Germany, Heer. The Estate of Leutnant Herbert Unfried, 4th Panzer Regiment, Eastern Front KIA

(Heer Panzertruppe Auszeichnungen, Verleihungsurkunden, Insignien, Fotos, und Schwert). An extensive lot consisting of awards, documents, photographs, and a sword from the estate of Leutnant Herbert Unfried, who served for the majority of the Second World War with Panzer-Regiment 4 (4th Panzer Regiment) on both the Western and Eastern Fronts before being killed in action on 30 January 1943 in the Krasnodar region. It consists of:

1. A West Wall Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised pillbox topped by a crossed sword and shovel nd a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing an inscription of “FÜR ARBEIT ZUM SCHUTZE DEUTSCHLANDS” (“FOR WORK IN THE DEFENCE OF GERMANY”), unmarked, measuring 32.20 mm (w) x 44.86 mm (h), weighing 18.5 grams, in near mint condition; accompanied by its award document, constructed of off-white paper stock with black ink, named to Unfried as a Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service/RAD) Vormann, issued in Berlin on 17 September 1940 and featuring a facsimile signature of Otto Meissner, measuring 148 mm (w) x 210 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

2. 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 depiction of a Panzer IV rolling over grassy terrain, with its left tread extending beyond the edge of the wreath, the reverse with a narrow barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked, measuring 41.47 mm (w) x 59.68 mm (h), weighing 13.0 grams, demonstrating total loss of silver finish and a crack to the wreath along the seam of the eagle’s left wing, unmarked, in fair condition; accompanied by a preliminary award notice, constructed of off-white paper with multi-coloured ink, named to Unfried as an Unteroffizier of 3rd Company, 4th Panzer Regiment, dated June 1940 and featuring the handwritten signature of Generalleutnant Rudolf Veiel (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 3 June 1940), measuring 205 mm (w) x 148 mm (h), with some material fatigue evident, in very fine condition; also accompanied by an award document, constructed of off-white paper with black ink, named to Unfried as an Unteroffizier of 3rd Company, 4th Panzer Regiment, issued in Vienna on 9 October 1940, featuring an additional handwritten signature of Generalleutnant Rudolf Veiel, measuring 210 mm (w) x 296 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

3. 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 44.14 mm (w) x 47.87 mm (h), weighing 20.7 grams, in extremely fine condition; accompanied by its award document, constructed of off-white paper stock with black ink, named to Unfried as a Leutnant of the 2nd Company of the 4th Panzer Regiment, issued at Paschkowka (Paschkovskiy) on 15 July 1941, featuring the handwritten signature of Generalmajor Walther Düvert (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 30 July 1941), measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

4. 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 round wire catch, the six o’clock arm maker marked with an illegible LDO or Präsidialkanzlei code, measuring 43.63 mm (w) x 43.70 mm (h), weighing 15.6 grams, accompanied by its period original presented case, constructed of a light wooden frame with a faux black leather exterior liner, the lid bearing a silver Cross Pattée, the interior with a white rayon lid liner and intact hinge cover, with a slotted white velvet medal bed, closing with a functional metal spring catch with exterior stud release, unmarked, measuring 68 mm (w) x 68 mm (l) x 22 mm (h), in overall extremely fine condition; accompanied by an award document, constructed of off-white paper stock with black ink, named to Unfried as a Leutnant of 2nd Company, 4th Panzer Regiment, issued at Krinitschki (Krynytchky) on 17 September 1941, featuring the handwritten signature of Generalmajor Walther Düvert (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 30 July 1941), measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

5. An Eastern Front Medal, constructed of silvered and patinated zink, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a central raised Heer-style German national eagle clutching a swastika, the reverse bearing a raised inscription of “WINTERSCHLACHT IM OSTEN 1941/42” (“WINTER BATTLE IN THE EAST 1941/42”), above a crossed sword and laurel branch, topped by a Stahlhelm and stick grenade, the suspension loop maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “13” for Gustav Brehmer, Markneukirchen, measuring 36.24 mm (w) x 44.56 mm (h), weighing 22.1 grams, in near extremely fine condition; accompanied by an award document, constructed of off-white paper stock with multi-coloured ink, named to Unfried as a Leutnant of 3rd Company, 4th Panzer Regiment, issued on 3 August 1942, featuring the handwritten signature of an unidentified Hauptmann, measuring 140 mm (w) x 200 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

6. A mixed lot of uniform insignia, including a Heer Officer’s breast eagle, constructed of dark green wool, the obverse bearing a machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, unmarked, measuring 110 mm (w) x 42 mm (h), in uniform-removed and extremely fine condition; a matching set of Panzer Officer collar tabs, each constructed of dark green wool with buckram cores, the obverse of each bearing two machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire insignia bisected by rose-pink embroidered tresses, both unmarked and measuring 40 mm (w) x 72 mm (l), in uniform-removed and near extremely fine condition, and; a matching set of Panzer Oberleutnant shoulder boards, each constructed of rose-pink wool with card stock cores, topped by four bands of silver aluminum wire piping, and pinned with silvered rank pips, both unmarked and measuring 32 mm (w) x 105 mm (l), in uniform-removed and very fine condition.

7. A Wehrpaß, constructed of a field-grey card stock binding with all 52 paginated interior pages intact, issued to Unfried on 23 December 1938 in Stuttgart, retaining a certified black-and-white studio portrait of the bearer, featuring handwritten entries indicating that Unfried was born on 9 September 1920 to Lutheran parents Hans and Maria, that he entered into Wehrmacht service while performing a mandatory stint in the RAD, and that he served his entire Wehrmacht career with Panzer-Ersatz-Abteilung 4 and Panzer-Regiment 4, also indicating that he was trained on the Karabiner 98k rifle, Pistole 08, and MG 34, with additional handwritten entries for all awards, measuring 105 mm (w) x 146 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition; accompanied by a notice, constructed of off-white paper stock with multi-coloured ink, dated 13 March 1944 and indicating that Unfried’s Wehrpaß is being returned to his parents following his death in combat, measuring 210 mm (w) x 148 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

8. A lot of miscellaneous paperwork, including a small handwritten note from Unfried, printed on a piece of card stock measuring 143 mm (w) x 90 mm (h) and dated 7 July 1941, retaining its original envelope bearing a Feldpost Number of “12393” (then assigned to 2nd Company, 4th Panzer Regiment, in extremely fine condition; a replacement birth certified, issued to Unfried on 11 March 1941, measuring 210 mm (w) x 296 mm (h), in very fine condition; a death certificate, issued on 16 June 1943 and indicating that Unfried was killed in action on the Eastern Front (in Gasyr, with Volksbund records confirming that Unfried is interred near Krasnodar-Apsheronsk), measuring 212 mm (w) x 296 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition; three newspaper cut-out obituaries to Unfried, in overall extremely fine condition, and; a telegram dated 14 March 1943, featuring the handwritten signature of an unidentified Hauptmann, measuring 210 mm (w) x 149 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

9. A lot of photographs, including a large portrait of Unfriend in the uniform of a Leutnant, wearing the 1939 Iron Cross I Class and Panzer Assault Badge in Silver and a ribbon bar featuring the 1939 Iron Cross II Class, Eastern Front Medal, and West Wall Medal, printed on matte Agfa-Brovira paper, measuring 178 mm (w) x 238 mm (h), in extremely fine condition, accompanied by a postcard-style copy, printed on Mimosa paper, the reverse unused, measuring 88 mm (w) x 135 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a postcard-style portrait of Unfried in the uniform of a Leutnant, wearing the Panzer Assault Badge in Silver and a ribbon bar featuring the West Wall Medal, printed on Agfa paper, the reverse unused, measuring 90 mm (w) x 140 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a postcard-style studio portrait of Unfried in a black Panzer wrap with a razor-sharp depiction of the beret in wear, the reverse unused and bearing a Stuttgart studio stamp, printed on Voigtländer paper, measuring 96 mm (w) x 140 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a large studio portrait of a young Unfried in a suit, unmarked, measuring 128 mm (w) x 178 mm (h), in extremely fine condition, and; seven photos depicting a visit to a German field cemetery in Gazyr (Газырь) where Unfried now rests, with the sole marker consisting of a solitary metal cross, in overall extremely fine condition.

10. A customized dress sword, measuring 95 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features an 82.5 cm-long nickel-plated magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and lower edge, and with fullers running approximately two-thirds of the length of each side. It is unmarked with the exception of a maker’s mark on the reverse ricasso of “ORIGINAL EICKHORN, SOLINGEN”, circumscribing the firm’s classic logo of a squirrel clutching a sword. The blade sits securely within a multi-piece hilt, with the seam covered by an intact brown leather buffer pad. A gilded metal alloy crossguard featuring a raised Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika on the obverse, and a semi-oval medallion on the reverse bearing Unfried’s engraved initials. A bar emanates from the crossguard and forms a hand guard, with the pommel bearing a raised Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika. The handle grip consists of a single piece of ribbed black celluloid, with the ribbing retaining a period original twisted and rolled bronze wire cord. Wrapped around the handle is a matching portepee, consisting of a stylized silver aluminum wire acorn suspended from a strap constructed of black leather and bearing three machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire tresses. It is also accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a black-painted magnetic metal shaft. An integral ring set into place near the throat retains a loop for the accommodation of a hanger, while the throat retains a functional spring catch, firmly holding the sword in place during storage. The blade demonstrates slight running marks, with additional minor tarnishing of some of the gilded features. It remains in an overall extremely fine condition.