Identifying the unidentified

I can make no comment about 1913, however that is an unusual belt being worn by the Garde officer. I have never seen that before.
 
I was happy the image was around 1904-1905 and Sandy has confirmed the occasion; the Kaiser-Manöver of 1905.

The Bavarian “General” is the then Oberst (and later General der Kavallerie) Ludwig Freiherr von Gebsattel, the Bavarian military plenipotentiary in Berlin. The Prussian general staff officer is Major (and later Generalleutnant and Generaladjutant ) August von Cramon, at the time the general staff officer of IV. Armee-Inspektion. The Bavarian ”general staff officer” is Rittmeister Otto von Faber du Faur, adjutant of IV. Armee-Inspektion with the uniform of 3. Chevaulegers-Regiment. the Princes’ escort officer from Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 7 remains unidentified for the moment.

Regards
Glenn
 
I can make no comment about 1913, however that is an unusual belt being worn by the Garde officer. I have never seen that before.
Brian,

you are right about the belt, certainly unusual. Major von Cramon was formerly a line Kürassier officer but at the time of this photo, a Prussian general staff officer.

Regards
Glenn
 
A quick follow up: Prinz Leopold's escort officer is the then Oberleutnant Wilhelm Baldamus. A check in the 1910 regimental history of DR 7 provided the following:

"His Royal Highness (Leopold) also participated as an observer, and during the entire time, Oberleutnant Baldamus had the honour to be the orderly officer to our chief and was decorated with the Knight's Cross second class of the Bavarian Military Merit Order."

An unobscured view of Oblt. Baldamus from the Münchener Stadt-Archiv collection.

Baldamus.jpg

Regards
Glenn
 
I was looking for something else when today I came across this nice portrait at the library of congress public domain archive; one "general von Strach", Brussels. I thought I would check him out, and as I suspected, there was no general officer of that name (there were a couple of junior officers who were just plain "Strach").

Strach_Question.jpg

He wears the uniform of an infantry field officer and I proceeded to check the Ehrenrangliste for similar names starting with Strachwitz. A hopeful candidate was one reactivated former active officer of Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 143 - Oberst Freiherr von Strachwitz. His final appointment of the war is shown as the commandant of Lüttich (Liege); we are getting warm :)

I then checked the directory of the liquidation (i.e. de-mobilization) department of the Government General of Belgium and found the confirmation I was looking for:

Strachwitz_1.jpg

Heribert Freiherr von Strachwitz, (1854-1932) commandant of Brussels until 1916. Baron Strachwitz had retired before the war on 13 September 1912 on promotion to charakterisierter Oberst. He received the substantive promotion to Oberst on 8 May 1915.

Regards
Glenn
 
Excellent sleuthing as always Glenn! Your skills at identifying these Historical individuals is amazing and we are very lucky to have you with us here on the forum. I would also like to thank you on behalf of the many members that you have tracked down provenance for their military artifacts! (y)
 
Could someone help me to identify this Bavarian officer of reserve?
Maxwell,

difficult to be certain as I don't have a comparison shot of this fellow. However, if as I think is the case, that his BMV4X does not have a crown, I am of the opinion that there is a good probability that he is Leutnant d.R. Gustav Ritter von Eich of Bavarian 1. Reserve-Jäger-Bataillon.

Regards
Glenn
 
Dear Glenn,

Thank you as always for checking it out!! Here is a clearer photo of his medals, if the first medal on his bar is BMV4X I think there is a crown... the second one should be a Militärverdienstkreuz? Are there many recipients of BMJ3 in jäger units?

659.jpg
 
Are there many recipients of BMJ3 in jäger units?

Just two with the BMV4XKr as far as I can ascertain:

Leutnant d.R. Josef Ritter von Reichert of 2. Jäger-Bataillon

Leutnant d.R. Josef Ritter von Schmid of 1. Jäger-Bataillon.

Regards
Glenn
 
Leutnant d.R. Josef Ritter von Reichert of 2. Jäger-Bataillon.
Leutnant d.R. Josef Ritter von Schmid of 1. Jäger-Bataillon.
Glenn, thank you! It's a pity that we cannot see clear of his shoulder board. Not sure there's a star or not, or maybe its the number. The fourth medal on his bar... a k.u.k order?
 
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