EK 1914 Take a guess...

[Chris Boonzaier]

I have been tabulating award dates for WW1 EKs, so far 607 awards taken into the stats...

We often hear that the EK was being thrown out in all directins at the end of the war... anyone want to guess which month is in the lead for the period 14-18? :-)

Best

Chris

[Bob Hunter]

Here's my SWAG: September 1917.

[Guest Rick Research]

Tricky question...

Officers were more apt to get an EK2 early on, while enlisted ranks generally were less liberally awarded I'd say until after the Somme and Verdun in 1916.

There's nothing unusual about, say, an EK2 to an officer in 1914-- but quite remarkable for any enlisted man that year.

Same thing with EK1s-- by 1916, your average Hauptmann would be getting one... but then an "average" enlisted man never did.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi Rick,

true, true... but that is reaching a more complicated level.... I have taken 607 docs (Both classes) and done stats from them. A certain RickLs contribution was rather heavy on 1914 docs so it may have a slight effect on the overall stats, but overall I think they be as accurate as can be so far.

For anyone reading... who has any WW1 EK docs, please enterthe month and year in this thread and i will add them. I hope to get 1000 docs for the end result.

[Tony]

Hello Chris,

I have one awarded to my wife's Grandad for a rearguard action he took part in during their retreat in October 1918.

I don't have it with me (I'm back home in England) but as far as I can remember, the award was for an action on Oct. 13th 1918. He was taken PoW the same day and received his EKI on his release in 1920 or 1921.

Tony

[Paul R]

My Guess is November 1918!

Paul

What does the winner get!!

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi... Bob is closer :-)

[joe campbell]

august 1917.

and that's all i got to say 'bout that!

joe

[Chris Boonzaier]

You bastard Joe... thats right!

[joe campbell]

hey!

when do i get my new Lexus and all

expense paid trip to tahiti???

nice to get it right sometimes!

good luck with your project.

joe

[Chris Boonzaier]

So.... how did you get it !!!!!!!!

[joe campbell]

one part guess,

one part remembering seeing

a list of casualties by month

(can't remember where!!),

and one part Lady Luck!

joe

[Ulsterman]

Mai, 1917

June, 1918 Both EK2s

[Dave Danner]

Chris,

You may have already done this, but have you talked with David Gregory? His rather extensive Milit?rpass and Soldbuch collection probably covers a fair number of EK award dates.

http://www.zeltbahn.net/wehrpass/index.htm

[Chris Boonzaier]

Chris,

You may have already done this, but have you talked with David Gregory? His rather extensive Milit?rpass and Soldbuch collection probably covers a fair number of EK award dates.

http://www.zeltbahn.net/wehrpass/index.htm

Hi Dave,

I have all his EK docs added in, have been hesitating with the books as it will contain a good % of "doubles" where the date is factored in because of the doc already being couinted.

best

Chris

[Daniel Murphy]

Chris,

September 1916 and April 1918.

Dan Murphy

[Ulsterman]

Another EK2 -March 1918.

[Mike K]

Hi Chris,

No order;

EK2 - 1 Juni 1918

EK2 - 3 Juli 1917

EK2 - 30 August 1915

EK2 - 30.11.1917

EK2 - 24.4.1916

Regards

Mike K

[Chip]

One more,

EK2 6.Jan.1917

So are there any educated guesses out there as to why Ausgust 1917?

Chip

[Tom Y]

Thought this should be brought up to date.

[VtwinVince]

You guys are right about the scarcity of EM's EK 1's. My uncle, who held the EK 2 since 1915, was repeatedly recommended for the EK 1, especially after Verdun. I have a Feldpostkarte from the CO of his regiment, Oberst Koch, to my great-grandfather, essentially excusing the fact that his son hasn't received the EK 1 yet. It wasn't until the summer of 1918, after over 120 patrols as a pilot, that he finally got the bloody thing. On the other hand, his elder brother was the first EM in his regiment to win the EK 2, at the first battle of Ypres in November, 1914.

[notned]

HI Chris,

Here are mine,

10 mar 1917. EK2 Unteroffizier Ludwig Hesse Signed at Divisional level by a Generalleutnant. Full A4 size document

15 may 1918. EK2 Sergeant Paul Bliel 12 Komp IR230

Small Militarpasse sized document all typed out

Regards

Paul

[Guest TsaLi]

I have the Iron Cross 2nd Class group (28th Prussian Infantry) awarded to my wife's Grandfather (France) in April 1918.