Axel Holst - Equestrian and German officer

[Magnus99]

I've been searching the internet and am unable to find information on a relative of mine (my Great Grandfather's Brother)

Here's what I know.

Name: Alex Holst (b 11 Aug 1891 in Vallby Sweden and died 1935)
He was a very accomplished equestrian and competed on the international scene.

At some time he moved to German and owned a farm in Bandelow, Germany. He continued to excel at horse riding and was recognized for it. Beyond this I have very few facts and just some sketchy information, but I've been told that he might have been an SS officer and when he died it was a state funeral attended by Hitler himself. I've also been told he was scheduled to compete in the Olympic prior to his death.

The story is very important to me because upon his death, my Grandfather, Christian Holst moved there and eventually my mother was born on the farm. They were forced to leave in 1953 when the state confiscated the property but those are some pretty gruesome details that I will leave for later.

My question is this: is there anyone out there that knows anything about my Great Grand uncle Alek Holst

[Heimatschuss]

Hello,

I bet you mean famous equestrian Axel Holst who was killed in a riding accident in February 1935
See http://pferdezeitung.com/Hauptartikel/3 ... her_Sport/

Further sources on Axel Holst's life in
Annette Fusenig (Ph.D. thesis, p.164, footnote 771)
„Wie man ein ‚Weltfest des Pferdesports’ erfindet –
Das Aachener Spring-, Reit- und Fahrturnier von 1924 bis 1939“
2004
http://deposit.ddb.de/cgi-bin/dokserv?i ... 594098.pdf

I saw some websites mentioning that he involuntarily became a member of the SS. Could be true if the riding club he belonged to was incorporated in the so-called Reiter-SS (rider SS) en bloc early in the Third Reich. Numerous such cases are known. The regimental band of the Leibstandarte SS "Adolf Hitler" played at the funeral of their famous comrade.
http://www.balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Einheiten ... -LSSAH.htm

Axel Holst (Ullsteinbild no. 01053685).jpg (38.39 KiB) Viewed 4219 times

Polish President Pilsudski decorating the winner in the horse show 'Prize of the Polish Army', from left: Axel Holst, Harald Momm and Lieutenant de Bartillat (France) - Photographer: Associated Press - Published by: 'Berliner Illustrierte Zeitung' 24/1934

Axel Holst (Ullsteinbild no. 01027467).jpg (35.74 KiB) Viewed 4219 times

Best regards
Torsten

[freddiefro]

Magnus99,

Axel Holst is listed in the 01.10.1934 SS-Dienstaltersliste as becoming SS-Sturmführer on 23.06.1934. Since no SS number is listed, he could have been an Ehrenführer (“Honorary” -führer). SS-numbers for Ehrenführers weren’t listed in SS-DALs until 01.07.1935.

- Fred

[Phil Nix]

He was attached to SS Oberabschnitt Nord and there was no Party Number listed. He died 26th January 1935 and his SS Nr was 185012 Data from 1935 DAL
Phil Nix

[Magnus99]

Wow!!!

You guys are great. This is more information than I had ever hope to get. I do however have more questions.

He was born in Sweden and moved to Germany. Could it be possible that he was recruited or pursuaded in some manner by the German government? He came from a farming family and couldn't have much money, but all of a sudden he own a 220 Acre farm with stable and animals (horses, cows, pigs, fowl)

If he was a member of the SS in whatever capacity, was this just to allow himself to continue to compete or did he have to "take an oath" or join the party?

Again, thanks for all the wonderful information, links, and pictures

Magnus

[Martin1971]

Hi.

Additional to all that informations you see from the ot guys araound here: Are you swedish and now in sweden ?

Last month I was in Stockholm and I think the swedish author BOSSE SCHÖN will help you. He has written some ooks and one of it is about the swedish soliers of the Waffen-SS. If he cannot helpm directly in your case - am sure he knows were you can do make more research. I am re he has some ideas how to look for details.

His mailadress is [email protected]

He´s very friedly - i am sure you get an answer ...

Best Regards

Martin1971

[Simon]

Some info about his background in Sweden:

Axel Baltazar Horst was son of inspector Ludvig Horst (b. 1853 Denmark) and Alma Sofia Christina Trägårdh (b. 1857 Vallby). He had 4 brothers and 4 sisters.

[Heimatschuss]

Hello again,

I've found several other photos of Axel Holst at http://www.cegesoma.be

One from 1934 together with 1st Lt. Hasse where he's still wearing his civilian riding habit:

Axel Holst (Cegesoma Image No. 126563).jpg (24.6 KiB) Viewed 3719 times

Another one where he's already in SS uniform:

Axel Holst (Cegesoma Image No. 126565).jpg (22.04 KiB) Viewed 3719 times

Together with some Swedish cavalry officers taking part in a tournament in Berlin:

Axel Holst (Cegesoma Image No. 126560).jpg (44.25 KiB) Viewed 3719 times

[Heimatschuss]

Axel Holst receiving a tournament prize from the hand of Princess Friedrich Sigismund of Prussia:

Axel Holst (Cegesoma Image No. 127141).jpg (32.57 KiB) Viewed 3717 times

Two pictures from the commemorative service for him on Feb. 1st, 1935 in the Berlin riding hall where he had been killed days earlier:

Axel Holst death (Cegesoma Image No. 122307).jpg (50.03 KiB) Viewed 3717 times

Axel Holst death (Cegesoma Image No. 122309).jpg (50.49 KiB) Viewed 3717 times

Best regards
Torsten

[ThobbeS]

Axel Holst was buried in Sweden,in a small provincial cemetery. On his tombstone reads "In Vallby geboren, in Berlin gefallen, er starb den Reitertod"
See also the picture on this forum: http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=3311
I think about it must be him, one of Germany's top rider
ThS

[Lasse]

Hello,

Great picture of Holst in his SS uniform! NEver seen a picture of him in uniform before. He is a very interesting caracther as it seams like his life was a bit of a "dream come true" - left sweden as poor, and managed to become quite famous and wealthy in Germany. Also he is very interesting since he was probebly the first of the swedish SS officers!

[Vikki]

This is really a fascinating thread, with great photos. Thanks to everyone who supplied the information.

For a rider, it's interesting, though chilling, to see the details of the accident in which Holst was killed (from a website posted by Torsten above):

Im Januar 1935, während des großen Berliner Winterturniers, endet die große Karriere des Axel Holst: Der aus Schweden stammende Leiter des zivilen Springstalls Georgen von Vicky Glahn stirbt infolge eines Sturzes beim Jagdspringen. Sein erst wenige Wochen zuvor erworbenes Springpferd Troll prallt vor eine Mauer, fällt und begräbt Holst unter sich. Die Ärzte stellen im Krankenhaus als Todesursache Genick- und doppelten Schädelbruch fest.

http://pferdezeitung.com/Hauptartikel/3 ... her_Sport/

Axel Holst was buried in Sweden,in a small provincial cemetery. On his tombstone reads "In Vallby geboren, in Berlin gefallen, er starb den Reitertod"

Quite a fitting epitaph.

Best,
~Vikki