Members of the Johanniter Order
I was recently watching The Triumph of the Will and spotted a Johanniter Order member in the crowd during the Leibstandarte march past scene. The man is wearing black SS uniform and visor cap and appears to be an SS-Hauptsturmführer. He is standing behind and to the right of Generaloberst Werner von Blomberg; both salute as the Leibstandarte passes by them. This officer is wearing the Johanniter Order breast badge, the Pour le Mérite Order, the EK I, a Wound Badge and another unidentified breast cross. After viewing the scene several times, I think he is displaying the SS-Oberabschnitt “Süd” cuff-title. Too bad I don’t have screen capture capability! Anyone have any ideas who he might be?
Best regards,
Shawn
Best regards,
Shawn
- Michael Miller
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Hello, Shawn.
Here is a list which may or may not be complete of SS Plm holders. Don't have my SS-DAL's with me, so can't check to see which ones were SS-Hstuf. at the time of the 1934 RPT in Nürnberg. The ones marked with "*" are those we can probably rule out as either a) they were not members of the SS at the time "Triumph des Willens" was filmed, or b) held a higher rank than SS-Hstuf. at that time.
* Clausius, Max SS-Nr.181012 SS-Brigadeführer 22.03.1940
Pour le Merite 15.10.1918
* Fritsch, Lothar SS-Nr.279973 SS-Gruppenführer 09.11.1942
Pour le Merite 06.05.1918
* Georg, Carl Ritter von SS-Nr.294154 SS-Hauptsturmführer 30.01.1939
Pour le Merite perhaps 24.04.1918
* Hoefer, Karl SS-Nr.276338 SS-Oberführer 20.04.1936
Pour le Merite 23.07.1916 Eichenlaub 14.04.1918
Josenhanns, Edgar SS-Nr.60845 SS-Untersturmführer 21.03.1934
Pour le Merite 28.10.1918
* Kretschmann, Ernst von SS-Nr.277320 SS-Brigadeführer 09.11.1942
Pour le Merite ?
* Maur, Heinrich von SS-Nr.276907 SS-Obergruppenführer 19.07.1944
Pour le Merite 20.05.1917
* Preuschen, Ludwig Freiherr von SS-Nr.293079 SS-Obstbf. 20.04.1938
Pour le Merite 17.06.1918
* Reinhard, Wilhelm SS-Nr.274107 SS-Obergruppenführer 09.11.1941
Pour le Merite 27.08.1917
Seiler, Reinhard SS-Nr.7255 SS-Sturmbannführer 30.01.1936
Pour le Merite 31.01.1918
* Schulenburg, Friedrich Graf von der SS-Nr.162240 SS-Ogrf. 30.01.1939
Pour le Merite 24.04.1917 Eichenlaub 23.03.1918
* Schwerk, Oskar SS-Nr.276825 SS-Obergruppenführer 16.07.1944
Pour le Merite 21.09.1916 Eichenlaub 02.05.1917
Steinbrinck, Otto SS-Nr.63084 SS-Brigadeführer 30.01.1939
Pour le Merite 29.03.1916
Werner, Wilhelm SS-Nr.9916 SS-Brigadeführer 15.09.1935
Pour le Merite 18.08.1918
Wulffen, Gustav von SS-Nr.72208 SS-Brigadeführer 20.04.1939
Pour le Merite 21.04.1918
Best wishes,
~ Mike
Here is a list which may or may not be complete of SS Plm holders. Don't have my SS-DAL's with me, so can't check to see which ones were SS-Hstuf. at the time of the 1934 RPT in Nürnberg. The ones marked with "*" are those we can probably rule out as either a) they were not members of the SS at the time "Triumph des Willens" was filmed, or b) held a higher rank than SS-Hstuf. at that time.
* Clausius, Max SS-Nr.181012 SS-Brigadeführer 22.03.1940
Pour le Merite 15.10.1918
* Fritsch, Lothar SS-Nr.279973 SS-Gruppenführer 09.11.1942
Pour le Merite 06.05.1918
* Georg, Carl Ritter von SS-Nr.294154 SS-Hauptsturmführer 30.01.1939
Pour le Merite perhaps 24.04.1918
* Hoefer, Karl SS-Nr.276338 SS-Oberführer 20.04.1936
Pour le Merite 23.07.1916 Eichenlaub 14.04.1918
Josenhanns, Edgar SS-Nr.60845 SS-Untersturmführer 21.03.1934
Pour le Merite 28.10.1918
* Kretschmann, Ernst von SS-Nr.277320 SS-Brigadeführer 09.11.1942
Pour le Merite ?
* Maur, Heinrich von SS-Nr.276907 SS-Obergruppenführer 19.07.1944
Pour le Merite 20.05.1917
* Preuschen, Ludwig Freiherr von SS-Nr.293079 SS-Obstbf. 20.04.1938
Pour le Merite 17.06.1918
* Reinhard, Wilhelm SS-Nr.274107 SS-Obergruppenführer 09.11.1941
Pour le Merite 27.08.1917
Seiler, Reinhard SS-Nr.7255 SS-Sturmbannführer 30.01.1936
Pour le Merite 31.01.1918
* Schulenburg, Friedrich Graf von der SS-Nr.162240 SS-Ogrf. 30.01.1939
Pour le Merite 24.04.1917 Eichenlaub 23.03.1918
* Schwerk, Oskar SS-Nr.276825 SS-Obergruppenführer 16.07.1944
Pour le Merite 21.09.1916 Eichenlaub 02.05.1917
Steinbrinck, Otto SS-Nr.63084 SS-Brigadeführer 30.01.1939
Pour le Merite 29.03.1916
Werner, Wilhelm SS-Nr.9916 SS-Brigadeführer 15.09.1935
Pour le Merite 18.08.1918
Wulffen, Gustav von SS-Nr.72208 SS-Brigadeführer 20.04.1939
Pour le Merite 21.04.1918
Best wishes,
~ Mike
Mike,
Outstanding list – thank you! I can confirm the following PlM awards from the source listed below:
Georg, Carl-Siegfried Ritter von: 24 April 1918, Kapitänleutnant, Commander of the submarine U 101. Awarded the PlM in recognition of his success in sinking a total of 200,187 tons of enemy shipping including a British light cruiser (identity of cruiser unknown - further details would be appreciated!). Also awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Bavarian Military Max Joseph Order on 23 June 1918. NOTE: I presume the tonnage cited above included that which was sunk during his previous command of the U 57. ADDITIONAL NOTE (from Scheibert): Awarded the German Cross in Silver on 15 February 1945 as a Fregattenkapitän z.V. and Leiter eines Sonderstabes Mar. b. RuK Italien.
Kretschmann, Ernst von: 8 June 1918, Major, Commander of the 1. Lothringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.130. Awarded the PlM in recognition of distinction in action during the successful offensive and breakthrough at Soissons and Reims in May 1918. Also in recognition of his distinction in action during the battle at Chemin des Dames on the western front. NOTE: Major von Kretschmann served in both the 2nd and 3rd East Asian Infantry Regiment in China during the 1900-1901 Boxer Rebellion.
Best regards,
Shawn
SOURCE: Hamelman, William E. The History of the Prussian Pour le Mérite Order, Volume III: 1888-1918. Matthäus Publishers, Dallas, Texas, 1986.
Outstanding list – thank you! I can confirm the following PlM awards from the source listed below:
Georg, Carl-Siegfried Ritter von: 24 April 1918, Kapitänleutnant, Commander of the submarine U 101. Awarded the PlM in recognition of his success in sinking a total of 200,187 tons of enemy shipping including a British light cruiser (identity of cruiser unknown - further details would be appreciated!). Also awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Bavarian Military Max Joseph Order on 23 June 1918. NOTE: I presume the tonnage cited above included that which was sunk during his previous command of the U 57. ADDITIONAL NOTE (from Scheibert): Awarded the German Cross in Silver on 15 February 1945 as a Fregattenkapitän z.V. and Leiter eines Sonderstabes Mar. b. RuK Italien.
Kretschmann, Ernst von: 8 June 1918, Major, Commander of the 1. Lothringisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.130. Awarded the PlM in recognition of distinction in action during the successful offensive and breakthrough at Soissons and Reims in May 1918. Also in recognition of his distinction in action during the battle at Chemin des Dames on the western front. NOTE: Major von Kretschmann served in both the 2nd and 3rd East Asian Infantry Regiment in China during the 1900-1901 Boxer Rebellion.
Best regards,
Shawn
SOURCE: Hamelman, William E. The History of the Prussian Pour le Mérite Order, Volume III: 1888-1918. Matthäus Publishers, Dallas, Texas, 1986.
Hello! RE my earlier post:
Best regards,
Shawn
Here are a few screen captures from the film showing the officer in question on far left.I was recently watching The Triumph of the Will and spotted a Johanniter Order member in the crowd during the Leibstandarte march past scene. The man is wearing black SS uniform and visor cap and appears to be an SS-Hauptsturmführer. He is standing behind and to the right of Generaloberst Werner von Blomberg; both salute as the Leibstandarte passes by them. This officer is wearing the Johanniter Order breast badge, the Pour le Mérite Order, the EK I, a Wound Badge and another unidentified breast cross. After viewing the scene several times, I think he is displaying the SS-Oberabschnitt “Süd” cuff-title. Too bad I don’t have screen capture capability! Anyone have any ideas who he might be?
Best regards,
Shawn
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- Unknown SS Officer (Johanniter Order) 4.jpg (96.54 KiB) Viewed 3434 times
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- Unknown SS Officer (Johanniter Order) 2.jpg (95.67 KiB) Viewed 3435 times
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Hallo Shawn,USAF1986 wrote:Hello! RE my earlier post:
Here are a few screen captures from the film showing the officer in question on far left.I was recently watching The Triumph of the Will and spotted a Johanniter Order member in the crowd during the Leibstandarte march past scene. The man is wearing black SS uniform and visor cap and appears to be an SS-Hauptsturmführer. He is standing behind and to the right of Generaloberst Werner von Blomberg; both salute as the Leibstandarte passes by them. This officer is wearing the Johanniter Order breast badge, the Pour le Mérite Order, the EK I, a Wound Badge and another unidentified breast cross. After viewing the scene several times, I think he is displaying the SS-Oberabschnitt “Süd” cuff-title. Too bad I don’t have screen capture capability! Anyone have any ideas who he might be?
Best regards,
Shawn
is this Fregattenkapitän z.V. (01.07.1942), SS-Haupsturmführer
Carl Siegfried Ritter von Georg ??
Pour le merite 24.04.1918
Ritterkreuz des Hausordens von Hohenzollern 1917
bayer. Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden 23.06.1918
Deutsches Kreuz in Silber 15.02.1945
Oberstab
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- Michael Miller
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Oberstab~
I believe you may be right- thanks for your help toward solving this one.
Best,
~ Mike
I believe you may be right- thanks for your help toward solving this one.
Best,
~ Mike
Oberstab,
Thanks for the great photo! At first glance, I would tend to agree its Ritter von Georg, but upon closer inspection a few details seem odd to me. The Wound Badge appears to be the Army pattern: I would think that if Ritter von Georg had been wounded in WWI he would display the Navy pattern badge. It also seems strange he is not wearing the WWI U-Boat Badge – a distinction I’m presuming he possessed based on his extensive war service. Although hardly a “given,” I should also think he would want to display his Knight’s Cross of the Bavarian Military Max Joseph Order suspended from the buttonhole of his tunic. However, thanks again for sharing that superb photo!
Best regards,
Shawn
Thanks for the great photo! At first glance, I would tend to agree its Ritter von Georg, but upon closer inspection a few details seem odd to me. The Wound Badge appears to be the Army pattern: I would think that if Ritter von Georg had been wounded in WWI he would display the Navy pattern badge. It also seems strange he is not wearing the WWI U-Boat Badge – a distinction I’m presuming he possessed based on his extensive war service. Although hardly a “given,” I should also think he would want to display his Knight’s Cross of the Bavarian Military Max Joseph Order suspended from the buttonhole of his tunic. However, thanks again for sharing that superb photo!
Best regards,
Shawn
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- Dieter Zinke
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Hallo Shawn,USAF1986 wrote:Oberstab,
Thanks for the great photo! At first glance, I would tend to agree its Ritter von Georg, but upon closer inspection a few details seem odd to me. The Wound Badge appears to be the Army pattern: I would think that if Ritter von Georg had been wounded in WWI he would display the Navy pattern badge. It also seems strange he is not wearing the WWI U-Boat Badge – a distinction I’m presuming he possessed based on his extensive war service. Although hardly a “given,” I should also think he would want to display his Knight’s Cross of the Bavarian Military Max Joseph Order suspended from the buttonhole of his tunic. However, thanks again for sharing that superb photo!
Best regards,
Shawn
your consideration let me mull over other possibilities, but I cannot find a alternative at first. What shall I / we do ??
your helpless Oberstab
Another addition to the list: In the recently published Band 7 (Knabe-Luz) of Bradley's Die Generale des Heeres, 1921-1945, there is a photo of Generalmajor Georg Freiherr Loeffelholz von Colberg (11 July 1869-27 December 1938) wearing the neck badge of a Knight of Honor (Ehrenritter) of the Johanniter Order.
Best regards,
Shawn
Best regards,
Shawn
Another addition to the list: Char. Generalmajor Eckhart von Loeben. The photograph in the new Bradley volume depicts him wearing the Johanniter Order breast badge only – it is unknown if he was a Knight of Honor or Knight of Justice.
Of note, von Loeben received the Pour le Mérite Order on 30 September 1918 as an Oberstleutnant commanding Reserve Infantry Regiment 23 the western front.
Best regards,
Shawn
Of note, von Loeben received the Pour le Mérite Order on 30 September 1918 as an Oberstleutnant commanding Reserve Infantry Regiment 23 the western front.
Best regards,
Shawn
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