webr55

Lt dR Schnuis: an extremely rare (Friesian) name. In the Verlustlisten, there are only two with that name - and one is listed as "Lt dR Friedrich Schnuis", born "21.12. in Potshausen". At ancestry etc., I don't find anyone with that name - however, there was a "Frerich Schnuis", born 1.12.1889 in Potshausen, died 7.10.1962 in Krautsand. A short bio of him is found in a book "Leben und Lernen hinter Stacheldraht" (2001): he studied theology and became Pastor (later Studiendirektor des Predigerseminars Göhrde, and Superintendent) - and he was a Hauptmann dR. I think this is him.

For the Hptm dR Schneider from Eisenbahn, there is, if I am not mistaken, only one possibility: the 1914 Olt dR from EisenbReg 2, in Berlin, with LD2 and a KO4X. I wonder if he is the Hans Schneider who is listed in the DOA as Ingenieur and Lt dR in Magdeburg, with KO4X and DSWA, born 13.2.1879 in Magdeburg. At ancestry, I find the death certificate for a Friedrich Wilhelm Hans Schneider, Kaufmann, born 13.2.1879 in Magdeburg, died in Berlin 15.6.1947.

While we are at it, let's focus a bit more on the Schmidts. I've been looking at some candidates from Verlustlisten (but these are rather candidates, might need additional confirmation): Hptm dR Schmidt from IR 401 might be Hans, born in Wolmirstedt on 10.2.1877. The Hptm dL, cdr of PB 344, and the Hptm dRaD, cdr of PB 305, can they be found?

Great! According to genealogical sources, he was born in Lüdenscheid.

Another Ernst Schmidt, teacher in Lüdenscheid, a very late award. This is not the Olt dR Ernst Schmidt from FAR 62, we had him already and he was Landmesser in Hamburg. From Lüdenscheider Abendzeitung, 22.4.1919

Ah, thanks! That makes it even more likely that he got only the medal, since he most probably made Lt AFTER receiving the "Hohenzollern". The second celebrity case, even more famous, is Otto Hahn (1879-1968). The later Nobel prize winner is credited (among other awards) with the Royal HHOX on German Wikipedia, as well as in other places: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Hahn I had a look into his biographies, both "Otto Hahn: ein Forscherleben unserer Zeit" (1984) as well as "Otto Hahn: Leben und Werk in Texten und Bildern" (1988). So Hahn, already being a Dr., was a One-Year-Volunteer in IR 81 in 1901/02, decided to pass on the Lt and just made Vizefw dR, then was promoted to Lt at the beginning of WW1, apparently in a Landwehr Reg, then at Großes Hauptquartier and in PioReg 36. The biographies also confirm all the other awards listed on wiki: both EKs, the Hessen Tapferkeitsmedaille (seen on his ribbon bar in the drawing below) and the Saxon Albrechtsorden with swords. There is also a picture that shows Hahn wearing his EK1 when being introduced into the Prussian Academy in 1925 (see below). However, there is no mentioning at all of a Hohenzollern, neither Royal nor Princely. And as a Lt, he could not have just got the medal. So either someone on Wikipedia made this up (I could not find the original source for it) - or, but that is just my speculation, he might have received a Hohenzollern-Hausorden from the Kaiser personally, during Weimar time. He would have been the perfect person for this, being Director of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut for Chemistry and Senator of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft. But I don't have any evidence for that.

That would have been my second guess as well: He probably didn't even get the HEK, but rather the medal. Maybe that's why his biography never says "Königlich" nor "Ritterkreuz", just "Hausorden".

I would like to discuss two celebrity cases which I have had a closer look at, two famous people who are frequently cited as having had the HHOX. First one is Peter Suhrkamp (1891-1959), founder of Suhrkamp Publishers. He was Lt in WW1 (his real name was Heinrich Suhrkamp), and he is listed in the Verlustlisten 19.10.1916 as Unteroffz. in RIR 213. Both German and English wiki as well as other sources list a Royal HHOX for him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Suhrkamp Now I have looked into his biography "Peter Suhrkamp", which appeared first in 1975, then as expanded edition in 1991. It confirms that he was a War Volunteer in RIR 213. He made Vizefeldwebel and then Lt (there are several photos of him, see below). The book says "Leutnant der Landwehr", not sure if that is correct or if it should rather be Reserve. Anyway, he had a nervous breakdown in Jan 1918 and, as I understand, didn't make it back to the front after that. Now for the HHOX: The book says (p. 52) that he received the "Hohenzollern-Hausorden" as Leutnant (apparently in 1917, though that is not clear). He sent both his EK and the "Hohenzollern-Orden" to his father who then had them framed in a glass case and put them on the wall. There is a picture of his EK2 award, see below, as Vizefw in June 1917. The Hohenzollern document is not shown. There is not even a mentioning that he got the EK1, and no picture that would show it. Still, on p. 89, it says that Nazi authorities were impressed by his "high bravery award as officer" ("hohe Tapferkeitsauszeichnung als Offizier"). The picture with cap below seems to have a ribbon bar with two awards, it is very blurry though - and I don't see an EK1. By coincidence, we have an Oberlt. Richard Suhrkamp in the list, also from Oldenburg (IR 74/IR 91). But it is not him. My conclusion: I suspect Heinrich/Peter got something else, might have been the Princely one. But maybe someone has other sources.

We might have had him before: Henry Prahl was Lt dR from Pioniere, later Baurat in Hilden. From Langenberger Zeitung, 19.11.1937. Born 1891, he died in 1944 (KIA?): https://billiongraves.com/grave/Henry-Prahl/15489874

Pfarrer Max Treichel got the HHOX as Divisionspfarrer, died in 1943. From Langenberger Zeitung, 26.11.1943.

Hptm dR Klinnert was a tricky case. In 1914, he is in IR 63 as Hptm dR, from Posen. Not easy to find out more about him, but it looks like he was from Zoll. The Prussian "Zentralblatt" for Customs 1916 lists him in Schwersenz (Posen). Other sources ("Amtsblatt der Reichsfinanzverwaltung" etc.) show him as Zollinspektor in Remscheid after WW1, moving to Solingen in 1920. I finally find an "Oberzollrat Karl Klinnert" in the address book Krefeld 1931, I believe this is him.

The Lt dR Kahlhardt from IR 172 is most probably Walter, born 7.9.1896 in Langensalza, wounded three times.

And we have another Müller: Lt dR Joseph Müller from Bredeney/Essen Essener Volkszeitung, 31.10.1918

The other Stumpf, Hptm dR in LIR 77, can only have been Hans Heinrich Otto Stumpf, in 1914 Olt dR in IR 77. Born 2.12.1877 in Grabow/Lüchow, survived the war. We had him here before btw:

Confirmed: Lt dR Stumpf was Paul Stumpf. Essener Volkszeitung, 29.10.1918

About Hptm dR Grzybowski from RFußAR 6: There were two Grzybowskis, both originally from the same regiment (FußAR1), one a regular, one a reserve. May have been related: - Paul Benjamin Karl RIchard, born 25.1.1871 in Mierunsken Kreis Oletzko, Major 1914, so the HHOX recipient cannot be him, died 1919. His father was August Grzybowski, pastor in Königsberg (1842-1922). - The other one was a reserve officer, in 1914 Lt dR, from Samter. He is most probably Friedrich August Grzybowski, born 8.2.1873 in Grabowken Kreis Sensburg (acc. to ancestry). He is found in a publication called "Die Leiter der preußischen Katasterämter bis ~1939" as being with Katasteramt Samter from 1905 to 1919, then Katasteramt Königsberg/Neumark from 1919-21, finally Katasteramt-Direktor in Berlin until 1937, when he retired.

Nice article, and Leutwein's Hohenzollern was for colonial service.

The Olt dR "Bennighoven" in our list is Dr. jur. Wilhelm Benninghoven, later also Prof. I couldn't find his living dates, but he is found as "Syndikus" during the 1920s in Essen, and in Essen address books until at least 1965. Essener Volkszeitung, 22.10.1918

For the Hptm dR Mathieu from RIR 30, there are two possibilities, both in 1914 Lt dR from IR 30, both from Roden (brothers?): - Nikolaus, born 1880 in Roden - Adolf, born 1884 in Roden, died as Dr. jur., Amtsgerichtsrat in 1929, see death notice below

Ulrich Hugo Julius Materne, born 28. Dez. 1871 in Schroda, died in Preetz 13. Okt. 1954, as OTL aD (acc. to myheritage). Ernst Philipp Otto Mathi, born 6.11.1868 in Frankfurt/M., alive in 1939.

The Major "Marschalk", who got the HHOX in late 1918, puzzles me a bit. There is no "Marschalk" in the ERL. There were two Obersten "Marschalck von Bachtenbrock", but it can be neither Wilhelm, from DR 21 (he was already OTL by 1917), nor Arnold (a zD OTL). Of the officers with name "Marschall", only one would fit: Alfred Ernst Erich Marschall from IR 132, born 13.3.1872 in Mescherin. If it's not him, then it could only be one of the several Majore "Marschall von Bieberstein", but that would have meant several mistakes had been made in the MWB.

The Hptm dR Gärtner from RFAR 7 was Hans Gärtner, later Landrat. Died in Münster in 1972: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Gärtner_(Landrat) From Die Glocke, 12.1.1941

Here is a very late notice for one we don't have yet it seems: Lt dR Friedrich Craß from Hamborn Hamborner Volkszeitung, 11.7.1920

Bernhard Ruberg became SS-Brigadeführer, died 1945: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernhard_Ruberg Some research about the SS-Schade (1888-1966) was done at AHF, the bio shown there (though I don't know where it comes from) does not list a HHOX: https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=83354

About the two Lotze: One is Robert Franz Benevenuto Lotze, Major aD from Pioniere, born 2.9.1875 in Osterode, died 1965, as is mentioned here: https://www.archiv-vegelahn.de/index.php/osterode-am-harz/item/5368-unter-dem-harze-nr-929-931-kindheit-in-osterode-vor-hundert-jahren-1875-1948 The other Lotze was Hauptmann aD in 1918, originally from FR 36. In 1914 as Lt kommandiert zur Haupt-Kadetten-Anstalt, but I don't find his first name.