Der Rittmeister Militaria, LLC, Imperial German Merchandise Page 31: Documents Nr 2: Award Documents, Patents, Promotion Patents, Urkunden, Paper Only.        Updated on 14 July 2010. Contact us @:rittmeister@tampabay.rr.com

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Award, Officer Patent, Misc. Documents

20-218 BAVARIAN PRINZ ALFONS’ CASED URKUNDE - HONORARY PRESIDENT - ARTILLERY VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION - DILLINGEN. Over the years I have tried to bring you many different types of royalty items. While I have offered many items from Kaiser Wilhelm II and other key members of German royalty, I have always had a soft place in my heart for Prinz Alfons of Bavaria. I will not task you here with his history, since it is well-chronicled elsewhere on this website. I will say that Prinz Alfons served as regimental chef to several regiments. Today we are offering a unique urkunde (award document). This document was issued to Prinz Alfons in September 1924. The document made him the honorary Ehrenpräsident (President) of the Artillerie-Vereinigung des Bezirks Dillingen. As I understand it, this was a veteran’s organization for former members of Artillerie-Regiments. I cannot stress too strongly this urkunde’s exquisite beauty. The document (actually, two documents) is housed in a sumptuous, dark-blue leather folio. The folio measures 13 1/2" x 10 1/4." The folio’s front is trimmed and embellished in gold. Pasted onto its center is a hand painted, full-color profile of a cannon, with its barrel elevated and ready to fire. Some shells are stacked around it. The cannon’s image is enclosed within a hand-painted border of blue and gold, embellished with blue oak and laurel leaves. Stylized "nails" decorate the four corners in Bavaria’s and Germany’s national colors. The small painting is then set within a gold-trimmed frame on the folio’s front. As one opens the folio, the two parts of the document are revealed. Each part is made of a high-quality velum. The left-hand document measures 13" x 9 1/2." The first thing that appears is a hand painted or a water-colored image of a watch tower within a small city. Below that, in the most beautiful calligraphy, is the first part of the award document. It has been executed in black ink. Below that in regal red is the name "S. K. H. Prinz Alfons v. Bayern." Not only is it done in red ink, but each of the letters is painstakingly trimmed in gold. This portion of the document is dated 28 September 1924. The right-hand document displays another hand painted or water-colored image, this one of a castle in the moonlight. Beneath the picture the urkunde’s text continues in black ink. Prinz Alfons and his title of Ehrenpräsident are again listed in red ink trimmed with gold. This side of the document is dated 21 December 1924. It bears the signatures of several officials of either the group and/or the city. Finally, a black rubber stamp has been applied that shows the organization’s name. For being nearly eighty-five-years-old, the leather folio and the two documents are in amazing condition. Even if documents are not your primary interest, please take a few moments to look at the attached photos and see the quality and workmanship that went into this set. $1,495.00

 

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19-115 RED EAGLE ORDER 2^nd CLASS AWARD DOCUMENT SIGNED - KING WILHELM I (LATER KAISER WILHELM I) OF PRUSSIA. This is a very interesting award document (urkunde) for the Red Eagle Order 2^nd Class. It is the earliest award document we have ever offered [with the exception of award documents for the 1813 Iron Cross 2^nd Class signed by King Friedrich Wilhelm III, the grandfather of King (later Kaiser) Wilhelm I]. This document was signed by King Wilhelm I on 18 January 1863. The recipient was Dr. Albert Sigismund Jaspis, the Generalsuperintendant of Pommern in Stettin (1809-1885). The award was actually for the Red Eagle Order 2^nd Class with Bow. The use of the bow was a unique addition to the Red Eagle Order, which marked the recipient for the award of a higher class at a later date. The format of the document is identical to that which was used until the end of the Empire in 1918. $450.00

 

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31-87 OFFICER’S PROMOTION PATENT - SIGNED - KÖNIG WILHELM II - WÜRTTEMBERG. This is a promotion patent signed by König Wilhelm II of Württemberg (1848-1921), who served as Württemberg’s king from 1891 through 1918. The ornate document is for Oberstleutnant Ernst Freiherr von Gemmingen-Hornberg. It measures 16 3/4" x 11." The top of the document proclaims that König Wilhelm II authorized the promotion. It took place on 18 October 1897. A large paper seal with Württemberg’s Coat-of-Arms is at the bottom. To the seal’s right is Wilhelm II’s large, bold signature. Below his signature the War Minister’s signature appears. The document is in first-rate condition. Further research by Paul Chepurko has revealed that von Gemmingen-Hornberg was born in 1851. He served during the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War and was awarded the 1870 Iron Cross 2^nd Class. During WW I, he served in Landwehr Infanterie-Regiment Nr 123. His retirement rank was Oberst a. D. He died in 1928. [We would like to thank Paul Chepurko, our resident research expert, for this additional information. Paul produces all the wonderful Ranglistes and other research works on CD, which we offer on our RANGLISTES ON CD MERCHANDISE PAGE (click here to see). They are invaluable for research. The additional information above is a perfect example of some what can be found]. $495.00

 

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31-85 THREE OFFICER PATENTS - SIGNED - KAISER WILHELM I & KAISER WILHELM II. This is a wonderful document grouping to a single officer, Freiherr von Münstermann. The grouping consists of his three promotion patents. What makes them so interesting (and dare I say, valuable) are the personal signatures of Kaiser Wilhelm I and Kaiser Wilhelm II. The documents are described below:

*Promotion Patent - Premier Lieutenant to Hauptmann. The document measures 14 1/2" x 9" when folded, and 5" x 9" when unfolded. In this fashion, three of the four sides are utilized. Von Münstermann was serving in 1. Westfäl. Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr 7. With his promotion to hauptmann, von Münstermann became a Batterie Chef in the same regiment. The document was signed by Kaiser Wilhelm I on 14 December 1875. [Although we do not have earlier information on von Münstermann, it is almost certain he would have been a young leutnant during the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War].

*Promotion Patent - Hauptmann to Major. The document measures 14" x 8 1/2" when folded, and 4 3/4" x 8 1/2" when unfolded. In this fashion, three of the four sides are utilized. Von Münstermann was serving in Holsteinsches Feldartillerie Regiment Nr 24 as a hauptmann. With his promotion to major, von Münstermann was transferred to Feldartillerie-Regiment von Peucker (1. Schlesisches) Nr 6. The document was signed in Berlin on 22 March 1887. Twelve years as a hauptmann was a long time. It shows how slow advancement can be during peacetime. The document was signed in the final year of Kaiser Wilhelm I’s reign. Germany’s first Kaiser signed boldly and distinctively in black ink.

*Promotion Patent - Major to Oberst-lieutenant. The document measures 14 1/4" x 8 1/2" when folded, and 5" x 8 1/2" when unfolded. In this fashion, three of the four sides are utilized. Von Münstermann was to serve in 1. Pommersches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr 2. The document was signed at Berlin’s Neu Palais on 18 June 1892. Kaiser Wilhelm II’s large and bold signature appears on the document.

It is a fine grouping of three promotion patents, with two signatures of Kaiser Wilhelm I and one signature of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The documents are in very good condition when one considers they range from one-hundred-thirty-five to one-hundred-eighteen-years in age. They provide the basis for an interesting research project. While it is doubtful that this officer would have still been serving in WW I, it is quite possible that he achieved general officer’s status before he retired. $850.00

 

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31-70 OFFICER’S RETIREMENT PAPERS - SIGNED - KAISER WILHELM II. This is a document that confers the rank of Oberleutnant a. D., to a man named Engel. Engel had served in Husaren-Landwehr-Battalion Nr 36. The document measures 10 1/2" x 8 1/4." It boasts Kaiser Wilhelm II’s large, bold signature in black ink. The document was prepared and forwarded to Engel on 16 December 1906 from the New Palace in Berlin. Perhaps the officer returned to service during WW I. It is a fine Kaiser Wilhelm II signature. $350.00

 

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19-208 NAVAL OFFICER PROMOTION PATENT - KAISER WILHELM II’S SIGNATURE. This is a very interesting promotion patent for a naval officer. His name was Oskar Röcher. He was promoted to Kapitänleutnant on 12 November 1904. It was at the ranks of hauptmann and kapitänleutnant that Kaiser Wilhelm II signed the promotion patents prior to WW I. The document measures 14 1/4" x 8 1/2" when unopened, and 14 1/4" x 17" when opened. The second page bears Kaiser Wilhelm II’s bold signature in black ink, and an embossed seal with the Hohenzollern Eagle. A patent like this is very difficult-to-find, as the Kaiserliche Marine was far smaller than the German Army and thus involved far fewer officers. Further research on Röcher shows that he received the very rare Colonial Medal with Clasp for service during 1902/1903 in Venezuela. During World War I, he served on several ships, including the S. M. S. Großer Kurfürst, the S. M. S. München, and the S. M. S. Freya. He retired in 1919 as a Kapitän zur See a.D. $450.00

 

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19-209 ENGINEERING OFFICER PROMOTION PATENT - KÖNIG WILHELM I SIGNATURE - 1870-1871 FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR. What makes this a special document is that it falls during the time of the Franco-Prussian War. The war began on 19 July 1870 and ended on 10 May 1871. While not as short as the 1866 Austro-Prussian War, it was every bit as decisive, since the French Army was no match for the German Army. [This did not relate to the French soldiers’ efforts on the front lines, but instead to those of the French government and Army. French soldiers were poorly trained and poorly equipped. Also, the French general staff and its generals in the field had no real concept of modern tactics. Thus, French soldiers were poorly led and equipped to face an army which was the world’s best at the time. This patent promotes a hauptmann to major in the Engineer (Ingenieur) Corps. Our man’s last name is Richter. The document was signed by Prussia’s König Wilhelm I. Wilhelm I became Kaiser on 18 January 1871 in an elaborate coronation at Versailles. Interestingly, this patent was signed by Wilhelm on 22 December 1870 at his Versailles’ Headquarters. Versailles played a continuing role in Franco-German history during the 20^th Century’s first half. It was where the German surrender took place during November 1918 in a railway car. In 1940 Adolf Hitler sat in the same railway car to accept the French surrender. The document measures 14 1/8" x 8 3/4" when folded, and 14 1/8" x 17 1/4" when unfolded. $295.00

 

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31-71 KNIGHT’S CROSS - ALBERT ORDER 1st CLASS AWARD DOCUMENT - PRESENTATION IN THE PRESENTATION FOLIO - SIGNED BY KÖNIG FRIEDRICH AUGUST III - SAXONY. The Kingdom of Saxony’s Albert Order was from a complete line of decorations presented by the Saxon Crown to military officers and deserving civilians. This urkunde (award document) was presented on 1 October 1909 to Ernst Robert Welker. The document measures 13 3/4" x 8 3/4." It contains four pages. Only the front page is actually used. It is housed in a presentation folio, measuring 14" x 9," to protect it from damage. The folio has done a wonderful job of protecting the document. Even though it is almost 100-years-old, it is in pristine condition. The document was preprinted to an extent, then the appropriate information concerning the recipient was filled in by a calligrapher. It is for the Knight’s Cross 1st Class (without Swords) of the Albert Order. It has the date filled in, along with the Ordenskanzler’s signature. Also in clear black ink is Friedrich August III’s signature. He was the last King of Saxony, and assumed the throne in 1904. To the left of his signature is the embossed seal of the Kingdom of Saxony. This is a very rare document, with the King’s signature. $450.00

 

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31-49 FRAMED BRAVERY CERTIFICATE - INFANTRIE-REGIMENT Nr 392 - SAXONY. This is a custom-framed bravery certificate from Infantrie-Regiment Nr 392, a Saxon regiment. This is a unique document in that it recognized brave action that was not recognized by the award of a 1914 Iron Cross 1st or 2nd Class. It is my understanding that written awards of this type were very uncommon in the German Army. The document is multicolored and very ornate. It measures 16" x 10." It is in a custom, modern frame that measures 22 1/4" x 16 1/4." A cutout window appears at the top with the regimental designation. Two impressively brooding eagles flank a 1914 Iron Cross at the top. The style of calligraphy is quite ornate. Many of the first letters of words are penned in gold ink. The award was presented on 15 August 1917. The document was awarded to Gefreiter Richard Kohlisch, who served in Kompagnie Nr 11 of Infantrie-Regiment Nr 392. The document bears the regimental stamp for IR 392, and the signature of the Regiment’s Kommandeur, a Major. The final touches at the bottom of the document include a K-98 Mauser, two hand grenades (potato mashers), and a stahlhelm. Some light water staining appears in a couple of places. This is a really interesting document that is ready to hang on your wall. $350.00  

 

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31-42 OFFICER’S PROMOTION PATENT SIGNED BY KING MAXIMILIAN II - BAVARIA. Maximilian II (1811-1864) was Bavaria’s third king after Napoleon created a new royal house for it. Maximilian ruled from 1848-1864. He was followed by his son Ludwig II (a. k. a., Mad Ludwig). This mini grouping includes a black and white lithograph of Maximilian II, along with his basic vital information. The second item in our mini grouping is an Oberlieutenant’s (yes, this is the correct term!) Promotion Patent. His name is Friedrich Braun. The promotion took place in 1849, the second year of Maximilian II’s reign. Along with the various signatures is the King’s very elaborate and ornate seal. It measures 4" in diameter. It has been affixed to a separate piece of paper, which has in turn been affixed to the promotion document. The document measures 13 ½" x 8." It is in marvelous condition for being almost 160-years-old. $350.00

 

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31-79 1818 PROCLAMATION INITIATING CROWN ORDER - WÜRTTEMBERG - KING WILHELM I. This is a proclamation issued by König Wilhelm I of Württemberg. The proclamation is dated 23 September 1818. It announces the Kingdom’s establishment of the Order of the Crown. It is a printed copy of the proclamation, which was issued throughout the Kingdom. While not actually signed by Wilhelm I, it is authorized by him, by the Ordens Kanzler and State Minister Graf von Zeppelin. This was the father or uncle of the Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin who founded Germany’s airships. The document measures 9 1/4” x 7 1/4,” and is four pages long. $150.00

 

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31-10 DOCUMENT GROUPING TO GENERALMAJOR MAX SCHULENBURG. This is a document and photo grouping for Generalmajor Max Schulenburg. This large file has many photos of Schulenburg, his family and colleagues. The assortment is wide. Most of Schulenburg’s portrait photos date from 1934 to 1936. One is also included of him in uniform as a WW I general. Many photos appear of the young woman whom he married in 1934 (this was probably his second wife). Her name was Mathilde Rosenkränzer. Pictures of her as a young girl, alone and with what appear to be her siblings, are enclosed, as well as some photos of her relatives. From some of the included documents, she was related to some well-known scientists who published academically  (evidence of which is included). At least one of these academics was a woman. Unfortunately for Mathilde, the General died in March of 1937. Their marriage had lasted barely three years. Included in the more personal items are the wedding announcement, telegrams congratulating the happy pair, the death notice, telegrams of sympathy to the widow, and even a 1944 document from an antique dealer appraising some items for the widow. An elaborate award document for one of the Rosenkränzer professors is also included, along with some academic zeitschriften on chemistry and geology. Furthermore, several documents are enclosed that delineate the various family genealogies in extensive detail. Most fascinating of all is an elaborate document from 1815, mounted on an elegant piece of cardboard and bearing a wax Prussian seal. It may be a confirmation document for one of Schulenburg’s forebears.

Some of the General’s documents include the following:

Promotion Patent to the rank of Portopee Fähnrich of Fußartilleree-Regiment Nr 4. dated June 1883. Schulenburg had been an unteroffizier.

Promotion Patent from Portopee Fähnrich to Second Lieutenant while serving with Fußartilleree-Regiment Nr 4. This promotion took place in September 1884.

Promotion Patent for Second Lieutenant to Premier Lieutenant (1^st Lieutenant or Oberleutnant). This took place in April 1892, while Schulenburg was still assigned to an      artillery regiment.

Promotion Patent to Hauptmann, dated May 1898 and personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Schulenburg was still assigned to an artillery regiment.

Accompanying orders to his Promotion Patent to Hauptmann, also from May 1898, also personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Promotion Patent to Major, dated May 1906 and personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Promotion Patent from Major to Oberstleutnant, dated October 1912, while in the Fußartilleree. Personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Accompanying orders also dated October 1912, also personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Several documents from the various military schools Schulenburg attended.

This wonderful grouping includes FIVE bold signatures by Kaiser Wilhelm II. These alone are worth the price of the grouping. A mountain of material here awaits deeper exploration. Schulenburg died in 1937. As best as I can decipher, he was born in 1863 and spent more than thirty-five years in the army. $1,795.00 

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31-81 OFFICER’S DOCUMENT GROUPING - PIONIER-BATTALION. This is a four-document grouping from a man who advanced from an NCO to an officer. His name is Theodor Spieß. The grouping consists of Promotion Patents and an urkunde (award document) for a major award. The documents are listed in order from the oldest to the newest.

*Promotion Patent - Unteroffizier to Fähnrich - Pioniers. The document is dated 19 February 1910. It was issued in Berlin. As it is for a lower rank, it is not signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. This rank is for a cadet or officer candidate.

*Promotion Patent - Fähnrich to Leutnant - Pioniers. The document is dated 16 November 1910. It was issued in Berlin. This document represents his promotion to full officer status. As it is for a lower rank, it is not signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

*Urkunde - Knight’s Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order. The Knights Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order was an officer only decoration. It was the second highest award from Prussia, and was generally a prelude to the award of the PLM. This high-level award was made on 20 May 1917. It was signed by Ferdinand Graf Zeppelin.

*Promotion Patent to Major. The document was issued on 1 April 1933. It was signed by the President of Germany, Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg. I have not seen many of the patents for the period after WW I and especially one signed by Hindenburg.

It is a fine little grouping that will provide a basis for research by the new owner. It also has the signatures of Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin and former Generalfeldmarschall and then President of Germany Paul von Hindenburg. Subsequent research by our resident expert, Paul Cherpuko, has revealed some additional and interesting information on Spieß. He first entered the army in 1909. As mentioned above, he remained in the army after WW I. He achieved the rank of major in 1933 as evidenced by the promotion patent above. The following year Spieß transferred to the Luftwaffe as a flak (antiaircraft) officer. In August 1939 he was promoted to generalmajor. In October 1941 he was promoted to generalleutnant. At this level he was the commander of the 3rd Flak-Division and then the 13th Flak Division. We thank Paul for his efforts and remind you that Paul offers all of the items on our Rangliste Page. These CD's and books are wonderful for research on officers. They can help you flesh in the background of officers who served during WW I and beyond. This makes this group all the more interesting (and valuable) in light that this man went on to become a generalleutnant in the Luftwaffe during WW II. $1,495.00

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31-77 AWARD DOCUMENT - PRINZ KARL ALEXANDER - THURN UND TAXIS. This is an interesting award document (urkunde) for a decoration from the small Principality of Thurn und Taxis. The document was issued under the order of Prinz Karl Alexander (1770-1827). Karl Alexander was the Prince of this house from 1805 until his death in 1827. The document is hand printed on parchment. It measures 12" x 15 3/4." The document is actually half-sized. When open, it is double the width. The document is four sided, with writing on three of the four sides. I cannot fully understand the writing, as we are looking at handwriting that dates from 1805. It deals with a man by the name of a Ritter von Seyfried. It sports an intact black wax seal with Prinz Karl Alexander’s Coat-of-Arms. The document was prepared in the central city of Regensburg. Karl Alexander led his small state throughout the Napoleonic Wars. The document is in amazing condition for its age. I would be most interested to learn more about the contents of the document from its new owner. $225.00

 

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31-76 SET - THREE DOCUMENTS - ENLISTED SAILOR. This is a fascinating three document group to a man from the Kaiserliche Marine. Only documents are included in the set, not decorations or badges. All of these documents were issued to Hermann Richert, who served in the II. Matrosen-Division. He was born on 13 October 1893. The three documents are as follows:

*1935 reissued document for Award of the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class. He was originally awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 11 September 1916. It is highly likely that he served at the Battle of Jutland (Skagerrak). The battle took place in May/June 1916. It might have taken them until September to give out the Iron Crosses 2nd Class for the action. (I am only guessing about this). He either lost, or perhaps never even received, his original document. The reissued document is dated 10 December 1935.

*Document for the Navy Wound Badge in Black. The document is typed on foolscap. It mentions that he has received TWO wounds and is qualified for the Verwundetenabzeichen für die Marine in Schwarz. The document measures 4 1/4" x 6 3/4." It was signed by the Chief Doctor at a Navy Hospital on 21 March 1919, some four months after WW I ended.

*Document for the Hindenburg Cross for Combatants. The document is the fairly standard one that was issued as veterans received their Hindenburg Crosses. Reichert was a resident of Hamburg. The document is dated 2 May 1935. These documents were often issued by police officials, which is the case here.

This is a wonderful naval document grouping. The document for the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class is fairly rare, even if they were reissued seventeen years after WW I ended. The real prize of the group is the Navy Wound Badge in Black’s document. I have seen only one or two of these over the years. Reichert was clearly recuperating in a naval hospital after the war’s end. The Chief Doctor made the award on the government’s behalf. $250.00

 

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31-75 AWARD DOCUMENT - HINDENBURG CROSS FOR COMBATANTS. This is an award document for the Hindenburg Cross with Swords for Combatants. We have several of them. They are $20.00 each, or we will offer you a discount on multiple examples. The names of the awardees are as follows. You can order by name and date:

*Reich - 15 March 1935. $20.00

*Eicklos - 30 April 1935. $20.00

*Niermann - 20 December 1935. $20.00 *SOLD*

*Koslowski - 8 February 1935. $20.00

*Ritter - 30 March 1935. $20.00

 

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06-126 AWARD DOCUMENT GROUPING TO ARTHUR HAY.  I have been holding onto this document grouping for more than three years. I kept it partly because it is extremely interesting. Another reason: it took a long time to familiarize myself adequately with its contents so I could describe it. It concerns a Prussian officer with the unexpected name "Arthur Hay." Hay went from an Unteroffizier in 1886, to at least the rank of Oberstleutnant in 1917. He started in the cavalry and served in both Ulanen, Hussaren and Dragoon regiments prior to the war’s outbreak. He achieved the coveted rank of Rittmeister well before the war began in 1914. As best as I can make out, he went from the cavalry to the infantry [as the war developed, most cavalry fought as dismounted troops. WW I showed once and for all that mounted troops were outmoded]. He served as an infantryman until the end of the war. I do not know his final rank, but he may have gone on to be an oberst, or possibly a general. I will leave this as part of the fun for the eventual buyer researching this man. Hay served at least THIRTY years in uniform. He survived the war and even received the Hindenburg Cross in 1935. There are no less than SIX Promotion Patents, covering him from the ranks of unteroffizier up to major. Each of these patents is very ornate and hand printed by a skilled calligrapher, with special seals. Also in this grouping are many award documents. Of his three wartime decorations, we see the documents for his 1914 Iron Cross 2^nd Class and his Knight’s Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order (HHO). The latter document is signed by the Graf Zeppelin, prior to his death in 1917. I have never seen his signature on an award document; having it on an HHO document is a real plus! There are a couple of other documents that I have not described which enhance the grouping. Below is a listing of this amazing grouping’s contents:

Promotion Patent: from Unteroffizier to Portopee Fähnrich, dated 13 November 1886.

Promotion Patent: from Portopee Fähnrich to Second-Lieutenant, dated 17 September 1887. [I find this interesting, note the old-fashioned use of the French rank: "second-lieutenant"].

Promotion Patent: from Second-Lieutenant to Premier-Lieutenant, dated 14 November 1895. I again find it interesting, the old-fashioned use of the French ranks second-lieutenant and premier-lieutenant.

Promotion Patent: from Oberleutnant to Rittmeister, dated 10 September 1908, personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Why he has a second document for this same rank, I do not fully understand.

Promotion Patent: from Rittmeister to Major, dated 17 September 1909, again with the personal signature of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Award document for the Knight’s Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order, dated 20 May 1917 while Hay was an oberstleutnant. It is signed by Graf Zeppelin!

Award document for the Prussian Crown Order 4^th Class, dated 12 May 1901.

Award document for the Red Eagle Order 4^th Class, dated 11 May 1908.

Award document for the Kaiser Wilhelm I Centennial Medal.

1914 Iron Cross 2^nd Class. The document is double-dated. The date 3 November 1914 appears, which is the document's original award date. The document was prepared on 5 June 1916. This either is the document's reissue date, or they were correcting an oversight.

Award document to the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross, dated 12 March 1917.

Award document for the Hindenburg Cross for Combatants, dated 1935.

A helpful reader has done some additional research on Arthur Hay. As you can see from the list below, published research shows that this man eventually achieved the rank of Generalmajor at his retirement in 1919. He was born in 1866 and died in 1940. I only wish that the additional three patents were available. This is still an amazing group and there is an opportunity for further research. This is a wonderful grouping following the very successful military career of a young man who came up from the ranks. It includes two signatures from Kaiser Wilhelm II, and a signature from the legendary Graf Zeppelin. We have received some interesting details on this officer from a sharp eyed reader who has done some research. In the book "Hussars and Mounted Rifles....." by D. H. Hagger on page 30 there is a photograph of Oberleutnant Hay as a member of Hussar Regiment Nr 9! It is wonderful to put a face with the name. We thank Chris F. for his research and dilligence!

Sekondelieutenant: 17 Sep 1887

Premierlieutenant: 14 Nov 1895

Rittmeister: 21 Sep 1898

Major: 17 Sep 1909

Oberstleutnant: 24 Dec 1914

Oberst: 6 Nov 1917

Generalmajor aD: 1919

 

This wonderful set is ready for both enjoyment and research! $2,495.00

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31-15 DOCUMENT GROUP FOR AN OFFICER SERVING IN GARDE-ARTILLERIE-REGIMENT. This is an interesting document grouping that covers nearly forty years of an officer’s service in the Prussian Army. It is for an officer named Adolf Werner. This man saw action in two wars (1866 and 1870). He even saw service in Germany’s Chinese colony. Included in the grouping are the following:

 

 

Document for the Cross for Combatants at the Battle of Königgratz, where the Prussian shattered the Austrian forces on 3 July 1866. At this time Werner was assigned to a Garde-Artillerie-Regiment.

Document for the Combatants Medal for Service in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. At this point Werner was still serving in a Garde-Artillerie-Regiment.

Promotion Patent dated 18 December 1895. It appears that he was assigned to a post with the Army High Command or the War Ministry. This document is boldly signed in ink by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Over his signature is a large and impressive embossed stamp showing the Prussian Coat-of-Arms.

A transmittal letter for a decoration that I cannot decipher, dated 1899. It comes from the castle at Charlottenburg in Berlin.

Award document for the Non Combatant (in "Steel") Medal for Service in the Chinese Expedition. This document is dated 24 February 1901. Documents for the Combatant and Non Combatant Medals for the Chinese Expedition during the Boxer Rebellion are VERY difficult to find.

Transmittal letter and award document for the Red Eagle 4^th Class from 1904. The transmittal letter is on the stationary of the General-Ordenskommission and bears the signature of the head of the Ordenskommission. The official address of the offices of the Ordenskommission was at Wilhelmstraße 63.

Two additional transmittal documents from the Ordenskommission later in 1904. I cannot tell the purpose of these two documents, but these were prepared at the palace of Charlottenburg in Berlin.

This is a fine set of documents to a man who served three Kaisers. A very scarce signature from Kaiser Wilhelm II is included on an officer’s patent. $1,495.00   

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31-46 DOCUMENT GROUPING - MAJOR EDUARD ROTZOLL. This is a fascinating document grouping for Eduard Rotzoll, who achieved the rank of major near the end of WW I in 1918. As you will see below, the grouping contains three different Patents for Promotion, along with other assorted documents;

 

Promotion Patent for the Rank of Leutnant to Oberleutnant, dated January 1906. At this time Rotzoll was serving in Infantrie-Regiment Nr 61.

Promotion Patent for the Rank of Oberleutnant to Hauptmann. This promotion is dated December 1911. He was still with Infantrie-Regiment Nr 61 at the time. The patent is personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. His signature is large and boldly signed in black ink. At the time, Wilhelm II personally signed all patents for the rank of hauptmann and above.

Promotion Patent for the Rank of Major from Hauptmann. This document was prepared on 25 February 1918. Here we can see the difference between prewar and wartime documents. Its basic format was changed to save paper, while the caliber of the paper itself visibly declined. The document’s printing was degraded as well. Also, due to the great increase in army officers themselves, the Kaiser no longer signed the patents-- at least at the major’s level. At this time, Rotzoll was attached to Infantrie-Regiment Nr 155.

Graduation Document from German "High School." Rotzoll was born in 1876 and graduated in 1893 from the German equivalent of the USA’s high school. It is a large-format document, measuring 13" x 8 1/4."

Appointment to Portopeefähnrich (Fähnrich). A document issued by the Ober-Militär-Examinations-Kommission in March 1895 that shows Rotzoll has passed all of the requirements, is appointed a Portopeefähnrich (Fähnrich) and posted to Infantrie-Regiment Nr 61. A Fähnrich essentially was a cadet or officer candidate. He was not yet a full-fledged officer and still had to prove himself worthy of promotion to leutnant. This document was signed by a Generalleutnant.

Approval as Full Officer. This is another document from the Ober-Militär-Examinations-Kommission, issued later in 1895. It shows that he is now fit to become a full-fledged officer. After this pronouncement he was in line to receive a Patent and promotion to leutnant. This document was signed by a Generalleutnant.

This is a fine grouping of early documents that shows Eduard Rotzoll becoming an officer candidate, then follows his promotions all the way to major. It is an excellent set, including one original signature of Kaiser Wilhelm II. $375.00  

 

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31-30 1914 IRON CROSS 2nd CLASS AWARD DOCUMENT AND POSTWAR LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION. This is a mini grouping of two documents to a single man. The first is an award document for the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class. Felix Kuhfe served with Reserve Infantry-Regiment Nr 30 in Kompagnie Nr 9 which usually was the reserve company, and the company from which replacements were taken for the other companies that had sustained casualties.  The award is dated 6 January 1917 and is signed by the commander of the regiment, a major. The other document is dated 29 November 1919. Essentially, it is a letter of recommendation from Kuhfe’s prewar employer. The letter notes that he was employed with them from 6 November 1911 until 1 August 1914, when he was called to service. The letter is on the letterhead of the firm by which he was employed, F & W. Hendrichs. They were located in Ohligs.  $125.00

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31-36 DOCUMENT GROUPING - DOCTOR WHO SERVED IN WWI AND WW II - BAVARIA.

This is a mini grouping of documents for a doctor who served in WW I and WW II. This man’s name was Richard Stumpf. He was a Bavarian, born in Wurzburg in 1886. The documents include:

 

Document for the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class. The document is dated 22 May 1920. The document was signed from the office of Bavarian Feld-Artilierie-Regiment Nr 3.

Document for the Army Wound Badge in Silver for three wounds. This document is dated 27 May 1919 and was signed by the Regimental Commander of Bavarian Feld-Artilierie-Regiment Nr 3, who was by this time an Oberst and not a Hauptmann.

Document for the Golden Wedding Anniversary Medal for King Ludwig III. This document is dated 1923.

Document for the Hindenburg Cross with Swords for Combatants. This document was awarded 18 April 1935.

Document dated 14 August 1940, which recaps Stumpf’s service in WW I. It also mentions his award of the Army Silver Wound Badge and the Hindenburg Cross with Swords. Interestingly, it makes no mention of his award of the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class as referenced above.

It is a very fine grouping of documents to an officer. The most interesting documents are for the post WW I award of the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class and the Silver Army Wound Badge. $295.00

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31-04 DOCUMENT GROUP TO AN OFFICER DURING THE REIGN OF KAISER (AND KING) WILHELM I AND KING FRIEDRICH WILHELM IV. This document grouping is for whom I believe is the father of the Regimental Commander featured in grouping #31-05, below. This officer is Adalbert von Falkenhayn. These documents cover a career that spanned the reigns of two kings of Prussia. The documents for von Falkenhayn are noted as follows:

Officer’s Patent for a 2^nd Lieutenant, dated April 1849, when he was posted to Landwehr-Regiment Nr 12. This document is very similar in appearance and design to the later ones we see from Kaiser Wilhelm II. This is the earliest officer’s patent I have been able to locate and offer.

Officer’s Promotion Patent to Premiere Lieutenant for Hohenzollern-Siegler. At this time he was assigned to Landwehr-Regiment Nr 24. The document is from 1859.

Long Service Award Document signed by Kriegs Minister von Roon and dated 1861. This is a very desirable signature.

1870-71 Franco-Prussian War Combatant’s Medal Document, while he was a Hauptmann. At that time he was a company commander in Landwehr-Regiment Nr’s 24 and 64.

A document dated 1883 for a further Long Service Award.

This is a splendid older document set from the period of 1859-1883. $395.00 . . .

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31-05 DOCUMENT GROUP TO A REGIMENTAL COMMANDER SERVING BEFORE AND DURING WW I. This is a distinctive document group to the son of the officer noted in grouping #31-04, above. Constantin von Falkenhayn followed in the footsteps of his father. This is a wonderful document group of promotion patents and documents for a wide variety of orders and decorations. Included in this group are the following:

Promotion document personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Von Falkenhayn was promoted from Oberstleutnant to Oberst and assigned to 5. Badisches Infantry-Regiment Nr 113. The document is dated January 1911.

Promotion document to the rank of Oberstleutnant signed by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Friedrich Franz. Von Falkenhayn was serving in Großherzogl. Mecklenburgisches Füsilier-Regiment Nr 90 Kaiser Wilhelm.

Promotion document personally signed by Friedrich Franz, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Von Falkenhayn was assigned to Großherzogl. Mecklenburgisches Füsilier-Regiment Nr 90 Kaiser Wilhelm. The document is dated May 1902 and is for the rank of Major. The document is very ornate, with a wonderful paper seal attached.

Promotion document personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Von Falkenhayn was promoted from Hauptmann to Major der Infantrie in May 1901.

Promotion document personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Von Falkenhayn was promoted from Premier Lieutenant to Hauptmann and company commander while assigned to Füsilier-Regiment Fürst Karl-Anton von Hohenzollern (Hohenzollernsches) Nr 40. The document is dated September 1893.

A promotion patent from the rank of Premier Lieutenant to Hauptmann and company commander dated September 1893, serving in Füsilier-Regiment Fürst Karl-Anton von Hohenzollern (Hohenzollernsches) Nr 40.

Award Document for the Kaiser Wilhelm I Centennial Medal, while assigned to Füsilier-Regiment Fürst Karl-Anton von Hohenzollern (Hohenzollernsches) Nr 40.

Award document for the Allgemeines Ehrenzeichen Für Tapferkeit, signed by Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse. Dated 1 April 1915, while serving in Landwehr-Infantry-Regiment Nr 93.

Award document for the Honor Cross 3^rd Class from Schaumburg-Lippe, while assigned to Füsilier-Regiment Fürst Karl-Anton von Hohenzollern (Hohenzollernsches) Nr 40. The ornate document bears a seal for the Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe. It is signed by Prinz Georg and dated June 1900.

Award document for the Honor Cross 4^th Class from Lippe-Detmold, while he was assigned to Füsilier-Regiment Fürst Karl-Anton von Hohenzollern (Hohenzollernsches) Nr 40. Very ornate with a seal and dated June 1900.

Award document for the Red Eagle Order 4^th Class, dated January 1900, while assigned to Füsilier-Regiment Fürst Karl-Anton von Hohenzollern (Hohenzollernsches) Nr 40.

Award document for the Red Eagle Order 3^rd Class with Bow, dated June 1913.

Award document for the Friedrich Cross 2^nd Class of Anhalt, dated 23 February 1915.

A note from the commanding General of IX Armeekorps to von Falkenhayn, while assigned to Großherzogl. Mecklenburgisches Füsilier-Regiment Nr 90 Kaiser Wilhelm.

A note in September 1914 to von Falkenhayn, who commanded a brigade that was assigned to Korps V, signed by the commanding General, with a unit stamp.

This is a terrific document grouping that contains personal signatures of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Grand Duke Friedrich Franz of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Furthermore, it contains many signatures from other heads of state within the empire. $2,495.00 . . .

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31-88 OFFICER’S PROMOTION DOCUMENT - KÖNIG KARL’S SIGNATURE - WÜRTTEMBERG. This is a promotion patent signed by König Wilhelm II of Württemberg (1848-1921), who served as Württemberg’s king from 1891 through 1918. The ornate document is for Oberstleutnant Ernst Freiherr von Gemmingen-Hornberg. It measures 16 1/2" x 11." The top of the document proclaims that König Wilhelm II authorized the promotion. It took place on 18 May 1882. A large paper seal with Württemberg’s Coat-of-Arms is at the bottom. To the seal’s right is Wilhelm II’s large, bold signature. Below his signature the War Minister’s and Cabinets-Chef signature appears. At the time of the promotion von Gemminegen-Hornberg had been serving in Infanterie-Regiment Nr 119. He was transferred with the promotion to Infanterie-Regiment Nr 122. The document is in first-rate condition. Further research by Paul Chepurko has revealed that von Gemmingen-Hornberg was born in 1851. He served during the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War and was awarded the 1870 Iron Cross 2^nd Class. During WW I, he served in Landwehr Infanterie-Regiment Nr 123. His retirement rank was Oberst a. D. He died in 1928. [We would like to thank Paul Chepurko, our resident research expert, for this additional information. Paul produces all the wonderful Ranglistes and other research works on CD, which we offer on our RANGLISTES ON CD MERCHANDISE PAGE (click here to see). They are invaluable for research. The additional information above is a perfect example of some what can be found]. $450.00

 

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22-50 OFFICER PROMOTION DOCUMENT SIGNED BY KAISER WILHELM II & AWARD DOCUMENT (URKUNDE) - ALBERT KNIGHT’S CROSS 1st CLASS WITH SWORDS - SAXONY. This is an interesting two document set for the same officer. His name is Lukas Kirsten. The first document is very rare. It is for the promotion from oberleutnant to hauptmann in the Schutztruppen (German Southwest and Southeast Afrika’s Colonial Army). The large, ornate document measures 14" x 8 1/2." As specified in the document, Kirsten served in Southwest Afrika, rather than Southeast Afrika. The promotion was on 15 September 1906. It is most likely that the officer fought in the Southwest Afrika Uprising of 1906. The second page of the document is boldly signed in black ink by Kaiser Wilhelm II. The House of Hohenzollern‘s embossed seal appears on that same page. A second document is for the Albert’s Knight’s Cross 1st Class with Swords. This award came on 15 January 1916, when Kirsten was assigned to Konigl. Sachs.4. Infantrie-Regiment Nr 103. This was a very old-line Saxon infantry regiment that was founded in 1709. It was garrisoned at Bautzen and assigned to the XII. Armeekorps. At the time Kirsten was a major. He was either a Battalion Commander or served on the regimental staff. This tells us that he was a native of Saxony and rejoined a Saxon regiment when he returned from his colonial service. These two wonderful documents will allow their new owner to do some interesting research. $995.00  

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22-31 PATENT FOR AN OFFICER SERVING IN GERMAN SOUTHEAST AFRICA SIGNED BY KAISER WILHELM II. This is an ultra rare document that served as a promotion patent for an officer serving in the German colony of Southeast Africa. The officer was Hauptmann Hugo Freiherr von Nordic zur Rabenau. The document was signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II on 13 September 1911. A quick look at the Rangeliste for 1914-1918 indicates that von Nordic zur Rabenau did not serve in Africa during WW I. I did find mention of two men named Rabenau. One served on a staff and one was with an artillery regiment, but I cannot tell if either was our man (Please see below for additional information on this officer). In the document it mentions twice that this man was attached to the Schutztruppe in German Southeast Africa. The document has been folded in half. It shows a slight separation of about two inches in the fold. All of the information on the document is clear and readable. It sports a very bold signature of the Kaiser. This is an exceptional document. We have received additional information on Hauptmann a.D. (retired) Hugo Freiherr von Nordic zur Rabenau from a regular reader who enjoys doing research. Hugo Freiherr von Nordec zur Rabenau was born 25 October 1873 and was originally assigned to Kurhessisches-Jaeger Battalion Nr 11. After promotion in 1895 he was assigned to the Schutztruppe in German East Africa (Deutsche Ost Afrika) in September 1900. While he was promoted to Hauptmann in 1911 as indicated in the description above he retired from the army in either 1913 or 1914. With the beginning of WW I he was recalled and was a company commander in Reserve-Infantry-Regiment Nr 81. He fell at Vassincourt on the Western Front on 10 September 1914, barely a month into the war. At the time that he fell for the Fatherland, von Nordic zur Rabenau was forty years old. I appreciate this additional information from this reader who has shared his research with us in the past. $650.00

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06-127 AWARD DOCUMENT FOR THE MILITARY KARL-FRIEDRICH SILVER SERVICE MEDAL - BADEN. The Military Karl-Friedrich Silver Service Medal was the second highest award given to enlisted men and NCO’s by the Grand Duchy of Baden. As a matter of comparison, both Prussia and Bavaria offered decorations in these grades. In the Prussian Army, its 1^st Class version, the Golden Military Merit Cross, was commonly referred to as the "Enlisted Man’s Blue Max." This large format document, which measures 13" x 8 1/4," was awarded to Vizewachtmeister Paul Gerlach of Feldartilleree-Regiment Nr 193 on 9 May 1917. The document has two horizontal folds and one vertical fold. It also has two holes punched on the side, probably because it was once a part of the man’s files. The document has the stamp of the Grand Duchy of Baden Ordenskanzlei and the signature of the Chef. It appears to be von Babo, but I could be wrong on this point. This is a fine document for a very high level decoration. To give you an idea of the scarcity of this decoration, only 1,282 were awarded during the period of 1914 to 1917, with 589 of these awards made in 1917. (Also, each decoration was engraved with the name of the awardee on the reverse). Included is a handwritten letter with a regimental stamp on it, which refers to the decoration. I have not tried to translate the letter. I cannot say if it was the recommendation for the decoration, a transmittal letter for the decoration, or what. It is an intriguing companion piece to this very scarce document. I would like to direct you to our Orders and Decorations Nr 2 Merchandise Page where you may view an example of this decoration that was awarded during the Franco-Prussian War This is a very rare award document, the first I have been able to offer. $695.00

 

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Promotion patent to Second Lieutenant dated 14 December 1889. At this time Siemers was attached to Infantrie-Regiment 82. It lacks Kaiser Wilhelm II’s signature, although Prussia’s embossed seal is present.

Promotion patent for Siemers from the rank of Secondlieutenant to Premierlieutanant. At this level the Kaiser did not sign. Prussia’s embossed seal is present. The document wasprepared  in Berlin on 18 November 1897.

Promotion patent for Siemers from the rank of Oberleutnant to Hauptmann. Siemers was serving in a Landwehr Regiment. The document is complete with Prussia’s embossed seal over Kaiser Wilhelm’s bold signature. The patent was signed in Berlin on 16 March 1905.

Document to Hauptmann Siemers of the Landwehr dated 22 January 1912.

Award document for the 1914 Iron Cross 2^nd Class. While Siemers was still a hauptmann, he was attached to the staff of the X. Armeekorps. This document was issued on 8 August and signed by a generalleutnant, who was the Chief of Staff for the X. Armeekorps.

A total of SIXTEEN other documents deals with aspects of his civilian and early military life before he became an officer. Included are early promotion papers when he was an enlisted man. Also enclosed are civilian papers dealing with his education . . . even a will! This group makes engrossing reading about a man who rose through the ranks to achieved officer status. I see a train of service in the army that lasted nearly forty years. $495.00

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31-07 AWARD DOCUMENT FOR THE RED EAGLE 4^th CLASS. This is an award document for the Order of the Red Eagle 4^th Class (Rothen Adler Orden Vierter Klasse). This award was made to a Heinrich Johannes Halke. The award came in 1886, during the reign of Kaiser Wilhelm I. The document is signed by an official of the Royal Prussian Orders Commission, more commonly known as the Ordenkanzler. The document measures 13" x 8 1/4," and is quite ornate. It has been folded in quarters. A two inch tear shows at the top of the document where one of the folds was made. $195.00.

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06-125 TWO PROMOTION DOCUMENTS (PATENTS) FOR AN OFFICER IN THE PRUSSIAN ARMY. This is a set of two promotion or "patents" to one man in the Prussian Army. The first shows the promotion of a man from vizefeldwebel to leutnant der reserve. It is always interesting to see a man who has come up through the ranks and this was not terribly common twelve years before the beginning of WW I. His name was Wilhelm Fehler. This document was prepared 16 December 1902. There is a second document prepared on 27 January 1912 promoting Fehler from leutnant der reserve to oberleutnant der reserve. Both of these documents are quite ornate. They both measure 14 ¼" x 8 ½ ." The document has four sides, and opens up like a book. Each of the documents has holes punched into its side. Obviously, they were a part of a military record Fehler kept on himself, which was quite common among officers. $195.00. .

 

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06-102 DOCUMENT GROUPING TO AN OFFICER. This is a small, but interesting, document to an acting officer (Offizier -Stellvertreter) who served in an infantry regiment during WW I. The documents in this grouping belonged to Friedrich Kraus, who served in Infantry Regiment Nr 131.

The documents are as follows:

 

Document for the Silver Service Medal with ribbon to the Karl-Friedrich Service Medal dated 15 November 1915.

Document for the Iron Cross 1^st Class dated 7 June 1919 (it is always interesting to see documents for the Iron Cross dated after the end of the war.

Document for the Kyffhäuser Bund issued 22 March 1925.

Document for the Hindenburg Cross for Combatants dated 1 November 1934.

Document for the 25 Years True Service in Silver True Service Badge awarded 14 June 1939.

A lovely assortment of WW I and post WW I documents to a single man. $225.00. .

 

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06-135 AWARD DOCUMENT FOR THE HAMBURG HANSEATIC CROSS. This is a fine example of the award document for the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross. The document is ornate. It was awarded to a man who served in Fußartileree-Regiment Nr 20. The document was signed and issued on 12 November 1918, one day after the end of the Great War. $150.00 . .

 

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06-113 DOCUMENT FOR THE FRIEDRICH-AUGUST MEDAL IN BRONZE - SAXONY. This is a very fine document for the Friedrich-August Medal in Bronze from Saxony. It is dated 30 November 1917. A staff officer by the name of Walter Keller earned it. He served in III. Abteilung Feldartilleree Regiment Nr 279. The document bears the signature and unit stamp for Infantry Division Nr 212. The signature is from a Generalmajor, whose name appears to be Fraucke. This was not an especially high-ranking decoration. It is unusual to see it signed by a generalmajor and Division Kommandeur so late in the war. Keller must have been well-thought-of, since documents such as these would often have been signed by just battalion or regimental commanders. $125.00 . . .

 

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31-86 FRAMED AWARD DOCUMENT - 1914 IRON CROSS 2^nd CLASS - RESERVE-INFANTERIE-REGIMENT Nr 92. This is a very interesting award document for a man from Kompagnie Nr 9 of Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment Nr 92. The document measures 6 1/2" x 8 1/4" and is housed in a simple, period, brown wooden frame that measures 8" x 9 3/4." The document was issued to a Sergt. der Reserve Heinrich Wehmeyer. The award was made on 23 February 1915 for action at Marvaux. The document was signed by Oberstleutnant und Regiments=Kommandeur Dürr. A hanger on its reverse allows it to be hung to the wall. $175.00

 

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06-148 1914 IRON CROSS 2^nd CLASS DOCUMENT IN A FRAME. This is a very early war award document for a man who served in 1. Garde-Reserve-Regiment in the 7. Kompagnie. This document was issued in December 1914, so it is very early war. The document is signed by an oberstleutnant and regimental commander. The document is mounted in a period frame. The latter must be handled with care as it has substantial age. This is a nice document that has been in this frame for 80+ years. $175.00 . . .

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13-321 NAVY LONG SERVICE AWARD DOCUMENT. This is an award document for a Long Service Award in the Kaiserliche Marine. It is the 1^st Class award. It represents fifteen years of long service. It is signed by a Käptain zur See in 1920. The document still bears the Kaiserliche Marine unit stamping on it. This is a fine Navy document. $110.00 .

 

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06-143 PAIR OF DOCUMENTS TO A SOLDIER WHO SERVED IN SAXON KARBINER & ULANEN REGIMENTS. This is an interesting pair of documents for a soldier (Rudenz Halm) who served in Königl. Sächs Karbiner Regiment before the war. One of the two documents is a certificate of satisfactory service during his two-year enlistment (1910-1912). The document is signed by his company (squadron) commander (chef). The second document is for the award of the Friedrich-August Medal in Bronze, This award was made in January 1918 while the man was assigned to Königl. Sächs Reserve Ulanen Schutzen Regiment. It is signed by the regimental commander, a major. It displays the regiment’s unit stamp. Both documents have been folded. They are most interesting. The Karbiner-Regiment was a very elite mounted regiment in the Saxon Army. It stood just behind the Garde-Reiter-Regiment in terms of status amongst cavalry regiments. The Ulanen-Schutzen-Regiment was a composite reserve regiment formed after August 1914, but was still an elite regiment. Just guessing, I would say it is very possible that Halm was wounded earlier in the war and was reassigned to the Ulanen regiment after his recovery. $125.00. . .

 

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31-33 GENERALMAJOR PROMOTION PATENT SIGNED BY KING FRIEDRICH WILHELM IV PRUSSIA. This is the oldest promotion patent that we have ever offered. It is for an Oberst who was being promoted to Generalmajor. His name was Ludwig von Gersdorff. He was the commander of Infantrie-Brigade Nr 32 and á la Suite Infantrie-Regiment Nr 27. This document measures 14 1/4" x 8 3/4." It unfolds into three separate pages with various information. The document is dated 22 May 1858 and signed by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia. It has been folded, with some tearing and foxing at certain points. That said, the document is complete, and generally in good condition. It is very difficult to find promotion patents for generals. It is nothing short of astounding to find one that is nearly 150 years old! King Friedrich Wilhelm IV’s signature is on the final page. $595.00 

 

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31-58 DOCUMENT GROUPING - RAILROAD WORKER. This is an interesting group of documents for a man who served on the Prussian railway. Over the years we have offered the very handsome badges for men who achieved twenty-five and forty years of long service. This mini grouping is to a man named Christoph Kramer. In the grouping are the following:

 

*Award Document for the Twenty-Five-Years Long Service Badge. The document is dated May 1905. It measures 13" x 8 1/4," and is very ornate.

*Award Document for the Forty Years-Long Service Badge. The document is dated May 1913. It measures 13" x 8 1/4," and is very ornate.

*Award Document for the General Honor Decoration. This ornate document measures 13" x 8 1/4." It is dated 1913.

*An insurance certificate from the German Railroad Insurance Association, which is dated 1908.

*An employee handbook (similar to a militärpaß) issued to Kramer, which has basic information on him, including his year of birth.

*A CdV of Kramer in his uniform.

It is a most distinctive document set, including a photograph of the man to whom all of this belonged. $140.00  

 

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34-17 AWARD DOCUMENT - AUSTRIAN LANDESDENKMÜNZE 1914-1918. This is a preprinted award document for the Austrian Landesdenkmünze. This was the Austrian equivalent of the Hindenburg Cross. The decoration was founded in 1928. It was awarded not only to those from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, but to other soldiers who fought with the Central Alliance, including Germans. This particular example was awarded in 1929. The document previously has been folded, but is in very good condition. $50.00

 

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34-14 DOCUMENT - LUDENDORFF SPENDE. This is a document for a contribution to the "Ludendorff Spende." It was a five-mark contribution to what I believe was a political action group furthering General Erich Ludendorff’s political ambitions. Ludendorff was the Chief of Staff to Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg during WW I. He served in this position on the Eastern Front early in the war, and when von Hindenburg was called to command the armies of the Western Front later on. Ludendorff was the winner of the Pour le Mérite, the Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves, and the1914 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. After WW I, Ludendorff was an early supporter of Adolf Hitler. He participated in the 1923 Putsch, when the Nazis, with Hitler and Hermann Göring, attempted to overthrow the Bavarian government. This document, which measures 3 ½" x 5 ½" (approx. postcard-sized) recognized that the person named on the reverse has contributed five marks to the Ludendorff Spende. This colorful and impressive small document features a crowned Prussian Eagle, a 1914 Iron Cross and a reproduction signature of Ludendorff. Its reverse has the name of the contributor and a stamp for the organization. $50.00

 

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34-15 MUSIC PROGRAM - FUNCTION IN 1909. This is a high-quality, printed musical program for a performance that took place 17 January 1909. Kaiser Alexander Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr 1 is mentioned on the program. This elite regiment was founded in 1814. It was garrisoned in Berlin, where it was a part of the Garde-Korps. The other regiment mentioned is Grenadier-Regiment König Karl (5. Württembergerisches) Nr 123. This regiment was founded in 1799 and based in Ulm. It was attached to the XIII. Armeekorps. The program has a number of selections, including one by Richard Wagner. It is most interesting. $50.00

 

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34-16 MUSIC PROGRAM - FUNCTION IN 1908. This is a high-quality, printed musical program for a performance that took place 22 October 1908. One can see at the top of the program that the honored regiment was none other than 1. Garde-Regiment zu Füßilier. Several selections are on the program, including one by Mozart. $50.00

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31-63 XES EHREN-URKUNDE - POST WW I GERMANY. This is a consignment item. It is an Ehren-Urkunde for a man who served in WW I. The document measures 11 1/2" x 7 1/4." It has two reproduction signatures of Generalfeldmarschall and President of the Weimar Republic, Paul von Hindenburg. The document is dated 1927. It shows its age. $50.00  

 

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Imperial German Music on CD	Iron Crosses & Related Materials
Just In from Germany: Newest Items! ALL items start here!	Kyri's Kurio Korner: More Sale and Discounted Items
Medal Bars & Ribbon Bars	Miniatures & Boutonnieres
Navy, (Imperial German): Documents, Swords & Daggers, Badges, Cap Tallies, Books	Orders & Decorations Nr 1: Four Major German Kingdoms & Central Powers, Post War Items
Orders & Decorations Nr 2:Grand Duchies, Duchies,Free States, etc.	Otto & Jürgen's Non-Imperial German Emporium
Paper and Wood Artifacts:Books,Photos,Albums, Maps, and Artworks (framed paintings)	Patriotic Domesticware Nr 1: Fine Tableware, Steins, Glassware & Porcelain
Patriotic Domesticware Nr 2: Wooden, Metal, Cloth & Embroidered  Household Items	Patriotic Jewelry Nr 1: Rings, Bracelets, Pendants, etc.
Patriotic Jewelry Nr 2: Pins	Postcards Nr 38:Imperial German Royalty & Nobility, Central Powers Royalty & Nobility, and Allied Powers Royalty & Nobility.
Postcards Nr 40: Photo Albums, Original Photographs, and Cartes Des Viste.	Postcards Nr 42:Imperial German Air Service and All Aviation-Related.
Postcards Nr 43:Imperial German Armed Service and All Army-Related.	Postcards Nr 44:Kaiserliche Marine and All Navy-Related.
Ranglistes: Imperial German Army & Navy and other Imperial German References on CD	Royalty & Nobility (Imperial German):Personality Items,  Swords & Daggers, Portraits, Memorabilia
Shoulder Boards	Signed Photos, Documents & Autographs of the German Military, Nobility and Royalty
Stickpins	Swords & Edged Weapons
Table Medals	Uniforms & Related Accessories
Vivat Ribbons	Wooden Display Products (Helmet & Visor Stands)
Zeppelin & Balloon Memorabilia

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