webr55

Hm... what about a very simple idea: Maybe the precedence is just "in order received"??

(provided no. 2 is not Finnish and he got the last two post-1918)

Gentlemen,

I found this photo of General der Infanterie Friedrich Olbricht (1888-1944), one of the central figures involved in the plot to kill Hitler. The photo shows him in 1942, on the occasion of his daughter's marriage.

Now I was very surprised to see Olbricht wearing so many foreign breast star awards (I count at least 4, if not 5). He must have been the highest decorated resistance fighter! Does anyone know which awards he got?

Chris

I suppose you mean the upper writing. This looks to me like the name "Albrecht Eigen".

That Oldenburg bar is pretty nice too!! ;>)

Thanks! I got this one from an estate sale and was told that it belonged to an army officer from Altenburg with the name Johannes Reinhold. I never found any trace of him, however. Probably an invisible 1914 volunteer, but he was neither in IR96 nor in IR153.

Paul,

this one was sold more than a year ago and I didn't save any info about the buyer. I don't know anything about Spanish bars either. I am just curious whether the combination makes sense. So many awards - if this is real, it looks to me like a General, at least a Colonel.

And the back. Someone stuck adhesive tape to it!

Here's the pic for comparison:

Interesting with the 2 Saxon ribbons reversed in precedence on each of these bows. One from each Duchy would be my guess.

Could well be! I also agree with the swords just being left out. So probably a junior officer who somehow - as aD - felt the need for such an impressing civilian dress thing. But I didn't know that 25mm lapel bows are that scarce. I will post a pic later with a bar next to it for comparison.

Nice one, John!

Right, it took them several years to correct the mistake.

BTW, could that be the TWM with halfmoon device, after all?

Update!

Voigt-Ruscheweyh's TWM is listed in the RH from 1926 on, till he drops out in 1929.

But I still think the ribbon is not on the photo. So he stuck to the regulations!

This is a rather large, 25+mm lapel bow with the Saxe-Coburg Carl Eduard medal and the Ernestiner. Backside is very cheap, just a safety pin.

The last ribbon is a light blue, from the combination I would say maybe rather a Württemberg Friedrich than a Pr. Crown Order. What do you think?

This one was sold on ebay some time ago (I was not the buyer). While I would say I know a few things about German bars, this is not the case in Spanish ones. I have thus always wondered whether this bar is real, with the DAO, EK2 and "the other" Blue Division on it. I don't even know whether these all belong together.

Chris

Sorry for the bad pic, but mine's got the same design:

Remember this one, Stogie-Rick?

Great ID and magnificent bar!

Chris

BTW, here we have the rare case of someone who wore the Turkish star in the correct way, without the ribbon on bar!

THAT IS AWESOME!!

THANKS RICK!!!!!!!!!

Moral: If you go wrong right at the beginning, you may waste A LOT of time! I have to admit, I think I overlooked those few people in the Friedenskommission.

But let me just tell my story. It might also serve as a good estimate for whether this is a unique combination:

Started with: SA3aX:

3905

Checked for Prussian Army and BMV4X:

168

Checked for HHOX:

106

Checked for other decorations in 1914 RL:

46

Checked for Reichsheer service:

38

Eliminating those that were only Oberlt in 1914:

24

Eliminating those with Z?hringen:

22

Eliminating those that must have had the Centenary:

13

Eliminating from DAL 1918:

12

Discounting a too common name (M?ller):

11

Eliminating those KIA from Ehrenrangliste:

10

Eliminating one who probably had other awards (judging from Ehrenrangliste):

9

This left me with

1) Hptm Gustav Arnold, 1.10.1913 M12m

2) Hptm iG? Otto v. Brandenstein

3) Hptm i.G. Drews, 18.12.1913 B3b

4) Hptm iG Bruno Friese

5) Hptm iG v. Hepke, 1913

6) Hptm iG Kretzschmann, 1.10.1913 J45i

7) Hptm iG? Leo Petri, 22.3.1913 E2e

8) Hptm iG? Kurt Sichting 20.3.1911 Vv (Lt. 1.8.1897, Oberstlt aD)

9) Hptm iG Wagner, 27.1.1914 U2u, 27.1.1914 U2u

But your result exceeds my expectations! That teaches me not to ask in the forum first.

Let me just be absolutely sure-- is the next to the last the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross, or the Hessian Bravery Medal with blue faded to white?

Because if that IS Hamburg...

I have his career and photo all ready for you....

Whatwhatwhat??

I have gone through THOUSANDS of names in ranklists, have thought to be very smart in getting this down to NINE suspects...

... and you tell me you have him right there!!!!!!

Yes, it is Hamburg, definitely not Hessen!

But first, tell me that I was on the right track: A Lt ca. 1898-1900, Maj a.D., probably an iG type, got the XXV in the 20s?!

For the long service, the officer may received this medal just after the war, in the 20th. This officier probably finished the war with the grade of captain.

Christophe

Yes, he must have got the long service AFTER WW1 - no Centenary, so less than 25yrs before the war. However, he must have been Hauptmann in 1914 already, otherwise no long service after 1918. We are looking at a 1918/1919 Major a.D.

Which means #5 is the Saxon Albert 1st class: 3905 awarded.

And we have a long service, the colour of #3 is not the Crown Order.

Thanks for your comments!

I have to admit I have already done some HARD work on this bar.

HHOX is right, there is a small hole on the ribbon. And no campaign medal.

We have a figure: 3905 SA3aX

Still waiting for a guess: How far can I get him down to, what do you think?

Nothing very spectacular here.

The back:

Now here's a quiz: How far do you think I can get this one down to??

Chris

P.S. He was not in the Reichsheer.

Saw it too. Really a great piece!!

I don't know whether this is the right forum, but here's my question:

I am curious whether WM NCOs, who held equivalent ranks in the Allgemeine SS (like Unterscharf?hrer) at the outbreak of the war, were still (routinely?) promoted further during the war, while being in the field. Or did they just keep their original peacetime Allgemeine ranks? Does anyone have information on this?

Thanks

Chris

According to his awards, this must be

Hauptmann Schmidtmann

who is listed in 1914 in IR15 (Minden). He has the Ernestiner, Schaumburg-Lippe Honor Cross and the Dutch Order of Oranien-Nassau.

He had less than 25 yrs of service, so no long service cross.

Regards

Chris

ach ja, Hohenzollern...

BTW here is a silver-gilt Godet Hohenzollern knight without swords.

Awarded ca. 24 times in WW1- this was awarded to Ernst Vollbehr; the war painter of the Army Group Crown Prince.

Best regards

Daniel

That is a truly great piece!

May I ask whether there is a roll of the Hohenzollern without swords out there? Are these 24 (or at least some of them) known?

Thanks

Chris