Germany, Heer. The Award Documents & Correspondence Of Oberstleutnant Nürnberg, 97. Jäger-Division

(Heer Verleihungsurkunden und Papiere). An extensive and fascinating lot of award documents, correspondence, and identity papers retrieved from the estate of Oberstleutnant Fritz Nürnberg. A veteran of the First World War who saw extensive service with 97. Jäger-Division, Nürnberg rose to become commander of Panzerjäger-Abteilung 97. This lot consists of:

A collection of Nürnberg’s award documents, including one for an Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 for Combatants, named to Nürnberg as a resident of Berlin, issued on 6 March 1935, measuring 210 mm (w) x 148 mm (h), in extremely fine condition;

Wehrmacht Long Service Medal, IV Class for 4 Years, named to Nürnberg as a Hauptmann, issued on 1 July 1938, featuring a handwritten signature of General der Artillerie Karl Becker, measuring 210 mm (w) x 298 mm (h), in extremely fine condition;

Bulgarian Commemorative Military Medal of 1915/1918, named to Nürnberg as a Hauptmann and resident of Berlin-Charlottenburg, issued on 21 December 1938, measuring 176 mm (w) x 248 mm (h), in extremely fine condition;

War Merit Cross II Class with Swords, named to Nürnberg as a Major and commander of Panzerjäger-Abteilung 296, issued on 12 October 1940, featuring a handwritten signature of Generalmajor Wilhelm Stemmermann (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 7 February 1944; with Oak Leaves, 18 February 1944), measuring 145 mm (w) x 208 mm (h), with some creasing evident, in overall better than very fine condition;

1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross II Class, named to Nürnberg as a Major, issued on 2 July 1941, featuring a handwritten signature of Generalmajor Maximilian Fretter-Pico (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 26 December 1941; with Oak Leaves, 16 January 1944) measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), in extremely fine condition;

1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross I Class, named to Nürnberg as a Major, issued in the field on 1 August 1941, featuring a handwritten signature of Generalmajor Maximilian Fretter-Pico, measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), in extremely fine condition;

General Assault Badge, named to Nürnberg as a Major, issued in the field on 4 December 1941, featuring a handwritten signature of a divisional adjutant in place of Fretter-Pico, measuring 148 mm (w) x 210 mm (h), in extremely fine condition;

Honour Roll Clasp citation, featuring a handwritten signature of Generalmajor Ernst Rupp (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 7 March 1943), measuring 210 mm (w) x 298 mm (h), with some soiling evident, in overall better than very fine condition;

Preliminary document for an Eastern Front Medal, named to Nürnberg as an Oberstleutnant, issued on 5 August 1942, measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), with some soiling resulting from oxidation of a previous binding, in overall better than very fine condition;

Primary document for an Eastern Front Medal, named to Nürnberg as an Oberstleutnant, featuring a handwritten signature of Generalmajor Friedrich-Carl Rabe von Pappenheim (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 30 April 1945), measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), with some creasing evident, in overall better than very fine condition;

War Merit Cross I Class with Swords, named to Nürnberg as an Oberstleutnant, issued in Berlin on 30 January 1944, featuring a handwritten signature of General der Artillerie Emil Leeb (Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords, 14 June 1944), measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

A lot of other dedicated citations, including a document promoting Nürnburg (as an Oberleutnant der Reserve) to Hauptmann, effective 16 June 1938, issued on 1 July 1938, featuring a handwritten signature of Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 30 September 1939), measuring 255 mm (w) x 355 mm (h), with some tearing and material fatigue evident, in overall better than very fine condition; a good conducted citation dedicated to Nürnberg, issued 3 March 1940, featuring a handwritten signature of Generaloberst Erwin von Witzleben (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 24 June 1940; an executed participant in the 20 July Plot), measuring 210 mm (w) x 298 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a good conduct citation addressed to Nürnberg in his capacity as commander of Panzerjäger-Abteilung 296, praising the unit’s actions on occupation duty in France, dated 18 November 1940, featuring a handwritten signature of Generalmajor Wilhelm Stemmermann, measuring 210 mm (w) x 298 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a communiqué concerning awards addressed to Nürnberg, measuring 204 mm (w) x 144 mm (h), in very fine condition; Nürnberg’s First World War Militärpaß, constructed of a blue-grey card stock binding with 20 interior pages of handwritten entries, indicating that Nürnberg was born on 6 November 1898 and served with Prussian regiments through 1918, measuring 85 mm (w) x 138 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

A unique pair of 97. Jäger-Division publications, including one detailing a history of the unit’s actions on the Eastern Front during Operation Barbarossa, it features the locations of key battles supplemented by detailed maps and quotations from noted commanders, formerly set within a binding that has since disintegrated, with the cover retaining a stick bearing the insignia of 97. Jäger-Divsion, measuring 210 mm (w) x 290 mm (h), despite the loss of the binding the interior content remains unblemished, in overall very fine condition, and; a fascinating booklet dedicated by the men of Panzerjäger-Abteilung 97 to Nürnberg for his service in the unit on the Eastern Front, consisting of a card stock binding with the cover bearing a sticker with the insignia of 97. Jäger-Division, dedicated on 11 May 1942, with interior pages featuring full-colour hand sketches of battle scenes from key engagements in the Soviet Union supplemented by brief captions, measuring 152 mm (w) x 220 mm (h), a fantastic personalized memento in extremely fine condition.

Also included is an extensive lot of documentation and personal correspondence from Nürnberg’s estate, including paperwork from his service in the Imperial German Army, the Reichsheer during the Weimar Republic, his prisoner-of-war documentation and certificates of discharge in 1945, baptismal certificates (notably from both the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches), and further personal documentation from the Federal Republic. This supplementary documentation is in an overall near extremely fine condition.