Studio Portrait – Ritterkreuzträger Anton Bayer – Grenadier-Regiment 19

Original wartime studio portrait postcard-size photograph of Oberfeldwebel Anton Bayer (1914–1996), Knight’s Cross holder of Grenadier-Regiment 19 / 7. Infanterie-Division, with his original postwar autograph on the reverse.

A very attractive original portrait of Oberfeldwebel Anton Bayer, a highly decorated German Army anti-tank specialist and recipient of the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes.

The photograph shows Bayer in uniform wearing the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to him on 5 October 1943 for his actions on the Eastern Front. He served as a Zugführer in 14.(Panzer-Jäger)/Grenadier-Regiment 19, 7. Infanterie-Division. Contemporary and specialist sources document Bayer’s Ritterkreuz award in this capacity.

Bayer had entered military service with the anti-tank company of Infanterie-Regiment 19 in 1936 and served with the regiment during the campaigns in Poland, France and the Soviet Union. Following the reorganisation of the regiment, he continued with 14. Kompanie/Grenadier-Regiment 19, later designated Grenadier-Regiment 19 “List”, of the 7. Infanterie-Division.

His Knight’s Cross was awarded following a particularly notable action on 27 August 1943. During heavy fighting, Soviet T-34 tanks broke through the German defensive positions. Bayer had prepared an anti-tank position on elevated ground, but the attacking armour quickly knocked out the available Pak guns. When the crew of the final operational gun was put out of action, Bayer personally took over the weapon and engaged the Soviet tanks.

According to the Ritterkreuz recommendation, Bayer succeeded in destroying several attacking T-34s before using his remaining ammunition to immobilise additional tanks. He then destroyed the gun to prevent its capture and fought his way back to the German lines armed only with his pistol. His actions helped prevent the Soviet armour from penetrating into the German rear and allowed his regiment to withdraw.

Bayer’s other decorations included the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse, Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, Ostmedaille, Nahkampfspange in Bronze and Verwundetenabzeichen.

Anton Bayer was born on 30 May 1914 and died on 7 July 1996. At the end of the war he was taken prisoner by Soviet forces on 8 May 1945 and remained in Soviet captivity until 10 April 1948.

The photograph

The item consists of an original wartime studio portrait in postcard format, showing Bayer wearing his Knight’s Cross. The reverse bears a handwritten postwar signature by Anton Bayer, making this a particularly desirable combination of an original wartime portrait and signed Ritterkreuzträger photograph.

The photograph retains its original scalloped photographic edges and shows normal age-related handling/storage wear consistent with an original period photograph.

An excellent portrait for collectors of Ritterkreuzträger, Grenadier-Regiment 19, 7. Infanterie-Division, Panzerjäger personnel and signed Wehrmacht photographs.