Silesian Eagle Documents and Document Groups

[Brian L.]

I thought I would start a new thread about Silesian Eagle documents as I have a few different types. Hopefully others will post pics of theirs.

I recently acquired this interesting group with two rare SA docs in colour. The docs were scattered across eBay between two different sellers. It was a miracle I was able to happily re-unite the group.

Awarded to: Grefreiter Krata of the Leichte-Munit.-Kol., Leichtes Reichw.-Artl.-Regt. 8. (Light Munitions Column, Light Reichswehr Artillery Regiment 8)

Krata originally served from 1917-18 in the II Werft-Division and then on SMS Lothringen, when she was a training ship in the Baltic, before mustering out on November 16, 1918. On June 6, 1919, Krata joined the Reichswehr, first in Art. Regt. 32 before transferring to Art. Regt. 8 on May 11, 1920 serving in Grenzschutz Schlesien (Silesian Border Defence). He finally ended up in Wirtschaftsstab 24 Brieg (Silesia), which was essentially a supply depot before mustering out again in July 1920.

The documents show that Krata was awarded the Silesian Eagle I and II and the EKII for his service. The EKII was his last award and I believe that it was given for service in the Reichswehr, not for his brief, uneventful service in the Imperial navy. There is some controversy about whether or not the Iron Cross was awarded for Freikorps service. IMO, I believe it was.

I'm posting the complete document group and a close-up of Krata's SAII document. It's interesting to note that the SA docs, while the same basic design, were two separately printed documents, having the award class printed as part of the document, rather than merely being written or typed in as needed.

[Brian L.]

The most common type of Silesian Eagle document, signed by Oberstleutnant Geithner of the Leitung-Selbstschutz Oberschlesien.

This is a document, that I used to own which is quite scarce because it was awarded to a woman, the wife of a factory director.

[Brian L.]

Another of the same common type to a Zug Wachtmeister, which I would translate as a railway chief watchman.

[Coburg]

Fantastic pieces Brian!!!

Jim

[mchap]

Nicely done Brian, ornate award documentation of any sort seems to be quite scarce during this time.

Your detailed posts are quite enjoyable reads, and always a learning experience.

Thanks for posting.

[peterm]

Very nice items!!
Especially the one with the bow.

Kind regards, Peter

[GABund]

Interesting informations and documents. Thank` for posting this.

[Eric K.]

Excellent Documents!

[Bob Hritz]

How wonderful. I have collected Silesian medals for years, but never found any documents.

Congratulations on a most wonderful group.

Bob Hritz

[Brian L.]

Thanks for the comments.

Here's a rather "salty" set of documents (especially the mimeographed SA doc) complete with medals to:

Grenadier/Sanitäter Paul Rohde, III (Augusta) Batln. Reichswehr Inf. Regt. 30 (Garde Grenadier Regiment). By 1934, Rohde was a Dental Technician, as indicated on his Hindeburg Cross document. On an official leave document from March 1920 (not shown), Rohde's rank is that of a Sanitäter, or army medic. So, perhaps he was a dental assistant in the later stages of his military service, which he continued in civilian life.

Docs and Medals: EKII, Black Wound Badge, Silesian Eagle I and II, Hindenburg Cross. The medals show very little wear with the exception of the Silesian Eagle I. Therefore, I think it's likely that Rohde only wore his SAI in the field, which would account for most of the silver finish being gone on the obverse. The silver finish is largely intact on the reverse.

The III (Augusta) Batln. Reichswehr Inf. Regt. 30 (Garde Grenadier Regiment) was initially designated as Vol. Btln. Guards Grenadier Regt. 4 (Augusta), as part of Vol. 2nd Guards Infantry Division/ 3rd Vol. Guards Infantry Brigade formed in November 1918 from Königin Augusta Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 4, the regiment in which Rohde served during the war (noted on his EKII and Wound Badge documents).
The 2nd Guards Infantry Division was never demobilized in 1918, and with its war formation intact was sent into Upper Silesia as early as November 1918 only a short time after the Armistice. On 13 March 1919 the Division formed 2nd Division Freikorps Schlesien. This formation went to Munich on April 28 and took part in the Freikorps assault on the city on May 3, which defeated the Munich Soviet Red Army. The unit then returned to border defence in Upper Silesia throughout 1919 and 1920. It formed together with Freikorps Eulenburg, Reichswehr Brigade 26 in Fürstenwalde in June 1919. It merged with Reichswehr Brigade 34 to become Reichswehr Brigade 15 in October 1919 in the Übergangsheer.

[Brian L.]

I forgot to mention that the EKII and Wound Badge documents are signed by Pour le Merite winner Major Freiherr von Schleinitz, commander of Königin Augusta Garde-Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 4., and the Freikorps successor units Vol. Btln. Guards Grenadier Regt. 4 (Augusta) and Reichswehr Inf. Regt. 30 (Garde Grenadier Regiment) from Juy 26, 1918 - March 12, 1919. Schleinitz later became Commander of Freikorps Hindenburg and was a General der Infanterie in WWII.