Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Heinrich Hogrebe. Oberstleutnant Heinrich Hogrebe (22.06.1913 † 25.06.1998) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on April 14, 1942 as Leutnant der Reserve with 1. Kompanie/ Infanterie-Regiment 422 and the Eichenlaub on April 13, 1944 as Hauptmann der Reserve und Kommandeur of the II. Bataillon/ Infanterie-Regiment 422 of the 126. Infanterie-Division. Good condition.
Heinrich Hogrebe joined the Jäger battalion in Goslar in 1934. When the war broke out in 1939, he was at the War School in Berlin-Döberitz and was promoted to lieutenant on August 1, 1940. In October 1940 he joined Infantry Regiment 422, with which he fought in Russia from June 1941. On June 22, 1941 he was commander of the 5th company. On April 1, 1942 he was promoted to active officer and captain, on August 7, 1942 he became commander of the II Battalion. On August 17, 1942, he was awarded the Knight's Cross for his services as a company commander. In March 1944 he was seriously wounded and on April 13, 1944 he was awarded the Oak Leaves as a major for his services as commander of the II Battalion. After his recovery, on September 1, 1944, he took over the leadership of the "Greater Germany" guard battalion in Berlin. On October 1, 1944, this battalion was upgraded to a regiment and Hogrebe became its first commander. As a lieutenant colonel, he took part in the final battles for Berlin with the regiment.
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 Heinrich Hogrebe. Oberstleutnant Heinrich Hogrebe (22.06.1913 † 25.06.1998) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on April 14, 1942 as Leutnant der Reserve with 1. Kompanie/ Infanterie-Regiment 422 and the Eichenlaub on April 13, 1944 as Hauptmann der Reserve und Kommandeur of the II. Bataillon/ Infanterie-Regiment 422 of the 126. Infanterie-Division. Good condition.
Heinrich Hogrebe joined the Jäger battalion in Goslar in 1934. When the war broke out in 1939, he was at the War School in Berlin-Döberitz and was promoted to lieutenant on August 1, 1940. In October 1940 he joined Infantry Regiment 422, with which he fought in Russia from June 1941. On June 22, 1941 he was commander of the 5th company. On April 1, 1942 he was promoted to active officer and captain, on August 7, 1942 he became commander of the II Battalion. On August 17, 1942, he was awarded the Knight's Cross for his services as a company commander. In March 1944 he was seriously wounded and on April 13, 1944 he was awarded the Oak Leaves as a major for his services as commander of the II Battalion. After his recovery, on September 1, 1944, he took over the leadership of the "Greater Germany" guard battalion in Berlin. On October 1, 1944, this battalion was upgraded to a regiment and Hogrebe became its first commander. As a lieutenant colonel, he took part in the final battles for Berlin with the regiment.
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 Card (1953) of Baldur von Schirach. Baldur Benedikt von Schirach (9 May 1907 – 8 August 1974) was a German politician who is best known for his role as the Nazi Party national youth leader and head of the Hitler Youth from 1931 to 1940. He later served as Gauleiter and Reichsstatthalter ("Reich Governor") of Vienna. After World War II, he was convicted of crimes against humanity during the Nuremberg trials and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Read more on Baldur von Schirach (Wikipedia) He also took part in the French Campaign (1940) with the Infanterie-Regiment "Großdeutschland" as a Melder.
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 Gottfried Tornau. Hauptmann Gottfried Tornau (25.07.1914 † 28.04.1981) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzeson March 5, 1945 as Hauptmann und Führer of Sturmartillerie-Brigade of the Führer-Grenadier-Division "Großdeutschland".
Tornau won his Knight's Cross for actions at Nantikow (Pomerania), where he led a counterattack against a large Soviet armoured attack. He and his men halted the hostile offensive and thereby allowed thousands of wounded soldiers (as well as civilians) to flee west.
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 Wilhelm Czorny. Gefreiter Wilhelm Czorny (04.12.1924 † 22.04.1987) earned the Ritterkreuz on October 4, 1944 as Gefreiter und MG-Führer in the 2. Kompanie/ Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment "Grossdeutschland" of the "Grossdeutschland" Division. Good Condition.
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 of Wilhelm "Willi" Kessel. Oberwachtmeister Wilhelm Kessel (06.03.1915 † 03.11.2002) earned the Ritterkreuz on February 23, 1944 as Oberwachtmeister und Zugführer in the 3. Kompanie/ Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung "Großdeutschland".
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 Wartime Signature on a Postcard of Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz (also known as Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz von Groß-Zauche und Camminetz). Generalleutnant der Reserve Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz (30.07.1893 † 25.04.1968) earned the Ritterkreuz on August 25, 1941 as Major der Reserve und Kommandeur of the I. Abteilung/ Panzer-Regiment 2 of the 16. Panzer-Division, the Eichenlaub on November 13, 1942 as Oberstleutnant und Kommandeur of the I. Abteilung/ Panzer-Regiment 2 of the 16. Panzer-Division, the Schwertern on March 28, 1943 as Oberst der Reserve und Kommandeur of the Panzer-Regiment "Großdeutschland" of the Infanterie-Division "Großdeutschland"and the Brillanten on April 15, 1944 as Oberst der Reserve und Kommandeur of the Panzer-Kampfgruppe of the Heeresgruppe Nord. Good condition. Measuring: Postcardsize.
Knight’s Cross: While serving as part of the Kampfgruppe of Oberst Wagner, Strachwitz played a decisive role in its success on the 02./03.08.1941. He was able to determine that the easiest way to seize the city of Pervomaisk (a critical road junction for the Soviets) was to strike from the north. The attack was a success and Strachwitz received the Knight's Cross for his major contribution towards the victorious outcome of this battle. (via Traces of War)
Oakleaves: Awarded for the role his Abteilung played in the Division's battles near Stalingrad in August of 1942, with following actions in particular being worthy of note…
1) The armoured battles on the 07./08.08.1942, where the Division destroyed 275 Soviet tanks.
2) Reaching the Don river in two places on the 15./17.08.1942.
3) The thrust towards the Volga river north of Stalingrad, beginning on the 23.08.1942. In this advance the Abteilung overran 37 Soviet firing positions.
4) The defensive battle in the same area (especially around Hill 126). In a four day battle the 31 Panzers of the Abteilung destroyed 105 hostile tanks without loss.
Swords: Awarded for the successes of his regiment during the Third Battle of Kharkov, specifically the fighting to recapture Belgorod in the north. In addition to driving the Soviets back, the Regiment also managed to capture or destroy 150 Soviet tanks in a five-day struggle (90+ of which were in the time period 13-15.03.1943).
Diamonds: Awarded for his actions on the Narva front as an ad-hoc Kampfgruppe commander. On the 22.02.1944 he led a mixed Panzer/Sturmgeschütz formation through an unfavourable patch of forested terrain without regard for the adjacent hostile formations. By doing so he was able to succeed in breaking through the Soviet positions located behind the woods and thus contribute significantly to the integrity of the defense on the Narva front. For this action he was awarded the Diamonds to his Knight's Cross. (via Traces of War)
3x Award document set and extra paper material of Hauptmann Heinz Fielitz, who had an very interesting career as an company leader in various interesting Panzer Units, including serving in the Afrikakorps as a Tank company leader in the 21. Panzer-Division and eventually the Großdeutschland Panzer-Regiment! He became a Brigade General after the war. He also earned the Panzerkampfabzeichen "25" with Grossdeutschland. Incredible interesting career.
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class) for his service (heroic) during the Western Campaign on May 27, 1940, which was signed by Generalleutnant nd Divisionskommandeur Walter Graf von Brockdorff-Ahlefeldt (Knight’s Cross with Oakleaves, died during the war). Document has been folded twice.
Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen (General Assault Badge) for supporting 3 assaults, was awarded on January 10, 1941 for actions during the Western Campaign and was signed by Generalmajor u. Divisions-Kommandeur Heinz Hellmich (Knight’s Cross, KIA in Normandy), has been folded twice and punched in the past. Document is DIN A4, a nice big early variant! (My scanner has problems scanning this in its correct collor)
Armelband "Afrika" (Africa Cufftitle) for his service with the Afrikakorps on March 30, 1944. Signed by a Major of the O.B. Schule Cottbus.
Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Otto Ernst Remer. Generalmajor Otto Ernst Remer (18.08.1912 † 04.10.1997) earned the Ritterkreuz on May 18, 1943 as Major und Kommandeur of I. Bataillon/ Grenadier-Regiment “Grossdeutschland” and the Eichenlaub on November 12, 1943 as Major und Kommandeur of I. Bataillon/ Grenadier-Regiment “Grossdeutschland”. He played a major role in stopping the 20 July plot in 1944 against Adolf Hitler. He co-founded the Socialist Reich Party in West Germany in the 1950s, and is considered an influential figure in post-war neo-Fascist politics in Germany. Good condition. Postcardsize.
Original Film Foto Verlag Postcard Nr. R265 of Oberst Kurt Gehrke, who earned the Knight’s Cross on February 8, 1943 as Oberstleutnant und Kommandeur der I. Bataillon/ Grenadier-Regiment "Großdeutschland" of the "Großdeutschland" Division. Good condition. Postcardsize.
Stunning Wartime Studioportrait of Knight's Cross Holder Horst Niemack. Horst Niemack (10 March 1909 – 7 April 1992) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords of Nazi Germany. Niemack later took command of the Panzer Lehr Division on 10 January 1945, succeeding General Fritz Bayerlein. From 1956 Niemack served as chairman of the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).
Knight's Cross on 13 July 1941 as Rittmeister and commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5
Oak Leaves on 10 August 1941 as Rittmeister and commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 5
Swords on 4 June 1944 as Oberst and commander of Panzer-Füsilier-Regiment "Großdeutschland"
