mravery

another..... Caricature ???

staff

wedding pic

another.. interesting note about this pic... look close athte tunic.. it's an enlisted tunic that has had general's insignia added... if it was for sale somewhere most folks would say it's no good......here is the living proof that they did do this

another

picture of speth from the album

translation : Telex to Army High Command 18 Recommendation for the award of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross to LtGen Speth, Cdr 28th Rifle Division a) LtGen Speth has turned a critic situation for the better in the hard fights west of Nowgorod. He built with fast collected forces a new front and used this weak forces offensive flanking against the progressing Soviet superiority, so that the decisive fight for winning time was successful and the try of both- side outflanking by the enemy was avoided. b) In a later big defection movement to the Luga- curvation LtGen Speth led his battle group, composed from small and smallest units, in a night through a narrowness, that the withdrawing of area was longer time hided to the enemy and no personnel and just a few material losses were caused. This operation, executed with strong overtired and weakened force can just be called a masterstroke. c) Currently, LtGen Speth holds a front of 45 kilometres with meagre, heavily weakened forces without any reserves and under irrespective weakening of lower threatened sectors against continuous infantry- and tank- attacks. Defiant of very complicated command conditions he is absolute sure in his way of giving orders, always clear and accurate in the estimation of the own and enemies situation, able in his leadership abilities, full of care for his troops, personally dauntless and brave. He is a Divisional Commander of high grades, who has an important part, that Luga is still in German hands. Personal data: Name: Speth first Name: Hans born: 07.10.1897 place of birth: Rockenberg County Friedberg Rank: LtGen Position: Cdr 28th Rifle Div since 15.01.1944 corrected into 01.12.1943 Service status: active Peacetime unit: War Academy Entered service: 01.07.1915 Seniority: 01.01.44 (11) Awards: 14.03.40 bar to Iron Cross 2nd class 20.05.40 bar to Iron Cross 1st class 14.04.42 German Cross in Gold 05.08.42 East Medal 23.08.42 Krim shield Private Adress: Berlin Charlottenburg, Sachsenplatz 8 Profession of the Father: Owner of a pharmacy signed HERZOG General of Artillery and Commanding General of the 38th Army Corps ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Supreme Commander Army Head Quarter, 09.02.1944 18th Army LtGen Speth, whose high merits as Army Commander in the 2nd and 3rd Ladoga battle are undoubted, distinguished himself by a energetic, clear and ?.. (Mark, entschu?freudig means something like; he is easy in finding decisions) leadership, personal bravery and total devotedness. The stopping of the Russian attack west of Nowgorod is to owe to his energetic Personality. I recommend the award of the Knight Cross to this meritorious Army ? and Divisional Commander. signed LINDEMANN Colonel General

[attachmentid=28039]back of the doc

Hello All, After a lucky find on ebay I was able to add another document to the family album that I have from General Speth. One would wonder how these documents ever get seperated from the others. Originally I picked up Gen Speths cap, tunic, trousers and photo album which came directly from the family. The album included original pictures of Speth from his WW1 service (including his ORIGINAL WW1 service record), wedding photos, pics form the 30's and wartime pictures. Also included was a newspaper clipping talking about his Knights Cross. The 'find' on ebay was his original recomendation for his Knights Cross from his commanding general. The holes inthe doc were an exact match for the album that I have so for some reason.. it was seperated at some time inthe past. The first pics will be the new document and then I'll post some of the other items from the album. Big thanks to my 'boy' Daniel K. for the translation [attachmentid=28038] Cheers Mark

True... if it was made to be worn as an active bar... but if it was a frack bar.... it would be closer to the priority (though still screwed up).... Interesting also was the "Zollbeamten" pin that was 'pinned' to the bar (as you can see in the pic).... perhaps a hint to this guys service. Cheers Mark

Looks kind-of like a frack bar.. but not really ??????

Hello All, Here is a medal bar that a buddy of mine picked up..... but it really makes no sense. I have handled the bar and I would say that it is as it was made 80 years ago. Any thoughts.. comments etc ? Cheers Mark

Here is a double that I once had... and now lives in a very nice home in Germany

Hello All, How many of you can see the problems with this uniform picture ?

Hey Daniel, HOLY CRAP I guess it does pay to be a staff officer... you get ALL the bright and shiney things ! Cheers Mark

Hey Brian, I thought I had found something on the web the other night about another Vollard-Bockelberg around that time period.... but I can't find it today I did find.. perhaps a brother : Von Vollard-Bockelberg, Fritz Wilhelm * 26.11.1876 + 03.01.1905 at Gross-Nabas --- Fritz Wilhelm von Vollard-Bockelberg was born on 26.11.1876. He was a Schutztruppe officer. He died in the Battle of Gross-Nabas against the Witbooi Nama on 03.01.1905. Cheers Mark

Hey Dave and Glenn, Thanks for the additional pics ... and here is the bio from that link you provided: VOLLARD-BOCKELBERG, Alfred von (Plm) (1874 - 1945?) General der Artillerie: Born: 18. Jun. 1874 in Magdeburg. Missing: 1945. Promotions: General der Artillerie: 1. Oct. 1933 Generalleutnant: 1. Apr. 1929 Generalmajor: 1. Nov. 1927 Oberst: 1. Feb.1923 Oberstleutnant: 1. Oct. 1920 Major: Hauptmann: Oberleutnant: Sekonde-Leutnant: 17. Mar. 1894 Kadett: Career: Mob.Verw.aufgehoben: 31. Aug. 1940 Milit?rbefehlshaber Paris: Jun. 1940 - 1. Aug. 1940 Kommandierender General stellv.I.Armee-Korps: 5. Nov. 1939 - 14. May 1940 Oberbefehlshaber Grenzabschnitt Mitte: 26. Oct. 1939 - Reactivated, assigned as Milit?rbefehlshaber Posen: 6. Sep. 1939 - Retired (but retained on Rangliste des Heeres): 31. Dec. 1933 Chef H.W.A.: 1. Jun. 1929 - 31. Dec. 1933 Inspekteur Verk.Tr.: 1. Oct. 1926 - Entered service as Leutnant, assigned to 2.Garde Feld-Artillerie-Regiment: 17. Mar. 1894 - Kadett: Decorations & Awards: ~ Orden Pour le m?rite: 4. Nov. 1917 as Major 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse 1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer Wehrmacht-Dienstauszichnungen Adds a few more decorations to the list... but what happened to him after August 1940 ? Cheers Mark

Hello All, I'm trying to research the awards and service history of General d Artillery Alfred von Vollard-Bockelberg. At this point, I know he was awarded the PLM on Nov. 4th 1917 (rank of Major) and that he was also awarded the Hohenzollern with swords. I think he was a staff officer under Hindenburg and later went on to being Gov. General in paris after the occupation in 1940. That is about it.... Also.. thanks to Glenn... I found this pic posted on another site.

Hey Wild Card, Thanks for the great info..... !!!! I kind of figured that the badge and star were different periods (one gold and the other gilt) but I did not know about the 07-12 date range..... Thanks to Andreas.. he mentioned the difference in the horses tail (one up and the other down) but I'm not famillar with the 'side decoration' that you mentioned. Can you ellaborate ? To the moderators... do you want to keep this discussion here.. or create a new thread to discuss the order ? Cheers Mark

Hey Tom, I like.. I like... Now.. lets see pictures of the tunic as well ... Cheers Mark

Hey Paul, I love the 1870 bars.... my favorite period is from 1870 - 1914....... especially around the turn of the century. These are all nice bars that are being posted Cheers Mark

Actually There is a marker mark to the commanders badge... on the reverse in the pie shape.... it's an "*" above a capital "S" Many thanks to Andreas for pointing this out... I could not see it until I scanned at vew high resolution. Dan........ what else ya got

Marked 900 S and with a split double pin.....

Cant have the commander.. without the star... gold

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