Germany, Luftwaffe. An Extensive Document Group To Oberstleutnant Kaiser; Dks Recipient

A German Cross in Silver Award Document (255 x 355 mm, very fine); a War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords certificate (149x210mm, near extremely fine); a War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords certificate (148x211mm); an early Luftwaffe employment letter (205x148mm, very fine); a Sudetenland Medal certificate (209x296mm, better than very fine); a Hindenburg Cross certificate (211x148mm, very fine); an Austrian War Commemorative Medal with Swords certificate (147x209mm, near extremely fine); a personal military service photo album (354x232mm, near mint); a collection of 31 photos (37x52mm to 149x99mm, near extremely fine to near mint); a book commemorating 50 years of Hansen’s Rubber and Packaging Company (245x343mm, extremely fine); a rank seniority confirmation letter (209x148mm, extremely fine); a summoning card from the local military district command (147x104mm, very fine); a collection of 14 personal and business letters (210x150mm to 209x296mm, very fine to extremely fine).

The German Cross in Silver certificate is named to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) Kaiser, dated to August 22, 1944, and signed in black ink by General Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel (1882–1946), Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces and a recipient of the Knight’s Cross.

The War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords certificate is named to Major Kaiser, dated to September 1, 1942, and carries a facsimile of Keitel.

The War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords certificate is named to Major of the Reserve Kaiser, dated to April 20, 1941, and carries a facsimile or possibly an original signature in blue ink of Keitel.

The employment letter states that Kaiser has been appointed a Senior Lieutenant of the Reserve on leave in the Luftwaffe, effective March 1, 1936. It is dated to Hanover on March 23, 1936 and was sent by the Wehrbezirkskommando (Military District Command) I, Hanover.

The Sudetenland Medal certificate is named to Captain Kaiser of the Wehrersatzinspektion (Armed Forces Replacement Inspectorate) Hanover and dated to Hamburg on May 10, 1940.

The Hindenburg Cross certificate is dated to Hanover on February 5, 1935, and signed in black ink by Chief of Police Johann Habben (1875–1958).

The Austrian War Commemorative Medal with Swords certificate is dated to Vienna on December 10, 1937 and was sent by the Austrian ministry of defense.

The photo album contains 151 pictures. The first picture shows Kaiser in uniform. His rank is Lieutenant Colonel. The pictures show scenes from the Wehrmachtreifenstelle (Armed Forces Tire Centre) training camp 1943 in Berlin-Staaken. Kaiser served as one of the instructors.The collection of 31 photos consists of: 6 passport pictures show Kaiser in uniform. His collar tabs identify him as an Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) of the Luftwaffe. In one picture Kaiser wears the collar tabs of a Hauptmann (Captain), as well as the Iron Cross 1st Class (1914), a First War Prussian Pilot’s Badge, a Lippe-Schaumburg War Cross, and a Mecklenburg-Schwerin War Cross. He also wears an extensive ribbon bar. The cypher on his shoulder board might be the one used by the Air Ministry Ground Staff, but due to the size of the picture it is impossible to state this with certainty. There is also a picture of Kaiser as a young man, taken in the Atelier (studio) W. König. Several pictures show Kaiser in uniform in occupied Paris. There are two pictures of pilots in bi-planes, one dated to September 24, 1918. The name of the pilot in this picture is written on the back of the picture, his first name is Gerdt, the last name is illegible. Three pictures show a tire factory in Brussels, Belgium. It is only referred to as W. R. L. This is interesting since Kaiser worked for a rubber factory. One picture is a group photo of several soldiers. The text on the back identifies the gathering as “south camp in June 1941” and states the names of the men. The book commemorating 50 years of Hansens Gummi- und Verpackungswerke (Rubber and Packaging Company) in Hanover was given as a present to Kaiser. It is dedicated “in close friendship and dearest affinity” to Fritz, a nickname for Friedrich. The dedication is dated to Hanover on October 1, 1951. It is signed by Frithjof Hansen, eldest son of the company founder. Kaiser has been working for the company since 1921. He is the founder’s brother’s son-in-law. The book contains a biography of the company founder, John Hansen, and a history of the company. Almost every page contains a coloured drawn illustration. The company exists to this day as Gummi Hansen GmbH. The rank seniority letter states that it was set to June 1, 1934. The letter is dated to Hanover on July 4, 1940 and signed in pencil by a Lieutenant Colonel, the signature is illegible. The summoning card from the local military district command (Wehrbezirks-Kommando) is dated to Hanover November 24, 1936. The reason why Kaiser is being summoned is not stated. The collection of 14 personal and business letters encompasses documents from 1934 to 1957. Several of these letters are congratulatory letters from friends, businessmen, and family members for the 50th anniversary of Hansen’s rubber company.

Footnote: He served as a pilot during the First War and was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class. After the war Kaiser took a job at Hansen’s rubber company, founded by the brother of his father-in-law. In early 1936 he joined the newly founded Luftwaffe, although the possibility exists that he had already worked for them during the secret rebuilding. During the Second War, Kaiser was at some point stationed in occupied France. He served in the rank of Captain for the Wehrersatzinspektion (Armed Forces Replacement Inspectorate) Hanover in May of 1940, yet the starting and ending date of this deployment are unknown. He was in the rank of Major of the Reserve in April of 1941 and of Major in September of 1942. During the summer of 1943 Kaiser served as an instructor at the Wehrmachtreifenstelle (Armed Forces Tire Centre) training camp in Berlin-Staaken. He received the German Cross in Silver as an Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel) on August 22, 1944. After the war Kaiser returned to his work for Hansen’s rubber company.