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Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski (1899 - 1972) was a high-ranking Waffen-SS commander in the rank of a SS-Obergruppenführer. He is infamous for leading the brutal suppression of the Warsaw Uprising During in 1944. Von dem Bach-Zelewski Despite was also in charge of the anti partisan campaigns (Bandenbekämpfung) during WWII. His responsibility for numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity, Bach-Zelewski did not stand trial in Nuremberg, and instead was used as a witness for the prosecution. He was later convicted for politically motivated murders after the war and died in prison in 1972. All items to von dem Bach-Zelewski listed in this auction came straight from his daughter about one year ago. It was now consigned for auction by the collector who purchased his grouping from his daughter. All items are available for the first time on the market.
Personal German Cross in gold with screw-back setup manufactured by Juncker, Berlin. Extremely rare private purchased type. Only available for purchase and never awarded by the Wehrmacht like this. This must be one of several German Crosses he had.
Missing screw-back. Back-plate with pin and four rivets. Veery nice gilding to the wreath. Swastika with damage to the enamel.
Overall nice patina.
Weight: 44,9gr.
The cross is shown on many period time photos of Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski.
Condition
See description
Historical information
NAME
German Cross in Gold
DATE OF INSTITUTION
28. September 1941 as a military order in two grades. A special grade, the German Cross in Gold with Diamonds was planned and prototypes were made.
AWARD CRITERIA
The golden grade was awarded for multiple exceptional deeds of bravery or leadership and the silver grade for exceptional deeds in troop leadership. The award of the Iron Cross 1. Class, the Spange 1. Class , or the War Merit Cross 1. Class was a pre-requisite for the awarding of the German Cross. The German Cross was located above the Iron Cross 1. Class and War Merit Cross 1. Class but below the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, respectively the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross.
MANUFACTURERS
The German Cross was awarded by the decision of the supreme commanders of the three army branches.
The German Cross was produced by five known manufacturers and maybe one or two not yet known companies. The known manufacturers are Deschler & Sohn, who designed the cross, Gebrüder Godet, C.E. Juncker, C.F. Zimmermann, and Otto Klein.
Early crosses are unmarked and from the end of 1942/early 1943 onwards, the crosses were marked with the Präsidialkanzlei numbers of the companies.
Due to the heavy and slightly bulky nature of the award, a cloth version was authorized in June 1942. The cloth version can be found with eight different cloth backing colors: field gray (army), dark blue (navy), blue-gray (LW), black (tank forces), stone gray (assault gun), olive (Africa Heer), light khaki (Africa LW), and white (summer uniform).
AWARD NUMBERS
Accurate numbers are not known but the closest estimation based on surviving documents are 25,964 for the gold grade and 2,471 for the silver grade. A known total of eleven soldiers were awarded both grades.
The crosses were mainly stored and registered at the Präsidalkanzlei and were given out by this office. It is possible that smaller numbers were stored at the personnel offices of the three army branches.
AWARD DOCUMENTS
The Heer issued preliminary award documents in the format A5, followed by a larger (356 mm x 254 mm) formal document. The Luftwaffe and the Kriegsmarine never issued any preliminary documents, only the formal ones in the same size as the formal document of the Heer.
WEARING METHOD
The German Cross was worn at the right side of the uniform on the breast pocket.
.jpg "Major H. Knauth (J.G.51) - German Cross \"1\"")
