A letter to Oberfeldwebel (master sergeant) Hugo Schmidt, dated to 18 March 1943, sent by Ernst Diedenhofen, NSDAP district leader of Birkenfeld-Baumholder, which includes the city of Idar-Oberstein, Schmidt’s hometown, congratulating him on receiving the German Cross in Gold. Signed in blue ink. Measuring 209 mm (w) x 296 mm (h), presenting multiple folding creases, two punched holes, overall creasing, and two minor tears, remains fair. Accompanied by a newspaper cutout from 1943, reporting on “a recipient of the German Cross in Gold from Idar-Oberstein”, Hugo Schmidt. Measuring 125 mm (w) x 254 mm (h), presenting multiple folding creases, light scuffing and fraying of the edges, and several minor rips and tears, remains fair. Footnote: Hugo Schmidt was born in Idar-Oberstein (southwest Germany) on 20 October 1914. He fought in the campaign against France, in Greece, on the Crimean peninsula, and in southern Russia. Schmidt was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 3 February 1943 in the 6th Company of Grenadier Regiment 105. He was also a recipient of the Tank Destruction Badge in Silver.

