Estate from the possession of Retired Major General Ludwig von Mertens

The estate of Generalmajor zur Disposition Ludwig von Mertens offers an extraordinary glimpse into the military career of a Prussian artillery officer from the late Imperial period through the early Nazi era. As peacetime commander of Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 44 and later commander of Guard Artillery units during World War I, Mertens embodies the typical career trajectory of a senior Prussian officer of this epoch.

Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 44 (Triersches) was established on April 17, 1899, as part of an army reorganization and was stationed in the Maxim-Kaserne in Trier. Mertens led this regiment during peacetime and remained connected to it even after his active career. The regimental history, published in 1934 by Universitätsdruckerei Poppen und Ortmann in Freiburg im Breisgau, bears his foreword and documents the years 1899 to 1919. The regiment was demobilized on February 19, 1919, with a total of 403 confirmed casualties.

The extensive medal bar documents Mertens' entire period of service. The Iron Cross 2nd Class 1914 was part of a mass award of approximately five million decorations during World War I, while the Iron Cross 1st Class, engraved on the reverse with “Oberst Ludwig von Mertens,” was awarded significantly less frequently. The Südwest-Afrika Denkmünze für Nichtkämpfer in steel relates to the Herero uprising of 1904 to 1906 and suggests a support role during this colonial conflict, though his primary service took place in Europe.

The Zentenarmedaille from 1897, of which over 1.2 million examples were issued, marks his service on March 22, 1897. The Baden Ritterkreuz 1st Class of the Order of the Zähringer Löwen in gold, of which approximately 6,930 were awarded in all variants, along with the bronze Government Jubilee Medal 1902 from Baden, complement the Prussian decorations. The Service Award Cross for 25 Years for Officers attests to his long career as an officer.

The Royal Crown Order 2nd Class with Star and Swords was awarded on April 30, 1918, when Mertens held the rank of Oberst. The award certificate, issued by the Chief of the General Commission for Matters of the Royal Prussian Orders with the ink signature “Kanitz,” identifies him as Generalmajor zur Disposition and Commander of Feldartillerie-Regiment Nr. 44. A total of 4,014 of this decoration were awarded between 1861 and 1918. The star bears the maker's mark W in the lower cross arm, the manufacturer's mark of Wagner & Sohn of Berlin.

The Red Eagle Order 2nd Class with Swords, the second-highest Prussian decoration, was awarded to him as Generalmajor and Garde-Artilleriekommandeur No. 2. Only 564 examples of this decoration with swords were issued until 1918, underscoring its rarity. The shoulder boards for an Oberst as commander of Feldartillerie-Regiment 44 complement the documentary evidence of his rank.

The Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer 1934 represents the mass award to all World War I veterans by the National Socialist regime. The Prussian Memorial Badge for the Silver Wedding of Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kaiserin Auguste Victoria from 1906 on the ribbon of the Royal Crown Order documents his participation in this dynastic event.

After Mertens' death, the estate remained intact as a collection and eventually entered the military antiques trade, where it appeared in catalogs of Helmut Weitze Militaria. The collection represents the typical career memorabilia of a high-ranking Prussian officer, preserved through family or collector channels. The publication of the regimental history in 1934 suggests that Mertens remained active in veterans' organizations during the Weimar Republic and early Nazi period. All decorations became legally unwearable after 1918 (Prussian and Baden orders) and after 1945 (Third Reich awards), though the World War I medals could be worn in modified form during the Third Reich according to 1934 regulations.