141 Oakleaves with Swords to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross awarded to Generalmajor Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski
The oak leaves with swords silver. On the reverse silver mark "900" and the maker's mark "21 " of Godet & Co, Berlin. Reverse suspension loop with old repair. With original short neck ribbon with hand sewn button wholes.
Also included is the original award telegram to Major General Hermann von Oppeln Bronikowski for the Oak Leaves with Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by the Führer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler on 18 April 1945:
"IN VIEW OF YOUR EVER PROVEN HEROISM, I CONFER ON YOU, AS THE 142nd SOLDIER OF THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES, THE OAK LEAVES WITH SWORDS TO THE KNIGHT'S CROSS OF THE IRON CROSS - ADOLF HITLER".
In addition also includedis a congratulatory telegram for the award of the swords from Field Marshal Schoerner, Commander-in-Chief of Army Group Centre (Heeresgruppe Mitte). Dated 19 April 1945.
All awarded pieces of this type show frosty silvering. This is often largely worn off but is always visible in certain places.
The example offered here is in very fine condition and has most of the frosty silvering.
The pieces issued from mid-1943 onwards with this maker's mark are of great rarity. In total only 156 soldiers of the German Wehrmacht were awarded the Oak Leaf with Swords to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The only foreign recipient was Japanese Grand Admiral Yamamoto on May 27, 1943 (posthumously). Some sources question some of the awards from the last few weeks of the war and quote a total of only 147 awards.
Flawless original issue in unsurpassable quality and very fine condition.
With provenance practically impossible to obtainof the greatest rarity.
An important ensemble of this brave armoured tank commander.
Included are various magazines and publications about Major General Bronikowski, in which the awards and documents offered in this auction are illustrated and described.