Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern Award Doc – Festung Brody – 1944

Original award document for the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern (War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords), awarded to Unteroffizier Kurt Büchele on 20. April 1944.

The certificate was issued by Generalmajor Arthur von Briesen, in his capacity as Kommandant des festen Platzes Brody (Commandant of the Fortress of Brody), and bears his original handwritten signature and the official service seal.

An especially interesting historical detail is the possible connection to the 213. Sicherungs-Division. Its Sicherungs-Regiment 318 was involved in the defence of Brody in 1944. Although Büchele’s exact unit is not specified on the certificate, this provides a plausible connection to the division and its operations in the region.

Brody, in occupied Galicia (present-day western Ukraine), became the scene of major fighting during the Soviet summer offensive of July 1944. German forces were subsequently encircled in the area during the fighting known as the Brody Pocket.

The combination of a named recipient, an identifiable senior military signatory and the specific command designation of the Festung Brody makes this a particularly desirable document for collectors of German award certificates, military signatures and the history of the Eastern Front.

Condition

Good overall condition, with a pronounced horizontal fold across the centre, light age-related toning, minor creasing and small handling marks. The original printed details, recipient’s name, date, signature and official stamp remain present.