Circa 1900. Exceptionally heavy large gilt brass hilt with Prussian eagle in the guard basket with folding hinge, ray skin grip with intact wire wrapping and applied cipher "WR II", finger loop present. On the end of the quillon with applied family coat of arms of the "von Brandis" family. Top with domed pommel. Heavy Japanese blade from a katana sword, blade length 72.5 cm, width 3 cm, the polish and the temper line hamon very well preserved. After over 120 years the blade is still "razor sharp". Nickel-plated curved steel scabbard, fitted to the blade, with 2 ring bands and movable suspension rings. Overall length 93 cm. Only lightly worn in very good condition.

An extraordinary weapon, worldwide only very few German edged weapons with a katana blade are known, we ourselves know of only 2 other examples. Most bearers served in Japan during their service time and received a katana as a gift. However, it could also have been the weapon of an extravagant officer.

Franz Eberhard Adolf Cordt Freiherr von Brandis (born June 27, 1874 in Erbach; died April 5, 1945 in Berlin-Zehlendorf) was a German Generalmajor of the Reichswehr (1929) and honorary Generalleutnant (1939). Brandis entered as a Fähnrich into the Infanterie-Regiment “Kaiser Wilhelm” (2. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 116 on March 22, 1892. On May 22, 1893 he was promoted there to Sekondeleutnant. On October 1, 1897 he was assigned to the NCO school Marienwerder and three years later transferred to the Infanterie-Regiment “Herzog Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig” (Ostfriesisches) Nr. 78. After his promotion to Oberleutnant on September 12, 1902, he became adjutant of the Bezirkskommando Aurich on October 1. There he became Hauptmann on April 20, 1910 and as such company commander in his regiment on January 27, 1911. He was transferred on February 15, 1913 to the 4. Hannoversche Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 164 and Brandis took over as commander of the 9th Company.

With his unit he was deployed to the Western Front after the outbreak of World War I and mobilization. In February 1915 he was appointed commander of the III. Battalion and on August 18, 1916 promoted to Major. Brandis took over Sturm-Bataillon 8 in July 1918 and two months later was appointed commander of the Grenadier-Regiment “Kronprinz” (1. Ostpreußisches) Nr. 1.

After the end of the war his regiment was demobilized and dissolved in Königsberg. Brandis was taken into the provisional Reichswehr and initially served as battalion commander in Infanterie-Regiment 20. After his promotion to Oberstleutnant on July 1, 1921, Brandis joined the staff of the 16. Infanterie-Regiment in Oldenburg. In February 1925 Brandis was transferred to the staff of the 1. Kavalleriedivision in Frankfurt an der Oder. With his promotion to Oberst on April 1, 1926, he became course director at the Infanterie-Schule Dresden. On February 1, 1928, Brandis was appointed commander of the 15. Infanterie-Regiment in Kassel and in this function promoted to Generalmajor on October 1, 1929. Brandis handed over command on January 31, 1930 to his successor Oberst Erich von Schickfus und Neudorff and was honorably discharged and retired on the same day.

On August 27, 1939, the so-called Tannenbergtag, he was awarded the honorary rank of Generalleutnant.

Cordt von Brandis died one month before the end of World War II at the age of 70 in Berlin and was buried at the Waldfriedhof Dahlem.

419483

Prussian Infantry Officer's Sword (IOD) M89 in Deluxe Version with Japanese Katana Blade from the Estate of Generalmajor Cordt von Brandis

The Prussian Infantry Officer's Sword Model 1889 represents one of the most distinctive weapon forms in German military history, and this extraordinary example uniquely combines European and Asian military traditions. The Model 1889 was introduced into service by the German Imperial Army as the standard sword for all infantry officers, replacing earlier patterns. It featured a characteristic half-basket guard with German state emblems, with Prussian officers carrying the Prussian eagle.

This specific sword, dating from around 1900, belonged to Generalmajor Franz Eberhard Adolf Cordt Freiherr von Brandis, born 27 June 1874 in Erbach and died 5 April 1945 in Berlin-Zehlendorf. Von Brandis entered service on 22 March 1892 as Fähnrich in Infantry Regiment “Kaiser Wilhelm” Nr. 116 and was promoted to Leutnant on 22 May 1893. His career led him through various infantry regiments, including his transfer on 1 October 1900 to Infantry Regiment “Herzog Friedrich Wilhelm von Braunschweig” Nr. 78. Following his promotion to Oberleutnant on 12 September 1902, he became Adjutant of the District Command Aurich on 1 October.

On 20 April 1910, von Brandis reached the rank of Hauptmann and took command of a company in his regiment on 27 January 1911. His transfer to the 4th Hanoverian Infantry Regiment Nr. 164 occurred on 15 February 1913, where he assumed command of the 9th Company as chief. After the outbreak of World War I and mobilization, his unit was deployed to the Western Front. In February 1915 he was appointed commander of the III. Battalion and promoted to Major on 18 August 1916. In July 1918, von Brandis took command of Sturm-Bataillon 8 and was appointed commander of Grenadier Regiment “Kronprinz” (1st East Prussian) Nr. 1 two months later.

After the war's end, his regiment was demobilized and dissolved in Königsberg. Von Brandis was accepted into the provisional Reichswehr and initially served as battalion commander in Infantry Regiment 20. Following his promotion to Oberstleutnant on 1 July 1921, he joined the staff of the 16th Infantry Regiment in Oldenburg. In February 1925 he was transferred to the staff of the 1st Cavalry Division in Frankfurt an der Oder. With his promotion to Oberst on 1 April 1926, he became course director at the Infantry School Dresden. On 1 February 1928, von Brandis was appointed commander of the 15th Infantry Regiment in Kassel and in this position was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 October 1929. He relinquished command on 31 January 1930 and was honorably retired on the same day. On 27 August 1939 he was granted the character rank of Generalleutnant.

The sword itself is exceptionally rare, combining a German Model 1889 hilt with a Japanese katana blade. The heavy gilt brass hilt displays a Prussian eagle on the folding basket guard. The rayskin grip features intact wire wrapping with the applied cipher “WR II” (Wilhelm Rex II – Kaiser Wilhelm II). The von Brandis family coat of arms is applied to the pommel end of the guard bar. The Japanese katana blade measures 72.5 cm in length and 3 cm in width, with a total length of 93 cm. The polish and hamon temper line are very well preserved, and the blade is described as razor sharp. The nickel-plated curved steel scabbard was custom-fitted to the blade and features 2 ring bands with movable suspension rings.

The combination of German military equipment with Japanese bladed weapons documents German-Japanese military and cultural exchange around 1900. German military advisors were active in Japan following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, though they were recalled by 1894. After the end of World War I in 1918, many Imperial German officers retained their swords as personal property. The Model 1889 was no longer an official service weapon after the creation of the Reichswehr, though officers often kept them as dress or ceremonial items. This specific sword remained in the possession of Generalmajor von Brandis through his retirement in 1930 and presumably until his death in 1945, subsequently entering the collectors' market.

Von Brandis died one month before the end of World War II at the age of 70 in Berlin and was buried at Waldfriedhof Dahlem. It is important to note that Franz Eberhard Adolf Cordt Freiherr von Brandis (1874-1945) was a different person from Cordt von Brandis (1888-1972), the World War I Oberleutnant and Pour le Mérite recipient.