Germany, Luftwaffe. An Honour Goblet to Obergefreiter Rudolf Wahn, Stuka Crew and Eastern Front KIA, by Johann Wagner & Sohn

(Luftwaffe Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg für Hauptmann Günther aus dem Bruch, Staffelkapitän). Constructed of a nickel silver frame with silver exterior plating, the exterior bearing a raised depiction of two eagles engaged in combat executed in exceptional detail, the opposite side bearing a 1939 Iron Cross similarly executed in high relief, the stem decorated with raised oak leaves and acorns, situated above an engraved dedication of “OBERGEFREITER RUDOLF WAHN”, with an award date of “AM 4. 1. 43”, the obverse of the base base bearing a raised inscription of “FÜR BESONDERE LEISTUNG IM LUFTKRIEG (“FOR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE IN THE AIR WAR”), the reverse of the base marked “ALPAKA” indicating nickel silver construction, with a mark of “FEINSILBER AUFLAGE” indicating fine silver plating, situated above a maker’s mark of “JOH. WAGNER & SOHN” for the noted Berlin firm of Johann Wagner, measuring 10 cm (w) x 20.5 cm (h), weighing 390.2 grams, a superb example in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Rudolf Wahn served as a radio operator with 7. Staffel, Schlachtgeschwader 2 “Immelmann”, and was also the recipient of the 1939 Iron Cross in both II and I Class, the Radio Operator and Air Gunner Badge, the Bomber Clasp in Bronze, Silver, and Gold Grades, as well as the German Cross in Gold (29 April 1943). He was killed on 18 March 1943 when his Ju 87D, flown by Leutnant Willi Albert Schittig, crashed near Poltawa (Poltava) Airfield. Wahn is buried in the German War Cemetery in Kharkiv.