Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Erich Pietzonka. Oberst Erich Pietzonka (04.10.1906 † 18.12.1989) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on September 5, 1944 as Oberstleutnant und Kommandeur and the Eichenlaub on September 16, 1944 as Oberst und Kommandeur of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 7 of the 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division.
Eichenlaub: During the US advance to Brest in 1944, Pietzonka and his Regiment were able to check a US thrust with violence and skill. In the process they destroyed 43 tanks in close combat and captured over 300 prisoners. For this success, which bought a good deal of time for the preparation of the defenses around the city, Pietzonka received the Oakleaves to his Knight’s Cross.
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.
