Germany, Heer. A Regimental Award List For War Merit Cross, Signed By Generalfeldmarschall Model (Kc W. Diamonds)

The list is for members of the 3rd Panzer Division, more accurately the Schützen (riflemen) Regiment 394. It lists 13 men that have been awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords on July 21, 1941. It is signed in blue crayon by Walter Model as Generalleutnant (lieutenant general) (later Generalfeldmarschall) and division commander. Measuring 208 mm (w) x 275 mm (h), presenting two folding crease and minimal creasing of the edges, remains better than very fine.

Footnote: Walter Model was born on January 24, 1891 in Genthin (Saxony-Anhalt). He was a veteran of the First War, being severely wounded twice, and ending the war in the rank of Hauptmann (captain). Model was taken over into the Reichswehr. By the time the Third Reich was established he was holding the rank of Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel), and by the time the Second War began, he was a Generalmajor (major general). Model took part in both the Polish and the French campaign. He was promoted to Generalleutnant (lieutenant general) in April of 1940. In November, Model was appointed commander-in-chief of the 3rd Panzer Division, with which he would participate in the attack on Russia in the summer of 1941. Model’s division advanced in true Blitzkrieg fashion, reaching the Dnieper river after just over two weeks. For this, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross on July 9. Model was promoted to General of the Panzer Troops in October of 1941. At the end of the year, he participated in the siege of Moscow. After the failed siege, Model was given command of the 9th Army, fighting defensive battles near Rzhev. In February of 1942, he was promoted to Generaloberst (colonel general) and received the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross for encircling and destroying the Soviet 39th Army. Model went on to organise the retreat from the Rzhev front in early 1943, for which he was awarded the Swords to the Knight’s Cross in April of 1943.

Model had made a name for himself as one of the best defensive tacticians of the Wehrmacht. In January of 1944, he was appointed commander-in-chief of Army Group North, where he had to put out the next fire. The front was about to fall apart, but Model managed to hold it, albeit ever retreating. In March of 1944, he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall (general field marshal) and commander-in-chief of Army Group North Ukraine. When in the summer of 1944, Army Group Centre fell apart, Model was made its new leader and managed to have it retreat to Poland in an orderly fashion, where he led a successful counter-attack. After the Allied invasion of Normandy, Model was chosen to organise the defense on the Western Front. On the same day he left for France, August 17, 1944, Model was awarded the Diamonds to the Knight’s Cross for his defensive work at the Eastern Front over the previous two years. However, when he arrived in France, the front had already collapsed, so all Model was able to do was to order the retreat to the Siegfried Line. After the Battle of the Bulge, Model and his Army Group B ended up encircled in the Ruhr Pocket. The situation grew ever more hopeless, but Model was unable to bring himself to surrender. He ordered the discharge of the old and the young among his soldiers, and ordered the rest to either surrender, try to fight their way back home, or break through the encirclement to rejoin the rest of the German forces. Model then committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. He died on April 21, 1945.