Croatia, Independent State. An Order of the Crown of King Zvonomir, Silver Medal for Anti-Partisan Actions, to Oberjäger Rudolf Manigk

Constructed of silver, the obverse bearing a raised and leftward-facing bust of King Zvonmir, circumscribed by his coronation name of “DIMITAR ZVONIMIR” and a date of “1076”, the reverse bearing a central raised Croatian national emblem circumscribed by an inscription of “BOG I HRVATI” (“GOD AND THE CROATS”), surrounded by a circular laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the top by an Ustaše insignia, in turn surrounded by an inscription of “ZA ZASLUGE” (“FOR MERIT”), topped by a Crown of Zvonimir with a loop connecting to a period original tri-fold ribbon, the edge stamped with a hallmark of “BK” indicating manufacture by Braća Knaus, Zagreb, measuring 32.34 mm (w) x 47.48 mm (h), weighing 22.3 grams (inclusive of ribbon), in extremely fine condition; accompanied by a stocks award notice configured in both Croatian and German, dated 11 December 1943, featuring a typewritten inscription indicating that the award was bestowed on Oberjäger Rudolf Manigk, Gruppenführer (Group Leader), for anti-Partisan actions in the vicinity of Gradina, where Manigk used a light machine gun to suppress an assault by Partisans as his unit moved to establish contact with a neighbouring company, with Manigk’s group emerging fully unscathed as the result of his actions, with a Feldpostnummer of 41893 C, indicating that Manigk was attached to 12. Kompanie, Jäger-Regiment 724 (with an operational history spanning the Balkans), measuring 20.5 cm (w) x 17 cm (h), a fascinating accompaniment situating the award within the notoriously brutal story of anti-Partisan combat, in extremely fine condition.