Germany, Imperial. A Prussian Crown Order Award Document To PLM Recipient, Signed by Wilhelm II

An award certificate for the Prussian Order of the Crown 3rd Class to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) Hermann von Strantz, Staff Officer of the 1st Guard Regiment on Foot; dated to Potsdam on February 9, 1898 and signed in black ink by Emperor Wilhelm II; measuring 210 mm (w) x 330 mm (h), presenting a folding crease and light creasing of the edges, remains near extremely fine.

Footnote: Hermann Christian Wilhelm von Strantz was born on February 13, 1853 in Nakel an der Netze (present day Nakło nad Notecią, northern Poland). His father was the Prussian Major Hans Friedrich Bogislav von Strantz (1820-1895). Strantz joined the Prussian armed forces as an officer candidate. With the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, he served as Ensign with Portepee in the Life Grenadier Regiment “King Friedrich Wilhelm III)” (1st Brandenburg) No. 8. He was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and promoted to Second Lieutenant in 1871. In 1886, Strantz was put in charge of the 9th Company of Füsilier Battalion of the 1st Guard Regiment on Foot in Potsdam in the rank of Hauptmann (Captain). Promoted to Major in 1891, he joined the Great General Staff in Berlin. He returned to the Life Grenadier Regiment No. 8 as a Battalion Commander in 1893. Strantz was promoted to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) in 1897. By 1899, he served as a Regiment Commander. Strantz was appointed Commander of the 2nd Guard Infantry Brigade in Potsdam in the rank of Generalmajor (Major General). In 1906, he was promoted to Generalleutnant (Lieutenant General), and to General of the Infantry in 1911. During the First War, Strantz served as Commanding General of the 5th Army Corps, and at the same time as Supreme Commander of Army Detachment Strantz (named after him), the left wing of the 5th Army stationed at the Western Front. In February of 1917, Strantz retired from active service. He was appointed to take charge of the 3rd Lower Silesian Infantry Regiment No. 50. He died in Dessau on November 3, 1936.

Among Strantz’ awards were the Pour le Mérite (awarded on August 22, 1915), the Red Eagle Order 1st Class with Oak Leaves, the Prussian Crown Order 1st Class, Commander 1st Class of the Order of Albert the Bear, Grand Crosses of the Order of the Zähringer Lion, the Bavarian Military Merit Order, The Order of Henry the Lion, the Order of Philip the Magnanimous, Grand Commander of the Order of the Griffin, Grand Officer of the Belgian Order of Leopold, Grand Cross of the Bulgarian Military Merit Order, Officer of the French Legion of Honour, Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy, Commander of the Portuguese Order of Christ, Russian Order of St. Anna 1st Class, and Grand Cross of the Spanish Military Merit Order.