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Extensive grouping to Major d. Res and commander of II./Infanterie-Regiment 55 Karl Heiland. The grouping was never available on the market before and came of a household clearance lately.
Heiland, born on 24.2.1916, served as an SS-Unterscharführer with SS-Sturmbann I/73 before the war. He was a law student serving as a NS-Studentenbund leader at the same time. Heiland has started his military service time on 1.10.1934 with Infanterie-Regiment 21 and was discharged on 12.10.1935 finishing his service time. He was called back for service on 26.8.1939 and served in the Poland Campaign and the France Campaign. In 1940, he was ordered to II./Infanterie-Regiment 55 as a young Kompanie leader and sent to Russia in summer 1941. He stayed with this regiment which was part of 17. Infanterie-Regiment until he was reported missing in action on 30.9.1943. Heiland served as commander of II./Inf.Rgt.55 in Russia at this time with only 27 years of age.
Major Karl Heiland was posthumously awarded the Knight’s Cross on 27.10.1943.
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Iron Cross 1st Class case in very nice condition 2+
Condition
See description
Historical information
NAME
Order of the Iron Cross 1. Class
DATE OF INSTITUTION
1. September 1939 as the second grade of the re-instituted Order of the Iron Cross
AWARD CRITERIA
The Iron Cross was awarded for particular bravery in the face of the enemy and for outstanding merit in troop leadership. The awarding of a higher grade required the previous awarding of the lower grade. Divisional commanders were authorized to award the Iron Cross 1. Class and stocks were kept at divisional level.
MANUFACTURERS
The Iron Cross 1. Class was produced by at least 26 manufacturers, not including variations amongst the individual companies. The crosses can be found either unmarked, with Präsidialkanzlei number (after the end of 1942 / early1943), or with LDO number for private purchase.
AWARD NUMBERS
Accurate numbers are not known but the closest estimation is around 800,000 - 900,000 awarded and most likely double the number produced.
AWARD DOCUMENTS
The division issued the award document in the format A5 in the name of the Führer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht (after mid-1943 only in the name of the Führer) and was signed by the divisional commander.
WEARING METHOD
The cross was worn on the left breast pocket above any Wound Badge and war badges.
