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Knight's Cross winner grouping to Feldwebel Herbert Schneider (1915-2011) serving with Flak-Regiment 49. Knight's Cross on 5.2.1944 as Flakkampftruppführer.
Badges
1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class converted into a Knight's Cross. Three-part construction. Iron Core. Original black paint. Comes with an original Knight's Cross neck ribbon and the suspension loop (not hallmarked). Length ribbon: 15 cm. Total length with both bands: 45 cm.
1939 Iron Cross 1st Class. Three-part construction. Iron Core. Original black paint. "100" maker marked on the pin. With the case of issue.
1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class with the original ribbon. Iron core.
Luftwaffe Flak Badge. Zinc. No maker's mark.
Wound Bage in Black. Maker marked but very hard to read.
1939 War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords and the original ribbon as well as the matching ribbon bar.
15 Luftwaffe Flak photos and an excellent portrait photo of him. He is wearing the Knight's Cross. Hand-signed by him and dated "22.IV.1944" on the back. Postcard size.
Insignia
Lufwaffe Flak shoulder boards for a Feldwebel and collar tabs for an Oberfeldwebel/Stabsfeldwebel. Slip-on type.
Luftwaffe EM/NCO breast eagle.
37 cm long silver braid (Tresse).
Ribbon for the Iron Cross 2nd Class, but used to wear a Knight's Cross (converted). Including the suspension loop, not stamped. Length: 39 cm.
In addition, another ribbon for the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Also converted into a Knight's Cross neck ribbon. Unfortunately, half is missing, about 50% are present. Length: 29.5 cm.
Belt buckles
Lufwaffe EM/NCO field belt buckle. Made from steel. No maker's mark. Used condition.
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Signs of use and age.
Condition
2/2-3
Historical information
NAME
Knights Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross
DATE OF INSTITUTION
1. September 1939 as the third and new grade of the re-instituted Order of the Iron Cross
AWARD CRITERIA
The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded for exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy and for outstanding merit in troop leadership. The awarding required the previous awarding of the two lower grades. The Knights Cross was solely awarded by the Führer upon the proposal of the soldiers unit and issued by the Heerespersonalamt. The Knights Crosses were stored at the Ordenskanzlei in Berlin, to be sent to the awardee after approval. There were no Knights Crosses stored at any level of the Wehrmacht before the end of April 1945.
MANUFACTURERS
The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross was produced by seven manufacturers, not including variations amongst the individual companies. The Knights Crosses can be found either unmarked (early Juncker and 3/4 Ring), with a silver content mark, with an LDO number (L/12 and L/52), and later on with the company’s Präsidialkanzlei number (2, 20, 65, and 4). Private sales were forbidden after October 1941.
AWARD NUMBERS
Accurate numbers are not known but the closest estimation is around 7,200, and most likely another couple of hundred on stock at the Präsidialkanzlei.
AWARD DOCUMENTS
The awardee received a preliminary document in A5 format and issued in the name of the Führer by the responsible personnel offices of the three branches of the Wehrmacht. The formal document (Große Mappe) was issued later and only until date of late 1942 / early 1943 due to the huge backlog.
WEARING METHOD
The Knights Cross was worn around the neck on a wider red white and black ribbon which came within the black award case of the Knights Cross.
.jpg "Major Heinrich Höfer - restored (!) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross \"65\"")
