Germany, Heer. An Ek2 Award Document To Defender Of Fortress Brest Signed By Oak Leaves Recipient Oberst Pietzonka

The document is named to Gefreiter (Lance Corporal) Max Noak of the 5th Company of Festungs-Stamm (Fortress Cadre unit) I on the 25th Army Corps. It is dated to Brest, Brittany, on September 17, 1944, one day prior to the surrender of the German forces occupying the city. Pietzonka signed it in blue ink. Measuring 140 (w) x 200 (h) mm, with light scuffing, a folding crease, and two punched holes, remains very fine.

The document was never handed out to the recipient due to the German surrender. It was taken into captivity with other documents by Hauptmann (Captain) Paul Klick (see accompanying photo copies). Klick died in a US POW camp and the documents eventually made it back to his widow.

Footnote:Erich Pietzonka was born on October 4, 1906 in Plümkenau (Upper Silesia). He joined the army as an infantry soldier in 1924. In 1935, Pietzonka transferred to the Luftwaffe, being promoted to Lieutenant that same year. In 1938, in the rank of Hauptmann (Captain), he joined the paratroopers and took command of the 9th Company of Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 1. One year later, Pietzonka was given command of the 2nd Battalion of Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 2 with which he jumped into the Netherlands in May of 1940 and landed near Corinth, Greece during the Balkan Campaign of 1941. He was promoted to Major that same year and fought in Russia until early 1944.

Pietzonka was severely wounded in February of 1944 and subsequently promoted to Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel). After having recovered, he was sent to Brittany following the Allied Normandy invasion. Here, Pietzonka and his regiment became trapped in the city of Brest, defending it for six weeks. During this time, Pietzonka commanded the eastern part of “Fortress Brest”. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross for his actions during this period on September 5, was promoted to Oberst (Colonel) on the 8th, and received the Oak Leaves on the 16th. On September 18, the German troops surrendered and Pietzonka, along with over 35,000 soldiers, went into captivity. He returned home in May of 1946 and died in western Germany on December 18, 1989.