Germany. A Post War Signed Photo of KC winner Gerhard Fischer, SS Division “Wiking”

Measuring 101x151mm, near extremely fine condition with light scratching of the surface. It shows Fischer in the rank of SS-Unterscharführer wearing the Knight’s Cross and the General Assault Badge. The photo is signed in blue ink.

Footnote: Gerhard Fischer was born on November 12, 1922 in Wildbach near Zwickau (today a district of Bad Schlema, Saxony). He joined the SS in 1940 and received training as an antitank gunner. Fischer was deployed to the 5th SS Division “Wiking” where he served as a platoon commander in the 3rd Battery of the 5th SS Panzerjäger Battalion. During the breakout of the division from the Cherkassy pocket Fischer led his platoon to engage the enemy and managed to clear a passage through enemy lines using two antitank guns. This made it possible for the advancing German units to escape. On May 4, 1944 he was awarded the Knight’s Cross for this feat in the rank of SS-Unterscharführer. Fischer’s final award was the Panzer Badge in Silver with engagement number “50” on May 7, 1945 in the rank of SS-Oberscharführer. He died on January 1, 2013.