Germany, Luftwaffe. A Rare Lot of Awards and Documents to Obergefreiter Karl Schoppe, Fallschirmäger-Regiment 2

(Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 Auszeichnungen und Verleihungsurkunden). A superb lot of awards and documents to Obergefreiter Karl Schoppe, a Luftwaffe paratrooper who saw combat on the Eastern Front and the Mediterranean theatre, including (in order of receipt):

1. A Black Grade Wound Badge, constructed of blackened magnetic metal, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, with a central raised Stahlhelm overlaid by a mobile swastika, on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with a crimped hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked, measuring 36.92 mm (w) x 44.06 mm (h), weighing 14.0 grams, in near extremely fine condition, accompanied by its original award document, named to Schoppe as an Obergefreiter of 4. Kompanie, Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 2, awarded in the filed on 1 February 1942 for a single wound suffered on 16 January 1942, certified by the handwritten signature of an unidentified Chefarzt of Feldlazarett 54, measuring 14 cm (w) x 20 cm (h), demonstrating a folding line, in near extremely fine condition.

2. 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 35.65 mm (w) x 44.37 mm (h), weighing 21.3 grams, demonstrating minor wear and loss of finish, accompanied by its package of issue, constructed of brown paper stock, the exterior bearing an inscription of “MEDAILLE ‘WINTERSCHLACHT IM OSTEN 1941/42’ (OSTMEDAILLE)” and a maker’s mark of “KLEIN & QUENZER, OBERSTEIN”, measuring 60 mm (w) x 110 mm (h), in very fine condition, accompanied by its original award document, named to Schoppe as an Obergefreiter, dated 15 October 1942 and certified by the handwritten signature of an unidentified Chefarzt/Oberfeldarzt, measuring 14 cm (w) x 20 cm (h), in extremely fine condition.

3. A Silver Grade Wound Badge, constructed of silvered tombak, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, with a central raised Stahlhelm overlaid by a mobile swastika, on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with a clip hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “30” for the Vienna Mint, measuring 36.34 mm (w) x 43.83 mm (h), weighing 34.1 grams, accompanied by its original presentation case, constructed of a card stock frame with a faux maroon leather exterior liner, the interior with a slotted maroon felt medal bed, the base retaining a maker’s label reading “HAUPTMÜNZAMT WIEN”, measuring 65 mm (w) x 65 mm (l) x 20 mm (h), demonstrating minor loss of finish to high-contact points throughout the badge in addition to slight material fatigue to the case, in near extremely fine condition, accompanied by its original award document, named to Schoppe as an Obergefreiter of 4. Kompanie, Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 2, issued at Göttingen on 29 April 1943 for the wound received on 16 January 1942 which presented further complications, certified by the handwritten signature of an Oberfeldarzt of Reserve-Lazarett Göttingen, measuring 14 cm (w) x 20 cm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

4. A 1939 Iron Cross II Class, constructed of iron and silver, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver 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 loop maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “106” for Brüder Schneider, Vienna, measuring 44.19 mm (w) x 47.68 mm (h), weighing 17.5 grams, accompanied by its original package of issue, constructed of blue paper stock, the exterior bearing an inscription of “EISERNES KREUZ II. KLASSE 1939” and a maker’s mark of “BRÜDER SCHNEIDER, WIEN”, measuring 105 mm (w) x 130 mm (h), demonstrating surface oxidation throughout the core of the cross, in very fine condition, also accompanied by its original award document, named to Schoppe as an Obergefreiter of 4. Kompanie, Fallschirm-Jäger-Regiment 2, dated 21 June 1943 and issued in Hannover, certified by the handwritten signature of General Albrecht Schubert (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 17 September 1941), measuring 14 cm (w) x 20 cm (h), in extremely fine condition.