Prussian Awards

[lilnuke]

Hey all,

Doing some research on an ancestor of mine who was in the Prussian army late 1800's. I pulled the following from the Prussian lists but I cannot read the German writing. Can someone decipher the following orders & awards?

HEK3
BZL2a
GHL3a
MWK3
MGrO2b
GSF2mSt
HSEH2b
PT4

Many thanks

[bigmacglenn]

How about a look at the original...several of us here are fluent in German and familiar with the old style script...
And Welcome to the Forum!
cheers, Glenn

[lilnuke]

Can do Glenn as soon as I figure out how to post a picture. I think I need to make a few more posts before I am allowed.

[lilnuke]

Found it.

Attachment 905963

[lilnuke]

More detail.
Attachment 906060

[HPL2008]

The abbreviations mean:

• HEK3 = Fürstlich Hohenzollernsches Ehrenkreuz 3. Classe [Kingdom of Prussia/House of Hohenzollern]
• BZL2a = Orden vom Zähringer Löwen, Comthurkreuz 1. Klasse [Grand Duchy of Baden]
• GHL3a = Ludewigs-Orden, Ritterkreuz 1. Classe [Grand Duchy of Hesse]
• MWK3 = Orden der Wendischen Krone, Ritterkreuz [Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg]
• MGrO2b = ? [Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg]
• GSF2mSt = Falken-Orden, Comthur-Kreuz [Grand Duchy of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach]
• HSEH2b = Sachsen-Ernestinischer Haus-Orden, Comthur-Kreuz 2. Klasse [Saxon Duchies]
• PT4 = Thurm- und Schwert-Orden, Ritterkreuz [Kingdom of Portugal]

The symbols all identify Prussian decorations; they are:

• Rother-Adler-Orden 2. Classe mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern am Ringe
• Rother-Adler-Orden 4. Classe
• Kronen-Orden 2. Classe
• Eisernes Kreuz 2. Classe
• Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes*

*) If that is really it. I think the symbol by the rank list entry (first scan) looks a bit different from the one in the list of abbreviations (second scan).

[bigmacglenn]

It appears to be a listing of high awards from various German States, along with a Portuguese Award among them...I'm somewhat confused here...If this is indeed his award-list, then he was quite the Uber-Hero!
Glenn

[HPL2008]

It appears to be a listing of high awards from various German States, along with a Portuguese Award among them...I'm somewhat confused here...If this is indeed his award-list, then he was quite the Uber-Hero!

The first document is indeed a rank list entry for one man:

"Comdt.: Gen. Lt. Gr. [= Commandant: Generalleutnant Graf] zu Rantzau".

A little Google-ing tells me that there was a Heinrich Adalbert Graf von Rantzau (27 Oct. 1834 - 11 June 1891) who was a Prussian Generalleutnant and the garrison commander of Koblenz and the Fortress of Ehrenbreitstein. This would appear to be him.

The second scan is apparently composed of excerpts from a list of abbreviations in the rank list, using only those that are relevant to the man in question.

[bigmacglenn]

Thank you very much for your help, Andreas...Much appreciated, Friend!
cheers, Glenn

[lilnuke]

HLP you are correct, I pulled the data directly from the Prussian army list from 1891. Thanks so much for the translation, I could not read the old letters.

Based on your response, I need to recheck the decorations against what is written in the lists. I have several medal sets from my framily but his are missing. Hoping with enough time (and money) I may be able to replace everything.