Germany, SS. The Award Documents of Corporal Karl Erl of the 2./SS-Geb. Jäger. Rgt. 28

This is a fine grouping of award documents of the Waffen-SS Corporal First Class Karl Erl of the 2nd SS-Gebirgsjäger Regiment 28, consisting of 1) An award document for an Iron Cross 1939 Second Class presented to SS Rottenführer Karl Erl of the 2./SS-Geb. Jg. Rgt. 28. The document was issued on February 17, 1945 at the “Gefechtsstand / Area of Operations”, and is signed by the SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Desiderius Hampel in pen, with the national seal in the bottom left corner. It measures 197 mm x 140 mm and is in near mint condition. 2) An award document for a Silver Grade Infantry Assault Badge presented to SS-Rottenführer of the 2./SS-Geb. Jg. Rgt. 28. The document was issued on January 23, 1945 at the “Gefechtsstand / Area of Operations”, and is signed by the SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Desiderius Hampel in pen, with the national seal in the bottom left corner. It measures 209 mm x 149 mm and is in mint condition.

Footnote: The 2./SS-Gebirgsjäger Regiment 28 was reformed out of the 13th Waffen-SS Mountain Division “Handschar” (1st Croatian) in 1944 due to heavy losses suffered in previous campaigns. During its prime, the 13th Waffen-SS Mountain Division fought a counterinsurgency campaign from March to December 1944, against Yugoslav Partisans in the Independent State of Croatia. The division was known to be a multi-ethnic force, comprising of Bosnian Muslims, Catholic Croats, German and Yugoslav Volksdeutsche. Desiderius Hampel was born January 20, 1895, and served as the Brigade Leader and General Major of the Waffen-SS. He was promoted to SS-Oberführer on November 9, 1944 and promoted to SS-Brigadeführer and Generalmajor on January 30, 1945. He was reportedly awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross near the end of the war, although no formal records of this exist.