Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Leopold Schrems. Obergefreiter Leopold Schrams (04.10.1922 in Kirchberg † 07.08.2008 in Seekirchen) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on July 27, 1944 as Obergefreiter und Gruppenführer in the Stabskompanie/ Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 85 of the 5. Gebirgs-Division.
Obergefreiter Schrems was a squad leader in Geb.Jäg.Rgt. 85 during the fighting in Italy in summer 1944. On May 27 Schrems contributed greatly to the successful defense of his unit when it came under attack by Allied tanks. An estimated 25 enemy tanks attacked Schrems’ group, which consisted of only 24 Gebirgsjäger and an anti-tank gun. The gun was quickly knocked out, leaving the remaining German soldiers in a very bad situation. As enemy tanks began to approach, Schrems’ left his position to attack individual allied tanks three times and eliminated them with Panzerfausts (one of which was destroyed at a range of only 15 meters). For his boldness that day he received the Knight’s Cross. (Source: TracesofWar)
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.
