EK 1. Klasse 1914 mit Gravur General der Infanterie Paul Fleck

[Klaus O.]

Dear Imperialoids,

A German dealer has an Iron Cross 1st class with a "Gravur" on the reverse of a "Pour le Mérite" Träger: Paul Fleck, General der Infanterie 24.10.1914. I found him, or at least I think I got the right one, on my Prussian Rangliste 1914:

27. Infanterie-Brigade

Kom.: Gen.Maj. Fleck (09.03.1912a), RAO 3. Klasse mit Schleife, KO 2. Kl., DA 25 Jahre, AB2b (Anhalt Albrecht des Bären Komturkreuz), CDIII.1 (!!! Chinesischer Orden vom doppelten Drachen, 3. Stufe 1. Klasse), TO3 (türkischer Osmanie Orden 3. Klasse).

I would have liked to see his Grossenordensspange! It must have been quite a sight...

The thing is that the "Gravur" on the Iron Cross he doesn't look so time period or at least the quality is not good enough, in my very humble opinion, for a such a high officer. I am not a specialist in these privately purchased with "Gravur" iron crosses, but I would like to hear your opinion about it. Of course an officer like Fleck would have owned several iron crosses to be put on his different uniforms in different occasions...

I am posting a couple of images...

Ciao,

Claudio

[Klaus O.]

2nd detail of the back...

[Klaus O.]

picture of the front...

[Klaus O.]

Detail of the hinge...

[Klaus O.]

Detail of the catch...

[Rick Research]

You got the right Fleck, Claudio.

But on the date shown, he was a Generalleutnant (19.8.14 B). In January 1918 he was STILL a Generalleutnant, and he had left the army by 1.1.1919--
dying 24 October 1921.

So IF he had this engraved why wait FOUR YEARS and put his THEN rank on it?

Now maybe somebody in the family had everything all etched up for a nice memorial display

someplace

sometime.


Maybe.

[Daniel Krause]

Just to add, Fleck received in WW1 a Prussian Red Eagle 2 with oaks and swords, a Bavarian MMO 2 with star and swords and a Saxon Albert 1 with swords.

Best regards

Daniel