The Third German Reich 1933 - 1945Orders and DecorationsKnights Cross

66 Formal Knight's Cross Award Certificate to Oberwachtmeister Ernst Alex, Zugführer i.d. 1./ St. Gesch. Battr. 243.

The document is handwritten on a large parchment sheet (double sheet), the name of the recipient is in raised gold letters.
Dated "Führerhauptquartier den 1. August 1941". Signed by the Führer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler (pantograph).

The Knight's Cross folder made of red Saffian - leather with gold embossed national eagle. The inside covers with parchment mirrors and hand-gilded line edging.
Signed "FRIEDA THIERSCH" on the lower back edge.
The leather retaining sheet torn at the lower end. The folder with very minor signs of age. The vellum sheets of the award document with the handwritten text in absolutely superb (mint) condition.

Included a numner of very nice and interesting original photos of the recipient.

Oberwachtmeister Ernst Alex, Zugführer i.d. 1./ St. Gesch. Battr. 243, was awarded the Knight’s Cross on the 01.08.1841. Oberwachtmeister Alex destroyed a total of 10 enemy tanks with his Sturmgeschütz during the tank battle at Jaworow on the 26.06.1941 and during a nocturnal attack on the night of the 27./28.06.1941. These swift and determined actions established the appropriate conditions for a rapid advance on Lemberg by his Division [1. Gebirgs-Division]. During this continued forward advance he encountered a Soviet armoured train at the Kopysynac railway station. He opened fire on it from very close range and successfully destroyed its heavy 15-cm gun. Pursuing the enemy closely, his greatest achievement came on the 23.07.1941. Fighting at the head of his Division, he secured the crossing over the Bug river at Brazlaf on this day. In the process he became badly wounded.”

Alex was awarded the Knight’s Cross for these achievements as well as for reaching a personal total of 27 tanks destroyed.

Badly wounded again towards the end of the war he lost both of his legs.

Very fine and extremly rare award document for this brave Sturmgeschütz NCO.

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10.000,00