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From what I can find, there were only two saxon officers with this combination in 1872: SH3 VR.KD AR.KD PEK2. One died in 1889 and the other in 1908. Clearly, neither would have been around for a WWI EK and one not even for the centenary. I would agree with Rick that something is not quite right about the mini. Andy

Since Rick brought this topic back from the dead, so to speak, I thought I'd add this little story. I think one of the best examples of a "disgraced" officer coming back from the dead is Erich Böhme. At the beginning of the war, he was a major and Eisenbahn Linien Kommandant in Breslau. He went on to become a char. Gen.Lt. (in 1939 as part of the Tannenberg promotions). He also was awarded the PLM on 07.5.1918. He began his career in IR 118 as an Avantageur on 20.07.1882. Not quite ten years later, while still an Lt. in IR 118, he ran afoul of the code of honor and on 20.07.1892 he was cashiered. That could easily have been the end of his military career but he submitted a request to the king for permission to reenter the army. That request was granted and on 28.0.1893 he entered FR 37 as an Avantageur. Due to his good conduct he was granted an ante-dated commission as an Oberlt. gaining 2 1/2 years of seniority in 1903. This put him back in line with his original contemporaries and paved the way for his future career. I think it speaks quite highly about the willingness of the King and Army to forgive the mistakes of a young officer who was willing to start from scratch to reclaim his career through commitment and dedication to service. That his superiors and the King thought highly enough of his service to bestow the PLM upon this man speaks directly to his abilities. While there are several other officers who had a similar setback in their career, I think Bohme's is the best example of a man making the best of the second chance given to him. I'll be happy to provide sources should anyone be interested. Andy

These were abbreviations for titles of nobility: D. = Durchlaut (Serene Highness) and Erlaucht (Highness). Andy

Marcin, I just noticed the date on the photo- 14. August 1917. That is the date he became the Chief of the General Staff of XXIV. Reserve Corps! Nice occasion for a photograph. His awards included: RAO4, HOH3X, BMV4XKr, SA3aXKr, WK2cX, ÖEK3K Andy

Marcin, You have a nice photo of Major Hans von Knauer. He spent most of the war on various staffs as a general staff officer. He commanded FAR 44 from Jun-Oct 1918. He went on to become a Wehrmacht Gen.Maj. z.V. Of note is the fact he served in the Chilean army from 1927-1937. He then became an instructor at the Kriegsakademie, and also a liaison officer to the Condor Legion in Spain. He was born 15.05.1874 and died 01.02.1944. I'll leave the awards to the guys who knows those much better than I. Andy

David, The 1904/05 DOA shows him having the PRAO3mSchl and HSäH3b. Andy

David, As a Fähnrich d. Res. from Landw. Bez. IV Berlin, and formerly in Königs Jäg. R.z.Pf. 1, he was promoted to Lt. d. R. d. DR 11 on 16.10.1906 and, from 01.11.1906, he was attached to DR 11 for one year. On 23.06.1907 he was promoted to Lt. (active) in DR 11 with a commision dated 01.11.1906. He transferred to HR 12 on 21.12.1909 and then to the 2. GUR on 01.10.1912. In 1914 he that PMEz2. He was promoted Oberlt. 24.12.1914 and Rittm. 06.06.1916. As of 1918 (according to the HR 12 Stammliste) he was a General Staff officer on the staff of 7th army. He died 00.04.1929. Andy

David, I sent you an e-mail with the entries from the DOA. I can't post them here, too large, I guess. Andy

Andy, Thanks for the very clear explanation! It is amazing how many different types of units were raised during the war. I do not believe that most references (in English at least) actually mention the bicycle companies and later batallions in any detail. So, your photo and comments are a very welcome addition. Andy

Here's a weak guess- Tschako = Jäger, R = Radfahrer (Bicycle in English), but I can't figure out 151. At mobilization only the Jäger Batl. had a bicycle company and there were only 36 (18 reserve) Jäger Batls. Even later on, only 5 bike battalions (1 Brigade) were formed. So, anyone else have any ideas? Andy

Gunnar, 17.02.1914 is his date of commission. "überzählig" only meant that there was not an official position within the regiment for him to be placed in. At some point, a more senior captain would be promoted or retire thereby opening a position for him. This lack of sufficent positions is why many recently promoted captains changed regiments- there simply was not room for them on the regiment's establishment. Andy

Chris, He was the "Führer der Infanterie Geschütz Batterie 14" at this time of the action which earned him the PLM. Andy

Hello Igor, von Wedel left the Kadettenkorps on 22.03.1909 as a "charakterisierter Fähnrich." He was promoted to Fähnrich on 21.12.1909. I do not have any of his later promotions. Andy

Oberstlt. Carl Nehbel. Andy

Glad to have helped. I try to use Google books rather than just a straight search, as it tends to come up with more useable results. Enjoy your search! Andy

Take a look at this short paragraph from Google Books- it contains the basic information you are looking for. http://books.google.de/books?id=UNdSAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA235&dq=%22Peter+Carle+%22&hl=de&sa=X&ei=Wes-Uau-JcjO0QHGqYG4BA&ved=0CFwQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=%22Peter%20Carle%20%22&f=false Andy

Andreas, Nicht all zu viel aber- Er wurde am 31.07.1870 zum Sek.Lt. d. Reserve d. 9. Art. Brig. befördert. Am 07.10.1876 nahm er mit Pension seinen Abschied. Er war zulezt b.d. Landwehr Fußartillerie des II. Batls. d. Landwehr Regiments 85. Die drei Nachträge der Ehrenrangliste geben leider keinen Hinweis auf diesem Sek.Lt. d.R. a.D. Andy

Odulf, Thank you very much for the quick response and the correct spelling! Andy

I am looking for full date and place of birth and death of the following two Prussian Contre Admirals: Eduard Heldt, Chef d. Marine Station der Ostsee in 1870 Hans Kundt, in the Marine Ministerium in 1870. I would also appreciate a source citation. Thanks very much, Andy

I checked the 1904/05 DOA and it gives his year of birth as 1844, and lists "only" the 1870/71 campaign medal among his awards. Based on this, I would say he did not participate, though he certainly would have been the right age to have had the opportunity. Andy

Dave, Karl Gotthilf Schimmelmann was a sergeant on IR 87 when he was awarded the EK1. The 1877 awards list names 167 enlisted as recipients of the EK1, confirming your suspicion. According to the MWB 1890 #28 dated 26.03.1890, he received the PAE at the "Ordensfest 1890" while a Feldwebel in IR 87 (presumablly on the birthday of Kaiser Wilhelm I., 22.03.1890). Andy

I have a note from the MWB 1922 that he died in November 1922.

#161 is Adolf Blanck

#158 is Max von Schlechtendal Andy

#147 IR 364 PLM winner Friedrich Frhr. von Wedekind #148 yes, Hans von Leyser #149 Georg Frhr. von Gayl #151 IR 390 Hermann Nadolny #152 Emil von Tresckow #153 Jasper (Leutn. d.R. d. DR 11 1914?) Andy