$150.00
This is a fine example of the award document for the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross. The document is ornate. It was awarded to a man who served in Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr 20. The document was signed and issued on 12 November 1918, one day after the end of the Great War.
This is a fine example of the award document for the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross. The document is ornate. It was awarded to a man who served in Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr 20. The document was signed and issued on 12 November 1918, one day after the end of the Great War.
This is a fine example of the award document for the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross. The document is ornate. It was awarded to a man who served in Fußartillerie-Regiment Nr 20. The document was signed and issued on 12 November 1918, one day after the end of the Great War.
$150.00
This is a mini group of a 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class and an award document. The man who received the award was a member of Infanterie-Regiment Nr 7 from Bavaria. The award was made in 1920, after WW I ended. The document has been laminated in plastic (not by me). One can see the stains and age on its reverse. One can also tell the document has been folded. The Iron Cross is on an original ribbon that measures 3.”
This is a mini group of a 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class and an award document. The man who received the award was a member of Infanterie-Regiment Nr 7 from Bavaria. The award was made in 1920, after WW I ended. The document has been laminated in plastic (not by me). One can see the stains and age on its reverse. One can also tell the document has been folded. The Iron Cross is on an original ribbon that measures 3.”
In stock
$2,495.00
I have been holding onto this document group for more than three years. I kept it partly because it is extremely interesting. Another reason: it took a long time to familiarize myself adequately with its contents so I could describe it. It concerns a Prussian officer with the unexpected name “Arthur Hay.” Hay went from an Unteroffizier in 1886, to at least the rank of Oberstleutnant in 1917. He started in the cavalry and served in both Ulanen, Husaren and Dragoon regiments prior to the war’s outbreak. He achieved the coveted rank of Rittmeister well before the war began in 1914. As best as I can make out, he went from the cavalry to the infantry [as the war developed, most cavalry fought as dismounted troops. WW I showed once and for all that mounted troops were outmoded]. He served as an infantryman until the end of the war. I do not know his final rank, but he may have gone on to be an oberst, or possibly a general. I will leave this as part of the fun for the eventual buyer researching this man. Hay served at least THIRTY years in uniform. He survived the war and even received the Hindenburg Cross in 1935. No less than SIX Promotion Patents are present, covering him from the ranks of Unteroffizier up to major. Each patent is very ornate and hand printed by a skilled calligrapher, with special seals. Also in this group are many award documents. Of his three wartime decorations, we see the documents for his 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class and his Knight’s Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order (HHO). The latter document is signed by the Graf Zeppelin, prior to his death in 1917. I have never seen his signature on an award document; having it on an HHO document is a real plus! There are a couple of other documents that I have not described which enhance the group. Below is a listing of this amazing group’s contents:
Promotion Patent: from Unteroffizier to Portopee Fähnrich, dated 13 November 1886.
Promotion Patent: from Portopee Fähnrich to Second-Lieutenant, dated 17 September 1887. [I find this interesting, note the old-fashioned use of the French rank: “second-lieutenant”].
Promotion Patent: from Second-Lieutenant to Premier-Lieutenant, dated 14 November 1895. I again find it interesting, the old-fashioned use of the French ranks second-lieutenant and premier-lieutenant.
Promotion Patent: from Oberleutnant to Rittmeister, dated 10 September 1908, personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Why he has a second document for this same rank, I do not fully understand.
Promotion Patent: from Rittmeister to Major, dated 17 September 1909, again with the personal signature of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Award document for the Knight’s Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order, dated 20 May 1917 while Hay was an oberstleutnant. It is signed by Graf Zeppelin!
Award document for the Prussian Crown Order 4th Class, dated 12 May 1901.
Award document for the Red Eagle Order 4th Class, dated 11 May 1908.
Award document for the Kaiser Wilhelm I Centennial Medal.
1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class. The document is double-dated. The date 3 November 1914 appears, which is the document’s original award date. The document was prepared on 5 June 1916. This either is the document’s reissue date, or they were correcting an oversight.
Award document to the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross, dated 12 March 1917.
Award document for the Hindenburg Cross for Combatants, dated 1935.
[A helpful reader has done some additional research on Arthur Hay. As you can see from the list below, published research shows that our man eventually achieved the rank of Generalmajor at his retirement in 1919. He was born in 1866 and died in 1940. (I only wish that the additional three patents were available). It remains an amazing group with even more opportunities for research. Also, in the book Hussars and Mounted Rifles. . . by D. H. Hagger, page 30 displays a photograph of Oberleutnant Hay when he was a member of Husaren Regiment Nr 9! It is wonderful to put a face with the name. MANY thanks to Chris F. for his research and diligence!
[Sekondelieutenant: 17 Sep 1887
Premierlieutenant: 14 Nov 1895
Rittmeister: 21 Sep 1898
Major: 17 Sep 1909
Oberstleutnant: 24 Dec 1914
Oberst: 6 Nov 1917
Generalmajor aD: 1919]
This wonderful group follows the very successful military career of a young man who came up from the ranks. It includes two signatures from Kaiser Wilhelm II, and a signature from the legendary Graf Zeppelin.
I have been holding onto this document group for more than three years. I kept it partly because it is extremely interesting. Another reason: it took a long time to familiarize myself adequately with its contents so I could describe it. It concerns a Prussian officer with the unexpected name “Arthur Hay.” Hay went from an Unteroffizier in 1886, to at least the rank of Oberstleutnant in 1917. He started in the cavalry and served in both Ulanen, Husaren and Dragoon regiments prior to the war’s outbreak. He achieved the coveted rank of Rittmeister well before the war began in 1914. As best as I can make out, he went from the cavalry to the infantry [as the war developed, most cavalry fought as dismounted troops. WW I showed once and for all that mounted troops were outmoded]. He served as an infantryman until the end of the war. I do not know his final rank, but he may have gone on to be an oberst, or possibly a general. I will leave this as part of the fun for the eventual buyer researching this man. Hay served at least THIRTY years in uniform. He survived the war and even received the Hindenburg Cross in 1935. No less than SIX Promotion Patents are present, covering him from the ranks of Unteroffizier up to major. Each patent is very ornate and hand printed by a skilled calligrapher, with special seals. Also in this group are many award documents. Of his three wartime decorations, we see the documents for his 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class and his Knight’s Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order (HHO). The latter document is signed by the Graf Zeppelin, prior to his death in 1917. I have never seen his signature on an award document; having it on an HHO document is a real plus! There are a couple of other documents that I have not described which enhance the group. Below is a listing of this amazing group’s contents:
Promotion Patent: from Unteroffizier to Portopee Fähnrich, dated 13 November 1886.
Promotion Patent: from Portopee Fähnrich to Second-Lieutenant, dated 17 September 1887. [I find this interesting, note the old-fashioned use of the French rank: “second-lieutenant”].
Promotion Patent: from Second-Lieutenant to Premier-Lieutenant, dated 14 November 1895. I again find it interesting, the old-fashioned use of the French ranks second-lieutenant and premier-lieutenant.
Promotion Patent: from Oberleutnant to Rittmeister, dated 10 September 1908, personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Why he has a second document for this same rank, I do not fully understand.
Promotion Patent: from Rittmeister to Major, dated 17 September 1909, again with the personal signature of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
Award document for the Knight’s Cross with Swords of the Hohenzollern House Order, dated 20 May 1917 while Hay was an oberstleutnant. It is signed by Graf Zeppelin!
Award document for the Prussian Crown Order 4th Class, dated 12 May 1901.
Award document for the Red Eagle Order 4th Class, dated 11 May 1908.
Award document for the Kaiser Wilhelm I Centennial Medal.
1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class. The document is double-dated. The date 3 November 1914 appears, which is the document’s original award date. The document was prepared on 5 June 1916. This either is the document’s reissue date, or they were correcting an oversight.
Award document to the Hamburg Hanseatic Cross, dated 12 March 1917.
Award document for the Hindenburg Cross for Combatants, dated 1935.
[A helpful reader has done some additional research on Arthur Hay. As you can see from the list below, published research shows that our man eventually achieved the rank of Generalmajor at his retirement in 1919. He was born in 1866 and died in 1940. (I only wish that the additional three patents were available). It remains an amazing group with even more opportunities for research. Also, in the book Hussars and Mounted Rifles. . . by D. H. Hagger, page 30 displays a photograph of Oberleutnant Hay when he was a member of Husaren Regiment Nr 9! It is wonderful to put a face with the name. MANY thanks to Chris F. for his research and diligence!
[Sekondelieutenant: 17 Sep 1887
Premierlieutenant: 14 Nov 1895
Rittmeister: 21 Sep 1898
Major: 17 Sep 1909
Oberstleutnant: 24 Dec 1914
Oberst: 6 Nov 1917
Generalmajor aD: 1919]
This wonderful group follows the very successful military career of a young man who came up from the ranks. It includes two signatures from Kaiser Wilhelm II, and a signature from the legendary Graf Zeppelin.
$695.00
The Military Karl-Friedrich Silver Service Medal was the second highest award given to enlisted men and NCO’s by the Grand Duchy of Baden. As a matter of comparison, both Prussia and Bavaria offered decorations in these grades. In the Prussian Army, its 1st Class version, the Golden Military Merit Cross, was commonly referred to as the “Enlisted Man’s Blue Max.” This large format document, which measures 13″ x 8 1/4,” was awarded to Vizewachtmeister Paul Gerlach of Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr 193 on 9 May 1917. The document has two horizontal folds and one vertical fold. It also has two holes punched on the side, probably because it was once a part of the man’s files. The document has the stamp of the Grand Duchy of Baden Ordenskanzler and the signature of the Chef. It appears to be von Babo, but I could be wrong on this point. This is a fine document for a very high level decoration. To give you an idea of the scarcity of this decoration, only 1,282 were awarded during the period of 1914 to 1917, with 589 of these awards made in 1917. (Also, each decoration was engraved with the name of the awardee on the reverse). Included is a handwritten letter with a regimental stamp on it, which refers to the decoration. I have not tried to translate the letter. I cannot say if it was the recommendation for the decoration, a transmittal letter for the decoration, or what. It is an intriguing companion piece to this very scarce document. I would like to direct you to our Orders and Decorations Nr 2 Merchandise Page where you may view an example of this decoration that was awarded during the Franco-Prussian War This is a very rare award document, the first I have been able to offer.
The Military Karl-Friedrich Silver Service Medal was the second highest award given to enlisted men and NCO’s by the Grand Duchy of Baden. As a matter of comparison, both Prussia and Bavaria offered decorations in these grades. In the Prussian Army, its 1st Class version, the Golden Military Merit Cross, was commonly referred to as the “Enlisted Man’s Blue Max.” This large format document, which measures 13″ x 8 1/4,” was awarded to Vizewachtmeister Paul Gerlach of Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr 193 on 9 May 1917. The document has two horizontal folds and one vertical fold. It also has two holes punched on the side, probably because it was once a part of the man’s files. The document has the stamp of the Grand Duchy of Baden Ordenskanzler and the signature of the Chef. It appears to be von Babo, but I could be wrong on this point. This is a fine document for a very high level decoration. To give you an idea of the scarcity of this decoration, only 1,282 were awarded during the period of 1914 to 1917, with 589 of these awards made in 1917. (Also, each decoration was engraved with the name of the awardee on the reverse). Included is a handwritten letter with a regimental stamp on it, which refers to the decoration. I have not tried to translate the letter. I cannot say if it was the recommendation for the decoration, a transmittal letter for the decoration, or what. It is an intriguing companion piece to this very scarce document. I would like to direct you to our Orders and Decorations Nr 2 Merchandise Page where you may view an example of this decoration that was awarded during the Franco-Prussian War This is a very rare award document, the first I have been able to offer.