Lot 619

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Description:

Well-documented collection of medals and uniform insignia belonging to Generalleutnant ALFRED FRANZ KRETSCHMER (1894-1967), the Third Reich's military attache to Japan from 1940 to 1945, includes: single shoulder strap from Kretschmer's uniform, 4" x 1 1/2", silver and gold braided bullion on a red wool backing with a single pip, indicating his rank of Generalleutnant (lieutenant general) in the Wehrmacht, in very good condition; 1914 Iron Cross, First Class, unmarked, with vaulted back and vertical pin clasp, awarded to Kretschmer for his service in World War I, showing some tarnish and slight verdigris overall with a chip to the black lacquer, else very good; 1939 "Spange" (clasp) to the above Iron Cross, with a vertical pin back, showing some tarnish to the obverse else very good; Service ribbon bar, 3" x 1/2", consisting of five ribbons for the 1914 Iron Cross, Second Class (with 1939 "spange"), the Honor Cross of the World War with swords, Wehrmacht Long Service awards for 12 and 25 years of service, and an unidentified orange ribbon with crossed swords, identified by Kretschmer as a "Bulgarian decoration", all very good; and a 1918 Wound Badge in Silver, awarded to Kretschmer for having been wounded four times in World War I, unmarked, showing even surface tarnish, else very good. Present with these decorations is a T.L.S. from Kretschmer, 1p. 4to., Atami, Japan, July 1, 1947, to "General" (American Maj. General Charles A. Willoughby), in part: "I take the liberty of presenting you as a little token of my hearty gratitude..." Kretschmer then lists the above-described decorations, before signing off: "...I should be glad if you would like as a souvenir these things which are dear and worth to me. [sic]" Kretschmer signs at the conclusion of the letter in black ink. Willoughby served throughout the occupation of Japan and the Korean War as chief intelligence officer to Gen. Douglas MacArthur. The exact association between Willoughby and Kretschmer is unknown, other than that Kretschmer was interviewed by Willoughby while a prisoner of war as part of the latter's counterintelligence inquiries into Soviet espionage activities in Japan related to Richard Sorge, a German journalist executed by the Japanese in 1944 for passing military information to Russia. Kretschmer was released and allowed to return to Germany in August of 1946; the presentation of these decorations to Willoughby in July suggests that Willoughby had a hand in securing Kretschmer's freedom. The collection is rounded out by the blue velvet-covered case in which the decorations and letters were originally presented to Willoughby, as well as a signed and inscribed book, Willoughby's "Maneuver in War" (Harrisburg: The Military Service Publishing Co.), 1939, 286pp. 8vo., signed by Willoughby in black ink on a front flyleaf, adding his full rank and a dedication to Army Air Corps Lt. Col. Q.S. Lander, a fellow officer on MacArthur's staff. A binder present with the collection collates many pages of photocopied service histories of Kretschmer and Willoughby, as well as some of the former's postwar correspondence and historical research.

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November 20, 2019 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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