Germany, Wehrmacht. The Awards and Annotated Photo Album belonging to Ewald Roschka of the 11th Panzer Grenadier Regiment

1. The extensively annotated photo album belonging to Ewald Roschka. The album chronicles Roschka’s time at the Artillery Barracks in Wiener-Neustadt (Austria), depicting pictures of him and his colleagues practicing marching as well as riding messenger motorcycles. Before being transferred to the front, Roschka participated at the “Day of the Wehrmacht” in 1942 in Vienna. He was transferred to the front in May 1942, first traveling through Poland, where Roschka became immediately acquainted with the eastern road system. He included pictures of him and his colleagues resting, in battle, and honoring their fallen comrades by burying them and building grave markers. He honors Georg Otto Hermann Balck (later the recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Diamonds) of the 11th Panzer Division (Ghost Division), who was the longest-serving commander of their division prior to being promoted to General of the Panzer Troops. One of the pictures is of his Flak 88 depicting countless rings - Roschka refers to the rings as trophies. Ewald Roschka was wounded in mid 1944 and transferred to a field hospital in Krakau.

2. The award certificate for a War Merit Cross Second Class with Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern) to Private Roschka. It was issued in the field on April 20th, 1943 and signed by the Generalleutnant und Divisionskommandeur and bears the division seal in red ink, measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (l). 

3. The award certificate for a Black Grade Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz) to Private Ewald Roschka for his wound sustained on April 13th, 1944. The certificate was issued in Krakau on May 19th, 1944, was signed by the Oberfeldarzt and bears the seal of the Krakau field hospital in red ink, measuring 139 mm (w) x 199 mm (l). 

4. The award certificate for a Silver Grade Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber) to Obergefreiten Ewald Roschka for his wound sustained on April 12th, 1945. The certificate was issued in Pößneck on April 14th, 1945, was signed by the Stabsarzt and bears the seal of the Pößneck field hospital in blue ink, measuring 139 mm (w) x 197 mm (l). 

5. Accompanied by Roschka’s War Merit Cross Second Class with Swords, Black Grade Wound Badge, Silver Grade Wound Badge, RAD Membership Badge, HJ Marksmanship Badge, HJ Proficiency Badge in Silver, and HJ Proficiency Badge in Bronze.

A fine collection of awards, award certificates, and a very detailed annotated photo album belonging to a member of the 11th Panzer Grenadier Regiment “Ghost Division”, in extremely fine condition.