Germany. A Documents And Collection Of Awards Of Fridolin Kleimaier

A grouping of personal documents and the personal awards of Fridolin Kleimaier, including 1) An Iron Cross 1939 First Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1939 1. Klasse); a cross pattée of multi-piece construction with a blackened iron core (magnetic) within a ribbed border; the obverse with a raised central mobile swastika with the re-institution date “1939” in raised numbering on the lower arm; the reverse plain, with a banjo style vertical pinback, a barrel block hinge, and a round wire catch; marked “3” for “Wilhelm Deumer” manufacture; measuring 43.79 mm (w) x 43.75 mm (h); weighing 16.0 grams.

2) An Iron Cross 1939 Second Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1939 2. Klasse); a cross pattée of multi-piece construction with a blackened iron core (magnetic) within a ribbed border; on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon; the obverse with a raised central mobile swastika with the re-institution date “1939” in raised numbering on the lower arm; the reverse with the original institution date “1813” in raised numbering on the lower arm; measuring 44.18 mm (w) x 44.05 mm (h); weighing 21.1 grams.

3) A General Assault Badge (Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen); constructed of silvered zink; with an oak leaf border and a pair of acorns at the base, with a large Wehrmacht-style eagle with folded wings clutching a mobile swastika, and a crossed bayonet and stick grenade in the centre; the reverse plain with a vertical needle style pin, a crimped sheet metal hinge, and a crimped round wire catch; measuring 41.97 mm (w) x 53.73 mm (h); weighing 27.8 grams.

4) A Silver Grade Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber); Constructed of silvered zink; the obverse pebbled with a Stahlhelm in the centre featuring a large mobile swastika on its side superimposed on crossed swords within a wreath of laurel leaves with a tied bow at the bottom; the reverse plain with a vertical needle style pin, an integrated cast hinge, and an integrated cast catch; marked “65” for “Klein & Quenzer” manufacture; measuring 37.04 mm (w) x 44.28 mm (h); weighing 27.4 grams.

5) A Black Grade Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz); Constructed of blackened tombac; the obverse pebbled with a Stahlhelm in the centre featuring a large mobile swastika on its side superimposed on crossed swords within a wreath of laurel leaves with a tied bow at the bottom; the reverse plain with a vertical needle style pin, and a functional hinge/catch assembly; measuring 36.53 mm (w) x 43.97 mm (h); weighing 12.9 grams.

6) An Eastern Winter Campaign Medal (Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 Medaille); Constructed of silvered and patinated zink; with a large national eagle on the obverse clutching a swastika (“Hakenkreuz”) and a leftward facing Stahlhelm on the top with horizontally oriented stick grenade; the reverse “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42” (Winter Battle in the East 1941/42) in all capital letters with a crossed sword and laurel wreath on the bottom; on a loop for suspension - marked “39” for “Rudolf Berge” manufacture; measuring 36.11 mm in diameter; weighing 22.2 grams.

7) A Russian Medal for Courage (Медаль За отвагу); A round silver medal; the obverse depicting a Russian tank with three planes flying over-top, inscribed “ЗA отвагу” in red paint; the reverse numbered “139347”; on a loop for suspension, but with its Russian style medal suspension broken; measuring 37.28 mm in diameter; weighing 31.3 grams.

8) An Infanterie-Geschütz-Ersatz-Kompanie 27 identification tag; constructed of aluminum, with “721 0 Inf. Gesch. Ers. Kp. 27” stamped into both sides of the triple slotted disc; with three drill holes; measuring 70 mm (w) x 50 mm (h).

9) A set of Wehrmacht Heer Artillery Unteroffizier rank shoulder boards (Schulterklappen); constructed of field-grey dark green wool, with  silvery-white machine embroidered tresse on all three sides of the tab and bright red Waffenfarbe piping on the outside-facing edges of the straps; with a fabric “tongue” attached to the underside to allow these slip-on shoulder boards to be buttoned  to the uniform; measuring 44 mm (w) x 115 mm (h).

10) A 4th Panzer Reconnaisance Division 7 Commemorative Medal; constructed of silvered zink; obverse illustrating the bust of a left-facing helmeted Wehrmacht soldier, a swastika, and the inscription “4. PANZER AUFKLÄRUNGSABTEILUNG 7 - 1941-42”; the reverse inscribed “4. Panzerdiv.” along with the division’s logo within two stems of laurel leaves; marked “Deschler, München” on the reverse; measuring 50.06 mm in diameter; weighing 38.5 grams.

11) A First War leather document binder. On the cover is the print of an Iron Cross 1914. Possibly a family heirloom. Measuring 114x174mm, fine condition with some scuffing and fraying. One seam on the inside has ripped open, and a buttoned flap can no longer be buttoned due to damage. The binder contains eight wartime photos (53x72mm to 102x69mm, extremely fine to near mint) and a military map (322x447mm, better than fine). Two pictures are identical, showing Kleimaier in a studio portrait in the rank of NCO. He wears the Iron Cross 2nd Class ribbon, the General Assault Badge, and a Wound Badge. They were taken in Babenhausen (Bavaria). Another picture shows Kleimann with two comrades. In this photo, he wears the Iron Cross 1st Class, his two comrades wear Iron Crosses 2nd Class. The photo is dated to April 20, 1942 on the reverse, possibly the date on which Kleimann was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class. One photo shows a group of soldiers during a mass awarding ceremony, with a table in the front on which there are multiple Iron Cross 2nd Class ribbons. It is dated to the same date as the photo described above. Another photo shows several soldiers in a jeep and on a motorcycle, respectively. This one is dated to Russia in May of 1943. Another photo shows soldiers in winter uniforms with an armoured vehicle, dated to February 1944. The last two photos show a mobile cannon, and two tanks, respectively. The map shows the surroundings of Ssudsha (Sudzha, Kursk Oblast), scale 1:25,000. The reverse shows the entire Eastern Front from Leningrad down to the Black Sea, scale 1:6,000,000.

Footnote: Fridolin Kleimaier from Osterberg (Bavaria) served, presumably among other units, in Infanterie-Geschütz-Ersatz-Kompanie (Infantry Gun Replacement Company) 27.