Chile, Republic. An Order Of Merit, I Class Case Named To German Army Major General Rudolph Von Wachs

(Orden al Mérito). Instituted in 1906. Hardshelled design on both the lid and base, the exterior with a maroon dimpled leather covering on all sides, the convex lid bearing an impressed insignia in gold-coloured ink along the bottom edge, a presentation label affixed to the bottom inscribed "No. 7 / Señor Rudolph von Wachs / Mayor General / Kriegministerium del Ejercito Aleman Oro" in handwritten black ink, inside lid lined in a navy blue satin and padded, a white fabric-wrapped cardboard insert placed within the base and housing a navy blue felt medal bed, push release closure, measuring 70 mm (w) x 115 mm (h) x 23 mm (d), very light scuffing evident on the exterior, the presentation label exhibiting light soiling in addition to two tiny tears along the top edge, the inside particularly clean and without interruptions in the fabrics, better than very fine.

Footnote: The Order of Merit was instituted on September 4, 1906 and awarded for meritorious service provided by foreigners to the Republic of Chile, in five grades: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer and Knight. Rudolph Heinrich Wilhelm Wachs (March 7, 1850 - July 2, 1916), was a Prussian Infantry General. He was born on March 7, 1850 in Sontra, Hesse and was the son of a merchant and entered service on October 1, 1869 as a one-year volunteer in the 2nd Hanover Infantry Regiment No. 77 of the Prussian Army. With the regiment he took part in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, fighting at Colombey, Gravelotte, Noisseville and the Siege of Metz, and was awarded the Iron Cross II Class. Upon the conclusion of the war, he attended and graduated from the Military Academy of Hannover and was subsequently promoted to Second Lieutenant on March 9, 1872. He served as Adjutant of the Fusilier Battalion and as a Regimental Adjutant in the coming years and was named First Lieutenant on March 22, 1881, followed by his transfer on September 7, 1881 as an Adjutant to the 38th Infantry Brigade. On April 14, 1887, Wachs was placed with the 4th Posen Infantry Regiment No. 59 and promoted to Captain at the same time. From July 16, 1887 to December 16, 1889, he worked as a Company Commander in this regiment. He was then commanded to serve in the Ministry of War in Berlin and used as Adjutant of the Provisional Weapons Department. On March 23, 1890, Wachs was transferred to the Ministry and promoted to Major on September 17, 1892. As such, he was from March 19 to November 30, 1896 commander of the III Battalion of the 3rd Grand Ducal Hessian Infantry Regiment (Leib-Regiment) No. 117 in Mainz. Later, he guided the organization as head of the 1. Department (Z 1) of the Central Department. In this position, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on April 18, 1899 and was finally appointed to Section Chief on May 22, 1900. This was followed one year later, on May 18, 1901, with his promotion to Colonel and his appointment as Director of the Central Department, where he would remain for the next twelve years. He rose to the rank of General of the Infantry and was established by Kaiser William II in the hereditary Prussian nobility in August 1905. On July 7, 1913, Wachs was relieved of his post as Director of the Central Department and transferred to the officers of the army. In approval of his farewell request on August 18, 1913, he was issued with the statutory pension and permission to wear the uniform of the 2nd Hannover Infantry Regiment No. 77 for disposition. Wachs was reused as a ZD officer during the First World War and served as Commissioner-General for military youth training in Berlin and Brandenburg, and was in this position when he passed away on July 2, 1916, at the age of 66.