VtwinVince

Thanks, John, I'd love to get a replica wooden base. You're right, it is driving me nuts. I know a collector in Germany has several items belonging to my uncle, including his Soldbuch and several award documents, but he's apparently not entertaining thoughts of selling.

I know what you mean, John. I've been lucky enough to rescue the Urkunde for the Ehrenbecher, but no base or box unfortunately. I'm still hoping one day to find the Ehrenpokal my uncle got in October, 1940. He told me that it was presented by Goering personally on the Channel and came in the blue presentation case. It was taken by Americans in 1945 in Bavaria. BTW he commanded the Polizei-Fliegerstaffel at Karlshorst during the "Kapp Putsch". I have some nice aerial photos of Berlin from this period.

Rick, just to reinforce your dogma, my uncle's private purchase 1918 Juncker badge also has no crown. I'd post pictures if I could.

I go away for holidays, come back, and see this group...ach du liebes Bisschen! Luftmensch, that is the most fascinating group I've ever seen, what an amazing career Wieprich had. And that cigarette case is beyond amazing. BTW the Ehrenbecher is an exact duplicate of the one I have from my uncle. Out of interest, do you know what happened to his son?

Quite right, Dave, it was Prussia's great tragedy that the "Hundred Days Kaiser" died in 1888.

My dad used to talk about the winter of 45-46 as being the worst time of his life. Not only had they lost everything to the Russians, but they were literally starving. They had distended bellies, and my grandmother used to try and feed her six children with whatever she could find, mostly soups made from turnips stolen from a farmers' field. The highlight of that winter was feasting on a horse which had been hit by a train. In addition, my grandfather had recently returned, by a miracle, from a Soviet "Vernichtungslager" and was in such poor health that he almost died. It is hard to imagine the privations of that time, especially when you consider that my family had been one of some stature in East Prussia, and were reduced to living in such awful conditions.

Les, what you have to say is fascinating, and topical. My father and his family arrived from Koenigsberg, via Cottbus, in the Rhineland in 1945, and were regarded with derision by other members of the family with whom they sought refuge, being as they were "Saupreussen" and more mouths to feed. This prompted my father to emigrate here in 1952, since the western part of Germany was anything but "home".

Mein lieber Herr Luftmensch, all I can say is "Ausgezeichnet". It seems the German officers of the first war had a much nicer time in Siberia than their successors of the second conflict.

Right. Gordon, that is a fabulous group, any chance of determining ownership?

Brian, the Magdeburg connection is interesting, as I believe the regiments from this garrison town considered themselves more "Prussian" than the Prussians, although technically they were Saxons. My great-grandfather was also a Magdeburger, before transplanting himself to Berlin, and was the architect responsible for the Hindenburg-Kaserne, or barracks, in that city. There was, and to a certain extent still, exists a curious regionalism in Germany, with the southern states still regarding anything Prussian with disdain. I think this dates back to the wars of unification, when Bismarck literally pressganged many states into siding with Prussia, or risk facing severe consequences.

Brian, that's a great portrait, is it a watercolor? My great-great-great grandfather was with the Prussians at the Voelkerschlacht in 1813, while a cousin of his died the previous year in Russia, fighting with the French.

My uncle graduated from the Rumpler Schule in early 1917, and flew combat for almost a year before finally receiving his Pilot Badge.

Let's not forget the contribution of von Steuben to the revolutionary forces. Brian, being a Berliner made you a Berliner, not a Prussian, something which the Berliners are very proud of. I think a certain president once summed it up, "Ich bin auch ein Berliner". My grandfather was originally from Friedenau, and considered himself a "transplanted" Prussian by virtue of marrying into an East Prussian Junker family.

Agreed, Luftmensch, AH probably did have some respect for Vati, but since when did this stop the Fuehrer from having anyone who opposed him executed? A few famous names come to mind. A despot such as Hitler had little use for feelings as normal people understand them.

Thanks, so far. His first name was definitely Otto, and I think he had alot of other awards, as my father remembers him wearing a very long Kettchen with many orders. He was also very good friends with Arthur Sinnhuber, the artillery Korps CO. At the time of his death, he was at least in his 70's.

My mistake, Luftmensch, I just went through my "archives" and found the original letter. Lacey describes it as an "Honor Plaque" given by Moelders, not a Pokal. It sure sounds interesting, nonetheless. BTW does anyone have an accurate production figure for the Pokal, or is it guesswork?

Hmmm, very interesting thread. I too am quite interested in these goblets, mainly through a family connection. There are a few unnamed examples floating around, as I know of one in a collection in Texas. Strangely enough, I was offered one of the Moelders examples about twenty years ago by none other than James "Ginger" Lacey, of Battle of Britain fame. I declined his offer. As an aside, I sincerely doubt that Hitler would have gone out of his way to make posthumous presentations to Moelders of any sort, given the very bad relationship that existed between the two. His death in November, 1941 must have come as a godsend to Hitler. Now, if anyone can locate the Ehrenpokal awarded to my uncle, Hauptmann Dr. Albrecht Ochs, in October, 1940, I will give you my first born. Apparently it was "liberated" by US forces in 1945.

Gentlemen, I am trying to find more information on the career of my great-great uncle, Oberst Otto Heinemann. All I know is that he was an artillery officer, won the Hausorden von Hohenzollern and was killed in a strafing incident involving Soviet jabos in East Prussia in 1945. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Quite right, Stogie. From my point of view, coming from an old Prussian family which lost everything to the victors, I tend to view such things with a somewhat jaundiced eye.

Good question, it would be nice if his 1870 Grosskreuz turned up. It makes you wonder what the Americans were doing with Moltke's medals, probably "liberated" in 1945.

Yup, looks like another piece of "echt Blech" to me.

Yup, it's a Swiss national fundraiser for "Our soldiers and their families".

Fascinating story, Chris, and thanks for clarifying how the Greif came to "Grief" (haha). I wonder if Lt. Weddigen was a relation of Otto Weddigen? My grandmother's lawyer was also a Weddigen, and nephew of the Pour-le-Merite captain.

Thanks again, Stogie, for alerting us as to the minefield known as Imperial flight badges

It appears that this individual also served on the Hilfskreuzer Greif, interesting.