3x Award Docs – Artillerie-Regiment 186 – 86. Infanterie-Division

Excellent original award grouping belonging to Gefreiter Johann Schröder of the 8. Batterie/ Artillerie-Regiment 186 of the 86. Infanterie-Division. The grouping contains three important wartime award documents, documenting his Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen and Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, all awarded during the 1941/42 Eastern Front campaign.

The Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse was awarded to Gefreiter Johann Schröder, 8./ Artillerie-Regiment 186, on 12 January 1942. The certificate bears the official divisional stamp and the original signature of Generalmajor Helmuth Weidling, Kommandeur der 86. Infanterie-Division. Weidling had assumed command of the 86. Infanterie-Division on 1 January 1942, making this an early and particularly interesting example of his signed divisional award documentation. Artillerie-Regiment 186 was the divisional artillery regiment of the 86. Infanterie-Division.

The Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen certificate was subsequently issued to Schröder of 8./ Artillerie-Regiment 186, dated 30 March 1942. It again bears the divisional stamp and the signature of Generalmajor Helmuth Weidling, as commander of the 86. Infanterie-Division. The document provides an excellent second award connection to the same soldier and regiment, making the grouping considerably more desirable than a single isolated award certificate.

The third document is the Besitzzeugnis for the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, awarded to Gefreiter Johann Schröder, 8./Artillerie-Regiment 186, following a single wound suffered on 18 March 1942. The award was issued on 29 March 1942, only eleven days after the recorded wound. The certificate is signed by a Hauptmann und Abteilungskommandeur and bears the relevant unit stamp, providing direct contemporary documentation of Schröder’s injury and subsequent wound decoration.

The unit connection is particularly interesting. Artillerie-Regiment 186 formed part of the 86. Infanterie-Division, which fought on the Eastern Front from 1941 until the division’s dissolution in November 1943. During 1941/42 the division saw heavy fighting in the central sector, including the Rzhev area. The regiment itself remained with the division throughout this period.

The three documents therefore provide a coherent chronological record of Schröder’s service: EK II in January 1942 → wound in March 1942 → Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz shortly afterwards → Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in March 1942. The repeated appearance of 8./Artillerie-Regiment 186, the 86. Infanterie-Division’s official stamp and the signature of divisional commander Helmuth Weidling gives the group excellent internal consistency.

Condition: The documents are in genuine wartime condition, showing folds, creasing, age toning, foxing/discoloration and general handling/storage wear. The EK II and wound-badge certificates remain clearly legible, while the Sturmabzeichen certificate shows more pronounced creasing and age-related wear. The original stamps and signatures remain present.