Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Hans Teusen. Major Hans Teusen (26.07.1917 in Salz-Montabaur † 11.02.2011 in Bad Neuenahr) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on June 14, 1941 as Leutnant und Zugführerin the 6. Kompanie/ Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 of the 2. Fallschirmjäger-Division.
Awarded for his actions at the Corinth canal on the 26.04.1941. After he and his Zug were dropped south of the canal they stormed into action and quickly eliminated an anti-aircraft battery at the south end of the bridge. They were, however, unable to prevent the demolition of this bridge. With this Teusen and the rest of his Kompanie (led by Hauptmann Schirmer) began their attack into Corinth. Teusen, with the help of two captured self-propelled AA guns, pushed into the city. There he met with Schirmer again and pressed on towards Tolos, taking hostile positions and destroying their rearguard. Teusen was wounded at this stage of the battle but remained with his troops. As the battle continued to go in the Germans' favour, Teusen sent an English speaking Feldwebel to persuade the British to surrender. With a little bit of bluffing this attempt was successful, and Teusen's Zug accepted the surrender of 72 British officers and 1200 men. (Source: TracesofWar)
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 Gerhart Schirmer. Oberstleutnant Gerhart Schirmer (09.01.1913 † 05.09.2004) earned the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on June 25, 1943 with III. Bataillon/ Jäger-Regiment "Hermann Göring", the Ritterkreuz on June 14, 1941 as Hauptmann und Führer of the II. Bataillon/ Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 and the Eichenlaub on November 18, 1944 as Oberstleutnant und Kommandeurof Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 26. Good Condition.
Gerhart Schirmer joined as a Lieutenant in September 1935 the Luftwaffe where he followed the pilot training course. In May 1939 he transferred to the Fallschirmjägers (Paratroopers) and was promoted to Chef der 6. Kompanie des Fallschirmjäger-Regiments 2. With this unit he took part in the invasion of Poland where they secured and hold a bridgehead over the river Weichel. In May 1940 Hauptmann Schirmer jumped during the invasion of the Netherlands in the area of Katwijk to conquer the airfield of Valkenburg. During the battle of the Balkan he jumped on April 26th 1941 near the Greek city of Corinth and after some heavy fighting they conquered the city and they took some 2100 British prisoners. For this action he was later awarded with the Knight’s Cross. Hauptmann Schirmer also fought on Crete, in Russia and Tunisia till he was promoted in May 1943 to Major and took over the command of the 5th Fallschirmjäger-Regiment. With this unit he fought in Italy till he was ordered in January 1944 to form a new Fallschirmjäger-Regiment. This became the 16th Fallschirmjäger-Regiment and as commanding officer of this unit he fought on the West and East front. He was taken prisoner in Berlin at the end of the war and was finally released in January 1956. In December of that same year Gerhart Schirmer joined the Bundeswehr and he retired as a Colonel in April 1971. (Source: Tracesofwar)
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.
Fallschirmschützenschein (Jump License) of Oberjäger Brinkmann. Signature on the back is of (at the time of signing) Oberleutnant u. Adjutant Hans Teusen (who earned the Ritterkreuz on June 14, 1941 and the DKIG on September 10, 1944) of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2. Good condition.
