Ribbon and rank question

[Tony]

Hello,

I have a couple of questions about this soldier. Is that a Bavarian ribbon under his iron cross ribbon and is he an Unteroffizier?

Cheers

Tony

[Schießplatzmeister]

Hello Tony:

Thank you for submitting the interesting photograph. I am not a specialist regarding rank insignia, so I will leave that issue to the many experts here at the forum.

The ribbon in the soldier's buttonhole under the EK ribbon seems to be white with very narrow dark-coloured stripes (due to the spacing that is shown). It is difficult to be certain, but my best guess is that the ribbon is for a Bremen Hanseatic cross as this is the only ribbon with this pattern that was commonly awarded. If this is the case, then this is a very interesting photograph indeed, as I have not seen a photo with this ribbon before. Note that it is difficult to be shure however!

I'm shure there is someone out there who can help regarding the soldier's unit (and rank), which might give more of a clue as to exactly what ribbon is there!

Is there any writing on the rear of the photograph?

Thank you,

"SPM"

Edited February 18, 2006 by Schie?platzmeister

[Tony]

Hello SPM,

I will be pleased if the ribbon turns out to be one of the less common ones seen.

Unfortunately there's nothing written on the reverse of the card. Is it not a little strange that his cuffs are turned back, bit of a mixture between the M10 and M15 tunic?

Tony

Edited February 18, 2006 by Tony

[Stogieman]

My vote would be for the BMVK3 and that looks like a NCO Rank button on the collar...

[Ulsterman]

I vote BMVKx as well-but can your enlarge the buttons (inc. collar) and the cockade on the hat? The coat buttons to me look like crowns.

Looks like a higher NCO's rank button on the collar to me as well.

Edited February 18, 2006 by Ulsterman

[Guest Rick Research]

I agree that it is the Bremen Hanseatic Cross-- the stripes are EQUALLY SPACED.

The button at the level of his shoulder straps on the colar = all ranks from Sergeant up. His shoulder straps are all wrinkled and turned, so no joy there.

Without a belt and side arm, it's not possible to tell a Sergeant from a Vizefeldwebel EXCEPT...

those are the cap cockades of enlisted ranks, not an officer-- and Vizefeldwebel up was entitled to wear officer cap cockades along with officers' side arm knots.

So... he is a Sergeant, the rank above Unteroffizier, and normally held between 5 and 6 years of active duty.

[Tony]

Thanks eveyone!

Rick, what's Sarge's name though?

The buttons do have crowns on them, below are a couple of close ups.

Cheers

Tony

[Stogieman]

Sorry, I disagree, that is not a Bremen Hanseatic Cross ribbon

[David Gregory]

Sorry, I disagree, that is not a Bremen Hanseatic Cross ribbon

Ditto on that. The central stripe half hidden by the upper ribbon seems to be wider than the one on the edge and does not match the even spacing of a Bremen Hanseatic Cross ribbon.

[Guest Rick Research]

Well then, given the width of the ribbon that would have to be something Freikorps then. It's a light ribbon with thin dark stripes very far in, so that there cannot have been more than ONE more covered by the EK ribbon. Pehaps a 1919 von Diebitsch Cross 2nd Class-- though I'd have expected the usual darkened yellow shade in that case.

I also seee from the closeup that what I was seeing as the collar button was actually the imprint of the MISSING button-- you can see its rim and the hole where it was attached!

[Stogieman]

I noticed that too.... the initial posting what appeared to be a rank button is nothing more than an impression....... would that lend credence to this actually being a Friekorps era phorto?

[Tony]

Rick and Rick,

Freikorps suits me too, if it is it'll be my only Freikorps photo.

The comments so far have already made this a much more interesting photo than I thought it already was.

Tony