Looking for a name

[Mattyboy]

Ok, here is my dilemma:

I'm looking for the name of a commissioned soldier, photo states that he was born in 1885, was in GFR (I assume this is Garde-Füsilier-Regiment) in 1910, transferred to the Fliegertruppe in 1916, and was awarded both classes of the EK and well as the Zähringer-Löwen Kommandeur Klasse (not sure if 1st or 2nd class) with swords.

Is there a roll of recipients for this award? If so, I am hoping that it can be cross-checked against the pre-war officers of this regiment. I know it's a long-shot, but I can see that there are some pretty nifty guys out there....

Thanks & regards,

Matt.

[Glenn J]

Matt,

It might be useful to see the photograph. However, a couple of possibilities:

Hauptmann d.R. Walter Mackenthun who had the EK1 and a BZ3bX but was born in 1882

and

Leutnant d.R. Fritz-Boglislaw v. Somnitz who was born in 1885 and entered the Fliegertruppe in 1916, had the EK1 but no Zähringer Lion.

Regards

Glenn

[Mattyboy]

Hi Glenn,

Ok here are the pics. He doesn't look like he's in his thirties...

Actually his unit might be the Garde-Fussartillerie-Regiment?

[Schießplatzmeister]

Hello Matt:

The Officer in the photo is actually wearing an Order of the Zahringen Lion knight's Cross 1st or 2nd Class with swords. He may have also been awarded a Commander's Cross, but that is not what he is wearing in this photo.

I can't tell from the photo, but are the epaulette insignia propellers with wings?

Best regards,

Edited December 1, 2014 by Schießplatzmeister

[Mattyboy]

Hi,

Thanks for the clarification. Here is a close-up of the epaulette.

Regards,

Matt

[Schießplatzmeister]

Hello again Matt:

Thank you for the close-up of the epaulette. It definitely shows a propeller with wings, so he was in the air-service when the photo was taken. An interesting photo.

Congratulations!

[Glenn J]

Matt,

He is not wearing the collar litzen of a Garde-Füsilier-Regiment officer or for that matter the Garde-Fußartillerie-Regiment.

The uniform is so generic, that apart from the shoulder board insignia, he could be from anywhere.

Regards

Glenn

[Mattyboy]

Hi guys,

In that case it appears that he will remain unidentified for now.

Thanks for all the help that you have given

Regards,

Matt

[The Prussian]

Hello!

First we might know, for what G.F.R. stands... There was no Garde-Füsilier-Regiment!

Then I´m not sure with the Zähringer Löwe. Must he be from Baden ton waer it or could he came from another state?

The uniform: Air service uniform without Litzen. So we have two possibilities:

Bavarian (they didn´t had Litzen), maybe his cocarde is bavarian

Or he was transfered to the air-service, so he would have worn his old uniform but with the air-service shoulder boards.

Edited December 1, 2014 by The Prussian

[arb]

Andy,

I have always been impressed with your knowledge of the Prussian army. So, I am rather confused by your statement above that "there was no Garde Füsilier Regiment" There certainly was. What makes you say that it did not exist??

Andy

[The Prussian]

Hi Andy!
Of course you´re right. I was in a hurry and I didn´t have that regiment in my memory... Totaly dumb from me...