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WWII GERMAN ORIGINAL KNIGHT’S CROSS DOCUMENT &

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:6,000.00 USD Estimated At:12,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
WWII GERMAN ORIGINAL KNIGHT’S CROSS DOCUMENT &

FOLDER FOR OBERLEUTNANT KURT SOCHATZY WITH HITLER SIGNATURE & ASSOCIATED PHOTO ALBUM. The Knight’s Cross document is housed in its original red leather folder measuring 17 3/4" x 14 1/8" with a gold embossed Party eagle on the front cover. The formal presentation folder was likely handmade by Frieda Thiersch. The document reads, “IM NAMEN DES DEUTSCHEN VOLKES VERLEIHE ICH DEM OBERLEUTNANT KURT SOCHATZY DAS RITTERKREUZ DES EISERNEN KREUZES FUHRERHAUPTQUARTIER DEN 12.AUGUST 1941 DER FUHRER UND OBERSTE BEFEHLSHABER DER WEHRMACHT (signature)”. Oberleutnant Sochatzy was born in 1915 & joined the Austrian Air Force in 1935. He transferred to the German Luftwaffe in 1938 as a Lieutenant & was assigned to 1/JG76 Jagdgruppe Aspern. He took part in the Spanish Civil War in 1939 & was awarded the Spanish Cross with swords in bronze. He then took part in the Polish campaign & was advanced to Oberleutnant. His first victories were 3 British spitfires in 1941 & 35 more aircraft while serving in Russia. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross on the occasion of his 38th victory. He is also credited with destroying 27 more aircraft on the ground & 2 locomotives. He was shot down in August of 1941 over Russia & was captured & imprisoned until September of 1947. Photo album is a combination German military history book & photo album titled, “Wehrdienst Ehrendienst” & “Erinnerungen an meine Dienstzeit”. The first part of the book is pictures of WWII German officials along with the story of the Luftwaffe. The second part of the book contains photographs of Oberleutnant Sochatzy with fellow officers & likely his wife. There are many other photos of planes & various scenes of war. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: a copy of a photo of Sochatzy in front of his plane as well as a binder of information about Sochatzy & his service. CONDITION: folder shows usual minor scuffs & scrapes with wear on the corners. Document shows very light discoloration & generally remains crisp & quite clear. Photo album shows light wear & photographs are crisp & clear. PROVENANCE: Lifetime Collection of Dennis Ottaway. (02-16020/BF). $12,000-15,000.