Officers' Commission "Patents"

[Rick Research]

Mecklenburg-Schwerin was peculiar in issuing DOUBLE commissions to its officers--by the military conventions set up when the German Empire was formed in 1871, Mecklenburg officers were commissioned into the PRUSSIAN army. Here is a pair of documents, one from Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the other from Prussia, for the same man, Hans Behncke (see his "Sailors On Horseback" EK documents thread), for the same rank-- Leutnant der Reserve of Cavalry, 18 October 1913.

The Mecklenburg commission specifically assigns him to 2nd Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment 18. It was personally signed by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV (1882-1945):

[Rick Research]

Like the Mecklenburg commission, the Prussian one is long format and four pages. This is the outer page. Note that he is commissioned into the general list as Leutnant der Reserve "of the cavalry." Unfortunately these are too long to fit on my scanner!

[Rick Research]

While the Mecklenburg commission managed to get everything onto one side (including MOST of the Grand Duke's titles!), Prussian ones are always carried over onto the back for the blind seal, and actual commission date. The numbers and letters following assign seniority to those commissioned in the rank on the same day.

Note the huge "Patent" from which a German officer's rank was known as "patentiert" if confirmed, versus "ernannt" or "named" if only acting/temporary/without permanent seniority.

Clerical notation "Drag. Rgt. 18" and "Lübeck" appears below his name and new rank at bottom left.

The Kaiser was MUCH to busy to sign lowly reserve Leutnants' commissions-- one had to make Hauptmann before the Imperial Autograph appeared across this page!