Member of Freikorps Weickhmann.

[Eiserne Wehr]

I would like to share this stunning photo from my collection of a member of Freikorps Weickhmann, dated Innsbruck 18. february 1919.

Last year a CDV popped up showing him a little aged, altered armpatch, different shoulder strap and a new addition, a Baltenkreuz.

Sadly i did not end up getting the CDV.

 

 

[bolewts58]

The date "18. february 1919" is likely when he joined Freikorps Weickhmann as this photo was taken sometime between the June and September 30, 1919. He is wearing the Reichswehr cap wreath which wasn't authorized until June 1919. The central cockade inside the wreath was replaced by the Reichswehr eagle badge on October 1, 1919. Hence the date of the photo is within the period I've stated. The CDV photo was actually taken during the same period as he still has the first type wreath and cockade on his hat. But it's probably later than in your photo as indicated by the award of the Baltic Cross. My guess would be in September 1919 as a lot of Baltic Crosses were awarded then before many in Freikorps Weickhmann  transferred to the Russian West Army in October.

[Eiserne Wehr]

Thank you for your reply an input, much appreciated. These photograph studio portraits are my favourites, i don't have many Freikorps photographs but i have saved many images from auctions and of this forum and own a couple of books.

These few turbulent years right after WWI ended are fascinating but it's not easy to get hold of information about many aspects like insignia for example. Although i only recently joined this forum i read a lot of threads on here. Your input in many of them provides a lot of information and also helped me in answering questions. 

 

P.S.

I bought from you in the past on Ebay. ☺️

[bolewts58]

Thanks for your kind words.

 

Here's a photo postcard of an officer in Freikorps Weickhmann that I used to own.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's an award document for the Baltic Cross to Gefreiter Fritz Reichwald of Freikorps Weickhmann.

 

 

Edited December 24, 2024 by bolewts58

[Bernd_W]

2 hours ago, bolewts58 said:

The date "18. february 1919" is likely when he joined Freikorps Weickhmann as this photo was taken sometime between the June and September 30, 1919. 

The Date is 18. IX 1919, so 18.09.1919. Which make sens, because why should someone dedicate a picture to his female Friend while being in Innsbruck and use the date when he joined Freikorps Weickhmann next to the location.

 

At 24.08.1919 Freikorps Weickhmann denied the retreat behind the German border, like ordered by the German gov. At 25.08.1919 the Deutsche Legion was formed, and in mid of September they became part of the West army. So at this point, basically nobody could drive back to Innsbruck for a photoshoot at a  studio there.

Note, the bench and the wall tapestry, it is the same in both pictures, also the same studio, and both pictures are quiet sharp, so its IMO not a print of a picture which was done somewhere in the Baltics.

 

So I tend to think, this guy was never with the West Army, he left the Baltics before mid of September 1919. According to Tessin, Freikorps Weickhmann was in Kurland since May 1919, so the first picture, is perhaps a picture which he took during a vacation in Innsbruck in mid of 1919 and later gave his female friend with the dedication when he finally returned from the Baltics. In this pictures, he has no crossed swords above the W onto his shoulder boards and no Baltenkreuz, this makes me think, the crossed swords are for the ones who saw action with Freikorps Weickhmann. So, for CDV I think, its a "back from the Baltics" picture, sometime short before mid of September 1919.

 

 

[Eiserne Wehr]

15 minutes ago, Bernd_W said:

In this pictures, he has no crossed swords above the W onto his shoulder boards and no Baltenkreuz, this makes me think, the crossed swords are for the ones who saw action with Freikorps Weickhmann. So, for CDV I think, its a "back from the Baltics" picture, sometime short before mid of September 1919.

 

 

 

 

There are in fact crossed swords above the 'W', sadly i have no higher resolution of it because i framed the photograph.

[Bernd_W]

2 hours ago, Eiserne Wehr said:

There are in fact crossed swords above the 'W',

OK, so also in the first picture. Did not see this. So not award like. 

Are you sure about swords? Or are these the crossed cannons for artillery?

There was a Haubitzenbatterie Weickhmann.

Edited December 24, 2024 by Bernd_W

[bolewts58]

I agree that they are crossed swords. I've sharpened the image and increased the contrast and you can better see the hilts and blades of the swords.

 

[Hartmann Lo]

On 25/12/2024 at 01:28, bolewts58 said:

Thanks for your kind words.

 

Here's a photo postcard of an officer in Freikorps Weickhmann that I used to own.

 

 

How you know he was from Freikorps von Weickhmann?

His sleeve badge looks a slightly thicker cross version of Grenzschutz Ost shield.

Weickhmann sleeve badge cross looks different.

[bolewts58]

On 12/01/2025 at 02:33, Hartmann Lo said:

 

How you know he was from Freikorps von Weickhmann?

His sleeve badge looks a slightly thicker cross version of Grenzschutz Ost shield.

Weickhmann sleeve badge cross looks different.

The cross is a Teutonic Cross (flairs out slightly at the ends), not a Baltic Cross with straight arms as seen in Grenzschutz Ost shields.  There were different versions of the Weickhmann sleeve shield. The early ones were larger and handmade as in this photo. The later ones worn in the vorläufige Reichswehr as in your photo were machine stitched and smaller.

 

Here are a couple of Grenzschutz Ost shields for comparison (one early handmade version and a later BeVo weave version).

 

 

 

 

Edited January 13 by bolewts58

[Hartmann Lo]

7 hours ago, bolewts58 said:

The cross is a Teutonic Cross (flairs out slightly at the ends), not a Baltic Cross with straight arms as seen in Grenzschutz Ost shields.

So they also Freikorps von Weickhmann?

[bolewts58]

I would say so. But it would be better to have sharper pictures.