depaor01 Posted 27 March Share Posted 27 March (edited) Hi all, With the anniversary of the first West-East Atlantic crossing upcoming in 2028, a colleague has assembled a collection of ephemera and images relating to the three airmen involved. One of them was Hermann Köhl, and the collection includes some images of Köhl's funeral Köhl was a Great War veteran and, on his death in 1938, he was given a funeral with full military honours. One photo includes his coffin with his awards displayed. I see EK1, EK2, Pour Le Merite, Wound badge (black(?) and two different pilot badges from WWI. Others I cannot identify and would love if anyone could identify the rest. Artificial "intelligence" has provided this gem of information: So here are the medals. Likely Wurttemberg: My last query is the presence of what looks like a helmet on the coffin that he likely never wore, being an ardent opponent of the regime. Is this show just an example of the widespread practice of co-opting deceased heroic figures for "the cause" regardless of their opposition to it in life? I'm happy to post the whole picture but didn't want to scare the horses with WW2 imagery. I think this is sufficiently Great War-related to be OK. As always, Thank you. Dave Edited 27 March by depaor01 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 28 March Share Posted 28 March There is a bit of a biography in Neal O'Connor, Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany in World War I and the men who earned them Vol. IV The Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Württemberg. There is even a picture of a copy of his Ordensschnalle. I can see quite a few orders from the interwar period (among other the Italian Order of the Crown). The helmet is a Wehrmacht helmet, strictly speaking a German military symbol and not a national socialist symbol. Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depaor01 Posted 28 March Author Share Posted 28 March 3 hours ago, AOK4 said: There is a bit of a biography in Neal O'Connor, Aviation Awards of Imperial Germany in World War I and the men who earned them Vol. IV The Aviation Awards of the Kingdom of Württemberg. There is even a picture of a copy of his Ordensschnalle. I can see quite a few orders from the interwar period (among other the Italian Order of the Crown). The helmet is a Wehrmacht helmet, strictly speaking a German military symbol and not a national socialist symbol. Jan Thanks Jan, The symbolism of the headwear makes sense. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyC Posted 28 March Share Posted 28 March Here are those I could identify quite definitely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 28 March Share Posted 28 March The medals on the left hand side in the middle and bottom are Italian Order of the Crown. The medal bar is described in the book I mentioned, but on the cushion the "Hindenburgkreuz" was added at the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 28 March Share Posted 28 March Haven't you checked online, there's plenty about the man. See also: http://www.hermann-koehl.de/index.php/en/mueseum-en/exhibits.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depaor01 Posted 28 March Author Share Posted 28 March 25 minutes ago, AOK4 said: Haven't you checked online, there's plenty about the man. See also: http://www.hermann-koehl.de/index.php/en/mueseum-en/exhibits.html I know about him and the east west crossing. Even designed an exhibition about the Bremen because it took off from Baldonnel which is in our part of County Dublin. The medal query was prompted by the recent appearance of the funeral photo. Thanks for the link. Dave 31 minutes ago, AOK4 said: The medals on the left hand side in the middle and bottom are Italian Order of the Crown. The medal bar is described in the book I mentioned, but on the cushion the "Hindenburgkreuz" was added at the end. Didn't spot the Hindenburgkreuz! Ta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted 28 March Share Posted 28 March in the bottom row in the middle is the DFC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States)#/media/File:Dfc-usa.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted 28 March Share Posted 28 March kohl service record 1914-1918 https://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27137 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depaor01 Posted 28 March Author Share Posted 28 March Excellent info people. Neal O'Connor's book looks like a must buy for our library. Thanks all, Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyC Posted 28 March Share Posted 28 March From my collection a photo from the reception of the trio in Bremen: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn J Posted 28 March Share Posted 28 March The awards on the bar are from right to left: Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class Prussian Hohenzollern House Order Knight's Cross with Swords Württemberg Crown Order 3rd Class with Swords Württemberg Military Merit Order 3rd Class Württemberg Friedrichs Order Knight's Cross 1st Class with Swords Austro-Hungarian Military Merit Cross with War Decoration "Hindenburg Cross" The other Hohenzollern House Order next to the pilots' badge is a commander's grade awarded on 14 April 1928 by the Kaiser in exile. Regards Glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depaor01 Posted 28 March Author Share Posted 28 March Outstanding. Cheers. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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