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German Cross in Gold "Bechmann" in case - Godet Berlin (heavy type)

German Cross in Gold "Bechmann" in case - Godet Berlin (heavy type)

ITEM K-7388
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RETURNED TO CONSIGNOR
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PERIOD 1918 — 1945
COUNTRY Germany 1918 - 1945
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
MAKER Gebrüder Godet & Co.
WEIGHT
LOT K-7388
EAN 2000000582894
LOT K-7388
PERIOD 1918 — 1945
COUNTRY Germany 1918 - 1945
EAN 2000000582894
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
MAKER Gebrüder Godet & Co.
WEIGHT
PERIOD 1918 — 1945
COUNTRY Germany 1918 - 1945
LOT K-7388
MATERIAL
DIMENSIONS
EAN 2000000582894
MAKER Gebrüder Godet & Co.
WEIGHT
Germany 1918 - 1945


Description

A nice German Cross in Gold made by Gebrüder Godet & Co. Berlin. Heavy type. No maker's mark to the pin. 6 rivets. Black enameled swastika without chipping. Gilt wreath. Multi-piece construction. On the back the engraved name "Bechmann" of the recipient. Light traces of use.

Weight: 70.3 gr.

With the original black case of issue. Black velvet inlay. White silk lining. Typical golden line around the top (outside). The case opens and closes correctly. A few small stains on the lining.

A very nice set!

Our research has shown that there were two German Cross in Gold recipients with the name "Bechmann":

- Unteroffizier d. R. Eduard Bechmann serving with Panzer-Artillerie-Regiment 128, awarded on 2. July 1944.

- Leutnant Heinz Bechmann serving with Aufklärungsgruppe 122, awarded on 3. October 1942. 


Condition
1-2/2+
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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