Award Doc, ID’s (Incl. Steuermannschein!) & Photo Group – Landungs-Pionier-Bataillon 772 – Rare KVK II with Swords Doc Variant

A very interesting and unusually complete original WWII German Wehrmacht grouping to Oberschirrmeister Walter Novoczin, featuring several original documents, photographs and an award certificate connected with his service.

The centerpiece of the grouping is an original Verleihungsurkunde (award certificate) for the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern, awarded to: Oberschirrmeister Walter Novoczin of Stab/ Landungs-Pionier-Bataillon 772.

The certificate (rare variant) is dated 1 September 1944 and was issued in the name of the Führer by the Oberbefehlshaber der 18. Armee, signed (stamped) in his capacity as General der Infanterie. The original period Dienstsiegel is also present.

Particularly interesting is the identification of Novoczin as an Oberschirrmeister and his connection to Landungs-Pionier-Bataillon 772, a specialist Wehrmacht landing-pioneer formation. Contemporary documentation places elements of Pi.Ldgs.Btl. 772 in the Baltic theatre during 1944, including operations around Estonia and the Baltic islands.

The grouping also contains an original Wehrmacht driver’s qualification/document, issued in Hamburg in September 1938, authorising Novoczin for training/driving Wehrmacht motor vehicles with internal-combustion engines. This provides an interesting pre-war/early-war aspect to the grouping and helps document his technical qualifications.

Also included is an original rare Steuermannschein für heereseigene Motor-Wasserfahrzeuge, bearing Novoczin’s photograph and personal signature. This is particularly appropriate to his later association with a Landungs-Pionier formation and gives the group an interesting specialist maritime/landing-pioneer connection.

The grouping is further accompanied by multiple original period photographs and a small single ribbonbar for the KVK2.

Condition

The documents show strong original period wear, including staining, foxing, fading, creasing, tears, edge wear and handling marks. The cloth-covered documents are particularly well-used and fragile, but retain their original character and remain fully worthy of preservation and display. The photographs likewise show age-related wear consistent with genuine wartime material.

A very attractive and researchable single-soldier grouping, with an identifiable name, rank, specialist qualifications, award documentation and a substantial photographic component. The combination of a Steuermann qualification + motor-vehicle qualification + Landungs-Pionier-Btl. 772 service + KVK II with Swords makes this a particularly interesting grouping for collectors of Wehrmacht specialist personnel and German military documents.