Lot 108

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Description:

WILHELM KEITEL RESTRICTS THE ISSUANCE OF IRON CROSS AWARDS ON THE EASTERN FRONT.
(1882 - 1946) German field marshal and army chief of staff under Adolph Hitler, convicted of war crimes and executed at Nuremburg. A fine and important archive of documents, several signed by Keitel, all concerning those who have the authority to award the Iron Cross and under what conditions. In particular, Keitel is concerned that too many officers had been awarded the Iron Cross on the Eastern Front without merit. The grouping, in chronological order, includes: incomplete copy of a secret order from Keitel, June 14, 1941, states that following the Balkan Campaign many officers were being unjustifiably awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class and asks for suggestion from troop commanders for improvements; mimeographed D.S. from Keitel with printed signature, 2pp. 4to., Berlin, July 10, 1941, concerns the awarding of the Iron Cross to members of the OKH higher staff, acknowledging the difficulties in making awards to staff and officers of panzer and other mobile units in Russia and enclosing a copy of Hitler's orders on when the Iron Cross may be awarded; copy of the aforementioned order by Hitler, 1p. 4to., [Berlin], Mar. 16, 1941, tightening the award to those leading troops and accelerating the awards given on account of bravery; official stamped copy of a draft order INITIALED TWICE BY KEITEL, 2pp.4to., Berlin, Sep. 17, 1941 concerns that responsibility for the award of the Iron Cross 2nd Class will be transferred to the oberfeldshaber of each army and panzer group and setting forth specific instructions on those responsible, again citing the existing burden placed on the higher staff to make such awards and the fact that soldiers are dying before they receive their medals; T.L.S. SIGNED BY KEITEL "Keitel" on official letterhead, 2pp. 4to., Berlin, Sep. 22, 1941 to the Adjutant of the Wehrmacht at Fuhrer Headquarters, defining "bravery" which can only exist in a: "fight with the enemy...to include radio operator...pioneer...being under fire is not 'bravery' and cannot merit the award of an Iron Cross...all recommendations for priests have been denied...the same has been done with division doctors..." though Keitel believes that doctors should be allowed an exemption; draft T.L.S. INITIALED TWICE BY KEITEL, 5pp. including transmittal page, OKH Headquarters, Berlin, Dec. 6, 1941, to different division various panzer armies, groups, army groups - essentially almost all German ground forces. Keitel states that a number of recommendations for Iron Cross awards to officers on the Eastern Front had been denied as no special exhibitions of bravery had been demonstrated. He asks that the denied applications be reviewed and that an explanation be supplied. He also states that single acts of bravery would not earn the award, and he lists the number of Iron Cross applications which had been refused; typed memorandum, 1p. 4to., OKH Headquarters, Berlin, Aug. 27, 1942, docketed and initialed by an unknown officer, states that too many Iron Crosses had been awarded from lower departments, contrary to regulations, and stating that only the OKH/PA would handle the issuance of the award for this brigade; and a typed draft D.S. INITIALED BY KEITEL, 1p. 4to., OKH Headquarters, Berlin, Sep. 15, 1942 to the general commanding the XXXXVII Panzer Corps, with four other dockets (unidentified). Keitel breaks down the entire affair, states that Iron Cross awards to division commanders will be issued through the OKH/PA, without exception. Brigade commanders' awards will continue to be issued by the OKH/PA as previously done. Superior material for the Iron Cross collector.

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February 18, 2014 11:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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