SS-Brigadeführer Curt Wittje

[Deutschritter]

Gentlemen, can anyone identify the award of SS-Brigadeführer Curt Wittje underneath his EK I and his Fürstlich Lippische Kriegsehrenkreuz für heldenmütige Tat? Thanks!

 

[VtwinVince]

Hamburg Feld-Ehrenzeichen?

[Deutschritter]

Thanks so much, it really does look like it!

 

[bolewts58]

8 hours ago, VtwinVince said:

Hamburg Feld-Ehrenzeichen?

Banned for wear from 1935 on.

[VtwinVince]

True, but he's also wearing a Kyffhaeuser-Medaille on his Schnalle, so I would date this photo to around 1933.

[Deutschritter]

Time frame would absolutely fit, he was promoted to SS-Oberführer (picture) on 11 August 1932 and to SS-Brigadeführer on 3 July 1933. Kyffhäuser-Medaille? Thanks! I see two medals, but couldn't identify them.

 

[Solomon]

On 11th November 1918 Kurt Wittje listed the following other awards in his receipt for the LDH4bX:

 

IC 1st class

IC 2nd class

Lippe-Detmold war merit cross for heroic deeds

Lippe-Detmold war merit cross

Hamburg hanseatic cross

 

At his medal bar I see:

IC 2nd Class

Lippe-Detmold house order 4th class Type B with swords

Lippe-Detmold war merit cross

Hamburg hanseatic cross

Kyffhäuser medal

Hungary war memorial medal

 

And at his breast I see:

IC 1st class

Lippe-Detmold war merit cross for heroic deeds

wound badge in black

and the mentioned Hamburg Feldehrenzeichen...

 

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by Solomon

[Deutschritter]

Thank you, Solomon! Maybe War Commemorative Medal (Austria) instead of War Commemorative Medal (Hungary)? What do you think?

Edited November 23, 2022 by Deutschritter

[bolewts58]

14 hours ago, VtwinVince said:

True, but he's also wearing a Kyffhaeuser-Medaille on his Schnalle, so I would date this photo to around 1933.

This is true. But, there are lots of cases where the regulations were ignored and active service personnel continued to wear banned semi-official and Freikorps awards well after 1935.

 

I also believe the last medal is the Hungarian War Commemorative Medal.

Edited November 24, 2022 by bolewts58

[Deutschritter]

I agree, gentlemen, thank you both!

[Solomon]

On 23/11/2022 at 23:17, Deutschritter said:

Thank you, Solomon! Maybe War Commemorative Medal (Austria) instead of War Commemorative Medal (Hungary)? What do you think?

Yes, fully agree.