Germany, Wehrmacht. A Rare Uniform & Award Set To Oberleutnant Fritz Birnbaum, Knight’s Cross Recipient

(Wehrmacht Uniform und Auszeichnungen zum Ritterkreuzträger). A rare and exceptional uniform and award set from the estate of Fritz Birnbaum, a Knight’s Cross recipient who served with Panzer-Regiment 5 and the 1st Fallschirm-Panzer Division Hermann Göring, including:

1 An M36 field tunic, constructed of field-grey whipcord wool. It features a turned down-collar, fully lined on the top with smooth dark green wool, which is flanked on each side by tabs. The latter are constructed of dark green wool with buckram cores, are topped by dual machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire insignia bisected by rose-pink bands, and measure 45 mm (w) x 75 mm (l). Buttoned to the collar directly below the neckline is a period original confectioned Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross ribbon, measuring 165 mm in total length. The shoulders are topped by boards constructed of rose-pink wool with card stock cores, topped by four bands of silver aluminum wire piping, and pinned with a single silvered rank pip. Both measuring 32 mm (w) x 100 mm (l), the boards are secured in place with machine stitching at the outer edge and with pebbled zink buttons on the inner edge. The cuffs of both sleeves are rolled back and secured in place with two pieces of machine stitching, and each retain titles. Stitched onto the right arm is a 1st Fallschirm-Panzer Division Hermann Göring title constructed of a dark blue wool base, trimmed along both edges with silver aluminum wire tresses, and bearing a central machine-embroidered silver-grey inscription of “HERMANN GÖRING”. It measures 38 mm in total width. Stitched onto the left arm is an Afrika title constructed of a brown camelhair cloth base, with both the top and bottom edges trimmed with machine-embroidered silver-grey tresses, and bearing a central inscription of “AFRIKA” flanked by palm trees of identical construction. It measures 40 mm in total width. Four pleated pockets are set into the breasts, all opening with scalloped flaps perforated with reinforced buttonholes meeting pebbled magnetic metal buttons. Stitched onto the right breast just above the top pocket is an insignia consisting of a dark green wool base bearing a hand-embroidered silver aluminum wire Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 102 mm (w) x 42 mm (h) overall. Stitched over the upper left pocket are three sets of vertically-arranged threaded loops for the accommodation of decorations with vertical pinbacks, while additional horizontally-arranged loops above the same pocket allow for the wear of a medal or ribbon bar. It closes with five pebbled magnetic metal buttons on the right flap meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. Stitched through the penultimate buttonhole are ribbons for the 1939 Iron Cross II Class and the Eastern Front Medal. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece field-grey rayon liner, with the left breast and armpit retaining a reinforced slit and strap with a functional magnetic metal spring clip for the suspension of a dress dagger. A maker’s mark is stamped onto the left armpit in black ink, while he left flap is stitched with a white cotton label bearing red machine-embroidered owner’s initials “FB” (Fritz Birnbaum). The tunic measures approximately 43 cm across the shoulders, with an arm length of 60 cm, and an overall body length of 65 cm. Minor material fatigue is visible to the outer material, but the tunic remains in an overall near extremely fine condition. It retains four decorations, including:

A 1939 Iron Cross II 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 raised barrel hinge and flattened vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, the reverse of the pinback maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “20” for C.F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim, measuring 44.24 mm (w) x 44.20 mm (h), weighing 17.5 grams, in extremely fine condition.

A Panzer Assault Badge, Silver Grade, constructed of silvered zink, 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, around a central Panzer IV rolling over grassy terrain, with its left tread extending beyond the edge of the wreath, the reverse with a crimped hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked, measuring 42.16 mm (w) x 60.22 mm (h), in near mint condition.

A Silver Grade Wound Badge, constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, around a central raised Stahlhelm overlaid by a mobile swastika, on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with an integral hinge and vertical pinback meeting an integral catch, the reverse maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “26” for B.H. Mayer, Pforzheim, measuring 36.59 mm (w) x 43.84 mm (h), with moderate loss of finish evident throughout, in very fine condition.

A ribbon bar featuring two decorations, including a Wehrmacht Long Service Decoration with Heer Device and a Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar, set on a 35 mm-long magnetic metal core with a horizontal pinback, in near extremely fine condition.

2. A matching pair of trousers, constructed of dark grey whipcord wool. Four brown bakelite buttons are stitched to the front of the waistband, which also features a French fly closing with three identical buttons on the right side meeting an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left. The upper thighs are flanked by belt straps closing with functional magnetic metal buckles, as well as pockets opening with reinforced diagonal slits. An additional pocket is set into the back of the upper right leg, similarly closing with a brown bakelite button. The interior features a partial liner constructed of multi-piece grey rayon, retaining a white cotton label bearing a machine-embroidered red owner’s name of “BIRNBAUM”. They measure approximately 38.5 cm across the waist, with an inseam of 29 cm, and an overall length of 101 cm. Demonstrating no notable damage or wear, they remain in an extremely fine condition.

3. A matching belt, constructed of pressed brown leather. One end is perforated with nine sets of dual eyelets, while the opposite end is stitched into a loop to retain a non-magnetic metal buckle with claws. The latter end bears a reverse handwritten owner’s name of “BIRNBAUM”. Otherwise unmarked, the belt measures 5 cm (w) x 113 cm (l). Demonstrating only minor wear consistent with age and use, it remains in an overall extremely fine condition.

4. A matching set of Panzer-Regiment 5 shoulder straps, constructed of dark green wool, trimmed with rose pink piping, bordered on the obverse with silver aluminum wire tresses, and pinned with silvered bronze numerals “5” with rank pips of identical construction. Both unmarked, the straps measure 40 mm (w) x 110 mm (l). They are in uniform-removed and extremely fine condition.