Lot 734

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Description:

Extensive lot of medals, insignia, documents, maps and newspaper clippings, all related to Wehrmacht doctor Rolf Knierer's service in the Demjansk Pocket, which was encircled by Soviet troops in February of 1942 and successfully resupplied by air until German forces could break out in April. The group includes: partly-printed D.S., 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], Dec. 31, 1943, an award certificate granting Knierer the Demjansk Shield, signed at the conclusion by an "oberleutnant" and bearing the stamped signature of a general of infantry. The Demjansk Shield itself is present with the certificate, showing spots of surface oxidation, else very good. WITH: Partly-printed D.S., 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], March 27, 1942, an award certificate granting Knierer the Iron Cross, Second Class, signed at the conclusion in black ink by Wehrmacht general THEODOR FREIHERR VON WREDE (1888-1973). The Iron Cross medal itself is present with the certificate, fitted with an incorrect ribbon but otherwise very good. WITH: Partly-printed D.S., 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], April 20, 1943, an award certificate granting Knierer the War Merit Cross, First Class with Swords, signed at the conclusion in black ink by Wehrmacht general ERNST VON LEYSER (1889-1962). The War Merit Cross itself is present with the certificate, marked on the catch with the stamped numeral "1", showing slight oxidation, else very good. WITH: Partly-printed D.S., 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], July 31, 1942, an award certificate granting Knierer the Eastern Front Medal, signed at the conclusion in black ink by a "hauptmann". The Eastern Front Medal itself is present with the certificate. WITH: Partly-printed D.S., 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], Jan. 9, 1942, an award certificate granting Knierer the War Merit Cross, Second Class with Swords, signed at the conclusion in indelible pencil by Wehrmacht artillery general CHIRISTIAN HANSEN (1885-1972). All of the above documents show file holes at the left margin, with three also showing folds, else very good. A War Merit Cross, Second Class without Swords is also included, with its original ribbon and envelope, likely not affiliated with the award certificate for the War Merit Cross, Second Class with Swords described above. Also present are a pair of period German-printed maps, the larger 35" x 27", and the smaller 24" x 30". The larger map is marked as having been printed in February of 1942, and depicts the areas around Demjansk, Staraya Russa and Lake Ilmen. The German defensive lines defining the Demjansk Pocket are marked on the map in red pencil, while those defining the smaller Kholm Pocket, besieged at the same time as Demjansk, are similarly marked. The smaller map shows a closer view of the areas north of Demjansk, marking two small towns of unknown significance. The collection is rounded out by a 50pp. 4to. scrapbook, containing numerous newspaper articles describing the siege, airlift operations, and later breakout, as well as several pieces of sheet music and a pass, issued to Knierer, authorizing him to fly from Pluskau to Demjansk in September of 1942. A fascinating archive, worth of further research.

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May 1, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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