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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 9:20 pm
Dear Mister Mococh,
I have seen your new design about Belgian Military Police insignia, these are my comments:
- The order and design of the rankinsignia is correct
- All insignia are present, but Adjudant eerste klasse / Adjudant de premičre classe is missing. I would insert it for completenes. Is was abolished on 27-12-1961. It was still worn afterwards till retirement or till promotion to Adjudant-chef. The difference between these Adjudant ranks is: Adjudant +8 years service is Adjudant eerste klasse / Adjudant de premičre classe. Adjudant with +8 years service and passed Examination BM (=Brevet Militaire) became Adjudant-chef. Nobody wear the Adjudant eerste klasse / Adjudant de premičre classe insignia anymore. For a short time these insignia were also worn by Adjudant-chef of the Gendarmerie / Rijkswacht.
-To make things complicated in Belgium there are 3 official languages, all of equal standing: Dutch, French and German. German speaking people(= 1% of Belgian population) are used to French speaking. Dutch is actually Flemish and French is Wallon. It differs in using of words and ways of speaking. The German rankstitles are seldom used.
-Belgian Military Police= DUT: Belgische Military Politie FRE: Police Militaire Belgique GER: Belgischer Militär Polizei. In Belgium the prefix Belgium is never used.
-Ranktitles and insignia DUT / FRE / GER / UKD:
IIxx : Generaal-majoor / Général-major / Generalmajor / Major General
IIx : Brigadegeneraal / Général de Brigade / Brigadegeneral / Brigadier General (not Brigadier) (5)
Ixxx : Kolonel / Colonel / Oberst / Colonel
Ixx : Luitenant-kolonel / Lieutenant-colonel / Oberstleutnant / Lieutenant Colonel
Ix : Majoor / Major / Major / Major
xxxI : Kapitein-commandant / Capitain-commandant / Erster Hauptmann (4) / Captain Commandant (3)
xxx : Kapitein / Capitaine / Hauptmann / Captain
xx : Luitenant / Lieutenant / Leutnant / Lieutenant
x : Onderluitenant / Sous-lieutenant / Unterleutnant / Under Lieutenant
{x : Adjudant-chef / Adjudant-chef / Oberadjudant / Chief Warrant Officer
xI : Adjudant eerste klasse (1) / Adjudant de premičre classe / Erster Adjudant oder Adjudant Erster Klasse (2) / Warrant Officer First Class (UKD)
x : Adjudant / Adjudant / Adjudant / Warrant Officer (UKD)
Remarks:
(1) Old method of writing is "klas", now "klasse" is used.
(2) I do not know the exact translation but I think the last one is correct.
(3) In earlier times the rank of Captain Commandant was also named First Captain / Eerste Kapitein / Premier Capitaine. I think the change happend after the Second World War I do not know the exact dates.
(4) I do not know if it is "Erste" or "Erster", my German is not that good.
(5) The rank of Kolonel Brigadecommandant / Colonel Commandant de Brigade could be used in Military Police, but it would be very rare and only when a Military Police Colonel would hold this appointment. This rank is in English better translated as Brigadier. Only Colonels serving outside of Europe like United Nations operations are appointed Brigadegeneral / Général de Brigade until the end of there appointment. The they become Colonel again.
I hope that this is of assistance to your question.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Meijlaers
_________________
Peter MEIJLAERS
Candidate Hierarchiologist
3900 Overpelt, Limburg, BELGIUM
hierarkiologio@yahoo.com
Intrests are: Scientific study of Hierarchiology, Hierarchy, Ranks, Grades, Orders, Decorations, Heraldry, etc
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