Germany, Heer. An Award Presentation Set to Obergefreiter Johann Lainer, Died as POW

(Heer Konvolut). A unique award presentation set to Obergefreiter Johann Lainer, who served with a Gebirgs-Artillerie (Mountain Artillery) unit, featuring six awards, including:

1. A War Merit Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised Maltese Cross with pebbled arms and a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a raised inscription of “FÜR KRIEGSVERDIENST 1939” (“FOR WAR MERIT 1939”), unmarked, measuring 32.05 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.

2. A War Merit Cross II Class, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms, the obverse bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central wreathed date of “1939”, without visible marks, measuring 48.02 mm (w) x 48.40 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

3. An unusual 1939 Iron Cross II Class, constructed of blackened and silvered zink, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened core within a ribbed and silvered frame, the obverse with a central mobile swastika, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1939”, the reverse six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, the suspension loop maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “8” for a previously mis-attributed variant now credited to F.W. Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid, but with composition and appearance not according with accepted examples of this type, measuring 43.84 mm (w) x 49.78 mm (h), an interesting example in near extremely fine condition.

4. An Eastern Front Medal, constructed of silvered and patinated zink, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised Heer-style German national eagle clutching a swastika, the reverse bearing a raised inscription of “WINTERSCHLACHT IM OSTEN 1941/42” (“WINTER BATTLE IN THE EAST 1941/42”), above a crossed sword and laurel branch, topped by a Stahlhelm and stick grenade, unmarked, measuring 35.95 mm (w) x 44.52 mm (h), demonstrating near-total loss of finish, in very fine condition.

5. An Italian-German African Campaign Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing two raised gladiators (representing Italy and Germany) grappling with a crocodile (representing the United Kingdom), the reverse bearing a raised depiction of the Arco dei Fileni, flanked by a fasces and swastika, circumscribed by an inscription of “ITALIAN-GERMAN CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA” in both Italian and German, without visible marks, measuring 30.85 mm (w) x 35.66 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

6. An Infantry Assault Badge, Silver Grade, constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, diagonally across the badge is a Karabiner 98k rifle with the bayonet attached and the carrying sling hanging from the rifle, the reverse with a unique integral hinge and vertical pinback, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of production by Friedrich Linden, Lüdenscheid, measuring 45.88 mm (w) x 60.42 mm (h), weighing 21.9 grams, the catch is missing and the base metal demonstrates evidence of refurbishment, in fair condition.

All glued to a large card stock backer bearing post-war commemorative Wehrmacht imagery, featuring a central scroll bearing a dedication to “JOHANN LAINER”, an Obergefreiter who served with a Gebirgs-Artillerie unit through France, the Soviet Union, Hungary, and Romania, and who was captured during his final actions in the latter theatre, dying in a prisoner of war camp from a “weak heart” on 5 September 1945, indicating that he was a recipient of the War Merit Cross II Class with Swords, the Eastern Front Medal, and the Krim Shield (also indicating that the accompanying awards are presumably mis-matched), removed from a frame and with the Infantry Assault Badge now loose, measuring 51 cm (w) x 40.5 cm (h), an interesting tribute in very fine condition.