For General Rank Only?

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

I have hunch that the Grosses Bundesverdiestkreuz and higher up are in the Bundeswehr awarded to deserving German officers of general rank only? I looked in different websites and couldn't find any German officers below general of the Bundeswehr that were holders of the Grosses Bundesverdiestkreuz. Nor I couldn't find any award rules for the Bundeswehr. This is sort of a hard question that has been on my mind lately.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Gordon Craig]

Edward,

I would suspect that you are probably correct. I found a listing for a Lt. Col who had be awarded the Grosses Bundesverdienstkreuz but it appears to have been awarded for his work in a museum after his retirement. Here is a brief item I found on the web of the purpose of the award and an excerpt from the document signing it into existance.
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on 7

September 1951 vom damaligen Bundespräsidenten Theodor Heuss per Stiftungserlass gestiftet.

September 1951 by the then Federal President Theodor Heuss Foundation founded by decree.

In dem "Erlaß über die Stiftung des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland", den Bundespräsident Heuss zusammen mit Bundeskanzler Konrad Adenauer und dem Bundesminister des Innern, Robert Lehr , unterzeichnete, heißt es:

In the "Decree on the Foundation of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Federal President Heuss together with Chancellor Konrad Adenauer and the Federal Minister of the Interior, Robert Lehr , signed, states:

In dem Wunsche, verdienten Männern und Frauen des deutschen Volkes und des Auslandes Anerkennung und Dank sichtbar zum Ausdruck zu bringen, stifte ich am 2.

Desiring earned men and women of the German people and of foreign recognition and thanks visible to express, I give on 2

Jahrestag der Bundesrepublik Deutschland den Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.

Anniversary of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

„ Er wird verliehen für Leistungen, die im Bereich der politischen, der wirtschaftlich-sozialen und der geistigen Arbeit dem Wiederaufbau des Vaterlandes dienten, und soll eine Auszeichnung all derer bedeuten, deren Wirken zum friedlichen Aufstieg der Bundesrepublik Deutschland beiträgt.“

"It is awarded for achievements in the field of political, economic and social and spiritual work rebuilding the country and served the intended to mean an award of all those whose work for the peaceful rise of the Federal Republic of Germany contributes."

Regards,

Gordon

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Well Known Germans with Reserve Ranks

Dear Sir,

I know there were politicans,civil servants,scientist,doctors,etc. who held reserve ranks in the Bundeswehr. Can you name some. Quite a few were awarded the Great Federal Service Cross of Germany while serving in civilian capacity and also held military reserve ranks.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Gordon Craig]

Edward,

Sorry but I do not have that sort of information. I have only been able to find the listing on the web of those who received this award for one state and it included only the one Lt. Col. that I mentioned. I am sorry that I can help further in your quest.
This one of the best lists of the holders of this award that I could find on the internet. It contains only BW officers of General rank.
http://www.worldlingo.com/ma/dewiki/...rdienstkreuzes

Regards,

Gordon

[Edward L. Hsiao]

From Wikipedia

Gentlemen,

Oberst Manfred Beutner of the Bundeswehr was awarded the Great Cross of Merit of the FRG in 1972. He was a holder of the Knight's Cross and German Cross in Gold of WWII.

Oberstleutnant Engelbert Bockhoff of the Bundeswehr was awarded the Great of Merit of the FRG. No year or date is found. He was a holder of the Knight's Cross of WWII.

There's a few more Obersts of the Bundeswehr that were awarded that high decoration of the FRG. I just don't the names yet.

Sincerely,


Edward L. Hsiao

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Politicans With Military Reserve Ranks

Gentlemen,

Rainer Barzel, politican with the CDU, had accepted a reserve rank of Oberleutnant zu See of the Bundesmarine in 1959. Don't know his highest military reserve rank before he retired. He was a holder of the Great Service Cross with Star and Sash of Germany. Barzel was born in 1924.

Wilfried Hasselmann, politican with the CDU, was a Oberst der Reserve of the Bundeswehr (Heer). He was in the artillary. He was born in 1925 and was a holder of the Niedersachsischer Verdienstorden in 1975. Don't know which grade though. He was also awarded the Great Service Cross with Star and Sash of Germany.

The information I got from them is from Wikipedia which is in German.

I know Manfred Worner was a Major der R. in the Luftwaffe while serving as a Defense Minister of Germany. I don't know yet if he got a Service Cross of his country or not.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao