Description
This is an interesting WW I Austrian veteran’s badge. The badge measures 1 ½” x 1 ½.” Its bottom displays shields sporting Prussian, Austrian, and Turkish Coats-of-Arms. The badge’s center features the legend “Heeres Gruppe Böhm-Ermolli,” which refers to Eduard Freiherr von Böhm-Ermolli (1856-1941). When WW I began, von Böhm-Ermolli was an Austrian General der Kavallerie. He led several different Austrian armies, commanding Heeres Gruppe Böhm-Ermolli from 15 September 1915 to 25 July 1916. He was promoted to a Generaloberst’s rank in May 1916. When von Hindenburg was promoted to Chief of the General Staff, and Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen was given command of the East, Bavaria’s Generalfeldmarschall Prinz Leopold assumed overall command of all the Central Powers’ troops. At that point, von Böhm-Ermolli found himself reporting to Prinz Leopold. Von Böhm-Ermolli was ultimately promoted to Feldmarschall in January 1918. The gilt-toned badge is stamped.
