Description
Promotion in peacetime has always been slow in any army. Imperial Germany’s Army was no different. This patent is for a man who was promoted from a hauptmann to a major. It took twelve years to happen. The officer involved was named von Münstermann. As a hauptmann, he had served in Holsteinisches Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr 24. The regiment was founded in 1872 and garrisoned at Güstrow and Neustrelitz. The regiment was interesting because it contained a single batterie that was populated by officers and men from Mecklenburg-Strelitz. [As an aside, I must point out the kugelhelme for this batterie are very rare. Several years ago I sold one of its mint officer’s helmets for more than $20,000. It was/is probably the finest kugelhelm in existence (in my experience)]. Von Münstermann was assigned to Feldartillerie-Regiment von Peucker (1. Schlesisches) Nr 6. This famed regiment was founded in 1808 and garrisoned in Eastern Prussia’s Breslau. The promotion document was signed by Kaiser Wilhelm I in Berlin on 22 March 1887. The Kaiser’s signature is large and bold. The House of Hohenzollern’s embossed seal appears below his name. The document measures 14″ x 8 ½.” The document is folded in half one way, and into thirds the other way. It is in mint condition.
