Leutnant Ignatz Graf Preschma

[Stijn David]

Hello,


Is there anyone who can provide me more info on this officer ? :

Leutnant Ignatz Graf Preschma , his unit was the 1./A.A. 218 during the battle of Cholm ( yes good guess he was inside the pocket )

As far as i can tell he won the " Anerkennungsurkunde der ObdH " for his brave actions at Cholm between 14.02.1942 and 24.02.1942 .

Any info you can provide on this brave fellow is very welcome


Cordial greetings,

[Ian Jewison]

Hi Stijn,

All I have is what you already know......excpet his Anerkennungsurkunde was awarded 17.2.1944, Vorschlag Nr 2891. He is also listed as having the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold according to Manfred Dörr's book but I can not find him in any of the DK references that I have!

/Ian

[Stijn David]

thanks Ian

Hello,


Thanks Ian => i used the same reference, it makes me wonder why his " anerkennungsurkunde " was awarded so late , about 2 years after the facts ?

I hve also tried to trace him in DK references, etc .. but nothing, i wonder ig he even survived, etc ...

Wel he was in Cholm thats for sure but further the that i do not find anything


Cordial Greetings,

[Glenn2438]

Graf Praschma

Hi Stijn,

In the Gräfliches Taschenbuch of 1942 the name is spelt "Praschma"

Here is his entry:

Ignatz Maria Cajus Constantin , born at Rogau on the 22nd February 1908, state forestry official (Staatsforstassesor), Leutnant in a Aufklärungs-Abteilung. Married at Stettin-Altdamm on the 2nd January 1940 to Dorothea Barbara Sterzel.

Presumably therefore a Leutnant der Reserve.

Regards
Glenn

[Stijn David]

ignatz graf preshcma

Hello Glenn,


Superb info my friend, do you have any clue wheter he survived the war yes or no ? , i assume he is originally from Austria ?


Cordial greetings,

[Glenn2438]

Graf Praschma

Stijn,

I don't know if he survived the war as I don't have a postwar edition of the geneological handbook for the counts but that is where the answer will be. A web search reveals that the family is still in being although I found no specific reference to Ignatz. I'll scan the relevant pages in the 1942 edition and send them to you. The family originated from Moravia.

Regards
Glenn

[Stijn David]

Praschma

Hello,


I have now the " Gedenkbuch des Deutschen Adels " along with me and a search revealed the following on a search for the family of the Praschma's ( as a sidenote : once you name is listed in this book you have found death druing period 1939 - 1945 ):

* Praschma, Freiin von Bilkau, Antonia Grafin ( born at Rogau 05.11.1904 )

* Praschma, Freiin von Bilkau, Maria Pia Grafin ( Sister of the above named )

* Praschma, Freiherr von Bilkau , Friedrich Graf ( Leutnant )

In all 3 cases there is no death date given but taken the fact that at least the above 2 are sisters and the first is also born at Rogau ( same birth place as my searched person ) i assume they where very close family ( if not brother and Sister )

So mys earched person is not entered and this would mean that he managed to survive the war somehow + now the search continues , is he still alive , etc .... => time to write a letter I suppose

Cordial Greetings,

[Angus M]

Dear Stijn,

Your man would have been awarded the “Anerkennungsurkunde der Fuhrer” (only signed by Hitler) and not the “Anerkennungsurkunde der ObdH”(only signed by GFM von Brauchitsch). This is for a number of reasons; Firstly, during the period it was issued (17.2.1944) the ObdH commendation was no longer being awarded and in fact was stopped in December 1941 when Hitler took over the army after only approx 1350 of the ObdH commendations were awarded. Secondly, the period you think it was awarded for is also after this date therefore he could only have been awarded the Fuhrer commendation.

I am surprised that your man was given the award so late after the date of action. However, there is a book detailing all the awards of the commendation, that contains name, rank, unit, date of action, place of action, date of award, other awards (only RK and DK awards) and the sequential issue number so you can confirm the details. Unfortunately, I do not know the name of the book as I only have a photocopy of one page. But it is a German publication and you should be able to find a copy easily enough and I’ll also try to find out what the book is.

Personally, these are my favourite type of documents as they show on the document the place of action and date of action unlike other awards and so they make research much more interesting. Also, the Fuhrer commendations look good as well and make a fine central piece for display.

I hope this of some help.

Angus M

[Stijn David]

Leutnant Graf Praschma

Hello,


Thanks Angus for the additional information => i have the book in my library that you mention. It is written by Manfred Dorr and is titled " Die Inhaber der Anerkennungsurkunde des ObdH 1941 - 1945 ", ISBN number : 3-7648-2426-3.

Your man would have been awarded the “Anerkennungsurkunde der Fuhrer” (only signed by Hitler) and not the “Anerkennungsurkunde der ObdH”(only signed by GFM von Brauchitsch). This is for a number of reasons; Firstly, during the period it was issued (17.2.1944) the ObdH commendation was no longer being awarded and in fact was stopped in December 1941 when Hitler took over the army after only approx 1350 of the ObdH commendations were awarded. Secondly, the period you think it was awarded for is also after this date therefore he could only have been awarded the Fuhrer commendation.

You are correct that there is a difference between the 2 but in the above mentioned book they are listed as => " Anerkennungsurkunde des ObdH " , therefore I also use this subscription just in order to avoid that people are mixing the " Ehrenblatt " and the " Anerkennungsurkunde second Type " up => as you know both are exact the same in appearance and one can only say for sure if it is one or the other when using the appropriate books

Regarding the very late award date => i ahve written Mr. Dorr to ask him about and hopefully he wil be able to give me the answer

I also love this kind of documents but they are to be considered very rare and tehrefore they are quite hard to find .

Cordial Greetings and thanks for looking

[Angus M]

Dear Stijn,

sorry for the delay in replying, after some thought I think you are more likely to be correct in your terminology as I've based my original response on Foreman's Document book which differentiates two types of Anerkennungsurkunde. However, as Hitler appointed himself ObdH in '41 it would seem that there would be only one type of Anerkennungsurkunde ie "Anerkennungsurkunde der ObdH" unless of course there was a specific order that created an "Anerkennungsurkunde der Fuhrer".
Unfortunately, this doesn't help you with your original query and probably more appropriate in the document section but I wish you good luck in trying to trace your man.

regards
Angus M