Wartime Studioportrait of a Luftwaffe Soldier (most likely Flying Personnel as he earned both the Iron Cross 2nd Class and Iron Cross 1st Class which Mechanics didn't easily earn) who is wearing the Cloth badge version of the Air Gunner's and Flight Engineer's badge (Fliegerschützenabzeichen für Bordschützen und Bordmechaniker), the Iron Cross 1st Class and ribbon for the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Writing on the backside ('zur herzlichen Erinnerung Fritz Kuhn, Riga, den 5. Oktober 1941.'). Postcardsize, Studio mark in the right bottom corner.
Studioportrait taken somewhere in the Balkans (likely somewhere in Hungary?) of 3x Waffen-SS and most likely 1x SD Member, wearing a Heer Gefreiter Chevron to indicate "Alte Kämpfer" or .. ? Interesting portrait. Postcardsize.
Postwar Signature of Flemish Easternfront Volunteer, Tony Van Dyck, who served with the Legion "Flandern", Sturmbrigade "Langemarck" and the Division "Langemarck". A4 size!
Original Willrich Verlag Postcard, Nr. E2 of Adolf Galland who earned the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves, Swords and Diamonds with Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter". Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland (19 March 1912 – 9 February 1996) was a German Luftwaffe general and flying ace who served throughout the Second World War in Europe. He flew 705 combat missions and fought on the Western Front and in the Defence of the Reich. On four occasions, he survived being shot down and he was credited with 104 aerial victories, all of them against the Western Allies. Normal signs of use after all these years.
Original Hoffmann Postcard, Nr. 11 of Joachim Müncheberg, who earned the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords with Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders".
Joachim Müncheberg (31 December 1918 – 23 March 1943) was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II and an ace credited with 135 air victories. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Western Front, with 33 claims over the Eastern Front. Of his 102 aerial victories achieved over the Western Allies, 46 were against Supermarine Spitfire fighters.
Scarce Signature of Pio Filippani Ronconi, Veteran and Officer of the Legione SS Italiana and 29. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (italienische Nr. 1). Signed on a paper copy.
When Italy entered World War II (10 June 1940), he enlisted as a volunteer, fighting in Libya. He was wounded twice and he was decorated for his valour. After the fall of Benito Mussolini and the creation of the Italian Social Republic, he enlisted in the Italian SS-Legion, later reorganized as the 29th Division of the Waffen-SS “Italia” reaching the rank of Obersturmführer. He fought at Nettuno, receiving the Second-Class Iron Cross during the battle. He was probably the last surviving member of the Bataillon "Degli Oddi". (Reference: Wikipedia)
Paul Hausser (7 October 1880 – 21 December 1972) was a German general and then a high-ranking commander in the Waffen-SS who played a key role in the post-war efforts by former members of the Waffen-SS to achieve historical and legal rehabilitation.
Hausser served as an officer in the Prussian Army during World War I and attained the rank of general in the inter-war Reichsheer. After retirement, he joined the SS and was instrumental in forming the Waffen-SS. During World War II, he rose to the level of army group commander. He led Waffen-SS troops in the Third Battle of Kharkov, the Battle of Kursk and the Normandy Campaign. Hausser was the highest-ranking officer in the Waffen-SS alongside Sepp Dietrich. Unlike Dietrich, Hausser was a trained staff officer before joining the SS. After the war he became a founding member and the first spokesperson of HIAG.
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Postwar Signature of Reinhold Fuss, Veteran and Officer of the LSSAH and 15. Kompanie/ SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 25 "Hitlerjugend" (same Kompanie as Otto Funk) of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend". Signed on the reverse.
Postwar Signature of Otto Baum. Otto Baum, (15 November 1911 – 18 June 1998) was a high-ranking commander (Oberführer) of the Waffen-SS during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Baum was born on 15 November 1911 in Hechingen-Stetten, a son of a merchant. From 1930 to 1932, he studied two semesters of agriculture at the University of Hohenheim. He served as a battalion commander in 3rd SS Totenkopf Infantry Regiment during the Operation Barbarossa, invasion of the Soviet Union. After recovering from severe wounds in 1943, he was promoted to regimental commander, and eventually reached the rank of SS-Oberführer. He took command of the SS Division Das Reich in July 1944, and saw action in the Falaise Pocket. (Source: Wikipedia)
Postwar Signature of Karl-Heinz Lichte, who earned the German Cross in Gold, 2 Panzer Destruction Badges and Knight's Cross with SS-Panzer-Regiment 5 of the 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking".
Knight's Cross awarded for his actions during the relief efforts toward Budepest in January 1945. Near the town of Tata he and his Kompanie succeeded in rolling up a Soviet Pakfront from the flank, destroyed 40 guns and 6 tanks without friendly losses. By this action the forward march of the Division was enabled, and Lichte would be appropriately recognized.
The date for the awarding of the Knights Cross has yet been unconfirmed. Is part of the by SS-Obergruppenführer Dietrich with 6.SS-Panzerarmee awarded decorations on 6th May 1945.
Postwar Signature of Ortwin Pohl, who earned the German Cross in Gold as Chef 4. Kompanie/ SS-Panzer-Regiment 2 "Das Reich" of the 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich". Stunning photograph with (1) Ernst Barkmann, (2) Egon Cohrt, (3) Ortwin Pohl and (4) Franz Frauscher.
Postwar Signature of Hellmuth Heye (on a original postwar photograph in civil unlike a reprint of a wartime photograph) on the backside. The signature on the letter is that of someone else responding to the inquiry to obtain a signature of Heye (and tells Heye is very busy but that he attached a photograph with Heye's signature).
Postwar Signature of Karl-Friedrich Künzel (2 in total: 1x on Photograph, 1x on letter containing his service), earned the Knight's Cross in December 1943 as Commander of Schnellboot S-28 in the 1. Schnellbootflottille.