Germany, Luftwaffe. An Austrian Military Merit Cross III Class Certificate to Generalleutnant and KC Winner Rieckhoff

The Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with War Decoration certificate is named to Prussian lieutenant of Infantry Regiment 69 Herbert Rieckhoff, dated to Vienna on June 14, 1917. Measuring 236 mm (w) x 386 mm (h), presenting two folding creases, light overall creasing, and light fraying of the edges, remains near very fine.

Footnote: Herbert Joachim Rieckhoff was born on December 25, 1898 in Berlin. He joined the Prussian army as a soldier of the infantry at the age of 16 in January of 1915. During the war, Rieckhoff was wounded twice, once in 1916 and in 1917. He transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte (air force) in late 1917, ending the war as an observer in the rank of lieutenant. After the war, Rieckhoff joined the police where he advanced to the rank of Hauptmann (captain). As such, he joined the Luftwaffe in 1934. Rieckhoff took command of Kampfgeschwader (bomber wing) 30 in August of 1939 in the rank of Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel). He took part in the occupation of Denmark and Norway, the attack on France, and the Battle of Britain. In October of 1940, Rieckhoff was transferred to Bomber Wing 2. He received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on July 5, 1941. With the attack on Russia, Rieckhoff led his wing during the bombing of Moscow. He went on to become Chief of the General Staff of Air Fleet 1, Commander of the 3rd Aerial Division, and eventually Commanding General and Commander-in-Chief of Luftgau V in the rank of Generalleutnant (lieutenant general). Rieckhoff was interned after the war and released in March of 1948. He died on November 30 of the same year.