Lot 430

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Description:

Great grouping of items from Kriegsmarine Sign. Gefreiter Valentin Knoth of Kommando 24. L.-Flotille, who served upon the the RUGARD - the German flagship which engaged the Russians in the last European naval battle of World War II. Included in the grouping is Knoth's typewritten award of the "Armelband 'Kurland'" given to him on board his vessel, April 30, 1945, signed by the Flottillenchef and accompanied by a shipboard-made 13" "KURLAND" cuff title; a similar award document for the "Marinefrontspange", May 26, 1945, signed by the same officer; Knoth's Kriegsmarine personnel book with his photo within, issued July 1, 1943, setting forth details on Knoth's service, character, assignments including posting at 6.Komp./14.S.St.A. Breda, and on Feb. 19, 1945 back to 24.L.-Fl , etc.; Certificate of Aircraft Recognition Service, 1p. 8vo., Cuxhaven, Feb. 19, 1945; signal training certification book; and shooting practice book. Knoth's division was established on 17 June 1944 to serve in the area of the eastern Baltic to the Pomeranian coast. Knoth served on the flagship Rugard in Windau, from February 1945 in Libau and from March 1945 in Gotenhafen. On May 9, 1945, three Russian torpedo boats approached the Rugard and demanded she put back into Bornholm under their guns. The master refused and tried to reach Swedish territorial waters. The Russian TK-boats launched two torpedoes and opened fire with their machine guns on the fleeing German ship. Rugard then replied with its overage 7.5-cm gun and scored a hit on a TK-boat, killing one crewman and injuring another. Rugard itself reached Kiel on 10 May 1945.

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April 30, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000