5th Contemporary History Auction
Bidding on 377 lots has ended on 12th July 2015. 87% of all lots sold
Schw.Pz.Abt.507 - Knights Cross recipient Lt. Ratajczak
LOT 6-001
SOLD
Auction ended
12th July 2015 | 06:00 pm CEST
RESULT
€
4.900,00
EXCL. BUYER’S PREMIUM:
17,5 %
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DESCRIPTion, DETaILS & Photos
PERIOD
COUNTRY Deutschland
COUNTRY Deutschland
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
DIMENSIONS
MAKER
WEIGHT
WEIGHT
LOT 6-001
EAN 2000000026830
EAN 2000000026830
LOT 6-001
PERIOD
COUNTRY Deutschland
PERIOD
COUNTRY Deutschland
EAN 2000000026830
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
MAKER
WEIGHT
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
MAKER
WEIGHT
PERIOD
COUNTRY Deutschland
LOT 6-001
COUNTRY Deutschland
LOT 6-001
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
EAN 2000000026830
MAKER
WEIGHT
DIMENSIONS
EAN 2000000026830
MAKER
WEIGHT
Description
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Grouping to Tiger tank commander Leutnant Edmund Ratajczak, recipient of the 1939 Knight´s Cross of the Iron Cross, the German Cross in gold as well as the Tank Assault Badge in silver "25". He was awarded the Knight´s Cross on 10.2.1945 as Zugführer 1./Schw.Pz.Abt.507 (Tiger) as an Oberfeldwebel. Ratajczak was born on 13.2.1916 and died on 29.10.1998.
Ratajczak joined Panzer-Abteilung 65 in 1937. He was trained as a tank radio operator in 1937. During the Poland Campaign his tank was shot. Ratajczak was the only surviving as described in the booklet "Der Kampf in Polen - Kriegstagebuch der 1./Pz.Abt.65". There are two more "Kriegstagebücher" of 1./Pz.Abt.65 (France and Russia Campaign) part of the grouping. Ratajczak is mentioned in both of them. The Russian Campaign one is dedicated to Feldwebel Ratajczak (Christmas 1941) and must have been sent to him when he was in military hospital.
Ratajczak was part of the Sudetenland Campaign, the Poland, France and Russia Campaign. He served from the first day of WW2 until 7.4.1945 when he was seriously insured at Osterode (East Germany) and became blind for some time after he was rescued by his comrade Victor out of his burning tank. Part of the grouping is a postwar newspaper article about the reunion of Ratajczak, his life-safer Victor and their both Red Cross nurse Ursula Questel in 1960. Ratajczak is wearing sun glasses on the photograph.
A 12.10.1993 dated document provides interesting details of his service time which are confirmed by original document part of this grouping:
October 1937 - Joining the Wehrmacht with Panzer-Abteilung 65
19.9.1939 - Injured at Sierakow during the Poland Campaign and the Tank Assault Badge in silver. Promoted to an Unteroffizier for bravery
1940 - France Campaign. Awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class
9.9.1941 - near Repusi (Leningrad). His tank was shot. Ratajczak was insured. Transport to military hospital at Elbing. Promoted to a Feldwebel for bravery
Sommer 1942 - Bretagne, France. Awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class. Serving with 6./Pz.Rgt.11
14.4.1943 - Russian Campaign - Awarded the German Cross in gold (Charkow and Belgorod)
April 1944 - training at the Panzerarmeewaffenschule. Volunteered to Schwere Panzer Abteilung 507 (Tiger)
10.2.1945 - Awarded the Knight´s Cross in East Prussia, Tuchler-Heide
3.4.1945 - Promoted to a Leutnant by Major Schöck
7.4.1945 - Seriously insured in Osterode (Harz, Germany)
Documents:
There is a folder full of interesting documents. His "Verpflichtungsschein", a "Feldwebel" promotion, original newspaper articles promoting the German Cross awarding to Ratajczak. A letter of congratulation to the awarding of the German Cross sent by DEW in September 1943.
Probably the most important document is a 9.3.1945 dated letter sent from "Oberkommando des Heeres - Referat Ritterkreuzträger" to the wife of Ratajczak. It congratulates to the awarding of the Knight´s Cross and asks for several portrait photos of Ratajczak wearing the Knight´s Cross. Ratajczak was in war at that time and badly insured in April which is why they never did a portrait of him with his Knight´s Cross. The document comes with the original envelope. Another 9.3.45 dated letter gives instruction to the potential photographer how he should take the portrait of Ratajczak. He was asked to show all awards and pay attention not to miss awards like a Tank Destruction Badge. A very interesting document.
There is also a period time newspaper article mentioning Ratajczak as lately awarded the Knight´s Cross.
There are his POW documents as well as other interesting postwar papers. One 1953 dated letter sent from the "Deutsche Dienststelle" confirms that they had no copies of the Knight´s Cross award document as well as of the Leutnant promotion.
Award documents:
Certificate to the German Cross in gold. Awarded to Edmund Ratajczak as a Feldwebel serving with 6./Pz.Gren.Rgt.11 on 14.4.1943. Facimile signed by Keitel. Oberkommando des Heeres stamped. Folded once.
Large size certificate to the Tank Assault Badge in silver "II.Stufe". Awarded to Edmund Ratajczak as a Feldwebel serving with 6./Panzer-Regiment 11 "von Hünersdorff" on 18.8.1943. Signed by the regiment commander Major Dr. Franz Bäke, recipient of the Knight´s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Folded twice.
Medals & Badges
- Case of issue for the German Cross in gold. Good condition. Opening and closing correctly. Signs of age. Condition 2.
- German Cross in gold. Cloth type. Grey backing. Clearly worn. Good condition. Great patina.
- A fanatic 1st pattern Wound Badge in silver "hohl verbödet" in its case of issue. Exactly the one shown on period time photos of Ratajczak. Great patina! Good condition 2. Rest of a Hauptmünzamt Wien label to the case.
- 1st pattern Wound Badge in black. Good condition. Exactly the one shown on period time photos of Ratajczak.
- 1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class. Type: "Round 3". Good condition 2.
- Sudetenland Medal in Wilhelm Deumer maker marked bag. Bag slightly damaged.
- Miniature pin for an Iron Cross and Wound Badge. "L/...) stamped.
- One postwar Pz.Rgt.11 badge. 1987
Photo album & photos:
There is a three page list explaining the album page by pagem written by his son. That list was certainly done in cooperation with Ratajczak when he was still alive. It contains information which are not provided by the pictures or subtitles only.
The photo album starts with his RAD service time with 2/132 (Röwitz) in 1937. There only five pages with RAD related photos. All other pages page are documenting his Panzer service time from September 1937. A nice photo of him with his early "Schutzmütze" right to the beginning. He started with III./Panzer-Abteilung 65. You can see the "65" to the shoulder boards of the black uniforms. There are a few pages about the first trainings followed by photos taken during the annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938. Quite impressive photos with a lot of tanks, cannons and other equipment.
The next page is subtitled "Abfahrt nach Polen". It is August 1939 dated. One great photo shows two soldiers inside the tank subtitled "Im Panzer!". You can see No. "11" to the shoulder boards. The next are are photos taken during the "Feldzug Frankreich". He subtitled a portrait photo of himself with "Die letzten frohen Stunden" (the last happy hours). There are quite a few photos taken in France. Nearly all are nicely subtitled. One photo shows two graves. They unit is again 1./Pz.Abt.65.
One photo shows Hauptmann Loewe on 23.6.40. He wears his Knight´s Cross he was awarded on 4.9.40 as Chef 3./Pz.Abt.65. The next photos show Ratajczak after the France Campaign back in Germany. He wears the Wound Badge 1st pattern (part of this grouping) and a brand new Tank Assault Badge as well as the ribbon for the Iron Cross 2nd Class. He was a Feldwebel at that time.
The last pictures were taken during the Russian Campaign and back home in German on "Fronturlaub".
Roughly 208 original photos in total. A few are missing however there are around 100 loose photos part of the grouping and at least a few definitely belong inside the album.
The loose photos were packed in small bags with the year written on it. I suppose it was sorted by the veteran´s son after looking through the pictures together with his father. There are great shots taken in Russia, France and even Italy (Feb-March 1942, Abbazia). Another 100 single photos including excellent studio portraits of him in black Panzer wrapper as a NCO and Feldwebel. One small photo shows Ratajczak with his Knight´s Cross. The cross was period time painted on the negative of the photo. It is dedicated to his sister and 1945 dated. There are also a few postwar reproduction pictures of him wearing the Knight´s Cross. Finally, a few great Tiger tank shots.
In addition, there is a stunning large size portrait of Ratajczak wearing his German Cross in gold, exactly that Wound Badge in silver 1st pattern which is part of the grouping as well as his Tank Badge in silver and the Iron Cross 1st Class. He wears his black Panzer wrapper. A excellent photograph in its original frame. 47cm + 38cm. "Sommer 1943" dated. Taken by Foto Lohhöfner, Bielefeld. "Ratajczak" named and 33151 numbered.
Edged weapon:
Wehrmacht parade bayonet. HÖRSTER maker marked. period time painted scabbard. Nice condition 2.
Wehrmacht parade sword by HÖLLER. Maker marked blade. Very nice patina. Period time painted scabbard. No dents. Nice handle. Length: 95cm.
Books:
Nice selection of postwar books he collected including two war regiment chronicles:
- Bilderband der 6.Panzer-Division
- Panzer-Regiment 11 / Panzer-Abteilung 65
Ratajczak will be most definitely mentioned inside that books due to his important awards. He was in contact with the book author too.
A very rare grouping which has never been in collectors hands before.
Condition
See description
