Germany, Heer. A Lot of Award Documents and Identification Booklets to Obereutnant Eberhard Lenz, Infantry Regiment Großdeutschland

(Heer Verleihungsurkunden und Ausweispapiere). An extensive lot of award documents and photographs to Leutnant Eberhard Lenz, a tank hunter of the legendary Infantry Regiment Großsdeutschland. It includes:

1. A Soldbuch, constructed of a card stock binding and retaining all 26 original pages with handwritten entries dating until 19 July 1944, the interior of the cover featuring a black-and-white studio portrait of Lenz, measuring 105 mm (w) x 144 mm (h), with age-appropriate soiling and material fatigue evident throughout in addition to tape reinforcement of the spine, in overall very fine condition.

2. An Arbeitsbuch named to Carl Lenz (the father of Eberhard), constructed of a card stock binding and retaining all 32 original pages with handwritten entries dating until 11 April 1964, including a loose employment attestation dated 15 February 1947, with separation of some of the interior pages and other material fatigue, in overall very fine condition.

3. A HJ Merit Book, constructed of a card stock binding and retaining all 61 original pages with handwritten entries, featuring a black-and-white studio portrait of Lenz in his HJ uniform, measuring 115 mm (w) x 165 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

4. An award document for an Iron Cross II Class, constructed of off-white paper with black ink, named to Lenz as a Gefreiter, featuring a handwritten signature of Generalleutnant Bodewin Keitel (German Cross in Silver; brother of Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel) and issued at Oberkommando der Wehrmacht headquarters, dated 30 July 1940, measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

5. An award document for a 1939 Iron Cross I Class, constructed of off-white paper with black ink, named to Lenz as a Feldwebel, featuring a handwritten signature of then-Oberst Walter Hörnlein (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves), issued at regimental headquarters, dated 28 November 1941, measuring 140 mm (w) x 198 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

6. An award document for a General Assault Badge, constructed of paper stock with black ink, named to Lenz as a Leutnant, featuring a handwritten signature of Hauptmann Erich Ullrich, issued in the field on 14 March 1942, measuring 148 mm (w) x 210 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

7. An attestation from a Großdeutschland doctor in Cottbus that Lenz suffered an injury to his right arm and shoulder on 25 October 1941 that has necessitated amputation of the limb, dated 26 August 1942 and issued in Cottbus, measuring 208 mm (w) x 148 mm (h), with minor material fatigue evident, in overall near extremely fine condition.

8. An award document for a Silver Grade Wound Badge, constructed of off-white paper with black ink, named to Lenz as a Leutnant, issued in Berlin on 22 April 1942 for a wound suffered on 25 October 1941 (which led to the amputation of his right arm), measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

9. Also including several loose documents, including a vacation slip, constructed of paper with black ink, measuring 105 mm (w) x 142 mm (h), in very fine condition; a hospital admission slip, named to Lenz as an Oberleutnant and issued in Schleswig, measuring 102 mm (w) x 102 mm (h), in in extremely fine condition; a travel pass, dated 13 August 1945 permitting Lenz to travel from Brekling to Huckingen, measuring 142 mm (w) x 105 mm (h), in extremely fine condition, and; a membership card for the Association of Former Members of the Panzergrenadier Division Großdeutschland, constructed of card stock, measuring 94 mm (w) x 138 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Eberhard Lenz was born in Friedrichshagen, Berlin, and entered Deutsches Jungvolk (DJ) service on 23 February 1934, remaining with the DJ and HJ through 14 January 1939. He began active Wehrmacht service on 16 December 1939 with Panzerabwehr Ersatz-Kompanie 208, transferring to the 14th Panzerjäger-Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment Großdeutschland. While with the Großdeutschland Regiment, Lenz participated in the invasion of France and the Low Countries, where he received the Iron Cross II Class. After a brief shift to Yugoslavia, Lenz was diverted with the regiment to the Soviet Union for Operation Barbarossa, where he further received the Iron Cross I Class and the General Assault Badge for participation in successful anti-armour operations. During combat in the Orel region, Lenz received a serious arm injury which eventually necessitated amputation of the limb. He consequently received a Silver Grade Wound Badge, and spent the remainder of the war in military hospitals convalescing and rehabilitating. Lenz survived the war with a final rank of Oberleutnant, and was active in veterans’ organizations in the Federal Republic.