Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Paul-Albert Kausch. SS-Obersturmbannführer Paul-Albert Kausch (03.03.1911 in Jädersdorf † 27.10.2001 in Ingelheim) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on August 23, 1944 as SS-Obersturmbannführer und Kommandeur of the SS-Panzer-Abteilung 11 “Hermann von Salza” and the Eichenlaub on April 23, 1945 as SS-Obersturmbannführer und Kommandeur of the SS-Panzer-Regiment 11 “Hermann von Salza” of the 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division “Nordland“. Small size.
Oakleaves: Awarded for his leadership of the SS-Panzer-Regiment 11 during the final battles around Berlin. In the fighting east of and inside the city the unit destroyed 487 enemy tanks and was the backbone of many defensive battles, such as that on the 18.04.1945 west of Reichenberg (6 km north of Buckow). Here, out of a force of 70 Soviet tanks attacking from the Ringenwalde area, 50 were destroyed.
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.
Postwar Signature of Knight's Cross Holder Philipp Wild. Wild earned the Ritterkreuz (Knight’s Cross) with the 1./ SS-Panzer-Abteilung 11 "Hermann von Salza" of the 11. SS-Freiwilligen-Panzergrenadier-Division "Nordland"
Knight's Cross awarded for: "Strong enemy air units bombarded the bridgehead and city of Narwa during the nights of 6./7. and 7./8.3. in unremitting attacks, each lasting ten to eleven hours. On 8.3.44 at 07:00 hours, two and half hours of intense artillery fire began, supporting an attack that was followed by the 63rd Guards Rifle Division. That attack was supported by fourteen tanks and conducted on a narrow front against the northeast pillar of the bridgehead. Twelve tanks broke through the main line of resistance and advanced as far as the positions of the heavy infantry weapons of the SS-Freiwilligen-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 48 'General Seyffardt.' At that critical rnornent, SS-Oberscharführer Wild (1./SS-Panzer-Abteilung 11) joined the fight with his Panther and in an extremely short time destroyed all of the T-34s that had broken through. As a result of his decisive intervention, he substantially thwarted the enemy's plans to roll up the Narwa bridgehead. The destruction of the tanks was also important. Because of their loss the ongoing Soviet infantry attacks, supported by isolated tanks, could be repulsed."
Postwar Signature of Paul Albert Kausch, who earned the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves as Commander of SS-Panzer-Regiment 11 "Hermann von Salza". Large size: 16x11,7 cm.