After much back and forth negotiations, I finally acquired one of the scarcer Freikorps awards.
Bewährungsabzeichen der Freiwilligen Selbstsсhutz-Bаtаillоn Bergerhоff (Schwarze Schar) - Defence Badge of the Volunteer Self-Defence Battalion Bergerhoff (Black Company) - Gold Class.
Freiwilligen Selbstsсhutz-Bаtаillоn Bergerhоff (Schwarze Schar)
Founded by Oberleutnant Karl Bergerhoff in November 1920 from the “Sportverein Schwarze Adler” which had been formed in August 1920.
Original strength – 400
Strength as of May 1921 – 1000
5 Bicycle Companies
2 MG Companies
Artillery battery
Mortar Company
Ambulance Company
Support Company
Until May 1921, the Batl. participated in small skirmishes with Polish insurgents.
On May 4, 1921, the Batl. Was deployed to the city of Ratibor for the protection of the city and vicinities and to maintain "public order".
During the third Polish revolt, the Battalion fought against the Polish separatists and took part in the storming of the Annaberg Mountain on May 21-26, 1921. In the bloody fighting, 14 volunteers were killed and 123 were wounded.
On July 7th, 1921 the battalion was deployed in the area of Neiße in Upper Silesia, where it was disbanded in 1922.
On May 21 1921 Bergerhoff founded and personally designed two awards for military personnel:
1/The Defence badge (Bewährungsabzeichen) in 2 classes (silver and gold) – 3 and 6 months service
2/Upper Silesian Merit Cross (Oberschlesisches Veridenstkreuz) 1st and 2nd class
Exact numbers awarded is unknown. Although it is believed that approximately 30 x 1st class Merit Crosses were awarded. No known award document has been seen for either award.
Wearing of both awards was banned from November 11, 1935.
Bewährungsabzeichen der Freiwilligen Selbstsсhutz-Bаtаillоn Bergerhоff (Schwarze Schar) - Defence Badge of the Volunteer Self-Defence Battalion Bergerhoff (Black Company) - Gold Class.
Freiwilligen Selbstsсhutz-Bаtаillоn Bergerhоff (Schwarze Schar)
Founded by Oberleutnant Karl Bergerhoff in November 1920 from the “Sportverein Schwarze Adler” which had been formed in August 1920.
Original strength – 400
Strength as of May 1921 – 1000
5 Bicycle Companies
2 MG Companies
Artillery battery
Mortar Company
Ambulance Company
Support Company
Until May 1921, the Batl. participated in small skirmishes with Polish insurgents.
On May 4, 1921, the Batl. Was deployed to the city of Ratibor for the protection of the city and vicinities and to maintain "public order".
During the third Polish revolt, the Battalion fought against the Polish separatists and took part in the storming of the Annaberg Mountain on May 21-26, 1921. In the bloody fighting, 14 volunteers were killed and 123 were wounded.
On July 7th, 1921 the battalion was deployed in the area of Neiße in Upper Silesia, where it was disbanded in 1922.
On May 21 1921 Bergerhoff founded and personally designed two awards for military personnel:
1/The Defence badge (Bewährungsabzeichen) in 2 classes (silver and gold) – 3 and 6 months service
2/Upper Silesian Merit Cross (Oberschlesisches Veridenstkreuz) 1st and 2nd class
Exact numbers awarded is unknown. Although it is believed that approximately 30 x 1st class Merit Crosses were awarded. No known award document has been seen for either award.
Wearing of both awards was banned from November 11, 1935.
Congrats, Brian. I've seen only 2 of these thus far in my whole collecting life? and only on fotos.
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