Germany, Kriegsmarine. The Awards, Documents, and Photos of Kapitänleutnant Erwin Leesten, German Cross in Gold

(Kriegsmarine Konvolut für einen Kapitänleutnant und Träger des Deutsches Kreuz in Gold). A fascinating and superb collection of awards, documents, and photos from the estate of Kapitänleutnant Erwin Leesten, a recipient of the German Cross in Gold who, as part of a distinguished wartime career, initially served aboard the Type 1924 Torpedo Boat “Wolf”, before holding a variety of command positions in both torpedo boat and minesweeper units in the Baltic and North Seas.

The estate opens with Leesten’s awards, presented in order of receipt, including:

1. A Sudetenland Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing two raised figures, one of which is clutching a flag and the other a length of broken chain, above a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central date of “1. OKTOBER 1938”, circumscribed by an inscription of “EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER” (“ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE LEADER”), unmarked, measuring 32.20 mm in diameter, weighing 12.5 grams, in extremely fine condition; accompanied by its award document, named to Leesten as a Stabs Obersteuermann serving about the destroyer “Hermann Schoemann”, awarded in Wilhelmshaven on 17 October 1939, certified by the handwritten signature of a Korvettenkapitän, measuring 21 cm (w) x 29.5 cm (h), demonstrating some discolouration, in better than very fine condition.

2. 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”, unmarked, measuring 44.32 mm (w) x 47.47 mm (h), weighing 20.3 grams, demonstrating minor loss of finish throughout the core, in better than very fine condition; accompanied by its award document, named to Leesten as a Stabs Obersteuermann, awarded in Wilhelmshaven on 21 December 1939, certified by the handwritten signature of Admiral Wilhelm Marschall (Pour le Mérite, 4 July 1938; German Cross in Gold, 23 March 1942), measuring 14 cm (w) x 20 cm (h), in extremely fine condition.

3. A Destroyer War Badge, constructed of gilded and silvered tombak, 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, surrounding a central Kriegsmarine destroyer cutting through waves, with its bow extending beyond the edge of the wreath, the reverse with a block hinge and banjo-style pinback meeting a flat wire catch, with an elongated stabilizer emanating from the twelve o’clock position, the pinback maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “4” for Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid, measuring 45.53 mm (w) x 53.77 mm (h), weighing 24.0 grams, demonstrating minor loss of finish throughout the base metal, a Variation 2 badge in extremely fine condition; accompanied by its award document, named to Leesten as a Stabs Obersteuermann serving aboard the destroyer Hermannn Schoemann, certified by the handwritten signature of Kapitän Zur See Erich Bey (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 9 May 1940; killed in action on 26 December 1943 while in command of the battleship Scharnhorst during the Battle of the North Cape), measuring 16 cm (w) x 22.5 cm (h), in extremely fine condition.

4. A Minesweeper War Badge, constructed of gilded and silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Kriegsmarine eagle clutching a mobile swastika, surrounding a central depiction of an exploding sea mine, the reverse with a block hinge and tapering vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch emanating from a crimped base, maker marked with the logo of Rudolf Karneth & Sohn, Gablonz, measuring 44.70 mm (w) x 55.12 mm (h), weighing 20.2 grams, demonstrating near-total loss of finish to the base metal, in very fine condition; accompanied by its award document, named to Leesten as a Leutnant zur See, issued on 25 November 1941 and certified by the handwritten signature of Kapitän zur See Joachim Plath, measuring 15 cm (w) 21 cm (h), in extremely fine condition.

5. A 1939 Iron Cross I Class, constructed of iron and silver, 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 with a block hinge and banjo-style pinback meeting a flat wire catch, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of manufacture by Rudolf Souval, Vienna, measuring 44.36 mm (w) x 44.32 mm (h), weighing 18.9 grams, demonstrating minor oxidation to the core and some bending of the frame, in better than very fine condition; accompanied by its award document, named to Leesten as an Oberleutnant zur See, issued at headquarters on 14 August 1942, certified by the handwritten signature of Generaladmiral Rolf Carls (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, 14 June 1940), measuring 14 cm (w) x 20 cm (h), in extremely fine condition; also accompanied by Leesten’s 1957 award, constructed of iron and neusilber, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed neusilber frame, the obverse with three central oak leaves, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1939”, the reverse with a raised barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, unmarked, measuring 44.44 mm (w) x 44.17 mm (h), weighing 15.4 grams, in extremely fine condition.

6. A German Cross in Gold, constructed of gilded, silvered, and toned cupal with multi-coloured enamels, the obverse consisting of an eight-pointed double-overlaid starburst, bearing a central silvered disc overlaid by a raised and black enameled mobile swastika, situated within a circular gilded laurel leaf wreath, wrapped in ribbon and trimmed along both the inner and outer edges with red enameled borders, the reverse with four visible rivets securing the obverse features in position,with a barrel hinge emanating from a rectangular plate and tapering vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch emanating from an oval plate, the reverse of the pinback maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “20” for C.F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim, notably bearing an intricate punched dedication of “OB. LT. Z. SEE LEESTEN 9. 8. 44.”, measuring 63.18 mm (w) x 63.03 mm (h), weighing 45.6 grams, demonstrating some scratching to the enamels and loss of silver finish to the base metal, a light version demonstrating all of the hallmarks of C.F. Zimmermann’s design and featuring the recipient’s hand-applied wartime attribution in better than very fine condition; accompanied by its award document, named to Leesten as an Oberleutnant zur See, issued in Berlin on 9 August 1944, and certified by the handwritten signature of Großadmiral Karl Dönitz (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, 21 April 1940; with Oak Leaves, 6 April 1943) in his capacity as Supreme Commander of the Kriegsmarine, measuring 24.5 cm (w) x 35.5 cm (h), an exceptionally rare example featuring Dönitz’s handwritten signature in extremely fine condition.

7. A pair of ribbon bears executed according to the regulations of 1957, each featuring five awards, with one including a German Cross in Gold, 1939 Iron Cross II Class, 1939 Iron Cross I Class, Minesweeper War Badge, and Destroyer War Badge, affixed to a 12.5 cm-long bar with a horizontal pinback and red wool reverse liner, demonstrating some mothing to the reverse, in extremely fine condition; the second including a Lapland Shield, Wehrmacht 4-Year Long Service Award, Wehrmacht 12-Year Long Service Award, Civil Service 25-Year Long Service Award, and DSB Sports Badge, affixed to a 12.5 cm-long bar with a horizontal pinback and red wool reverse liner, in extremely fine condition.

Leesten’s physical awards are accompanied by a selection of additional award documents, including:

8. A Reichsmarine Marksmanship Award, II Class, issued in Emden on 27 September 1929 for proficiency with the Gewehr 98 rifle, measuring 21.5 cm (w) x 34 cm (h) in very fine condition.

9. An award document for a Wehrmacht 4-Year Long Service Award, named to Leesten as an Obersteuermann of 3. Torpedobootsflottille, issued in Wilhelmshaven on 2 October 1936, certified by the handwritten signature of Konteradmiral Hans-Herbert Stobwasser, measuring 21 cm (w) x 30 cm (h), in better than very fine condition. 

10. An award document for a Lappland Shield, named to Leesten as a Kapitänleutnant of 67. Vorpostenflottille, issued in Tromsö on 23 August 1945, certified by the handwritten signature of a Korvettenkapitän and most senior German naval Officer remaining in Tromsö, notably flanked by a denazified stamp for Kriegsmarine forces in Norway, measuring 15 cm (w) x 21 cm (h), a scarce document in near extremely fine condition. 

Also accompanied by:

11. A mixed group of 24 documents and assorted paperwork, encompassing Leesten’s personal life and military career from the prewar, wartime, and postwar eras, including school reports, personal correspondence, a personnel roster from the Torpedo Boat “Wolf”, prisoner of war (POW) registration and release forms, and most notably a pair formal promotion documents, elevating Leesten from Oberfähnrich zur See to Leutnant zur See, issued 18 July 1941 and effective retroactively from 1 July, followed by one elevating Leesten from Leutnant zur See to Oberleutnant zur See, issued 15 December 1941 and effective from 1 January 1942, both certified by the handwritten signatures of Großadmiral Erich Raeder (Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, 30 September 1939), a fascinating supplementary lot in near extremely fine condition.

12. A Kriegsmarine Officer’s breast eagle, constructed of gilded bronze, the obverse consisting of an elongated Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with a barrel hinge and horizontal pinback meeting a round wire catch, with a stabilizer emanating from the reverse of the wreath, unmarked, measuring 95 mm (w) x 35 mm (h), demonstrating minor tarnishing and possible repair of the pinback, in very fine condition.

13. A superb wartime photo album, constructed of a card stock binding with a faux dark brown leather exterior liner, the cover bearing an inscription of “MEINE TORPEDOBOOTSFAHREN” (“MY TORPEDO BOAT JOURNEY”), the spine perforated with four eyelets reinforced with metal grommets, retaining a drawstring which maintains the album’s structural integrity, the interior content consisting of 20 black card stock pages separated by wax paper liners to protect the images, pasted with 69 original black-and-white photographs depicting Leesten’s early wartime career as a crewman aboard the Type 1924 Torpedo Boat “Wolf”, with numerous images of uniformed Kriegsmarine personnel aboard vessels during both training exercises and military actions involving the firing of torpedoes, with consequent blasts and damage depicted, with depictions of numerous Type 24 vessels with their unique silhouette shown in superb detail, with the “Wolf” depicted alongside sister ships of its class (identifiable by bow initials), including the Iltis, Jaguar, and Tiger, measuring 35 cm (w) x 25 cm (h), demonstrating minor material fatigue to the album itself (including loss of gilt to the cover inscription), a fascinating primary account of Leesten’s career aboard the “Wolf” prior to its sinking on 8 January 1941 after striking a mine in the English Channel, in extremely fine condition.

14. An additional group of 69 assorted photos, primarily consisting of private wartime images of various sizes, supplemented by several postwar reproductions, further depicting Leesten’s wartime Kriegsmarine exploits, with many shots of the owner in uniform and at sea subsequent to his transfer from torpedo boat service to minesweeping and security duty in the Baltic and North Seas with 67. Vorpostenflottille, some featuring reverse handwritten captions providing full contact, in overall extremely fine condition.

15. A 1940 edition of "Blaue Jungs an Kesseln und Maschinen: Jürgen Hausmann geht zur Kriegsmarine”, constructed of a card stock binding with 228 paginated interior pages, printed by E.S. Mittler & Sohn, Berlin, measuring 16 cm (w) x 23.5 cm (h), the dust jacket is missing and minor discoloration and fatigue is visible, in very fine condition.