Award Document

[Soldat11]

I recently aquired this award document issued to a member of the Epp Freikorps.

It is a large document. Can any one tell me why this was awarded and any ideas who the SS officer may have been who signed it.

I believe the signature is possibly Reinhardt it is shown as SS oberfurher und oberst n.d. ??

Thanks

[bhholst]

Hello :
as stated in the text the signer was authorized by the Reichs- and Prussian Minister of the Interior to issue this certificate of participation in the combats of Freikorps . TThe text states that this was voluntarily under danger to life and health in order to defend and protect the German Reich in difficult times and is in thanks and appreciation.
The signer was the head of the National Veterans Association (Kyffhaeserbund) the later SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General d. Inf. a.D. Wilhelm Reinhard, recipient of the Pour le Merite as Obstlt. on 27.Aug. 1917.
Bernhard H. Holst

[Soldat11]

Bernhard

Thank you very much for the info much appreciated.

Are there any websites that I get information on Reinhard I have not had much luck.

Nick

[bhholst]

Hello Nick:
See www.geocities/orion~47/ for the webste Axis Biographical Research run by Mike Miller in the States.
Bernhard H. Holst

[Rick Research]

You should also turn up more by typing his name in on the "Search" field in, I think, the Imperial Forum, or possibly under the Photos Forum since this has come up before.

Reinhard (born 1869) was also a recipient of the PLM with oakleaves on 1 October 1918, both as CO of the 4. Garde Regiment zu Fuss--undoubtedly a brave officer in WW1, but a viciously STUPID political goon, pre-1930 Nazi. Hitler illegally bumped him up to General der Infantere aD, and he was also an SS Obergruppenführer by the end of the Third Reich.

I believe the "signature" is printed-- they are all exactly the same.

Your Oberleutnant der Reserve recipient was not a pre-war Bavarian Reserve officer, so probably commissioned in 1914 and made Oberleutnant dR either in 1917/18 ( a few did) or after WW1 on discharge. He did not receive a Crown to the Bavarian Military Merit Order 4th Class with Swords, per the award rolls for that class.

[Soldat11]

Thanks for all the help. I searched the past forums and dug up a bit more. Has anyone got a photo of Reinhard as I have drawn a blank so far ?

Thanks again for the interesting response.