Germany, Weimar Republic. A Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross With Documents To Otto Köhn, C.1935

(Militär Ehrenzeichen 1. Klasse). Circa 1935 issue Military Merit Cross, of good good quality, unofficial manufacture, so called "private purchase", in gilded bronze; the obverse inscribed “Kriegsverdienst” (Military Merit); the reverse bearing the crowned Royal Monogram of Wilhelm Rex; with loop suspension, with its period original ribbon; measuring 44.04 mm (w) x 38.49 mm (h); weighing 16.4 grams; accompanied by its original WW1 period case of issue; constructed of heavy cardstock, with a textured green faux leather (leatherette) exterior; lined interior lid; recessed medal bed; functional spring catch with stud release; functional exterior metal hinge; measuring 73 mm (w) x 54 mm (l) x 22 mm (h); in overall very fine condition.

Among the documents are two that mention the Golden Military Merit Cross:

The first document is dated to Hanover on March 24, 1942. It states that retired acting lieutenant Otto Köhn, recipient of the Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross, had been seeking a position in the army. However, due to his age, there were no open spots for him to fill. On top of this, Köhn was at the time alreading working as an administrative clerk for the Wehrmacht in a military welfare centre. The document is signed in blue ink by a Generalmajor Lorenz.

The second document is from the welfare office in Hamburg-Altona. It is dated to September 16, 1936. In the document it is stated that Köhn as a recipient of the Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross, by way of exception, is being granted a one-time financial help in the amount of 200 Reichsmark.

The remaining documents include: a 1937 letter from Köhn’s former First War unit leader; food and clothing stamps; a number of insurance receipts and correspondence, Iduna-Germania and Merkur insurance companies; governmental registration papers.

Footnote: Otto Köhn wasn born on January 1, 1892 in Wandsbek (present day district of Hamburg). He received the Prussian Golden Military Merit Cross, also known as the enlisted man’s Pour le Mérite, in the rank of Vizefeldwebel (vice sergeant) as part of Infantry Regiment 175 on April 23, 1918 on the western front in northern France. Köhn and his wife, Käte, seemed to struggle financially all the way through the 1920s and 30s. It is therefore plausible that Köhn sold his Golden Military Merit Cross at some point and replaced it with the 1930s copy we are pleased to offer. Köhn had a son, Walter, born June 1, 1920, who died in the Second War of wounds received in action, date unknown. Otto Köhn was killed during air raid protection service (Luftschutzdienst) in Hanover on October 9, 1943. This day went down in history is the so-called “black day”. Between 1:05 and 1:45 a.m. that night, the Royal Air Force dropped 1,660 tons of explosives which destroyed most of the city centre and the south of the city. It was the most severe bombing of Hanover in all of the war. There were 1,245 casualties, and 250,000 people lost their homes.