126 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, verliehen an an den Jagdflieger Oberleutnant Heinrich Krafft, 1. / J.G. 51.
Non-ferrous metal version, silver-plated. The wreath is gilded and placed on a red enamel band. The swastika is enamelled black. On a short pin. 6 ball-headed rivets on the back. A very beautiful, early example.
Heinrich Krafft was born on 13 August 1914 in Bilin, Bohemia. He joined 1./J. G. 51 in 1940 and became its commander in May 1942. He scored his first victory on 21 May 1940. After his 46th aerial victory, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 18 March 1942 and by this time he had already made over 300 enemy flights.
On 14 December 1942, Captain Krafft was shot down by Russian anti-aircraft fire near Bjeloi. He survived the crash, but fell victim to a Bolshevik war crime and was beaten to death by their soldiers. Captain Krafft achieved a total of 78 aerial victories. 74 of these were on the Eastern Front and 4 in the West.