Germany, Heer. The Wehrpässe and Correspondence of Rittmeister Alfred Dannebaum, Stalingrad Survivor and Knight’s Cross Recipient

(Heer Wehrpässe und Briefe). A rare set of Wehrpässe and correspondence from the estate of Rittmeister Alfred Dannebaum, a Knight’s Cross recipient and survivor of the Battle of Stalingrad, consisting of: 1. A Wehrmacht Wehrpaß, constructed of a card stock binding with all 56 paginated interior pages intact, featuring handwritten entries detailing Dannebaum’s particulars, unit information, service record, and awards received, retaining a certified portrait of the bearer, the cover bearing a “ZWEITSCHRIFT” stamp and additional handwritten inscription of “3. AUSFERTIGUNG” indicating that the Wehrpaß is Dannebaum’s third issue, issued at Tilsit on 5 August 1944, measuring 108 mm (w) x 148 mm (h), with minor material fatigue and deliberate obscuring of the cover’s swastika evident, in near extremely fine condition. 2. A Bundeswehr Wehrpaß, constructed of a grey oilcloth binding with 32 paginated interior pages intact, featuring handwritten entries detailing Dannebaum’s particulars, unit information, and service record, retaining a certified portrait of Dannebaum, issued in the Bremen district on 8 March 1958 and closed at Bensberg on 31 March 1976 as Dannebaum retired from active military service, measuring 108 mm (w) x 150 mm (h), in extremely fine condition. 3. A letter to Dannebaum congratulating on his receipt of the Knight’s Cross (awarded 17th September 1944) from Generaloberst Heinz Guderian in his capacity as Inspector General of Armoured Troops, closing with Guderian’s handwritten signature, dated 20 September 1944 and pasted with a cut-out newspaper extract describing the heroic actions on the Eastern Front for which Dannebaum received the distinction, measuring 210 mm (w) x 295 mm (h), with folding creases accompanied by minor tearing evident, in very fine condition. 4. Two prisoner of war (POW) camp letters to Dannebaum from General Maximilian von Edelsheim (Knight Cross, 30 July 1941; with Oak Leaves, 23 December 1942; and Swords, 23 October 1944), each providing details of his life in a POW camp, the well-being of mutual comrades, and family, with one YMCA-marked letter dated 13 October 1946 and measuring 210 mm (w) x 280 mm (h), and one general letter dated 11 February 1947 and measuring 210 mm (w) x 300 mm (h), each demonstrating minor fatigue and discolouration, in overall very fine condition. 5. Three early facsimile copies of Dannebaum’s award documents, including one for his 1939 Iron Cross I Class, one for his Knight’s Cross, and one describing an official close combat encounter, each printed on Agfa-Copyrapid paper, in overall extremely fine condition. Footnote: Alfred Dannebaum was born on 6 February 1918 in Danzig to Lutheran parents Alfred and Gertrud. He entered Wehrmacht service in April 1936 with 1. Kompanie, Radfahr-Bataillon 1. During the Second World War, he served with distinction in what later became Radfahr-Abteilung 1, as well as Kradschützen-Abteilung 4 and Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 24 (24. Panzer-Division). He participated in the spring 1940 campaign, seeing combat in the Netherlands and France, and later took part in Operation Barbarossa, serving on the Eastern Front where he eventually participated in the Battle of Stalingrad, being evacuated in November 1942. Between March and October 1943, Dannebaum performed light security and occupation duties in france and Italy, likely while convalescing from injuries suffered at Stalingrad. He eventually returned to the Eastern Front, where he served until late 1944 in the Soviet Union and later Romania. He suffered further injuries in November 1944 and survived to be taken into captivity by the Western Allies. During his time in the field, Dannebaum was prompted rapidly, being appointed Rittmeister on 1 November 1942, and ending the war as a Major (1 December 1944). He was suitably highly decorated, receiving the Iron Cross II Class (11 June 1940), Memel Medal (15 February 1940), Panzer Assault Badge (27 November 1940), Black Grade Wound Badge (3 July 1941), Iron Cross I Class (30 October 1941), Silver Grade Wound Badge (8 October 1942), Gold Grade Wound badge (9 August 1944), and the Knight’s Cross (23 September 1944). Dannenbaum re-enlisted in the West German Bundeswehr, where he attained the rank of Oberst and finally retired from active military service on 31 March 1976.