Fifat

Next problem : The order at the collar has the form of the Order of the Crown with Swords of Prussia (until 1918) indeed. But ... it was not worn at the collar. Those classes, where the badge was worn at the collar had at the same time a big star on the left chess ... The Order of the crown of Prussia (also worn with swords) had six classes: *Grand Cross - wore the Grand Cross badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest; *1st Class - wore the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest; *2nd Class - wore the badge on a necklet, plus the star on the left chest; *3rd Class - wore the badge on a ribbon on the left chest; *4th Class - wore the badge on a ribbon on the left chest; *Medal - wore the medal on a ribbon on the left chest.

Next problem: The insigna of the generals of the Wehrmacht were see: (link) Generalfeldmarschall (from 1942) (0) Generalfeldmarschall (until 1942) (1) Generaloberst in the rank of a Generalfeldmarschall (until 1940) (2) Generaloberst (3) General (4) Generalleutnant (5) Generalmajor (6) ... and our von Feldmann has two stars ... making him a "general"? Therefore, I assume, the photo was even earlier, when he still was an Oberst (colonel), which was until 1919/1920. ... but (!!) his collar is the collar of a general and not the one of a colonel. The uniform seems to be quite mysterious.

One obvious question remains - I was just looking again at von Feldmanns photo: Why did he apparently remove his ribbon bar from his tunic - we still can see the holes, where it was fixed? It is not a snapshot but a rather official picture of him, used for postcards, too.

Hans von Feldmann left the army "mit dem Charakter eines Generalleutnants". That means, see: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charakter, that he left the army with a "Ehrenrang", a military rank which is only a honorary rank. If by whatever reason von Feldmann was reactivated his function would have only been one fitting to a Generalmajor.

Hans von Feldmanns brother was Otto von Feldmann, see http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Feldmann. Otto von Feldmanns portrait is shown under http://mdz1.bib-bvb.de/~rt/index.html, which contains the data of the Reichtagsabgeordneten, to whom Otto von Feldmann later belonged. Unfortunately the data actually can not be accessed. Therefore, we are for the time beeing unable to compare the photgraphs. The only German generals reported with the name "von Feldmann" are: FELDMANN, Adolph Philipp Friedrich Theodor von GM1828-1894 FELDMANN, Hans von GL1868-1940 See: http://www.lexikon-deutschegenerale.de/f_pr.html Therefore, I assume, the general shown on the picture with the signature "Feldmann" is Hans von Feldmann in the rank of a Generalmajor. The photo must have been taken between 1920, when became a Generalmajor, and 1922 when he left service with the character of a Generalleutnant. Born in 1868 he was at this time 52 years old which seems to match the age of the general on the photo. "s/l Patenkinde" means "To his beloved godchild" ... may be of interest: Hans von Feldmann himself had two children, Adolf Theodor (1899-1970) and Wilhelma (*1903), the latter godchild of Emperor Wilhelm II.

Hans von Feldmann is now described in an article in the German wikipedia: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_von_Feldmann. The general on the photo is wearing the insignia of a Generalmajor. However, von Feldmanns highest rank during his service was Generalmajor - as the Photo shows. Only at the end of his service he was dismissed with the character of a Generalleutnant. Thereforde, the photo seems to be taken during the time when he was still an active officer. His religion was evangelisch (protestant). His parents were Generalmajor Adolf von Feldmann (1828-1894), who was ennobled 1871, and Jenny L?hrsen (1841-1917). His wife was the dauguter of Dr. iur Gustav L?hrsen (1805-1868) and Charlotte Jauch (1811-1872). See http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jauch_(Hamburg)