Von Hindenburg wearing Nazi eagle?

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john123
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Von Hindenburg wearing Nazi eagle?

Post by john123 »

Does anyone have a clue about this photo?

I am sure this is a stupid question but it appears that Von Hindenburg is wearing the Nazi Eagle on the right breast of his uniform?

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Doktor Krollspell
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Re: Von Hindenburg wearing Nazi eagle?

Post by Doktor Krollspell »

Hello John!

The older General that stands beside Hitler is not Paul von Hindenburg! Apart from the fact that your elderly General bear no similarity to von Hindenburg, the absence of several decorations tell us that it's not him. Among von Hindenburg's many awards that he always wore were the Grosskreuz des Eiserner Kreuz around his neck and the Stern zum Grosskreuz des Eiserne Kreuz on his chest.

Image


Regards,

Krollspell
"Wie es eigentlich gewesen ist"
Leopold von Ranke (1795-1886)
john123
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Re: Von Hindenburg wearing Nazi eagle?

Post by john123 »

The AFP captions this photo..."Adolf Hitler poses with Paul von Hindenburg, the president who appointed him chancellor. | Photo credit: AFP"

http://www.ouest-france.fr/lallemagne-s ... oir-411005
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Doktor Krollspell
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Re: Von Hindenburg wearing Nazi eagle?

Post by Doktor Krollspell »

Hello again, John!

Your mystery General have now been identified (thanks to Dieter Zinker over at AHF). He was the Austrian General der Infanterie Alfred Krauss (1862-1938), decorated by Imperial Germany with the Pour le Mérite on November 12, 1917 for leading the k.u.k. 1. Korps of the Austro-Hungarian Army during the battles for Izonzo on the Italian front.

After the Anschluss in March 1938, Alfred Krauss was given the right to wear the uniform of a General der Infanterie in Wehrmacht. General a.D. Alfred Krauss died at the age of 76 on September 29, 1938 and was given a State funeral by order of Adolf Hitler. The pictures that several French websites wrongly identifies him as von Hindenburg must have been taken between April 1, 1938 (when many former Austrian officers and units were transferred to the Wehrmacht) and September the same year.

Alfred Krauss
Image
http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/


Regards,

Krollspell
"Wie es eigentlich gewesen ist"
Leopold von Ranke (1795-1886)
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