Read a signature

[Brian L.]

As much as I've tried, I can't decipher the signature of the FFA425 Abteilung-Führer.

If one of the German members could be so kind, could you possibly tell me what the name is, please?

Thanks in advance.

[Gerdan]

I read " Dotten "

Gerdan

[Brian L.]

I read " Dotten "

Gerdan

Thank you. That's what I read too. But, so far, I haven't been able to find a Hauptmann Dotten listed anywhere. He would likely have been in either Jasta 7 or Marine Jagdgeschwader during WWI.

[AlikN]

Maybe Dorften

[Brian L.]

Maybe Dorften

Yes. Possible. Thanks.

[Gerdan]

Never seen the family name "Dorften" - not in the Volksbund list and not in the German phoenbook.

Gerdan

[Gerdan]

But "Dotten" is a family name you find in Germany - for example:

https://www.heiler-office.de/

Gerdan

[Brian L.]

Dotten it is, then. So, I just need to find out who Hauptmann Dotten was as he would have been one of Gotthard Sachsenberg's mates, as a Flieger-Abteilung commander in Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg.

[Söderbaum]

Hi

It is Ernst Dörffler. He later became General in the Luftwaffe.

Gunnar

[Brian L.]

THAT'S IT! Thanks very, very much. This adds so much to the story of this Militärpass.

http://www.oocities.org/~orion47/WEH...LER_ERNST.html

Ernst Dörffler's career in the Freikorps lines up perfectly with the entries in this Militärpass.
The owner of this pass, Unteroffizier Gotthold Adolf Wilhelm Seiffert followed Dörffler into Polizeifliegerstaffel Gotha on Oct. 1, 1919, which Dörffler commanded after FFA425 was dissolved at the end of Sept. 1919.

Interestly, Dörffler was an observer and Seiffert a Flieger (airman) in Flieger Ersatz Abteilung 9 at the same time in 1916. Perhaps this is why Seiffert later volunteered to serve in FFA425 after Dörffler became its commander.