Members of the Johanniter Order

[USAF1986]

In keeping with the successful series of “recipients of…” discussions, I thought I’d post the known members of the Johanniter Order (Johanniterorden) who became generals and admirals in the Reichsheer and the Third Reich-era Wehrmacht. As the neck badge of this order bears a frustrating resemblance to the Prussian Pour le Mérite Order, hopefully, this provisional roster will aid fellow researchers in ruling out that decoration when analyzing photographs.

Although not a military decoration, but a badge of membership within the Christian Johanniter Order, it could be worn in military uniform. However, membership in the order and the wearing of its badges was progressively suppressed under the Third Reich.

Members of the Johanniter Order were, for our purposes, divided into two classes: Knight of Honor (Ehrenritter) and Knight of Justice (Rechtsritter). Line drawings of the badges of the two classes are shown below. All members wore the white Maltese cross of the order on the lower left breast. In most cases, the breast badge was made of cloth, but I’ve seen a few examples of metal pin-back crosses.

Please refer to this link for a superb history of the Johanniter Order and its fate under the Third Reich:

http://www.chivalricorders.org/orders/s ... hanger.htm

With this link, you will find the web page of today's Johanniter Order in Germany:

http://www.johanniterorden.de/

This roster was primarily derived from the Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres (1 May 1926) and the Rangliste der Deutschen Reichsmarine (5 January 1928) and cross indexed with Biblio Verlag’s excellent Generale/Admirale series and Wolf Keilig’s Die Generale des Heeres. A small number of members were also derived from photographic evidence. Whenever positive confirmation could not be made (primarily army officers in the Kn-Z range, of course!), the names were not included; however, I did include three members at the bottom that could be identified with assistance. There are clearly many members missing from this roster. Any and or/all corrections and additions are most welcome!

Regards,
Shawn

NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, the members listed were Knights of Honor. It is quite possible that several were elevated to Knight of Justice at a date later than the publication of the Rangliste cited above.

Known members of the Johanniter Order who attained general/admiral rank in the Reichsheer and the Third Reich-era Wehrmacht:

1. Generalmajor Hans-Henning von Alten
2. Generalmajor Percy Baron von Ascheberg
3. Generalmajor Hans von Basse
4. Generalleutnant Ferdinand Bock von Wülfingen: Knight of Justice
5. Char. Generalmajor Georg Bock von Wülfingen
6. General der Artillerie Friedrich von Boetticher
7. Generalleutnant Hans Reichsfreiherr von Boineburg-Lengsfeld
8. General der Infanterie Kuno-Hans von Both
9. Char. Generalmajor Adolf von Brauchitsch
10. Generalmajor Ferdinand von Bredow
11. Char. Generalleutnant Felix von Buchholtz
12. Char. Generalmajor Hartwig von Bülow
13. General der Infanterie Rudolf von Bünau: Elevated to Knight of Justice in 1950 and Knight Commander in 1952.
14. Char. General der Artillerie Erich Freiherr von dem Bussche-Ippenburg: Knight of Justice
15. General der Infanterie Friedrich-Wilhelm von Chappuis
16. Generalleutnant Conrad von Cochenhausen
17. General der Artillerie Dr. phil. Friedrich von Cochenhausen
18. Generalleutnant René de l’ Homme Courbière
19. Generalleutnant Alexander Edler von Daniels
20. Generalmajor Günther von Dewitz genannt von Krebs
21. Generalmajor Karl von Dewitz genannt von Krebs: Knight of Justice
22. Generalleutnant Max von Diringshofen
23. Generalleutnant Viktor von Drabich-Waechter
24. Char. Generalmajor z.V. Curt von Einem
25. Char. General der Infanterie Friedrich Freiherr von Esebeck
26. General der Infanterie z.V. Alexander von Falkenhausen: Knight of Justice
27. Generaloberst Nikolaus von Falkenhorst: Knight of Justice
28. Char. General der Infanterie Ernst Freiherr von Forstner: Knight of Justice
29. Generaladmiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg
30. Generaloberst Werner Freiherr von Fritsch: Knight of Justice
31. Generalleutnant Richard von Graberg
32. Generalleutnant Woldemar Freiherr Grote: Knight of Justice
33. General der Infanterie Hermann von Hanneken
34. Generalleutnant z.V. Hans von Hösslin
35. Char. Generalleutnant Hans-Georg von Jagow
36. General der Kavallerie Hugo von Kayser
37. Generalleutnant Hans von Kempski
38. Generalleutnant Adolf von Kleist
39. Generalfeldmarschall Ewald von Kleist: Knight of Justice
40. General der Panzertruppe Otto von Knobelsdorff
41. General der Infanterie Joachim von Kortzfleisch
42. Generalfeldmarschall Georg von Küchler
43. Generalleutnant Leopold Freiherr von Ledebur
44. Generalleutnant z.V. Fritz von der Lippe
45. Generalmajor Gottschalk von Loewenich
46. Generalmajor Axel von der Lochau
47. Char. Vizeadmiral Wilhelm Friedrich (gen. Wilfried) von Loewenfeld: Knight of Justice
48. General der Infanterie Friedrich-Karl von Loßberg: Knight of Justice
49. Generalmajor Ferdinand Ritter von Mann Edler von Tiechler
50. Generalmajor z.V. Georg von Niebecker
51. Generalmajor Egon von Ploetz
52. Generalleutnant z.V. Wolfgang Edler Herr und Freiherr von Plotho
53. General der Kavallerie Maximilian von Poseck: Knight of Justice
54. Generalmajor z.V. Prinz Oskar von Preußen: Herrenmeister of the Johanniter Order, 1927-1958.
55. Generalmajor Georg von Priem
56. Generalmajor z.V. Richard von Pressentin
57. Generalleutnant Heinrich von Prittwitz und Gaffron: Knight of Justice
58. Generalmajor z.V. Max von Prittwitz und Gaffron
59. Generalleutnant z.V. Jesko von Puttkamer
60. General der Artillerie Friedrich von Rabenau: Knight of Justice
61. Char. General der Flakartillerie Karl von Roques
62. Generalmajor Alexander von Ruville
63. Generalleutnant Heinrich von Schenckendorff
64. General der Infanterie z.V. Max von Schenckendorff: Knight of Justice
65. Admiral Otto von Schrader
66. Generalleutnant z.V. Winfried von der Schulenburg: Knight of Justice
67. General der Infanterie Viktor von Schwedler: Knight of Justice
68. Konteradmiral Hans-Hermann Graf von Schweinitz und Krain Freiherr von Kauder
69. Generaloberst Hans von Seeckt: Knight of Justice
70. Generalmajor Hans-Heinrich Freiherr von Seidlitz und Gohlau
71. Generalleutnant Hans von Sommerfeld
72. Generalleutnant Hans Graf von Sponeck: Knight of Justice
73. Generalmajor Johann von Stein
74. Vizeadmiral z.V. Hans Hubertus von Stosch
75. Char. General der Infanterie Joachim von Stülpnagel: Knight of Justice
76. General der Infanterie Otto von Stülpnagel
77. Generalmajor Siegfried von Stülpnagel
78. Generalleutnant Bogislav von Studnitz
79. Generalleutnant Karl von Tiedemann
80. General der Infanterie Kurt von Tippelskirch
81. Generalmajor Ewald von Usedom
82. Generalleutnant Friedrich-Karl von Wachter
83. Generalleutnant z.V. Ulrich von Waldow
84. Generalleutnant Magnus von Wedderkop
85. Generalmajor Georg-Thilo Freiherr von Werthern
86. Generalleutnant z.V. Reinhard von Westrem zum Gutacker
87. Generalfeldmarschall Erwin von Witzleben: Knight of Justice
88. Generalleutnant Hans-Georg von Zanthier
89. Generalleutnant Alexander von Zülow

In the 1 May 1926 edition of the Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres, there are four officers named Freiherr von Schleinitz, three of which were members of the Johanniter Order. Per Keilig, there were three general officers named Freiherr von Schleinitz, only one of which can be positively identified: Generalmajor Wolf-Dietrich Freiherr von Schleinitz. The four officers are:

Freiherr von Schleinitz: Oberst: 01.01.1925 (2); Commandant of the Arys Troop Training Area; Knight of Honor.

Presumably, these two men are Generalleutnant Siegmund (born 23 July 1890) and Generalleutnant Joachim (born 26 May 1892) Freiherr von Schleinitz respectively:

Freiherr von Schleinitz: Hauptmann: 18.04.1918 (8 ); 9. Inf. Rgt.; Knight of Honor.
Freiherr von Schleinitz: Hauptmann: 01.02.23 (28 ); 6.Inf. Rgt.; Knight of Honor.

Generalmajor Wolf-Dietrich Freiherr von Schleinitz: Leutnant: 01.02.1921 (1); 17. Inf. Rgt; not a member of the Johanniter Order as of 1 May 1926.

[Stauffenberg II]

Shawn!

Thank you very much for this very interesting list. Again a great milestone.

btw: No. 23 seems to be a paste error

Regards,
Stauffenberg II

[USAF1986]

Glad you will find the roster useful! Number 23...General der Artillerie Friedrich von Boetticher? He's good, here are his known decorations from the 1926 and 1930 Rangliste with my own additions from other sources. Quite a chestfull !

Regards,
Shawn

Decorations & Awards:
• Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords: 27 May 1942.
• Prussian Royal Hohenzollern House Order, Knight’s Cross with Swords: 3 May 1918.
• Prussian Iron Cross, 1st Class (1914)
• Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1914)
• War Merit Cross, 1st Class with Swords
• War Merit Cross, 2nd Class with Swords
• Saxon Military St. Henry Order, Knight’s Cross: 9 November 1918.
• Saxon Merit Order, Knight 1st Class with Swords
• Saxon Albert Order, Knight 1st Class with Swords and Crown
• Bavarian Military Merit Order, 4th Class with Swords
• Württemberg Friedrich Order, Knight 1st Class with Swords
• Hamburg Hanseatic Cross
• Prussian Officers’ Long Service Cross (Not authorized for wear after the establishment of the Third Reich-era Armed Forces Long Service Awards on 16 March 1936.)
• Cross of Honor for Combatants 1914-1918
• Johanniter Order, Knight of Honor
• Armed Forces Long Service Award, 1st Class (25-year Service Cross)
• Armed Forces Long Service Award, 3rd Class (12-year Service Medal)
• Austrian Military Merit Cross, 3rd Class with War Decoration
• Turkish Osmanie Order, 4th Class with Sabers
• Turkish Liakat Medal in Silver with Sabers
• Turkish War Medal (“Iron Crescent”)
• Bulgarian Bravery Order, 4th Class (1st Grade)
• Bulgarian St. Alexander Order, Officer’s Cross
• Bulgarian Military Merit Order, 3rd Class (Commander’s Cross)

[USAF1986]

Oh, he was listed twice...sorry ! Fixed!

Regards,
Shawn

[USAF1986]

For reference, here is an excellent photo of Generaloberst Werner Freiherr von Fritsch displaying the neck badge of a Knight of Justice of the Johanniter Order as well as the cloth breast badge.

Regards,
Shawn

P.S. For those interested, here are his known decorations & awards:

• Prussian Red Eagle Order, 4th Class
• Prussian Royal Hohenzollern House Order, Knight’s Cross with Swords
• Prussian Iron Cross, 1st Class (1914)
• Prussian Iron Cross, 2nd Class (1914)
• Bavarian Military Merit Order, 4th Class with Swords and Crown
• Württemberg Friedrich Order, Knight 1st Class with Swords
• Hesse Merit Order of Philipp the Magnanimous, Knight 2nd Class
• Hamburg Hanseatic Cross
• Prussian Officers’ Long Service Cross (Not authorized for wear after the establishment of the Third Reich-era Armed Forces Long Service Awards on 16 March 1936.)
• Cross of Honor for Combatants 1914-1918
• Johanniter Order, Knight of Justice
• Armed Forces Long Service Award, 1st Class (25-year Service Cross)
• Armed Forces Long Service Award, 3rd Class (12-year Service Medal)
• Austrian Military Merit Cross, 3rd Class with War Decoration
• Turkish War Medal (“Iron Crescent”)
• Wound Badge in Black – World War I award

[Glenn2438]

The later Generalfeldmarschall Erwin von Witzleben pictured as an Oberstleutnant and Ehrenritter.

Regards
Glenn

[USAF1986]

Glenn,

Superb photo; thank you! Here's von Witzleben later in his career as a Rechtsritter.

Regards,
Shawn

[USAF1986]

Another member of the Johanniter Order: Konteradmiral Hasso von Bredow (Knight of Honor as of the 1928 Naval Rangliste).

Regards,
Shawn

[USAF1986]

Two additional members of the Johanniter Order; both were Knights of Honor at least as of 1926.

Char. General der Kavallerie Walther von Jagow (per photographic evidence)

Generalmajor Kurt Rühle von Lilienstern (per the 1926 Rangliste des Deutschen Reichsheeres) - thanks again Glenn for the positive ID!

Regards,
Shawn

[USAF1986]

Three more members of the Johanniter Order who appear in the 1926 Rangliste with identities kindly confirmed by Glenn (all were Knights of Honor at that time):

Generalleutnant Joachim Freiherr von Schleinitz
Generalleutnant Siegmund Freiherr von Schleinitz
Char. Generalleutnant Walter Freiherr von Schleinitz

Regards,
Shawn

[USAF1986]

Another confirmed member of the Johanniter Order from the 1926 Army Rangliste: General der Infanterie Walther von Unruh (born: 30.12.1877). He was a Knight of Honor as of that date as well as a recipient of the Prussian Pour le Mérite Order.

Regards,
Shawn

[USAF1986]

Another member of the Johanniter Order:

Luftwaffe Generalleutnant Georg von Kutzleben: Knight of Justice (per photographic evidence).

Regards,
Shawn

[Stauffenberg II]

Another recipient (per photographic evidence). I just received this pic (the best of him so far) from good old VJK.

Gen. d. Inf. Kurt von Briesen

[Sector 7s FFI]

The medal look like the "Ordre de la generosité" medal.

[USAF1986]

Another confirmed member of the Johanniter Order per photographic evidence (Knight of Justice): Oberst z.V./SS-Brigadeführer Otto von Weis.

See thread at this link for biographical information and a great photo:

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=40136

Regards,
Shawn