An Award Document Group & War Merit Cross To Flak Oberleutnant Eberhard Kunze

A grouping of documents and a War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. The grouping consists of: a promotion certificate to Lieutenant, measuring 210x291mm, very fine condition with light fraying, several repairs on the reverse, and two punched holes; an award certificate, measuring 149x211mm, extremely fine condition with two punched holes; a promotion certificate to NCO, measuring 210x149mm, extremely fine condition with folding creases and two punched holes; a certificate of good conduct, measuring 148x210mm, near extremely fine condition with folding creases, two punched holes, and one repair on the reverse; a POW certificate of good conduct, measuring 204x266mm, near extremely fine condition with folding creases, two punched holes, and one repair on the reverse; a War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, measuring 48mm, bronzed tombac, very fine condition with light to intermittent discolouration, and fraying of the ribbon. The ribbon has also been stapled together.

The promotion certificate is in fact a transcript. It states that Wachtmeister (Staff Sergeant) of the Reserve Eberhard Kunze of Flak Regiment 13 is promoted to Lieutenant of the Reserve as of December 1, 1939. The original is dated to Berlin on January 27, 1940. The transcript is dated to Dresden on February 15, 1940 and is signed in black ink by a Colonel and Commander of the Military District Command Dresden II, his name is Helm.

The certificate for the War Merit Cross is made out to Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) Kunze on the Staff of the Flakscheinwerfer-Abteilung (Flak Searchlight Detachment) 328. It is dated to Wiesbaden on January 30, 1943 and carries a facsimile of General of the Flak Artillery and Commanding General and Commander of Luftgau XII, Friedrich Heilingbrunner (1891–1977).

The promotion certificate to NCO of the Reserve is dated to Dresden on November 5, 1938, and sent to the University of Leipzig. Kunze is part of the 5th Battery of Flak Regiment 10. The signature is indecipherable.

The certificate of good conduct has been issued on the occasion of Kunze’s dischargement from the Luftwaffe and placement in the Reserve. Kunze, born on May 6, 1917, has served in the Luftwaffe from November 4, 1936 to October 26,1938. His conduct has been excellent. The document is dated to Dresden on October 26, 1938 and signed in pencil by a Captain and Chief of the 5th Battery of Flak Regiment 10, the name is indecipherable.

The POW certificate was issued by the Post Exchange Office of the POW camp in San Antonio on October 7, 1945. It states that POW Kunze voluntarily helped as an assistant interpreter and painter for almost four months. The document is signed by 1st Lieutenant of the Infantry Milton G. Schneider. (C:162)