Oberstleutnant Heinz Zachariae

[JasonA]

Hello fellow collectors,

 

I own a significant grouping to Great War Oberstleutnant Heinz Zachariae.

 

It’s one of the most complete groupings I’ve ever seen.  Entirely documents, but in this case it includes award documents, citations, appointments, telegrams, photos, drawings and more.

 

My long term goal will be to acquire all the relevant decorations.  Mostly doable, but the tricky part will be finding the medal and/or ribbon bar.  May be out there, may not.

 

To that endeavor, I wanted to share a copy of an oil painting showing his decorations in wear.  I’m wondering if anyone has seen this medal bar or corresponding ribbon bar?

 

Here are the decorations I’m seeing on the medal bar:

1. Iron Cross 2nd Class 
2. Knight's Cross 1st Class of the SEHOX
3. Red Eagle Order 4th Class
4. Prussian Long Service Decoration
5. Centenary Medal 
6. Knight's Cross 1st Class of the SEHO
7. Duke Carl Eduard medal with black and yellow ribbon & swords / date
8. Knight's Cross 1st Class of the Saxon Order of Albrecht
9. Turkish Imtiyaz Medal with Sabres 
10. Turkish Liyakat Medal with Sabres  

Other decorations & orders earned:

- SEHO, Commander's Cross 2nd class with swords
- Turkish Order of Osmanie, Commander’s Cross 3rd Class
- Iron Cross 1st Class
- Turkish War Medal   
- Duke Carl Eduard medal with black and yellow ribbon

Here’s hoping someone may recognize the bar (if it’s out there).  Thanks in advance for taking look!

 

Best regards,

Jason

[VtwinVince]

Sounds like an interesting Nachlass, I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd like to see photos. I'm pretty sure I've seen images of this guy in the past, possibly at WAF, but I've been banned from that forum, so I can't check.

[JasonA]

Hi Vince,

 

I checked the WAF but I’m not finding anything.  Perhaps you saw something elsewhere?  Or maybe I’m just not using the right search words and it’s buried in some random WAF thread.

 

I can post more photos.  I’ve taken eighty-something of the entire grouping, so can’t post them all!

 

J-

[JasonA]

I translated a write-up from his grandson:

 

“Royal Prussian Major and Kaiser. Osman. Lieutenant Colonel

 

Born July 7, 1869 in Herbsleben/Gotha

Died June 22, 1941 in Berlin-Nikolassee

(Von Wangenheim family's resting place in Sonneborn/Gotha)

Married October 20, 1901 in Sonneborn to Friederike Frelin von Wangenheim

Children: 1 son, 2 daughters

Job title: Administrative director at the artillery design office in Berlin-Spandau

World War I:

06/1915 – 11/1918 Stay in Constantinople and other focal points of the Ottoman sphere of influence (see Baghdad picture) as an artillery advisor for the Ottoman military.

In the 1920s, H.Z. took over. in Ludwigsruh near Landsberg/Warthe/Neumark (then still part of Brandenburg, now Poinisch) a small farm, which he named "Turkenhof" because of his stay in Turkey. As a Prussian officer, influenced by the Empire, he was very distant from the Weimar Republic. He was also involved in military training activities, which are well known in historical retrospect. He regularly congratulated the emigrated emperor in Dorn/NL on his birthday and always received a thank-you letter from his wife.

 

In the 1930s he moved to Berlin-Nikolassee. As a retiree he was active in various committees, particularly those related to the past. As a native of Thuringia, he was a member of the Wachsenburg Committee, which was responsible for maintaining and expanding a military collection, in which he was in charge of the “Development of Artillery” department:

 

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veste_Wachsenburg

 

Relevant information can also be found in Andrea Geldmacher’s dissertation, 2008, University of Jena:

 

“The Wachsenburg Collections: A Museum for Homeland, Reich and Fatherland”: http://d-nb.info/993638546

 

As he completed his apprenticeship as a carpenter in the workshops of the TU Berlin-Charlottenburg during his officer training as an artillery designer, he particularly pursued his hobby of furniture carpentry and wood carving in retirement.

 

The majority of his furniture still exists today and is distributed among the descendants of his family. He particularly liked to copy furniture from castles and palaces of the Gothic style, e.g. the desk and swivel chair attributed to Luther in the famous Wartburg Room.”

 

Here are some additional photos to give you a sample of the breadth of what’s included….

 

There are also hand-drawn cards for every award with notes in the reverse….

 

Edited August 22 by JasonA

[VtwinVince]

Very interesting material. This guy certainly could have passed for a real Ottoman officer with the beard.

[JasonA]

Indeed!  There’s a photo of him in uniform in the early 30s clean shaven; he looks much younger.

[Deutschritter]

On 22/08/2024 at 21:20, JasonA said:

Died June 22, 1941 in Berlin-Nikolassee

 

On 22/08/2024 at 21:20, JasonA said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a great collection ... thank you for sharing, Jason! Is there a page two for the above document (with the other decoration dates)? I do wonder, if the death place was Potsdam (document) or Berlin? Do you happen to know if the Imtiyaz and Liyakat Medal are in Gold? Thank you! Andreas

 

P.S.

I would love to see the picture from the 1930s. 

 

P.P.S.

I have a short question about "Heinz". Danskernes Historie Online has him as Heinrich "Heino" Zachariae ... do you happen to know how he signed? Heinz or Heino? Thanks! 

Edited August 23 by Deutschritter

[VtwinVince]

Hmm, June 22, 1941. First day of Barbarossa.

[Deutschritter]

15 hours ago, VtwinVince said:

Hmm, June 22, 1941. First day of Barbarossa.

 

His first-born son, Major Hans Heinz Zachariae, died shortly later on 14 August 1941 in Peredovik, main dressing station (Hauptverbandsplatz), Sanitäts-Kompanie (Sanko) 2/81

Edited August 24 by Deutschritter

[JasonA]

Andreas,

 

I’m very happy that you appreciated seeing this so much.  I took nearly 90 photos of everything, there’s just too much to post.  I’ll share more over time.  But yes, there’s a reverse / page 2 to that document.
 

The Imtiyaz and Liyakat are both silver.

 

The next time I have the grouping out I’ll check to see if I can decipher his signature.

 

I sincerely appreciate the extra information!

 

J-

[Deutschritter]

Thank you, Jason! If you could upload page 2, I would appreciate it very much! 

 

P.S.

 

On 31 May 1941 in Berlin-Nikolassee, "Oberstleutnant a. D." Zachariae wrote to Fritz Sauckel, the Reich Governor (''Reichsstatthalter'') in Thuringia, and asked him for support for the military history collection at the Wachsenburg. This means, as the telephone book 1940 shows, he must have received the Charakter als Oberstleutnant when he retired from the Preliminary Reichswehr in spring 1920. Do you maybe have an exact date? 

 

 

Edited August 24 by Deutschritter