Award Docs , To get the most common medal

[ChristerD]

The Hindenburg medal must surely be one of the most common medals
but I have to admit I like it...

Here is two fresh docs in my collection, first the application for widows and parents, and then a written application for the Front service cross
(i have never seen a completet written one before ,are they unusual?)

All the best from Sunny Sweden
Christer

[ChristerD]

And here is the fighter one

He was in RIR 57 and was captured ? in 24th June 1916 (if I am reading right?)

[ChristerD]

Documents tell a sad story : part 1.

Hi , here is a award doc for Ehrenkreuz für Eltern to
Maria Kreitmeier with her medal made by Deschler & Sohn
This dosn´t say us much, she had a son who was killed in WW1, probably
a Bavarian. But who was he and what happened ?

We need more info....

[ChristerD]

Documents tell a sad story : part 2.

Aha , two letters from Bayr Kriegsministerium !

Dated April 25 1918, tells us that her sons name was Anton Kreitmeyer
and he belonged to Bavarian Res Inf Rgt nr 1, 11 komp and was killed on
9 April 1917

Now we know a lot more about this unknown soldier, but
what happened that day in early April ?

[ChristerD]

Documents tell a sad story : part 3.

A picture tells mors than 1000 words !

Yes !! here he is , an "sterbebild" with the young Anton.
We can read that he was killed by an hand-grenade in the battle of
Arras, Western front 9 April 1917, 23 years old.

The fate of this soldier is beginning to get clear, but could there be any more
info to seal the case ?

[ChristerD]

Documents tell a sad story : part 4, the end

Yes , belive it or not there is two eyewitness to his death in that April morning 1917. Here is two witness reports from german soldiers taken as war prisoners by the British ! Michael Beck from the same Company, says here that Anton was badly wounded by an hand-grenade and died from his wounds shortly after.
it was half past 5 in the morning April 9th.
Also another witness Hans Hutter Offz Stellv , tell the same story
At last we have the story behind a single "Hindenburg" document.

A morning attack ? a blast and a mother lost her son...

Sometimes Documents do speak to us.

Best regards

Christer

[ChristerD]

Offz Stellv Hans Hutters witness

Here is the other witness to what happened

Christer

[Tom Y]

Fantastic group. I find the Edelweiß on his Mutze interesting. I thought that was a Gebirgsjäger jnsignia.

[ChristerD]

Edelweiss ?

Hi Tom and Thanks , I am too wondering about the edelweiss in his hat ?
Is it a RGT badge for KB RIR 1 ?

never seen it before in a WW1 pic


regards from northern Europe

Christer

[Rick Research]

I have NEVER seen a more COMPLETE fatality/NoK Hindenburg Cross group!

If anything shows how IMPORTANT it is not to split up groups, THIS is it!

[Chris Boonzaier]

The 1 bay RIR was just under the Vimy heights on the day of the attack. I am not sure if they were fighting canadians or not, but it could well be.

This was the first day of Arras and the germans lost a LOT of men because the general commanding the section of the front was a dumba$$, he had not understood or implemented Ludendorffs system of elastic defence and as a result had his front lines full of men who were slaughtered, first by a 5 day barrage, then on the morning of the 9th by an attack they did not expect. (instead of increasing the barrage, then walking it forward with the troops close behind, the brits decreased the barrage that suprised the germans in many sectors, because the increase was when they usually expected to man the firing line).

Nice group