Generalmajor Erich von Kirchbach (1886-1944)

[JARDIN DAVID]

Hello,
I'd like to learn about GenMaj Erich von KIRCHBACH, as Feldkommandant 622 and Battle-commandant of Epinal (Vosges / Vogesen). If you can show some pictures or precise some details about his stay in Epinal ! He was wounded 27 sept. 44 and died in St-Die (30 km from Epinal) 2 okt 44.
Thank you !
JD

[Nicolas7507]

Here is a photo of him as an Oberst.

[Requin Marteau]

Bonjour,
What is the before last ribbon ? He's a Saxon officer, and I don't own the Ranglist of Saxony, this decoration had to be awarded to him before the war: Ribbonbar
EK II, KVK II X, SH3, SA3aXmKr, HH, Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918 mit Schwertern, 2 WH DA, ???, ÖM3K.


Crdl
Thierry

[luftk]

It is not a pre-WW1 award, according to the Rank List.

[Requin Marteau]

Merci Pierce.
So this is the order of the crown, knight class (ÖE3K).

[luftk]

Merci Pierce.
So this is the order of the crown, knight class (ÖE3K).

That is a good possibility. He retired in 1919 so is not in the post-war Rank List so I cannot confirm.

[Dave Danner]

It is indeed a pre-war award, the Mecklenburg Order of the Griffon.

24.10.1911 Großherzoglich Mecklenburgischer Greifenorden, 3. Klasse
26.09.1914 1914 Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
20.03.1915 Königlich Sächsischer Albrechts-Orden, Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwertern
10.10.1915 1914 Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
18.03.1917 Krone zum Königlich Sächsischen Albrechts-Orden, Ritterkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwertern
19.04.1917 Hamburgisches Hanseatenkreuz
23.05.1917 Königlich Sächsischer Militär-St. Heinrichs-Orden, Ritterkreuz
14.03.1918 K.u.k. Österreich-Ungarisches Militärverdienstkreuz 3. Klasse mit der Kriegsdekoration 3. Klasse
05.03.1935 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer
02.10.1936 Wehrmacht (Heer) Dienstauszeichnung 4. bis 1. Klasse
24.12.1940 Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern
30.01.1942 Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse mit Schwertern

[graveland]

Thank you, Dave.

[Dave Danner]

Generalskartei photo below. Note that the precedence is wrong. The Greifenorden, as a peacetime decoration of a former German state, should come after the Wehrmacht Dienstauszeichnungen.

The precedence of the Feldspange in the Oberst picture above is also wrong, by the way. The picture is post-1940, since he has the KVK2X; therefore the Austro-Hungarian Militärverdienstkreuz should have been treated as a wartime Landesorden and placed with the Saxon and Hamburg decorations. This is not uncommon with regard to Austro-Hungarian decorations.

[harmel]

Brilliant Dave thanks.
Harmel

[graveland]

Thank you, Dave.

[Georges JEROME]

He served in France as Feldkommandant at Troyes (Aube) from 8.43 then Epinal (Vosges) from 5.44 where he died
thank you Dave

[graveland]

Merci, Georges.

[kstdk]

Hello

Erich von Kirchbach, picture from BAMA/Invenio PERS 6/1458 and Generalskartei PERS 6/299983.

Regards
Kurt
kstdk

[harmel]

Thanks Karl.
Harmel