Unknown Luftwaffe Major - 1930s ?

[mattyboy]

Hi all,
I'm wondering if this Major can be identified. He is wearing the observer badge and the Krieger-Ehrenzeichen in Eisen.
Perhaps even the date of the pic can be determined if the General standing to the left is known?

Thanks
Matt.

[VtwinVince]

Interesting photo, probably 1935 judging from the first pattern dagger and early cap insignia. Can you zoom in on the medal bar? Looks like the other guy is wearing a Reuss Officer's Cross.

[joerg]

The Major Looks like Johann Raithel (1934-36).

[mattyboy]

Hi Vince,
I have sent you a PM.

Hi Joerg,
Yes there is a similarity. But Raithel was a pilot and I don't think he wore a monocle.
Friedrich-Carl Hanesse had the Krieger-Ehrenzeichen, was an observer and wore a monocle but I do not see a resemblance.

[Stauffenberg II]

I think Hanesse is a match by the medals. Hanesse had EK1, VA1914, HT, HK and Hansestadt Hamburg Cross (HH), as well as Fliegerbeobachtungszeichen (FB).

I can´t find another person in the Luftwaffe with those medal combination coming from Heer or Kriegsmarine. Maybe there was a person (unknown to me) coming from Police or being reactivated.

Jürgen

[mattyboy]

Hi Jürgen,
Very interesting! It seems that there is a good chance that this is indeed Friedrich-Carl Hanesse. If this is true then the photo dates from between 01 September 1933 and 01 September 1935.

[Requin Marteau]

Bonjour,

HANESSE, Friedrich-Carl:
(DOB: 21.09.92 in Worms).
WWI initially served in the Artillerie, then with the Fliegertruppe. 01.01.24 promo to Hptm. 01.09.33 promo to Maj. 01.02.34 trf to the Luftwaffe from the Heer with a rank of Major; appt Lehrgangsleiter at the Bombenschule Lechfeld. 01.04.35 appt Chef der Attaché-Abt./RLM. 01.09.35 promo to Obstlt. 01.10.37 promo to Oberst. 03.10.37 appt Luftattaché at the Embassy in Paris and at the Embassy in Lisbon. 03.09.39 appt Luftattaché Bern (to 09.40). 01.04.40 promo to Gen.Maj. 01.10.40 appt Kommandierender Gen. der Deutschen Luftwaffe in Paris. 01.04.42 promo to Gen.Lt. 01.01.44 promo to Gen.d.Fl. 01.09.44 appt Kommandierender Gen. der Lw.– Erg.Korps and Kdr. Luftwaffen-Ergänzungsdivision, Bad Saarow-Pieskow. 11.10.44 appt General z.b.V./Luftflotte 10. 1945 with the Reichskriegsgericht. 06.02.45 retired. 06.45 into French captivity.
†12.05.75 in Wiesbaden.

Crdl
Thierry

[mattyboy]

Hi Thierry,
Thanks for his career info. Does anyone else have a pic of Hanesse for comparison?

[Dieter Zinke]

Here you are: Hanesse & Galland [and Konteradmiral Wilhelm Mössel]

Dieter Z.

[mattyboy]

Hi Dieter,
Thanks for your pic. Forgive me, but I do not think that this is Hanesse?
This man appears to be wearing a pilot's badge rather than an observers badge, and he doesn't have a monocle?

[Dieter Zinke]

During the war it was not common to wear the monocle, see for example Walter Model or Dietrich von Saucken!

Dieter Z.

[ttvon]

Here you are: Hanesse & Galland [and Konteradmiral Wilhelm Mössel]

Dieter Z.

Hi,
are you sure it is Hanesse with Galland? It does not look like Hanesse.
And It is said that it is Alfred Gerstenberg. http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2013/ ... lland.html

ttvon

[graveland]

Here you are: Hanesse & Galland [and Konteradmiral Wilhelm Mössel]

Dieter Z.

Hi,
are you sure it is Hanesse with Galland? It does not look like Hanesse.
And It is said that it is Alfred Gerstenberg. http://alifrafikkhan.blogspot.com/2013/ ... lland.html

ttvon

I agree with you, it is Alfred Gerstenberg (and Joseph "Beppo" Schmid in the background).

Another one:

[VtwinVince]

Yup, Gerstenberg is wearing the commemorative cuff title of JG1, not seen often.