Germany, Heer. The Dagger, Photos, and Documents of Karl-Heinz Krusenbaum, German Cross in Gold Recipient

(Heer Dolch, Fotos, und Papiere). A mixed lot of items from the estate of Karl-Heinz Krusenbaum, a decorated Officer of Pionier-Bataillon 7, 7. Infanterie-Division with extensive Eastern Front service, including:

1. An Officer’s dress dagger, measuring 40 cm in total length when inserted into the scabbard. It features a 26.5 cm-long nickel-plated magnetic steel blade with a sharpened tip and edges. The blade is plain with the exception of a maker’s mark of Weyersburg, Kirschbaum & Cie, Solingen, topped by the firm’s classic knight’s helmet logo, on the reverse ricasso. It sits securely within a nickel-plated alloy crossguard, the obverse of which bears a raised Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, with the seam covered by an intact brown leather buffer pad. The handle grip is composed of a single piece of ribbed pale brown celluloid, while the dagger completes with a rounded pommel bearing raised oak leaves around the outer circumference, screwing in to maintain the dagger’s structural integrity. It is accompanied by its original scabbard, constructed of a pebbled magnetic metal shaft. The upper third of the shaft features dual integral oak leaf bands accommodating loops for the inclusion of a hanger. The former is included and consists of two field-grey doeskin straps topped by silver aluminum wire tresses, each locking onto the scabbard with functional zink spring clips and adjusted with functional buckles. The straps descend from a zink loop for uniform suspension. The scabbard’s throat retains a functional spring catch to firmly hold the dagger in place during storage. Minor loss of finish is visible to the zink and nickel-plated elements of both the dagger and hanger, but the set remains in an overall extremely fine condition.

2. A large photo album constructed of a heavy card stock binding with a faux brown leather exterior liner. The interior content consists of 15 card stock pages retaining 95 black-and-white wartime images, featuring scenes of Heer personnel in the field on the Eastern Front, supplemented by a large number of photos showing German Red Cross (DRK) personnel in uniform and on duty (presumably including Krusenbaum’s wife, Ursula Penther). Most images are accompanied by handwritten descriptions and dates. Measuring 28 cm (w) x 20 cm (h), the album demonstrates the loss of a small number of photos, but remains in an extremely fine condition.

3. A large photo album constructed of a heavy card stock binding with a light marbled and faux dark brown leather exterior liner. The interior content consists of 18 field-grey card stock pages retaining 86 black-and-white wartime images, consisting primarily of military imagery with Krusenbaum and other Wehrmacht personnel in the field, supplemented by some family photos and holiday cards. Notably, Krusenbaum is frequently depicted in uniform and with the German Cross in Gold and Close Combat Clasp clearly visible. Measuring 34 cm (w) x 24.5 cm (h). Some damage consistent with moisture exposure is visible to the cover, along with superficial staining to some of the interior pages, but the album remains in an overall very fine condition.

4. A medium-sized photo album, constructed of a pressed brown leather exterior liner with detailed navy imagery embossed onto the cover. The interior content consists of 24 brown card stock pages retaining 160 black-and-white images, featuring depictions of Luftwaffe and Heer personnel in the field on the Eastern Front, many supplemented by detailed handwritten captions. It also features a small number of family photos. Measuring 27 cm (w) x 20 cm (h), it demonstrates some material fatigue and missing photos, but remains in an overall near extremely fine condition.

5. A small photo album, constructed of a card stock binding with an embroidered exterior liner. The interior content consists of 24 black card stock pages retaining 89 black-and-white photos, primarily depicting National Socialist Women’s League (NS-Frauenschaft) and German Red Cross personnel in uniform and at leisure, many featuring Ursula Penther interspersed with images of individuals in Luftwaffe uniforms and some family photos. Measuring 23 cm (w) x 16 cm (h), it is in an extremely fine condition.

6. A small photo album, constructed of a card stock binding with a faux brown leather exterior liner. The interior content consists of 20 black card stock pages retaining nine postwar private family photos. It measures 20 cm (w) x 14 cm (h) and is in an extremely fine condition.

7. Also accompanied by a large and mixed group of photos and documents. The former vary in size from small identity document images to large and formerly framed portraits, with many depicting individuals in Heer, Luftwaffe, NS-Frauenschaft, and German Red Cross uniforms (including the occasion of Krusenbaum’s receipt of the German Cross in Gold), supplemented by a variety of identity documents (including a German Red Cross service card), miscellaneous paperwork including wartime marriage certificates, certificates of Aryan descent, and ledgers.

A fascinating and researchable lot in an overall extremely fine condition.