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S029856 IRON CROSS 2ND CLASS, AWARD LIST DOCUMENT WITH SS-OBERGRUPPENFÜHRER SEPP DIETRICH’S SIGNATURE. (Eisernes Kreuz II Klasse Urteil Urkunde mit Dietrich Unterschrift)
BACKGROUND: On March 10TH 1813, Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III established the Iron Cross as a temporary award for bestowal during times of war. Originally the Iron Cross was introduced in three grades with a Grand Cross intended for award to Senior Commanders for successfully leading troops in combat and the First and Second classes for award to all ranks for bravery or merit in action. The Iron Crosses were reinstituted by King Wilhelm I on July 19TH 1870 for award during the Franco-Prussian War and again on August 5TH 1914, by King Wilhelm II for award during WWI. On September 1ST 1939 Hitler once more reinstituted the Iron Cross series of awards in the First and Second Classes and established the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. The second class medal was for award to personnel who performed a single act of bravery in combat. Recommendation for the bestowal of an Iron Cross 2ND class was initiated by a units commander which would be passed along the chain of command for approval or rejection. The ultimate decision for bestowal of an award rested with the Divisional commanders who were also permitted to grant the authority of award bestowal to commanders of smaller units within their division. Of Note: Probably the most well known of all Waffen-SS commanders, Josef, (Sepp), Dietrich had been born in Hawagen in 1892 and served with distinction in WWI. Following world war I Dietrich held various positions with the police and also served in the Oberland Freikorps fighting against Polish insurgents in Upper Silesia. On May 1ST 1928 Dietrich join the NSDAP and on May 5TH of that year he became a member of the Allgemeine-SS. On October 1ST 1933 Dietrich was appointed as the commander of SS-Oberabschnitt Ost and held the position until the end of the war although substitute commanders looked after his responsibilities when he was actively commanding units in the field. Dietrich went on to command the 1.SS-Panzer-Division LSSAH, (Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler), reached the rank of SS-Oberstgruppenführer und Generaloberst der Waffen-SS, and was one, of only two, Waffen-SS personnel to be awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak-Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Dietrich survived the war and died of a heart attack on April 21ST 1966.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 5 7/8" x 7 3/4" light weight paper document with typed, inkstamped and handwritten script. The script indicates the document was prepared by the, "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler", on "11. März 1942", at, "St. Qu.", (Staff Headquarters), for submission to the "Oberkommando des Heeres P.A", (High Command of the Army Personnel Department). The script includes the heading, "Verleihungslisten für Eiserne Kreuze 2. Klasse", (Award List for Iron Crosses 2 Class). The script continues with, "Die Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler überreicht in der Anlage die Verleihung listen für die im Einsatz Russland vom 26. Sept. 1941 bis 31. Dez. 1941 verliehenen Eisernen Kreuze 2. Klasse.", (The Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler submits the units award list from Russia for the Iron Cross 2ND class from the 26TH of September 1941 until the 31ST of December 1941.) The document also has dual inkstamps indicating it was received by the High Command on , "26 MRZ. 1942", and forwarded to the personnel department on, "27 MRZ 1942". The document has the blue inked, authorizing signature of "Der Kommandeur der Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Waffen-SS", Sepp Dietrich. The document has two small holes punched to one edge for inclusion in a binder. The document is in overall good condition with light age yellowing and two small tears by the binder holes. Of Note: The actual award bestowal list is not included.
GRADE ***3/4 PRICE $352.00
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