Germany – Naval Engineer’s Promotion Signed by Kaiser Wilhelm I (1878)

This is an original Imperial German naval promotion patent for a technical officer in the Kaiserliche Marine, dated April 20, 1878 and personally signed by Kaiser Wilhelm I, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia. The document confirms the promotion of Christian Gustav Adolf Schwarzlose from the rank of Ingenieur-Lieutenant (Engineer Lieutenant) to Kapitänleutnant within the Ingenieur-Corps der Marine, the Imperial Navy’s specialized engineering branch.

Historical Context:

Following German unification in 1871, the newly formed Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) began organizing a formalized engineering corps responsible for naval infrastructure, machinery, shipbuilding, and weapons systems. Technical officers like Schwarzlose held officer-equivalent ranks but followed a parallel promotion structure tied to their professional expertise.

The promotion from Ingenieur-Lieutenant to Kapitänleutnant represented a major step forward in status, responsibility, and pay grade. These engineers often served on board warships or in coastal arsenals, overseeing engines, armor, and weapons installations.

The recipient, Christian Gustav Adolf Schwarzlose, shares a surname with Andreas Wilhelm Schwarzlose, designer of the famous M.07/12 machine gun. While no familial relationship is confirmed from this document alone, the rare surname and shared technical-military background may justify further research interest for collectors.

Physical Description:

The document is printed on high-quality parchment in ornate Fraktur (Gothic) type, with handwritten portions identifying the officer and promotion details. The upper text begins with:

"Im Namen Seiner Majestät des Kaisers – Wir Wilhelm, von Gottes Gnaden Deutscher Kaiser, König von Preußen..."

This is followed by the promotion statement:

"...den Ingenieur-Lieutenant Christian Gustav Adolf Schwarzlose zum Kapitänleutnant im Ingenieur-Corps der Marine..."

The document is formally dated:

"Gegeben zu Berlin, den 20. April 1878"

At the lower right appears the authentic handwritten signature of Kaiser Wilhelm I, written in bold black ink — not secretarial or printed — and accompanied by the appropriate imperial embossed seal.

Condition:

The document remains in very fine condition with only light age toning and minimal edge wear. The ink is fully legible throughout, and the royal signature is strong. The paper is crisp, and there are no tears or repairs. The reverse is blank and unmarked, and the imperial embossed seal remains clearly defined.

Provenance:

From a private collection of 19th-century German militaria. This is a historically significant piece, ideal for collectors of:

• Imperial German Navy artifacts

• Military engineering history

• Signed royal documents

• German technical officer corps

Naval engineering promotion patents from this period are notably scarcer than line officer commissions, and the presence of Kaiser Wilhelm I’s original signature elevates this item as both a military and autographic collectible.