R.A.D. RAD Oberstfeldmeister, a very nice snapshot

[Odulf]

A photo from my RAD collection, showing a Reichsarbeitsdienst Oberstfeldmeister at ease. On the table a very nice tea or coffee cup (which I would not mind to have in my collection), but the puzzle for me is in the cross that dangles next to his EK1. What could this be and why should he wear it in this manner?

Edited September 16, 2013 by Odulf

[Guest Rick Research]

I would say that is the Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross-- the Pour le Merite for enlisted men. It started to be a fashion in the Third Reich to wear that from the buttonhole--never like HE is though just to not "lose" it in a medal bar.

I have never checked PrGMVK recipients against the junior RAD officers Dienstaltersliste--I will do that today.

Edited September 16, 2013 by Rick Research

[Guest Rick Research]

I was HOPING this would be easier than it turned out to be, but no such luck. That's the problem with Imperial enlisted men.

There are no awards given in the R.A.D. Seniority Lists and nobody with a truly weird enough name to "know" that had to be THE one. For instnce, there was an Oskar Beyer who got the PrGMVK as a medical NCO...but no way to determine from what I have (Ptazwall's PrGMVK list) if he was the Oskar Beyer who was an R.A.D. Oberstfeldmeister in 1938.

Even if his arm shield showed numbers, that might have been a help. Oh well!!!!

[Cartaphilus]

Hi Rick. Do we know the identity of the soldier in this last beauty picture posted by you?

[Guest Rick Research]

Unfortunately no. He was an exact clone for the American gay writer Gore Vidal, though.

[Odulf]

Thanks Rick for this identification, that could explain the prominent place of this decoration.

When I aquired this photo I made a note on the reverse, that he belonged to Arb.Gr. 1/87 (stationed near Crossen a/Oder)

[Guest Rick Research]

No match for this rank in any part of 87 as of 01.02.38

[jarrah]

Hello Odulf,

Do you happen do have in your RAD collection any picture of Wilhelm Alfried August Ruschmann? All the information I have about him is: "Kapitan, Tropenlandwirt, Generalarbeitsführer". Thank you.