EK II 1914 Award Document Question

[Daniel Cole]

Here is an Iron Cross II 1914 “Vorlaeufiger Ausweis” to a Landsturmmann I Heinrich Tischler, or Fischler of the Reserve Ersatz Regiment 4. What I’m curious about is how can one determine where, or for what action the document refers? It is dated on top as November 16, 1917, but is also dated from the commander of the division November 12, 1917.

The signature of Major Marquardsen is interesting in that from the Regimental history, Marquardsen was named commander on November 10, 1917. Marquardsen is relieved in July 1918 because of illness.



Going back through the actions the regiment participated in we have:
Double battle on the Aisne and in Champagne 23.4.1917 - 27.5.1917
Positional Fighting on the Chemin des Dames 28.5.1917 -13.6.1917
Storming of the French positions on the Chemin des Dames
from the stone bridge south of Pargny up to Rohere-Ferme 6.6.1917
Positional fighting in Lothringen 15.6.1917 – 16.7.1917
Positional fighting by Verdun 17.7.1917 – 11.8.1917
Retaking of the trenches on both sides of the
Haucourt-Esnes Road 1.8.1917
Counter battles by Verdun 12.8.1917 – 28.8.1917
Positional fighting by Reims 29.8.1917 – 25.11.1917

Unfortunately, this Landsturmmann isn’t mention anywhere in the text of the history. Were EKs slow in coming to the troops, or were they fairly quickly awarded?

Perhaps it’s an unanswerable question.

On a side note, there is a fairly famous name in this regiment, that of Oberst Leutnant Freiherr Treusch von Buttlar und Brandenfels who was temporarily assigned as the Regimental commander from 4.7.1915 - 29.9.1916. Perhaps Rick can enlighten us if this officer is a brother, etc to the PLM Airship captain, and what happened to him.

Cheers,
Dan

[Rick Research]

Too many Treuschs to tell who was who. The Prussian Army Lists unfortunately never give first names unless 2 officers of the same rank were serving in the same regiment.

From EK awards to enlisted men in units that were out of the line: say in some battle that smashed them up in a July, so they were pulled out of the line until October, if a document was dated that October, chances are it was for July.... but in this case, with continuous engagement, there is really no way to tell.

On average a couple of months delay for enlisted awards, maybe a month or so for officers. But I have also seen quicker, and much, much longer periods for awards too.