Germany, Heer. A Document Collection To “Puma” Driver Feldwebel Rudolf Schmuker (EK1)

The collection consists of: an Iron Cross 1st Class award document (140x200mm, near mint); a report of personal heroism (210x149mm, very fine); an Iron Cross 2nd Class award document (139x201mm, very fine); a Panzer Badge in Bronze award document (149x210mm, extremely fine); a Wound Badge in Silver award document (140x200mm, near mint); a Wound Badge in Black award document (138x200mm, very fine); a Sudetenland Medal award document (210x147mm, very fine); a marksman competition award document (226x300mm, near very fine); a Wehrmacht driver’s licence (103x144mm, very fine); a congratulatory telegram (209x147mm, near very fine); a good conduct certificate (149x210mm, very fine); two post war photos (90x140mm, mint); a post war statutory declaration of Wehrmacht service (210x149mm, extremely fine); transcript and copy of a post war Wehrmacht discharge document (210x297mm, extremely fine).

The Iron Cross 1st Class award document is named to Unteroffizier (NCO) Schmuker of the 1st Company of Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 20. It is dated to December 22, 1943 and signed in blue ink by the commander of the 20th Panzer Division, Generalmajor Mortimer von Kessel (1893–1981), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves. The report of personal heroism is likely the Iron Cross 1st Class recommendation. It states that on October 30, 1943 Schmuker used his armoured reconnaissance vehicle (Panzerspähwagen) to defend against an enemy incursion and held the flank on his own after all other armoured vehicles had been disabled. Even after running out of ammunition, Schmuker undertook a mock assault to give the grenadiers time to regroup and reposition. On November 1, Schmuker distinguished himself again by repelling an enemy surprise attack on a village. Without orders, Schmuker, with the help of several grenadiers, entered the village, set it on fire, took out the enemy forces and captured those who surrendered. The next day, Schmuker went behind enemy lines and single-handedly destroyed an enemy artillery column in a surprise attack. On the reverse of the paper, a note in pencil states that the document should be kept with the personnel file.

The Iron Cross 2nd Class award document is named to Obergefreiter (Corporal) Schmuker on the Staff Intelligence Platoon of Reconnaissance Battalion 260. It is dated to August 15, 1941 and signed in blue ink by the commander of Infantry Division 260, Generalleutnant Hans Schmidt (1877–1948), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves.

The Panzer Badge in Bronze award document is named to Feldwebel (Sergeant) Schmuker of the 1st (Panzer Reconnaissance) Company of Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 20. It is dated to February 11, 1944 and is signed in blue ink by the battalion leader, a Captain, the name could be Iln or similar.

The Wound Badge in Silver award document is named to NCO Schmuker on the same unit as mentioned above, for being wounded three times, on November 18, 1941, December 22, 1942, and October 20, 1943. It is dated to November 21, 1943 and signed in blue ink by the battalion leader, a Captain, his name is Gabler.

The Wound Badge in Black award document is named to NCO Schmuker of the Intelligence Platoon of Reconnaissance Battalion 260 for being wounded once on November 18, 1941. It is dated to December 14, 1941 and signed in blue ink by the deputy battalion leader, a Senior Lieutenant, the name is illegible.

The Sudetenland Medal award document is named to gunner Schmuker of the 2nd Battery of Artillery Regiment 41. It is dated to December 15, 1939 and signed in blue ink by a Major, the name is illegible.

The marksmanship competition award document was issued by Reconnaissance Battalion 260 and is dated to France in June of 1941. It states that Obergefreiter Schmuker came in 8th place. It is signed in blue ink by a Lieutenant and Staff Leader, the name is illegible.

The Wehrmacht driver’s licence was issued to Schmuker on Reconnaissance Battalion 260 on December 3, 1940. On that day, he became eligible to drive vehicles of class 3. The licence was extended for class 2 vehicles on March 22, 1941, and class 1 vehicles on April 12, 1943. It also states that Schmuker received training to driver armoured reconnaissance vehicles. This entry is dated to July 8, 1944.

The congratulatory telegram is addressed to Obergefreiter Schmuker. The date is difficult to read, but may be September 20, 1941. It reads: “Congratulations on your award. Mother and Angelina.” Presumably, the award in question is the Iron Cross 2nd Class.

The good conduct certificate is named to Schütze Schmuker, stating that he served between June 16 and August 14, 1937 and is honorably discharged from the army. He served in the 16th Company of Infantry Regiment 14. The document is signed in pencil by his company leader, a Captain, the named could be Reithinger or similar.

The post war photos show Schmuker in the field. In the first one, he stands next to a vehicle, wearing a Panzer uniform with the Iron Cross 1st Class. A note next to it states that this photo was likely taken on the day of the awarding of the decoration, December 22, 1943, but certainly before February 11, 1944, since Schmuker is not wearing the Panzer Badge yet. The second photo shows Schmuker operating his armoured reconnaissance vehicle, a “Puma”.

The post war statutory declaration of Wehrmacht service is dated to February 8, 1946. In it, Schmuker states that he uninterruptedly served in the Wehrmacht between August 26, 1939 and July 10, 1945. He signed the document in blue crayon.

The copy of a post war Wehrmacht discharge document is dated on the reverse to September 17, 1974.

Footnote: Rudolf “Rudi” Schmuker (sometimes misspelled as Schmucker) was born on March 26, 1914 in Waldsee (southern Germany). He received his basic military training between June and August of 1937. Schmuker was drafted into army service on August 26, 1939, shortly before the beginning of the war. At the end of the year, he served with the 2nd Battery of Artillery Regiment 41 and presumably saw action during the Polish and French campaigns. There is no information at all about what he did in 1940. In June of 1941, Schmuker was stationed in France and served with Aufklärungs-Abteilung (Reconnaissance Battalion) 260. With the attack on Russia, the unit was deployed to the central part of the Eastern Front. Schmuker stayed with the unit until at least the end of 1941. No information is available for 1942 and most of 1943. At the end of the year, Schmuker served with Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 20. He was still with them in February of 1944, but after that there is no more information. Schmuker survived the war and was discharged from the Wehrmacht on July 10, 1945. His unit at the time was the 71st Infantry Division.