Karl Bodenschatz – Liaison Officer between Hermann Göring & Adolf Hitler (Wounded on July 20, 1944)

Original Postwar Signature on the Reverse of an Wartime Postcard of Karl-Heinrich Bodenschatz. General der Flieger Karl-Heinrich Bodenschatz (10 December 1890, Rehau † 25 August 1979, Erlangen) was a German general and veteran of both World Wars. In the First World War he served as adjutant to the famous “Red Baron,” Manfred von Richthofen. During the Second World War, Bodenschatz became the liaison officer between Hermann Göring and Adolf Hitler, serving at the highest levels of the Third Reich’s military command.

On 20 July 1944, while serving at Hitler’s headquarters, Bodenschatz was gravely wounded in the assassination attempt at the Wolf’s Lair in Rastenburg. He received the 20. Juli 1944 Wound Badge in Gold, one of the rarest decorations of the war, awarded only to those injured in the failed plot. Bodenschatz was fortunate to survive, as officers immediately to his left and right were killed by the blast.

Item Details:

• Authentic postwar signature of General der Flieger Karl-Heinrich Bodenschatz.

• Signature is located on the reverse of an original wartime postcard.

• Condition: Clear autograph on reverse; postcard well-preserved.

Collector’s Note:
As adjutant to the legendary Red Baron in WWI and later liaison between Göring and Hitler in WWII, Bodenschatz represents a unique bridge between Germany’s two great conflicts. His survival of the 20 July plot and the award of the extremely rare Gold Wound Badge (20. Juli 1944) make his signed material highly sought after. This example, signed on the reverse of an original wartime postcard, adds further desirability for serious collectors of Luftwaffe and high-command memorabilia.