GdC26

Hi Simi, That occurred to me, too, but he is not listed as a recipient in Die Theresienritter im Weltkriege, nor on the web. I'll have a look at other resources as time permits. Kind rergards, Sandro

Freiherr’s ID looks to be correct: http://prussianmachine.com/diva/jehlin.htm Kind regards, Sandro

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Hi Karlo, perfect, thank you very much! Here is another Funke pic I won recently, signed and dated. Best, Sandro

Like Bayern, as said, I don't think the collar and cuffs are French, because of their facing colour. I've checked Die deutsche Generale by MilitariaVerlag and Pietsch' Formationsgeschichte des preußischen Heeres, and based on that, don't believe they are German imperial, either. The double row of oaks leaves on the cuffs does not fit the general officer pattern in use in any of the states documented in those references (which amongst them, cover the period 1806-1918). The facing color seems closer to that used by general staff, but the emboridery does not fit patterns in use in the general staffs/war ministries of the German states, either (Saxony in the 1870's had special embroidery for general staff officers that involved a leave pattern, but it is different from the ones on your collar and cuffs). I think it may be worth seeing if you can find a reference for general officers or general staff officers in the armies of the South American states identified by Bayern. Perhaps that will yield a match. Kind regards, Sandro

The pattern seems to emulate that of the dark blue Prussian general’s gestickte Waffenrock in use up to 1909. Based on the pics, I’m not sure it is original, though: the embroidery on the arm patches is of a different pattern the Prussian model, acorns are embroidered, the leaves seem flat, not the almost 3 dimensional embroidery seen on originals, and the background color seems off (compare the first pic below for Ponceaurot without flash). Compare: https://www.militaria.at/ShowPageNew.aspx?id=634886745377944044 and the pics below. Any evidence of buttons having been present on the cuffs? I'm by no means an expert on French general's tunics, but from memory they do not tend to have red/carmine facing color on the sleeves and collar. A quick google search seems to bear that out. Since I love a puzzle, I'll dig into my references as time permits, but identification may take a while (if indeed it happens), because many armies around 1900 used a pattern of this kind for high ranking offers, officials and diplomats. BTW, the rounding of the collar may also be an identifying trait. Kind regards, Sandro

The though part of course is to stay focussed in the period in-between and safe your pennies for that one piece you really want ..... ? As Stefan says, we all struggle with that. .... But these straps go to the heart of your collection, so well done, your patience has paid off .... Cheers, Sandro

Conrats Chris, well worth the wait ?

I fully understand the excitement and anticipation, but that is no way to talk about your wife ..... ?

Thanks Chris. And I see I forgot to thank Komtur: many ? !

Perfect, many, many thanks Christophe. Chris, is this thread not worthy of a pin? This is one of the cornerstones of WWI imperial German order-collecting, in my view. Kind regards, Sandro

Ah, German bureaucracy..... At least know for sure he was awarded the EK II ....

Does anyone have a scan of/the text of the AKO of 16 November 1916 prescribing the use of gilded silver for imperial German awards formerly made in gold? I would like to check something with a view to a discussion on another forum. Many thanks and kind regards, Sandro

I'm inclined to follow Chris on this - a Legitimation is not an award certificate, and he may be that Oppelt sought to justify/document entitlement by reference, first to his time in KUK IR 94, and then to his time with the KUK Fliegerersatztruppe. Whether time before December 1916 counts for eligibility for the Karl Truppenkreuz will depend on the rules/statutes governing that award - but if it did, that may explain the IR 94 Legitimation. Kind regards, Sandro

1915 predates the date of the cross’ institution in December 1916, after Karl had ascended to the throne(s). Are you sure the date is correct/the Urkunde is in fact for a Karl truppenkreuz/is genuine? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Troop_Cross Kind regards, Sandro

Pleasure!

Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen als Inhaber des K. u. K. österreichisch=ungarischen Husaren=Regiments König Friedrich Wilhelm III. von Preußen Nr. 10 https://www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/item/C4C5N3EK5WS3PAMIXJDSL7CMNGIPA4BM Kind regards, Sandro

Just ordered my copy, congrats Chris!

You're welcome. As Chris points out, perhaps you'll get further input if you actually contribute info or pics yourself. I see you say you cannot post pics, but it must surely be possible to contribute info. Questions, of course, are not for the benefit of all, answers are - so if you have those to share (and you claim to have written books, if I understood you correctly, so you must have some) please feel free to do so, even in response to post off others. Kind regards, Sandro

Very nice, thanks for sharing Christophe!

Helmut Weitze has several litewka's, on offer, mostly wartime, some with silver buttons, some with golden, some with patterned buttons, some with flat ones: https://www.weitze.net/cgi-bin/suche/suche.pl?q=litewka#s=alle, I'd need to confirm this by reference to the regulations, but as far as button-colour goes, I'd not be surprised if that simply followed the regulations for the tunic of the unit or rank of the wearer. In other words: gold or silver as specified in the regulations for the tunic the wearer was entitled to wear based on his rank (officers of general rank generally wore gold in most states, but there were exceptions) or assignment. Hope this lhelps, will have look as time permits over then ext week or so to see if the regulations bear this out. Kind regards, Sandro

Litewka, which era are you interested in, pre-war or wartime? Kind regards, Sandro

Great find Glenn. I’d say his face has the same features as that of the gentleman in the pic Chris posted, so I think Chris’ identification was correct. Kind regards, Sandro

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https://www.armeemuseum.de/de/2-uncategorised/68-impressum.html https://www.armeemuseum.de/de/service/ansprechpartner/dr-ansgar-reiss.html I'm pretty sure that if you e-mail them they will write back.