Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War Iron Cross group of six awarded to Steurmannsmaat Heinrich Haarmann, German Imperial Navy

Germany, Prussia, Iron Cross 1914, 2nd Class; China Medal 1900-01, 1 clasp, Kaumi, clasp with ribbon fittings to reverse; Germany, Cross of Honour 1914-18, combatants; Naval Corps Flanders Veteran’s Cross 1914-18, no clasp; Naval Wound Badge, ‘black’ grade, pin-backed; Prussia, Long Service Bar, 3rd Class, for 9 years, silver and iron, by ‘H. Zehn’, pin-backed, pin repaired, medals loose but with mounting bars, good very fine (6) £500-600

Heinrich Haarmann was born in Holterselm, Leer, Prussia on 18 July 1878. A Sailor in the Merchant Navy by occupation, he entered the Imperial Navy as a Matrose on 1 February 1900 and was promoted to Obermatrose (Gefreiter) on 1 August 1901. With the Imperial Navy he served on the armoured cruiser S.M.S. Fürst Bismarck, serving in the China War 1900-01, for which he was awarded the medal and clasp for Kaumi. The clasp was awarded to naval personnel from the 3rd Sea Battalion only. He was discharged to the Reserve on 11 August 1902. He transferred to the Seewehr, Levy I on 1 April 1907 and to Levy II on 1 April 1912. Recalled to active service from the Seewehr on 8 August 1914, he was posted to the 4th Company 8th Sea Group. Transferred to the 8th Company, 3rd Seaman’s Regiment on 5 November 1914, he served with that unit until 3 June 1917. With them he served in operations on the Yser, 3-28 December 1914 and 25 March-16 April 1915; the battle of Ypres, 24 April-24 May 1915; operations near the Yser, 26 May 1915-2 June 1917, being wounded near Ypres on 8 August 1915. Serving with the 8th Company, II Seaman’s Division, 3 June 1917-28 November 1918, he took part in the German Spring Offensive in March 1918, the fighting retreat and the defence of the Wotan Line in August 1918 and Flandern Line in September 1918. He was appointed Bootsmannsmaat (P.O.) on 21 February 1916, and to Steurmannsmaat on 18 July 1917. For his war services he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (1916) and Wound Badge. Steurmannsmaat Haarmann was demobilised by the ‘Soldiers & Workers Council’ at Rustringen on 28 November 1918.
With the recipient’s original Militärpak (military booklet) confirming the above and a photograph of the recipient, dating between the wars, wearing his China Medal and L.S. Bar.

With copied research.