im Staats- und Gemeindedienst.

Something to add to an older thread:

Paul, It was an order of knighthood, so it had a level of prestige the KVK didn't, although awarded for similar performance. I would say akin to the US Legion of Merit. Also, the class awarded depended on the military rank or civil status of the recipient. The Knight 1st Class would typically go to a Major or Korvettenkapitän, or the civil service/civilian equivalent.

Neither. It would appear to be Palestinian. "Shabibah Fatah" is the PLO youth movement.

Another thread with a German svärdsmän, Obermusikmeister Heinrich Schrader: http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/20840-a-man-with-many-awards-but/page__gopid__479998#entry479998 Can you confirm the award?

Reviving an old thread to add some information: This would indeed appear to be Heinrich Schrader of the 4.GRzF (1860-1931). As for the last three ribbons, based on the attached biography, they are: (7) China, Order of the Double Dragon - probably IV Class based on rank,CDIV in the Prussian ranklists (8) Sweden, Order of the Sword, Sword Sign (Svärdstecknet) - SS4, a recipient was called a "swordsman", svärdsmän in Swedish, Schwertmann in German (9) Japan, Order of the Rising Sun - probably Knight 2nd Class/6th Class, or JV6 As for (5), this is not Lippe. Another one of those hard-to-read ones because of the color shift on black-and-white photographs, but this should be the Gold Merit Medal from Mecklenburg-Strelitz, which Schrader received on 21 July 1914.

In the Army: Feldwebel/Wachtmeister, Vizefeldwebel/Vizewachtmeister, Unterarzt, Unterveterinär, Oberfeuerwerker Edit to add: If on the ribbon for war merit, to officials in the master craftsman grades, for example: Waffenmeister, Feldbackmeister, Feldpostschaffner Also, later in the war, the 2nd Class might be a second award for someone more junior who had already received the Third Class with Crown (which normally went to Unteroffiziere, Sergeants, and the equivalent).

I would prefer "discharge" over "dismissal". To me, dismissal makes it seem like he was kicked out.

Hopefully, this should help: http://www.fraternellechasseursardennais.be/mesa/mesa-2.html

Some info on Gren.-Ers.-Btl. 492: http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/InfErsBat/InfErsBat492-R.htm

The Sebastian Wagensonner born 3 December 1897 was in the Infanterie-Leib-Regiment.

A small update to the Krause/Lundström volume on Princely Hohenzollern decorations, but one which might be of interest to one of the authors.... Under the Goldene Ehrenmedaille mit Schwertern is an entry for "Krause, Vfw., 11./2.GRzF" That would be:

I guess I can add a couple of small details after all... It's Rudolph, not Rudolf. Oskar Bruno Rudolph, born 5.9.1885 in Passenheim, Kreis Ortelsburg, East Prussia. He was the son of Julius Rudolph, a Gendarmeriewachtmeister a.D. in Neustettin, who died on 18.8.1930, and Auguste née Schulz, who died on 12.11.1906. Oskar was married on 12.12.1918 in Neustettin to Agnes Sommer, born 4.4.1890, daughter of Reinhold Sommer, a Kaufmann in Neustettin. Oskar entered the army on 118.10.1903 as a Freiwilliger in a Fußartillerie Regiment (the number isn't legible, but it looks like FußAR 13). He was promoted to Obergefreiter on 18.9.04 and Unteroffizier on 19.9.05. He was promoted to Feuerwerker on 1.1.09 and transferred to the Artillerie-Depot Danzig. He then served in various Artillerie-Depots, and was promoted to Oberfeuerwerker on 1.10.12 and Feuerwerks-Leutnant on 30.5.14. After mobilization, he was assigned to the staff of several Fußartillerie-Regiments and to the Generalkommando XVIII.Armeekorps. After the war, on entering the Reichsheer, he was assigned to the Depot-Inspektion of the Feldzeugmesiterei. He was characterized an Oberleutnant on 17.8.20 and transferred to the Zeugamt Königsberg. He was discharged on 15.4.21 due the reductions in the German armed forces, but came back a short while later on 15.6.21. He was promoted to Oberleutnant beim Zeugamt on 28.9.21, with effect from 1.7.21, and was later given an RDA of 25.2.15 (2). He was promoted to Hauptmann beim Zeugamt on 1.2.28 (I'm not sure about the RDA, but it looks like 18.4.17 (31)). He went to the Munitions-Institut Ingolstadt in 1930. He was promoted to Major (W) on 1.10.33 with an RDA of 1.8.30 (3) and was named Vorstand of the Zeugamt Ingolstadt on 23.12.33 with effect from 1.2.34. On 20.4.35, he became an Oberstleutnant (W) with effect from 1.4.35 and an RDA of 1.4.34 (33). In 1936 he went to the Heeres-Feldzeugmeisterei V. He was promoted to Oberst (W) on 31.12.38 with effect from 1.1.39. On 16.2.39, with effect from 1.3.39, he became leader, then commander of Feldzeugstab (Fest) F beim Generalkommando der Grenztruppen Oberrhein. From 4.10.40 to 28.9.41, he was leader of the Feldzeugarbeitsstab Elsaß in Straßburg. On 29.9.41, he went to Feldzeuggruppe 1. I don't know why he disappeared from the ranklist, but he was with Feldzeuggruppe 1 until 6.2.44. There is a hard-to-read entry that seems to say he may have been retired from active duty but remained in the position; however, his March 1944 evaluation report lists him as an active officer. On 7.2.44 he was transferred to the Feldzeuginspizient des Ersatzheeres. On 12.11.44 he was transferred to the staff of the Stellv. Generalkommando X.Armeekorps and tasked as Feldzeug commander (m.d.W.d.G. des Feldzeugkommandeurs beauftragt). That is the last entry in his personnel file. Decorations: EK2 (28.3.15) ÖM3K (2.8.15) EK1 (13.3.16) VAs (4.8.18) HT (19.8.18) The Wehrmacht/Heer long service (WHDA) and the Honor Cross for Combatants (FKE) aren't listed in his file, but presumably as an active officer at the time he got the FKE in December 1934 and the WHDA1 on 2.10.36. His World War Two decorations were: Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen (15.3.40, Nr. 15188) KVK2X (20.11.40) KVK1X (17.2.44) Here is his file photo:

Erwin Jaenecke 22.4.1890-3.7.1960 Generalmajor - 1.11.39 Generalleutnant - 1.11.41 General der Pioniere - 1.11.42 Generaloberst - 30.1.44 Bio: http://de.wikipedia..../Erwin_Jaenecke BIo: http://www.lexikon-d...J/JaeneckeE.htm Bio: http://www.geocities...ECKE_ERWIN.html Signature from his personnel file:

A few years in coming, but here is a picture of Franz Rudolf Jonkheer de Casembroot:

My hosting service decided to stop hosting websites. I didn't close it down, but basically had it closed down on me. I hope to put it back up soon.

Several places, mainly the Militär-Wochenblatt, DOA and some genealogy resources.

Apparently, he died on 28 November 1953. He and Else Freiin von Berg were divorced in 1925. They also had another son, Erwin, but he died in childhood (30 July 1895-24 July 1901).

Erwin Ludwig von Steinberg, born in Oberkirch, Baden, on 17 May 1867. Married 4 October 1894 to Luise Agnes Gustava Elsbeth (Else) Freiin von Berg. After leaving active duty, they lived in Eschenhof bei Winterbach, Baden. They had one son, Heinz Martin Alexander Erwin Bernhard, born 4 April 1909 in Eschenhof. 16.05.1888 - Portepée-Fähnrich, 1.GFAR 15.01.1889 - Sek.-Lieut., 1.GFAR 15.02.1890 - transferred to Reserve of 1.GFAR, commanded to FAR 15 19.05.1891 - returned to active duty with FAR 15, with Patent of 15.02.1889 18.08.1896 - Prem.-Lieut., transferred to FAR 10 01.04.1899 - commanded to the Great General Staff for one year 01.04.1900 - transferred to FAR 46 01.10.1900 - promoted to Hauptmann (no Patent) 01.04.1903 - transferred to FAR 14 as a Batterie-Chef 27.01.1904 - Patent as Hauptmann (P3p) 17.11.1906 - Retired 14.11.1916 - char. Major Besides the BZ3bXE Christoph noted above, he also had a peacetime RAO4, Centenary, and BZ3bXE. With wartime service, he probably would have qualified for the DA25 by 1918. Regards, Dave

Walter Chales de Beaulieu 14.6.1898-26.8.1974 Generalmajor (1.6.43) Generalleutnant (20.6.44) Ia, XVI. Armeekorps Chef d. Generalstabes d. XVI. Armeekorps Chef d. Generalstabes d. Panzergruppe 4 Chef d. Generalstabes d. 4. Panzerarmee Kdr. Pz.Gren.Rgt. 394 Kdr. 26. Pz.Gren.Brig. Fhr., then Kdr. 168. Inf.Div. Kdr. 23. Inf.Div. Bio: http://www.reocities.com/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalleutnant/CHALES_WALTER.html Signature on an evalation report for Oberstlt. Paul Spoida, Kdr. Gren.Rgt. 417