Grouping to Major Paul Class serving as a squadron leader with I./Kampfgeschwader 100. Awarded the Knight's Cross on 14. March 1943. He has flown 311 sorties and was involved in the Battle of Stalingrad. Killed by Russian sailors on 20. June 1943 after a water landing in the Sea of Azov.
Luftwaffe Soldbuch. Issued on 1. August 1939 without his photo. His units are listed on page 4. Awards: Luftwaffe Long Service Award 2nd Class, 1939 Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, Squadron Clasp for Kampfflieger in Silver and Gold, Wound Badge in Black, German Cross in Gold on 27.11.1941, East Medal, Squadron Clasp for Kampfflieger in Gold with Pendant, Luftwaffe Honor Goblet on 22.5.1941 (hard to read), and Knight's Cross on 14.3.1943. Noted on pages 22 and 22a. Also awarded the Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge and Squadron Clasp for Kampfflieger in Bronze, however not listed. Page 15 shows the note "Did not return from a combat mission on 19.6.1943".
Luftwaffe pilot's license. Issued by Luftwaffenkommando See on 26.10.1938. His original photo is in place.
Wehrmacht driver's license. Issued by Luftkreiskommando III on 30.07.1936. His original photo is in place.
The front cover of each ID card was crossed out with a red pen. This was done for fallen or missing soldiers.
Including a period time newspaper cutting and four copies of original photos.
Condition
2
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\"")
