Coastal artillery small group

[Oldenburg]

Hello all

First of all, Happy new year to all members of the forum.

Here is my last acquisition on Ebay, a group of two papers from a coastal artillery member.

Can someone help me to identify the signature and to find informations about this amiral ?

Thanks in advance

Best regards

Eric

[stdub]

Hi Eric,

the Documents are signed by Theodor Burchardi who was "Kommandierender Admiral östliche Ostsee" from June 1944 to April 1945. He was awarded with the KC on 29.09.1944 and the 823. Okaleaves on 08.04.1945.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes

Joerg

[Oldenburg]

Hello Joerg

Thank you for your help.

I'm surprised, I found the photo of burchardi with signature and the signature is not the same, have you seen other signatures of him like mine ?

Best regards

Eric

[Rick Research]

I would say, based on my experience of signatures over time (Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria signing officers' commissions into his 90s, for example) that what you have on that photo is either

a) a crude forgery (unlikely, but always possible) or--


far more likely

b) a very late, recent signature of the admiral (1892-1983) probably made when he was in his 60s-80s.

I've seen plenty of handwriting deteriorate at that age-- and of course it is in the modern German script of an elderly person who grew into adulthood writing the OLD kind, with shakes, tremors, and bad eyesight. There is a natural "flow" even to that which forgers aren't good at, laboriously scraping out letters they aren't used to. The spacing matches what I have seen elderly people do who are trying to write neatly... pausing with arthritic fingers to make sure the signature does not fly off in all directions, then carefully resuming again.

I think you've got a signature he did in his old age.

[stdub]

Hi Eric,

I agree with Rick about the sign on the photo.

Here are some more informations about him (Sorry, in German):

01.04.11 Seekadett (Ernennung)
15.04.12 Fähnrich zur See
03.08.14 Leutnant zur See
24.01.15 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
26.04.17 Oberleutnant zur See
27.09.19 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
08.02.22 Kapitänleutnant
01.01.30 Korvettenkapitän
01.04.35 Fregattenkapitän
02.10.36 Dienstauszeichnung IV.Klasse
02.10.36 Dienstauszeichnung III.Klasse
02.10.36 Dienstauszeichnung II.Klasse
02.10.36 Dienstauszeichnung I.Klasse
01.01.37 Kapitän zur See
01.06.38 Lettischer Kommandeurorden III.Klasse zu den 3 Sternen
10.10.39 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz II.Klasse
20.12.39 Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1.10.38
__.__.__ Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz I.Klasse
03.06.40 Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes
01.01.41 Konteradmiral
01.02.43 Vizeadmiral
07.06.43 Finnisches Freiheitskreuz I.Klasse mit Schwertern
31.03.44 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
29.09.44 Ritterkreuz als VAdm., Komm.Adm. Ostland
01.12.44 Admiral
08.04.45 Eichenlaub (823.) als Adm., Komm.Adm. östliche Ostsee

Dienststellungen:

15.10.37 - 14.01.40 Kdt. Köln
15.01.40 - 13.02.41 Kriegsmarinewerft Kiel, zunächst als Chef der Zentralabteilung
14.02.41 - 18.05.41 Kriegsmarinewerft Kiel, Chef des Stabes
19.05.41 - 05.11.41 Marinebefehlshaber D
06.11.41 - 31.01.43 Marinebefehlshaber Ostland
01.02.43 - 21.04.45 Komm.Adm. Ostland, ab 17.6.44 östliche Ostsee
21.04.45 Herzinfarkt
05.45 - 24.02.46 britische Kriegsgefangenschaft

And another photo:

[Oldenburg]

Rick and Joerg

Thank you very much for your help

Best regards

Eric