SS HR 1937 from LAH officer with interesting history

[markus]

Hi Udo -

I do not know the exact reasons, but I think it is quite obvious that the Polish spelling was not necessarily favorable with regards to his career. He was probably approached by his superiors, discretely asking for / recommending a name change.

Unfortunately I can not comment on the HR. Not my área of interest/cup of tea.

Cheers,
Markus

that explains the huge size of the ring It falls down even from my thumb, ha ha.

Do you know why he changed his name? Because of the Polish spelling? Not aryan enough? Was he forced to do so?

[m-e-h-t]

thanks, Markus.
Maybe you are right with your theorie, that he wore it mostly on a chain around his neck, the inside shows more scratches than the outside...

[TomH]

Very interesting. Thanks Udo for posting (it looks like a good ring to me) and thanks Markus for the fascinating background information. These anecdotes retold first hand are true gems

Tom

[chrischa]

These anecdotes retold first hand are true gems

I quite agree.

Is there a photo of the man?

Regards,
Chris.

[Karl.H.Zm45]

Looks like another great find my friend
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[m-e-h-t]

Hard to judge from today why Bernhard and Kumm spoke/thought so negative about Steineck, I cannot believe that Dietrich made an complete incompetent man to the leader of his old and loved division in these critical days...

[markus]

Hard to judge from today why Bernhard and Kumm spoke/thought so negative about Steineck, I cannot believe that Dietrich made an complete incompetent man to the leader of his old and loved division in these critical days...

Kumm and Bernhard were there and saw what Steineck did or did not do. The man was out. Staudinger was the same case. A blood order recipient from the old days. Catastrophic leadership for the LAH.

According to various interviews I did with Kumm, Bernhard, etc. there were a lot of incompetent leaders in Btl, Rgt and even Divisional positions in the LAH. Success of the LAH was based on company commanders mostly. Most of this was Dietrich's personal fault. Dietrich himself was on the limit of his capacities leading a division IMO, not to speak of a Korps or Armee. If it had not been for his First General Staff Officers, the LAH, I.SS-Panzerkorps or 6.Panzerarmee would have ended in chaos under Dietrich's command.

More in my next book on Dietrich, should it ever be finished...

markus

[m-e-h-t]

Looks like another great find my friend
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yes, I'm very happy with it, thanks.
The ring looks in hand even better than on these large pics, stunning!

[Der Texaner]

I think this might be him.

[markus]

Yep, that's our BIG BOY alright! I wonder what Kurt Meyer thought of Big Franz...I can only imagine...

[chrischa]

Great to see a photo.
Ive seen him in a photo before but didnt know it was him.

Did he have a charisma that helped him? He looks like a character.

[Reichskanzler]

That is an amazing ring!!! Thanks for showing it!!

[markus]

That is an amazing ring!!! Thanks for showing it!!

I would think of certain other qualities present in some members of especially the Art. Rgt. If I'm not mistaking there was no RK awarded and hardly a GC and definitely not under Wisch's or Kumm's command.

[Ric Ferrari]

An interesting story for a beautiful ring.

Ric

[Antonio Scapini]

Indeed an interesting piece for its historical background, and a very nice ring.