Regimental Silver Tray - "AA8"

[Beau Newman]

Several years ago, I got this silver presentation tray of the type presented to officers upon their retirement or leaving a unit. It has imperial era hallmarks for .830 silver content. It has a script "AA8" in the center and the names of his fellow officers oround the outside. The names are: Ziervogel, von Fabeck, Henke, Troitzsch, von Luck, Friedrichs, von Schkopp, Weisbach, Koch, von Boehn, Graf von Pfiel, von Mitzlaff, Noeske, Dr. Richter, Frhr. v. Furstenberg, Neumann-Silkow, Frhr. v. Eckhardtstein, and Muller. I have attempted to match these names with a particular unit in a particular year but, have had no luck. It is possible that an older tray was used during the Weimar or even WWII era which may explain my difficulty in tying these names together, many of which wre distinguished throughout German history. For example, a von Pfeil was a founder of German Southwest Africa, a General Neumann-Silkow was a division commander in Rommel's Afrika Korps and another von Pfeil commanded a Gruppen in Luftwaffe JG52. Does anyone have an idea of what the "AA8" might designate or what era I should be looking for?

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Glenn J]

Beau,

it is from Aufklärungsabteilung 8. Shown below is a page from the 12 October 1937 Stellenbesetzung:

Regards

Glenn

[Beau Newman]

Excellent information! So, this appears to be from a pre-WWII scout or recon. battalion. Any chance that Neumann-Silkow was the same one who served with Rommel?

[Glenn J]

Beau,

indeed; that is the later Generalleutnant and Ritterkreuz winner, Walter Neumann-Silkow.

Regards

Glenn