Ian Sayer

This photograph of an unidentified Italian who seems to have been some sort of liason officer or military attache in Warsaw in the late 1930s. There is also a photo of a lady who may be his wife. Can anyone help to identify either of these people please. Many thanks.

This Estonian Lt Col was the military attache to Warsaw in 1934 and may have served longer there in that capacity. I am trying to identify him and locate any relevant biographical information. Can anybody help please. Many thanks.

This officer appears to have acted as a liason officer between the various foreign military attaches weho were based in Warsaw in the mid to late 1930s. Can anyone identify this officer please. Many thanks.

Can anyone identify this Latvian officer who served as a military attache to Warsaw in 1934? Any biographical info wouild also be greatley appteciated. Many thanks

I recently acquired a small collection of photos signed by various European military attaches to Poland and/or Warsaw iduring the 1930s. I am still trying to identify some of these individuals and I am also seeking appropriate biographical information so would appreciate any assistance, This one was the Czech military attache to Warsaw in 1937 Many thanks.

Keep up the good work Colin Regards Ian

Thanks Colin. Unbelievably Herzner was honoured for this incident by the award of the Iron Cross 2nd Class. This therefore became the first medal, awarded for valour, of World War 2. Here it is and you will note that ,unusually ,it is signed by Keitel. Regards Ian Herzner also led a special Wehrmacht/Ukranian nationalist battalion during the invasion of Russia. In 1942 he was wounded in action and sent to a military sanitorium to recuperate. On the 3rd September 1942 he was last seen laying on a float in the middle of a lake. Suddenly he disappeared. His body was found 2o hours later. An investigation was held but his death was deemed to be a simple accident.

Hi Colin Well thanks very much for that. Herzner is an interesting character. Hitler previously authorised the war to commence on the 26th August 1939. As a result of the ever changing political situation Hitler stepped back from the brink and cancelled the attack on Poland. Unfortunatley it was too late to stop Herzner who was leading an Abwehr K Group to capture the stategic railway tunnels which ran through the Polish Jablunka Pass. Just after midnight on the 25th August he sat down and pencilled what would become the first operational order of World War II. " Crossing Polish frontier 0030 hours with J(ablunka) C (Commando) at point 627 north north west of Cadca'. Then he signed it. There is more about the operation here: http://en.wikipedia....C3%B3w_Incident Here is that message Regards Ian

Hi Colin Thought you might like to see a wartime TLS of Heinz to another Brandenburger, I have a feeling that I read somewhere that Herzner was a member of the 1938 plot but I haven't been able to find the original reference that I think I saw. Maybe someone on the forum can help. If someone can confirm that he was I'll post a document by him and provide his CV. Best Ian

Excellent work Colin. Keep it up. All the best Ian