A Lot Of 4 Period Knight’s Cross Recipient Postcards: Bredemeyer, Kutscher, Strachwitz, Udet/Galland/Mölders

A group of postcards, three measuring 90x140mm, extremely fine condition with minor scuffing, one measuring 148x106mm, near extremely fine with some scuffing, all slightly bent.

Footnote Oberfeldwebel Wilhelm Bredemeyer: Wilhelm Bredemeyer (1916–1995) was a Mountain Trooper. He received the Knight’s Cross on November 9, 1942, as Sergeant and Platoon Leader in the 12th Company of the Mountain Troop Regiment 91 for conquering and defending the important Bgalar mountain pass on the way to Sukhumi on the coast of the Black Sea.

Footnote Oberleutnant Alfred Kutscher: Alfred Kutscher (1912–1944) led the 2nd Company of the Division Füsilier Battalion of the 35th Infantry Division. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross on January 18, 1944 in the rank of Lieutenant at the Eastern Front. Kutscher was killed in action during the Russian Operation Bagration to retake Belarus.

Footnote Oberstleutnant Graf Strachwitz: Hyacinth Graf Strachwitz (1893–1968) briefly served as a Lieutenant during the First War, but was taken prisoner in 1914, which he remained until the end of the war. Afterwards he returned home to Silesia and founded a paramilitary organisation, “Selbstschutz Oberschlesien”, to quell Polish uprisings. In 1935, he joined the newly formed Panzer troops. At the same time, he was also a member of the SS. Strachwitz took part in the campaigns against Poland and France, and was then redeployed to Romania. During the attack on Russia, Strachwitz earned the Knight’s Cross on August 28, 1941 in the rank of Major for his actions in the Battle of Uman. The Oak Leaves followed on November 17, 1942 for his troop’s advances on Stalingrad. Strachwitz received the Swords on March 28, 1943 for his leadership role of the newly formed Panzer Regiment “Großdeutschland” during the Third Battle of Kharkov.

In late 1943, he was promoted to SS-Standartenführer, the highest rank in the SS he would hold. He was also a member of Himmler’s personal staff.

Strachwitz was promoted to Major General on April 1, 1944 and given command of the 1st Panzer Division. Shortly after, he was promoted to Higher Panzer Leader of Army Group North. On April 15, 1944 he received the Diamonds for repelling Russian attacks during the Battle for the Narva Bridgehead.At the end of the war, he held the rank of Lieutenant General. He had also received a Panzer Badge in Gold, and a Wound Badge in Gold for being wounded 12 times.

Footnote Udet/Galland/Mölders: Ernst Udet (1896–1941) was a flying ace in the First War, claiming 62 victories, the most successful surviving pilot and a recipient of the Pour le Mérite.

During the inter-war period he was instrumental in the establishing of the Luftwaffe and its adoption of the dive bombing technique. He received the Knight’s Cross in July of 1940 and was promoted to Colonel General.

However, the stressful life of Director-General of Equipment for the Luftwaffe and his inability to cope with administrative duties, for which he had received no education or training, led him to alcoholism and ultimately suicide.

Adolf Joseph Ferdinand Galland (1912–1996) was a Luftwaffe General and flying ace, taking part in the Spanish Civil War, the Polish Campaign, the Battle of Belgium, the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain, the Western Front, as well as during the Final Defense of the Reich. In 705 combat missions during the Second War, all on the Western Front, he claimed 104 aerial victories and was shot down himself on four occasions.

Galland was a close friend with Hermann Göring, but eventually fell out of favour when he criticized Göring’s use of the Luftwaffe.

After the war he worked for the Argentinian Air Force for a short period of time.

Throughout his career he was awarded, among other decorations, the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds (June 6, 1939), the Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant, Pilot/Observer Badge in Gold with Diamonds (August 1940), the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds, and he was mentioned in the Wehrmachtbericht seven times.

Werner Mölders (1913–1941) was the first pilot in the history of aviation who won 100 aerial victories. He was a recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds. Among the many other rewards he received are a Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds, and a Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe for Fighter Pilots in Gold with Diamonds.

Mölders commanded the Jagdgeschwader 51, the fighter wing with more aerial victories than any other German wing. He was promoted to Colonel and made Inspector General of Fighters shortly before his untimely death in an accident. He died in a plane crash while on his way to Ernst Udet’s funeral.