Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern Award Doc – Marineartillerie, Kiel, 1945 – Seekommandant Schleswig-Holstein

Originale deutsche Verleihungsurkunde zum Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern (Award Certificate for the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords), awarded to Marineartillerieobergefreiter Bernhard Schacht (Naval Artillery Senior Seaman Bernhard Schacht) on 30. Januar 1945 (30 January 1945) at Kiel-Friedrichsort.

The certificate was issued in the name of the Führers und Obersten Befehlshabers der Wehrmacht (Führer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht) under the authority of the Konteradmiral und Seekommandant Schleswig-Holstein und Mecklenburg (Rear Admiral and Naval Commander of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg).

The document bears a handwritten signature attributed provisionally to Konteradmiral Werner Stichling, who commanded the naval defence district of Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg from November 1944 until April 1945. The date and official position printed on the certificate are consistent with his command tenure.

The certificate retains its printed award details, Dienstsiegel (official service seal) and the printed designation of the issuing authority. It represents an original Kriegsmarine-Auszeichnungsurkunde (German Navy award certificate) from the final months of the Second World War.

Condition: Good overall condition, with a prominent horizontal fold, a central vertical fold, additional creasing and light age-related discolouration. The official seal is faded and shows wear, while the handwritten signature remains clearly visible.

An interesting original document for collectors of Kriegsmarine memorabilia, German military decorations and WWII award certificates, with an identifiable naval command and historically significant late-war date.