Germany, Kriegsmarine. A German Cross in Gold, to Lieutenant-Commander Friedrich Roll

(Deutsches Kreuz). A Cloth Version Type I with a Juncker Type 2 Wreath, of fine quality manufacture German Cross in Gold for a hand embroidered example featuring a double-overlaid sunburst pattern with eight points, with the bottom outer layer of the cross in silver/aluminum threads, the cross features a fire gilded stamped circular wreath impressed with oak leaves, ribbons, and the introduction year (1941) with the typical die-flaw on 9 signature to wreath maker C.E. Juncker, Berlin, the inner and outer sides of the wreath feature a thin red intertwined cord acting as a border around it, within the wreath is a densely embroidered black swastika (Hakenkreuz) with a silver/aluminum outer border, all on a black wool base with a black paper backer intact and unmarked, measuring 72 mm (w) x 71 mm (h), displaying mild discoloration on wreath, and in otherwise near extremely fine condition. Accompanied by a black-and-white photograph of Friedrich Roll in studio, in full uniform, measuring 73.5 mm (w) x 127 mm (h), as published in Richard Kindel, Die 8. Panzer-Division der Deutschen Wehrmacht, 1939-1945: Bilder Texte Documente Band 2 (Wuppertal: Sammlung Alte Armee und Deutsch Wehrmaht, 2007), 605. The German Cross in Gold awarded to Roll is also published on the same page in Kindel.

Footnote: Friedrich Roll was born on 21 September 1918 in Remscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia. From April 1939 to October 1939, Roll served as 3rd Wachoffizier (Watch Officer) on T196 (Torpedo Boat). From October 1939 to December 1940, Roll served as 1st Wachoffizier (Watch Officer) on the 18th Minensuch Flotille (Minesweeper Flotilla), responsible for security sevice in the North Sea then Holland, Belgium, and northern France, and later used in the canal and Norway. Roll was promoted to Gruppenführer (Group Leader) of the 44th Minensuch Flotille (Minesweeper Flotilla) in

February 1940 to February 1941, with an operation area off the west coast of France. Roll was then promoted to Kommandant (Commandant, or Commander) of the 44 Minensuch Flotille (Minesweeper Flotilla) in February 1941, and remained until March 1942. He received training at a Signals/Communication School from March 1942 to May, then returned as Kommandant (Commandant, or Commander) of the 21st Minensuch Flotille (Minesweeper Flotilla) from May 1942 to October 1942. He attended Marine-Kriegsakademie (Naval Staff College) from December 1942 to February 1943, returning as Kommandant (Commandant, or Commander) of Minesweeper M201 of the 7th Minensuch Flotille (Minesweeper Flotilla) from February 1943 to January 1945. The 7th Minesweeper Flotilla was responsible for escorts between the Elbe and Rotterdam, the deployment of several mine barriers of the Dutch coast (south-west wall), and the reinforcement of mine barriers in the North Sea. Roll received the promotion to Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant-Commander) on 1 July 1944 and, later that winter,  received the German Cross in Gold (11 November 1944). From February 1945 to end of the War, Roll served as Chef (Chief) of the 9th Räumbootflotille (Naval Minesweeper Flotilla), off the Dutch and Belgian coasts.