Gebirgsjäger-General – I should know this.

[erichcraciun]

Who is this General? I just got this photo, I have seen him often enough and I should know who he is.

Erich Craciun

[erichcraciun]

Here you go Rick:

[Simon O.]

Hi Erich
It's General der Gebirgstruppe Valentin Feurstein. Didn't know he had the KvK1 m.S though.


regards

Simon

[Glenn2438]

Feurstein

Simon,

I don't think that is Feurstein. He does not appear to have the necessary Austro-Hungarian ribbons to which he was entitled as a former k.u.k. officer. As you say he was also not awarded the KvK1.

Regards
Glenn

[V. J. Kursietis]

Hi!

My initial thoughts were that it was Feuerstein, but if the medals don't match up then could it be Gen. d. Gbgstr. Karl Eglseer, who also bears a remarkable resemblance to Feuerstein. I don't have the info regarding Eglseer's awards, but I'm sure someone else does. If I had the capability, I would post the 2 pics I have of Feuerstein and Eglseer for comparison, but unfortunately I can't.

Perhaps someone else has pics of both Feuerstein & Eglseer that they can post?

Regards,

VJK

[Glenn2438]

Not Eglseer

Hi VJ,

I don't think it is Eglseer either. The gentleman in the photo appears to have two rank pips. Eglseer was awarded his Knight's Cross as a Generalmajor in October 1941 and in any case looked younger than this individual. He also was not a KvK recipient.

Regards
Glenn

[Rick Research]

What I get out of the too dark and thus indistinct ribbon bar is:

EK2 1914 (note NO Spange = ZERO "action" WW2!!!!), WW2 KVK2 X, Prussian Hohenzollern House Order Xs (?), German WW1X= ???, German WWI w ? device = ?, German WWI = ?, Hamburg Hanseatic Cross, WWI Honor Cross X, Wehrmacht Long Service (so 25), Wehrmacht Long Service (so 12), 1938 Sudeten, unknown presumed foreign, unknown p.f. again.

An Austrian this guy isn't, awards don't look like he was Bavarian or Württemberg either... so what kind of Flatlander was he, with the Edelweiss insignia?

General der Gebirgstruppen... and NO WW2 action!!! ?

[erichcraciun]

Well, this is the type of discussion that I like! A real 'mystery'. Judging by the other uniforms in the foto, I am guessing the foto was taken around 1942(?). I really can not glean any additional information out of this foto. How many 'Gebirgsgenerale' were there? Anyone know?

Erich Craciun

[Glenn2438]

Gebirgsjäger Generals

Erich,

the rank of General der Gebirgstruppe was only introduced in 1941, the first two officers holding that rank being Dietl and Ludwig Kübler, both already Generals of Infantry. A total of 17 officers held the rank of General der Gebirgstruppe.

Regards
Glenn

[Rick Research]

I suspect we are all barking up the wrong tree and he was not actaully a Gen der GbT but something else, like a Gen der Art-- with Gebirgs INSIGNIA (for some, or no reason!) on sleeve and hat.

It just doesn't seem possible to match anyone with "Gebirgstruppen" as the actual branch of service!

[Glenn2438]

Not a General der gebirgstruppe

Rick,

I agree. The 17 were as follows and I don't think he is any of these. Possibly a Wehrkreis or deputy corps commander in Austria or Southern Germany.

Schörner
Dietl
Böhme
Kübler
Feurstein
Konrad
Lanz
Kreysing
Ritter von Hengl
Ringel
Ferdinand Jodl
Le Suire
Versock
Vogel
Eglseer
Volckamer von Kirchsittenbach
Winter

Regards
Glenn

[Simon O.]

Yep, on closer inspection i'd have to agree that it's not Feurstein. This guy's ribbon bar has more and different decorations than his.

Having the KvK i'd hazzard a guess that his command was perhaps more of an administrative one.

[V. J. Kursietis]

Hi!

Could this guy be General der Infanterie Hubert Schaller-Kalide? He was in charge of Wehrkreis XVIII (Salzburg) from 1939 - 1943, he wore a moustache and he held the Hohenzollern House Order. I have a pic of Schaller-Kalide with a very plain to see view of his medals, but since I admit I am no expert on medals, it doesn† help. I have no info as to whether Schaller-Kalide was awarded the KVK. Here I turn to Glenn, who initially provided me with the pic of Schaller-Kalide. Do your stuff maestro!

Regards,

VJK

[Glenn2438]

Schaller

Valdis,

I don't know whether General Schaller-Kalide received the KVK but the general above certainly does bear a resemblance to him. Here is the portrait of Hubert Schaller as the colonel commanding Infantry Regiment 18.

Regards
Glenn

[seekwhence]

Another General der Gebirgstruppe to ID...

finis