Help Needed with Imperial Document Group
 

I'm looking for help with an Imperial German Document group. I know very little about these docs, and I'm considering selling the group once I know a bit more about it. So far, the little bit I know is quite interesting.

The group is to a man named Sollmann, born on April 8, 1876, and a member of 1. Abteilung I. Werft-Division (Kiel). The group consists of about 7 award documents and a number of other paper items from the 1950's. Included in the group is a doc for the Kaiser Wilhelm Centennial medal (document is not dated) and a preliminary document for the EK2 (awarded on April 23, 1917 aboard the S.M.S. Lothringen). Some of the other documents are as follows:

Allgemeine Ehrenzeichen - January, 1914
Dienstauseichnung I. Klasse - February, 1914
Staatsangehorigkeitsausweis - April, 1917
Dienstauseichnungskreuz - October, 1920
Kyffhauserbund Award - September, 1922

I have included images of the five docs mentioned above. While I have a limited idea as to what they are, I would be most grateful for any sort of explanation and/or background of these awards. Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions. Thanks in advance.

Brian


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Sollmann was a "Deckoffizier," a warrant officer. He enlisted in the Imperial navy 3 January 1896 and was promoted to Maschinist (junior engineering warrant officer) 1 January 1903. His highest rank was Obermaschinist (chief warrant officer engineering) 1 January 1907.

The 1917 citizenship document refers to him as an "Offizierstellvertreter," or "Officer Deputy," a wartime hybrid rank for senior sergeants and warrant officers performing officers' duties. The post war documents referring to him as Leutnant (Ing.) aD reflect the Weimar Republic's "social engineering" in bumping ex-NCOs/POs with 18 or more years service time in to retired commissioned rank.

In May 1914 Sollmann had 13 years and 6 months sea time in. There IS a WWI Deck Officers' Honor Rank List, but I do not have it!

His XV Years Service Cross document was signed by Eduard "Bartels," born 1876, retired as char. Kapt. zS aD. His XXV Years Service Cross was signed by char. Konteradmiral zS aD Paul Wolfram (1871-1946), whose main wartime assignment was as chief of merchant shipping protection.

Interesting set of documents! Speaking of the Allgemeine Ehrenzeichen, does anyone have any spefics and a photo of it? Großadmiral Karl Dönitz of WWII fame received it on 17 June 1913.

Wow:
These documents look similar to that medal bar we discussed back in december/Jan. when Rick mentioned the gold cross LS type as awarded to Machinest/Engineer PO/WO types during weimar.
Isn't the Allgemein' Ehrenzeichen just the plain oldPrussian General Honor decoration? In this case would it be on the civil ribbon or on the military ribbon? This is interesting as if this is so I have been mistaken in that I aklways thought it was awarded primarily to civil servants-like the British IMO. Was it in fact used as an enlisted version of the Crown Order 4th (ohne swords)?
Interesting. I'd love to see more on these documents (e.g. bigger).
How about a nice article for the OMSA Journal or Benders' magazine?
Cheers,
JeMc

Yup, the General Decoration is a silver medal on the Red Eagle Order ribbon-- I just posted one in a group for Jason Williams a couple of days back here.

Normally given for 15+ years service as a career NCO. what Dönitz got his for as a mere Cadet I don't know.

Hi Brian, Thoses are great docs. If you consider selling please contact me.