Rare Wehrmacht-Führerschein – Issued to Ritterkreuzträger Hans-Joachim Wagner

Original Wehrmacht-Führerschein (Zweitschrift) to later Ritterkreuzträger Hans-Joachim Wagner – at the time serving with Feldpostnummer 59869 B (1. Batterie / Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 261).

• Name: Hans-Joachim Wagner

• Born: 28 December 1913, Neubrandenburg

• Died: 9 June 1985, Kiel

• Rank at issue: Soldat of a Sturmgeschütz unit (later Hauptmann d.R.)

• Document: Wehrmacht driver’s license, Zweitschrift (duplicate), valid only in connection with the Soldbuch

• Dated: 18.08.1944

• Authorisation: Permits him to drive motor vehicles with internal-combustion engines of classes 1–3

• Unit notation: Feldpostnummer 59869/B = 1. Batterie / Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 261

• Signature: Signed by Major und Kommandeur Fritz Konopka (NOT Gerhard Konopka), as “Hauptmann u. Führer der Brigade”, with clear unit stamp

Wagner later became a decorated assault-gun commander:

• Decoration: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, 25.01.1945

• Rank / unit at award: Hauptmann der Reserve, Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 286

• Reason for award (summary): On 5 December 1944, near Pásztó in Hungary, Wagner’s Sturmgeschütze helped stop a Soviet breakthrough to the northwest. His guns knocked out several enemy tanks, forced the remaining tanks and accompanying infantry to break off the attack, and he then rallied fleeing Flak gunners from 18. SS-Panzergrenadier-Division “Horst Wessel”, bringing them back into their positions. With these Flak guns and his assault guns he created a blocking line that held for several days without reinforcement – an action that earned him the Knight’s Cross.

Note: Sold on Commission