Decorations

Saxe-Ernestine House Order

Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden

Saxe-Ernestine House Order

The Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden was established on December 25, 1833 as a joint award of the duchies of Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and Saxe-Meiningen.

As with most orders, one had to be an officer to receive the Saxe-Ernestine House Order. Despite the small size of the three duchies, awards of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order were not that uncommon, with over 3,400 officers receiving the honor during World War I.

An officer’s rank at the time of the award determined which grade of the house order he received. Kapitänleutnante — among U-boat commanders that would be Franz, Meier, Rohrbeck, Viebeg, and Wassner — received the Knights Cross 1st Class of the order while Oberleutnante and Leutnante — Gerke, Günther, Kükenthal, Lange, and Ulrich — were awarded the Knights Cross 2nd Class. The prewar award to Karl Bartenback was also of the Knights Cross 2nd Class.

Paul König also received the Knights Cross 1st Class but without swords for his service in commanding the merchant U-boat Deutschland.

Reuß was awarded the Großkreuz of the order in 1911 as he was a prince.

Photo source: Wikipedia Commons.


CommanderDate  Command
Kptlt. Franz, Adolf13 Aug 1916  

Oblt. Gerke, Bernhard22 Aug 1916  
Oblt. Günther, Paul1915  

Oblt. Kükenthal, Hans16 Aug 1916  
Kptlt. (R)König, Paul1916  

Ltn. Lange, Werner20 May 1916  

Kptlt. Meier, Ulrich1918  

Ltn. Reuß zu Köstritz, Heinrich XXXVII Prinz1911  
Kptlt. Rohrbeck, Otto1918  

Oblt. Ulrich, Ernst1916  

Kptlt. Viebeg, Max6 Jul 1918  UB 80

Oblt. Warzecha, Walter2 Jan 1918  
Kptlt. Waßner, Erwin26 Jan 1918  UB 59

13 officers decorated with Saxe-Ernestine House Order (Sachsen-Ernestinischer Hausorden) located.

Note: This listing is still being compiled and some recipients might be missing.

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