Germany, Third Reich. A Mixed Lot of Awards and Documents

(Auszeichnungen mit Verleihungsurkunden). A mixed lot of awards and documents, including:

1. A War Merit Cross II Class with Swords, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms and with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central wreathed date of “1939”, the suspension loop maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “100” for Wächtler & Lange, Mittweida, measuring 48.33 mm (w) x 48.91 mm (h), weighing 25.2 grams, in extremely fine condition; accompanied by its award document, named to Obergefreiter Walter Deneke, 2. kl. Kraftwagen-Kolonne 31, issued in the field on 30 January 1943, certified by the handwritten signature of Oberst Kurt Möhring (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 18 July 1943; killed in action on 18 December 1944 in Befort, Luxembourg during the Battle of the Bulge as a Generalmajor, with posthumous promotion to Generalleutnant) in his capacity as stand-in commander of 31 Infanterie-Division, measuring 15 cm (w) x 21 cm (h), demonstrating extensive creasing, in very fine condition.

2. A DRL Sports Badge, Bronze Grade, constructed of bronzed magnetic metal, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by a ribbon overlaid by a mobile swastika, surrounding central stylized initials “DRL”, the reverse with a raised barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, maker marked “WERNSTEIN, JENA” for the firm of Hermann Wernstein, measuring 38.66 mm (w) x 48.07 mm (h), weighing 16.4 grams, in extremely fine condition; accompanied by its award booklet, named to Gottlieb Leupold, who was born on 27 November 1917,  dated 20 July 1938, measuring 14 cm (w) x 22 cm (h), demonstrating minor creasing and discolouration, in better than very fine condition, with a mailing notice, similarly named to Leupold, dated 2 August 1938, measuring 21 cm (w) x 15 cm (h), in near extremely fine condition.