Who is this SS-Officer with Militär-Maria-Theresien-Orden?

[Requin Marteau]

Bonjour,

Who is this man with the MMThO, SS-Div. "Handschar"?

Crdl
Thierry

[Phil Don]

Hi Requin Marteau

He could be SS-Ostubaf. (later SS-Staf.) Franz MATHEIS, former austro hungarian officier, former yugoslavian officier and former croatian officer before coming in Waffen-SS. I know he had this award. I had a too bad picture for identification.

Phil D.

[Phil Don]

Here a pic of Matheis I have in my files. I think they are the same person.

[Ivan Ž.]

It shouldn't be him, since Matheis joined the Waffen-SS as SS-Staf. (at least that is the info I have from the late Phil Nix). The man could be an imam, since the photo was taken at the time of the imam training course in Germany. He does look like Matheis though.

In any case, thanks for posting your photo of Matheis, Phil!

Cheers,
Ivan

[Phil Don]

Hi Ivan

The only imam with high ranking was Abdulah MUHASILOVIĆ, the divisional imam, as SS-Stubaf.
I have a pic of him and it's not him.

Phil D.

[Ivan Ž.]

Indeed. I am looking at other photos of Matheis and I am almost certain that you were right and that it is Franz Matheis. But that would mean that he joined the SS as an SS-Ostubaf. Any info on this?

Comparison with Matheis photos from the same timeframe:

nnss2.jpg (104.82 KiB) Viewed 1200 times

[/size]
Ivan

[Ivan Ž.]

If it helps, the initial photo (posted by Thierry) was taken in Berlin at the Islamisches Zentral-Institut on 3 November 1943 (and not during the imam training course as I previously wrote, which was conducted in July 1943).

Ivan

[Ivan Ž.]

I can confirm that the SS-Ostubaf. is indeed Franz Matheis, who obviously joined the SS as Ostubaf. and not as Staf.

I've just (re)discovered a photo from the training of Matheis' regiment in France. He is even credited on the back, as "Ostubaf. Matheis".

He has the Military Order of Maria Theresa order sticking out of his blouse there as well.

Excellent ID job, Phil

Cheers,
Ivan

[Requin Marteau]

Good job Ivan.

Other awards :
- k.u.k.Österreichisches Signum Laudis Medaille in Bronze,
- k.u.k.Österreichisches Signum Laudis Medaille in Silber mit Schwertern,
- k.u.k.Österreichisches MVK 3. Klasse mit Kriegsdekoration u. Schwertern,
- k.u.k.Österreichisches Karl Truppenkreuz,
- EK I,
- Großherz. Badischer Orden vom Zähringer Löwen, Komturkreuz 2. Klasse mit Eichenlaub u. mit Schwertern, (Neck Order)
- k.u.k. Militär-Maria Theresia-Orden, Ritterkreuz (185)(02.10.1918),
- Orden der Krone König Zvonimirs, 2. Klasse (janvier 1944).


Thierry

[Ivan Ž.]

Thank you for the additional info, Thierry.

Would you happen to know when Matheis got promoted to SS-Staf. (or at least when was he first mentioned as SS-Staf. in your files)?

Cheers,
Ivan

[Requin Marteau]

Rangliste 1918