Imperial Officers in the Bundeswehr?

[Dave Danner]

Not that anyone asked (or possibly cares), but there were also several Imperial Army veterans in the East German armed forces. However, the East Germans and their Soviet masters did not permit the wearing of any Imperial German, Weimar or Nazi era decorations.

Among these, with their known WW1 decorations, were:

Wilhelm Adam - ?

G?nther A?mann - ?

Rudolf Bamler - EK1, EK2

Walter Freytag - EK1, EK2, HHO3x

Otto Korfes - ?

Arno von Lenski - EK1, EK2, bMVO4x, SA3bx, ?MVK3xKD

Vincenz M?ller - EK1, EK2, wF3bx, TM5x, TWM

Hans Wulz - ?

[webr55]

Great research! That gives an idea of continuity: Service in four different armies.

I also thought of the NVA guys. There is a recent book on Vincenz M?ller, he became somewhat famous.

Here is more on the rather interesting Paul Reinhold Herrmann.

This is what makes him interesting: he has what may be a unique distinction. He appears to be the only military officer (maybe the only person, period) with both the West German Gro?es Bundesverdienstkreuz and the Blood Order of the NSDAP. Somehow I don't think the latter made it onto his post-1957 ribbon bar.

Herrmann is really a unique case. Maybe he wore the Blood Order - as usual - on his right pocket flap!

[Ingsoc]

Not that anyone asked (or possibly cares), but there were also several Imperial Army veterans in the East German armed forces. However, the East Germans and their Soviet masters did not permit the wearing of any Imperial German, Weimar or Nazi era decorations.

Among these, with their known WW1 decorations, were:

Wilhelm Adam - ?

G?nther A?mann - ?

Rudolf Bamler - EK1, EK2

Walter Freytag - EK1, EK2, HHO3x

Otto Korfes - ?

Arno von Lenski - EK1, EK2, bMVO4x, SA3bx, ?MVK3xKD

Vincenz M?ller - EK1, EK2, wF3bx, TM5x, TWM

Hans Wulz - ?

Excellent post dave!, I have great intrest in the NVA, so here some additional information:

Wilhelm Adam - 1914 EK1 & EK2.

Hans Wulz - Gallipoli Star.

[Ingsoc]

Otto Korfes - 1914 EKI & EKII, here is a pic of him wearing his ribbon-bar althought I can't make out the awards.

[Christian L]

interesting picture - as it seems that he wears the spange to the ek 1 without the ek! or do i really need glasses?

christian

[Ingsoc]

interesting picture - as it seems that he wears the spange to the ek 1 without the ek! or do i really need glasses?

christian

No, your eyes are okay, he seem to have a black wound badge beneath the spange.

[ehrentitle]

Not that anyone asked (or possibly cares), but there were also several Imperial Army veterans in the East German armed forces. However, the East Germans and their Soviet masters did not permit the wearing of any Imperial German, Weimar or Nazi era decorations.

Among these, with their known WW1 decorations, were:

Wilhelm Adam - ?

G?nther A?mann - ?

Rudolf Bamler - EK1, EK2

Walter Freytag - EK1, EK2, HHO3x

Otto Korfes - ?

Arno von Lenski - EK1, EK2, bMVO4x, SA3bx, ?MVK3xKD

Vincenz M?ller - EK1, EK2, wF3bx, TM5x, TWM

Hans Wulz - ?

Dave, There is a thread on the DDR section of Wehrmacht-Awards on East German Army RK recipients, which include Adam and M?ller.

It is at: http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/sho...ad.php?t=144079

Kevin

Edited July 8, 2006 by ehrentitle

[webr55]

Here's a better pic of Josef Kammhuber, showing clearly his interesting postwar Bundesluftwaffe ribbon bar with Imperial awards. The two bottom rows seem to be all foreign awards, with at least two commander grades:

 

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

Another example, Imperial service and almost Imperial officer:

Dr. med. Theodor Joedicke (1899-1996), Fähnrich in the Bavarian Army in 1918, then served as doctor in the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht (final position as Chief of Staff of Army Medical Inspectorate). After the war Generalstabsarzt (2 star General) and Inspector of Medical Service of the Bundeswehr from 1957 to 1962.

[Ulsterman]

Would that be this man perhaps?

[jaba1914]

For a start, here is a blurry photo of General Heusinger with his EK2 1914 and Reuss decorations in 1957 style.

I spent the most time of my army duty in General Dr. Speidel casern.

When the name of the casern changed to General Dr. Speidel his wife and son was there to inaugurate the casern.

Regards Alex

[HeikoGrusdat]

I only found a picture from Joedicke as very old man from his death notice in the newspaper 1996 - I really can`t tell if it is the man from your picture ulsterman or not......

BUT

what I can tell you is that we sing a little song together now....

"It`s a small world...... " :D

[webr55]

That is a nice picture - and a great coincidence indeed...

BUT

that doctor is not Joedicke. He did not have the BMV4X. And he had a Black Wound Badge.

Edited March 18, 2010 by webr55

[Chris Boonzaier]

What is the highest decorated WW1 officer to have served in BW ? I guess no PLM....

[jaba1914]

During my time at the Bundeswehr, I served in the General Dr. Speidel barracks, and had the honor to meet the wife of Gen. Speidel and his son. It was during the festivities to the rename of the barracks to General Dr. Speidel Kaserne.

Regards

Alex

[webr55]

What is the highest decorated WW1 officer to have served in BW ? I guess no PLM....

That is an interesting question! Certainly no PLM winner.

Of the "big" WW1 decorations, we have Hans Speidel with the Golden Military Merit Medal from Württemberg.

But if you take BW and NVA together, it seems the most likely candidate would be NVA General Walter Freytag who got the HHOX. I didn't spot a BW officer with HHOX, but maybe I missed someone.

[Dave Danner]

That is an interesting question! Certainly no PLM winner.

Of the "big" WW1 decorations, we have Hans Speidel with the Golden Military Merit Medal from Württemberg.

But if you take BW and NVA together, it seems the most likely candidate would be NVA General Walter Freytag who got the HHOX. I didn't spot a BW officer with HHOX, but maybe I missed someone.

Two that I know of with the HOH3X:

• Hans Hückel

• Joachim-Friedrich Huth

Two with the Württemberg Military Merit Order:

• Hans Boelsen

• Hans Speidel (WM3 am 10.4.17 an Stelle der ihm früher verliehenen goldenen MVM)

Of these, Huth and Speidel had the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and the Merit Order of the Federal Republic of Germany, so among the highest awards of three different regimes. Speidel "wins" because his WM3 was his kingdom's highest military honor, while Huth's HOH3X was below the pour le Merite. Hans Boelsen was a Generalmajor d.R. in the Bundeswehr; I have no idea if he received the Bundesverdienstorden.

Walter Freytag received the DDR's Fatherland Merit Order, but his highest Third Reich award was the Ehrenblattspange.

[webr55]

Just picking up on this old thread. Dave: Where did you get the information about Bundeswehr service for Hans Boelsen from? According to my sources, he did not join the BW, but correct me if I am wrong. 

[The Prussian]

Hello!

As far as I know, he didn´t serve in the BW

http://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEHRMACHT/HEER/Generalleutnant/BOELSEN_HANS.html

Why are most of the photos in this thread shown twice?

Edited November 11, 2017 by The Prussian

[webr55]

31 minutes ago, The Prussian said:

 

Why are most of the photos in this thread shown twice?

I don't know, that was caused by the system. Trying to edit it. 

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[Kriegsmarine Admiral]

Does anyone know which award date is correct for Friedrich Ruge's Commander's Cross of the United States Legion of Merit: "21 February 1961" or "2 August 1961"?

Thanks

[speedytop]

Based on the "Naval War College Review, Autumn 2017 Volume 70, Number 4" with a picture of the award ceremony for Ruge as cover and an added text it was: February 21, 1961

That is for me the most trustful source.

Uwe

[Kriegsmarine Admiral]

16 hours ago, speedytop said:

Based on the "Naval War College Review, Autumn 2017 Volume 70, Number 4" with a picture of the award ceremony for Ruge as cover and an added text it was: February 21, 1961

That is for me the most trustful source.

Uwe

I agree, thank you Uwe.