German Cross in Gold

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German Cross in Gold

Lt. Vögerl - German Cross in gold (20)

Lt. Vögerl - German Cross in gold (20)

LOT 27-0026
SOLD
Sold through our auction in December 2017
RESULT
2.470,00*
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DESCRIPTion, DETaILS & Photos
SAVE FOR LATER
PERIOD
COUNTRY Deutschland
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
MAKER view maker
WEIGHT
LOT 27-0026
EAN 2000000223100
LOT 27-0026
PERIOD
COUNTRY Deutschland
EAN 2000000223100
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
MAKER view maker
WEIGHT
PERIOD
COUNTRY Deutschland
LOT 27-0026
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
EAN 2000000223100
MAKER view maker
WEIGHT
German Cross in Gold

Description
Leutnant Georg Vögerl (1920-2010) served as a highly decorated Air Gunner and Pilot involved in the battle of Malta before he was moved to Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 26 in 1945 due to the lack of aircrafts. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross on 28.3.1945 for bravery during the battle of Stettin. 
As a Air Gunner, he was awarded the German Cross in gold on 17.10.1943 and the Luftwaffe Honor Goblet on 18.9.1942 serving with Kampfgruppe 606 which was later converted to I./K.G.77. His pilot was later Knight's Cross winner Oberfeldwebel Josef Grewe. 
Vögerl served in the aircraft which dropped a bomb over the "Rotunda Santa Marija Assunta" church at Mosta on 9.4.1942 during the Malta Campaign. Luckily, it has not detonated which i known as the "Malta miracle". He met up with British veterans in 2004 on Malta which is shown on a video part of this offer. Vögerl was filmed speaking about this memories on this campaign.
 
Please see other items to Vögerl at auction.
 
Nicely worn German Cross in gold made by Zimmermann. "20" maker marked to the reverse of the pin. Collectors call this a "light Zimermann". Weight: 44,6gr.
No damage to the enamel of the swastika. Nicely worn condition 2. 

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.

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