Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Heinz-Günther Guderian. Generalmajor Heinz-Günther Guderian (23 August 1914, Goslar † 25 September 2004, Bad Godesberg) was a German officer of the Wehrmacht who rose to the rank of Generalmajor. The son of famed Panzer leader Generaloberst Heinz Guderian (Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub), he forged his own distinguished career as a General Staff officer and later in the Bundeswehr. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross in 1944 for his leadership in organizing the breakout of the 116. Panzer-Division from the Falaise pocket.

Awards and Decorations:

• Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) – 5 October 1944, as Major im Generalstab, Ia of 116. Panzer-Division.

  Awarded for his key role in the Falaise pocket breakout (August 1944). With the situation collapsing and no orders to withdraw, Guderian was instrumental in organizing and directing the division’s successful breakout on the night of 20 August 1944, preventing its total destruction.

Career Highlights:

• Entered service in 1935, steadily advancing through the officer ranks.

• Served in staff and Panzer-related assignments throughout the war, reaching the General Staff as Major i.G.

• Distinguished himself in the West in 1944 during the retreat from Normandy, where his actions earned him the Knight’s Cross.

• Promoted to Oberstleutnant i.G. in November 1944.

• Postwar, he joined the Bundeswehr, where he continued a long military career: promoted to Oberst (1960), Brigadegeneral (1963), and ultimately Generalmajor (1968), serving as General der Kampftruppen.

• Survived the war and lived until 2004, reaching the age of 90.

Item Details:

• Authentic postwar signature of Generalmajor Heinz-Günther Guderian.

• Signed on a postwar photograph.

• Condition: Clear and well-preserved autograph.

Collector’s Note:
As the son of the legendary Heinz Guderian, and himself a Knight’s Cross recipient with a distinguished postwar Bundeswehr career, Heinz-Günther Guderian’s signature is of high collector interest. His role in the Falaise pocket breakout highlights his independent achievements, apart from his father’s fame, and makes this a highly desirable piece for Panzer and Normandy campaign collectors.

Original Postwar Signature on a Photo & Letter of Theodor Busse. Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (15.12.1887 † 21.10.1986) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on January 30, 1944 as Generalleutnant und Chef des Generalstabes of the Heeresgruppe Süd.

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.

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Max-Josef Pemsel. Generalleutnant Max-Josef Pemsel (15 January 1897, Regensburg † 30 June 1985, Munich) was a German Army officer who rose to the rank of Generalleutnant during the Second World War. A veteran of both World Wars, he distinguished himself as commander of the 6. Gebirgs-Division in northern Finland, where he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and cited in the Wehrmachtbericht. After the war, Pemsel became a senior officer in the Bundeswehr, serving as NATO commander in Schleswig-Holstein.

Awards and Decorations:

• Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) – 9 December 1944, as Generalmajor and Kommandeur of 6. Gebirgs-Division.

  Awarded for his leadership during the rearguard battles of early October 1944, when German forces retreated from northern Finland. Pemsel played a decisive role in enabling major elements of the 20. Gebirgsarmee to escape. Under his command, the Petsamo–Kirkenes road was reopened after heavy fighting, preventing a Soviet encirclement of the 6. Gebirgs-Division and frustrating a pincer attack against XIX. Gebirgs-Armeekorps. His actions earned him not only the Knight’s Cross, but also a commendation in the Wehrmachtbericht of 3 November 1944.

Career Highlights:

• Served as an officer in World War I, later continuing his career in the Reichswehr.

• Developed as a skilled staff officer during the interwar years.

• Commanded the 6. Gebirgs-Division, where he distinguished himself in the demanding Arctic and Finnish theaters.

• Later served as Chief of Staff of the 7. Armee in 1944, overseeing defenses in Normandy during the D-Day invasion.

• Captured in 1945 and released from captivity in 1948.

• Entered the Bundeswehr in 1956, rising to Generalleutnant and serving as NATO’s commander in Schleswig-Holstein until his retirement.

• Lived in Munich until his death in 1985.

Item Details:

• Authentic postwar signature of Generalleutnant Max-Josef Pemsel.

• Signed on a postwar photograph.

• Condition: Clear and well-preserved autograph.

Collector’s Note:
Pemsel’s recognition as commander of the 6. Gebirgs-Division in Finland — including both the Knight’s Cross and a Wehrmachtbericht mention — marks him as one of the notable late-war Gebirgsjäger leaders. His long postwar service as a Bundeswehr and NATO general adds further interest, making his autograph especially appealing to collectors of both WWII mountain troops and Cold War German leadership.

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.

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Martin Bieber. Generalleutnant Martin Bieber (17 November 1900, Tabarz † 19 October 1974, Bad Reichenhall) was a German Army officer who rose to the rank of Generalleutnant during the Second World War. He distinguished himself as a regimental and divisional commander on the Eastern Front and was decorated with the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves for his leadership.

Awards and Decorations:

• Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, 1901st award) – 28 July 1943, as Oberst and Kommandeur of Grenadier-Regiment 184, 86. Infanterie-Division, XXXXI. Panzer-Korps, 9. Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte.

• Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub, 601st award) – 2 September 1944, as Oberst and Führer of Divisionsgruppe 86, Korps-Abteilung E, XX. Armeekorps, 2. Armee, Heeresgruppe Mitte.

Career Highlights:

• Career officer from the Reichswehr era who served with distinction throughout WWII.

• As commander of Grenadier-Regiment 184, he earned the Knight’s Cross in 1943 during the heavy fighting on the central sector of the Eastern Front.

• Promoted to divisional leadership, taking over Divisionsgruppe 86, later absorbed into Korps-Abteilung E, where he proved his resilience during the defensive battles of 1944.

• Awarded the Oak Leaves in September 1944 for his skillful leadership of these ad-hoc formations under extreme pressure during the Soviet summer offensives.

• Promoted to Generalleutnant before the end of the war, surviving captivity and later settling in Bavaria.

• Commander of 271. Volksgrenadier-Division.

Item Details:

• Authentic postwar signature of Generalleutnant Martin Bieber.

• Signed on a postwar photograph.

• Condition: Clear and well-preserved autograph.

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Wilhelm Bleckwenn. Generalmajor Wilhelm Bleckwenn (21 October 1906 † 10 May 1989) was a German Army officer who rose to the rank of Generalmajor during the Second World War. A front-line regimental commander, he earned both the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and later the Oak Leaves for his leadership of Grenadier-Regiment 487 of the 267. Infanterie-Division.

Awards and Decorations:

• Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) – 6 April 1944, as Oberst and Kommandeur of Grenadier-Regiment 487, 267. Infanterie-Division.

• Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz mit Eichenlaub, 638th award) – 18 October 1944, as Oberst and Kommandeur of Grenadier-Regiment 487, 267. Infanterie-Division.

Oak Leaves Citation:
Following the collapse of Heeresgruppe Mitte during Operation Bagration, Oberst Bleckwenn and a small Kampfgruppe under his command managed to break through to East Prussia after 44 days of continuous fighting through the Belorussian forests. In one of the most notable actions of this retreat, on the night of 4/5 August 1944, Bleckwenn led his men across the Memel river south of Druschkiniki, overcoming torrential currents and enemy resistance. For this remarkable achievement of leadership and perseverance, he was awarded the Oak Leaves.

Career Highlights:

• Career officer who served in both the Reichswehr and Wehrmacht.

• Commanded Grenadier-Regiment 487 with distinction on the Eastern Front.

• Decorated with the Knight’s Cross in April 1944 for earlier combat leadership.

• Survived the war, later attaining the rank of Generalmajor.

• Lived until 1989, passing away at the age of 82.

Item Details:

• Authentic postwar signature of Generalmajor Wilhelm Bleckwenn.

• Signed on a postwar photograph.

• Condition: Good, with a clear and well-preserved autograph.

Collector’s Note:
Bleckwenn’s Oak Leaves citation highlights one of the most dramatic survival and retreat stories of 1944. His leadership during the collapse of Heeresgruppe Mitte and his regiment’s epic retreat into East Prussia makes his signature a highly desirable piece for Eastern Front collectors.