Karl-Heinz Holzapfel – Pionier-Bataillon 29 (Sicily)

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Karl-Heinz Holzapfel. Major Karl-Heinz Holzapfel (05.07.1915 in Hadamar † 15.02.2003 in Bad Hersfeld) earned the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on November 29, 1941 and the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on September 11, 1943 as Hauptmann und Kommandeur of the Pionier-Bataillon 29 of the 29. Panzergrenadier-Division.

Awarded for his successes commanding the Pionier-Bataillon (mot) 29 during its demolition and mining missions along the road that ran parallel to the northern coast of Sicily. In this time he would repeatedly distinguish himself by not just doing those missions he was assigned, but also through his mining/demolition of routes that were not present on any maps and that only he knew about. On one occasion he also played a major role in enabling friendly forces to retreat. After a bridge over a dry riverbed (which had been heavily mined) was destroyed by allied naval guns, he and a handful of Pionieren created a lane through the dry riverbed that permitted all German vehicles and heavy weapons to pass through in spite of strong enemy attempts at interference. On another occasion he engaged and halted an allied pursuit thrust, bringing heavy losses to the enemy forces involved.

Provenance: This signature comes from one of the largest postwar signature collection I’ve ever commissioned. This collection was started by a Waffen-SS Veteran, Werner H., in the 1950’s until he passed away.