Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Hans-Joachim Wagner. Hauptmann Hans-Joachim Wagner (28.12.1913 in Neubrandenburg † 09.06.1985 in Kiel) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on January 25, 1945 as Hauptmann with the Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 286.
On 5 December 1944 Wagner’s Sturmgeschütze played a crucial role in blunting a Soviet breakthrough aimed towards the northwest, near Pásztó. His vehicles shot up a number of Soviet tanks and forced the survivors and their accompanying infantry to break off the attack. He then rallied a number of fleeing Flak gunners of the 18. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Horst Wessel” and got them to reoccupy their gun emplacements. Between these and his own assault guns Wagner was able to establish a blocking position that held for several days without reinforcements. For this accomplishment he was awarded the Knight’s Cross.
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.
