(Heer Medaillen und Papiere). An extensive lot of awards and documents from the estate of Hauptfeldwebel Richard Piehler, including:
A 1939 Iron Cross II Class, constructed or iron and silver, on loop for suspension from its period original parade-mounted ribbon with horizontal pinback, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central mobile swastika, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1939”, the reverse six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, unmarked, measuring 43.57 mm (w) x 47.85 mm (h), weighing 29.9 grams (inclusive of ribbon and mounting), in near mint condition.
A 1939 Iron Cross I Class, constructed of brass and silver, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened non-magnetic brass core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central mobile swastika, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1939”, the reverse with a black hinge and banjo-style pinback meeting a flat wire catch, unmarked but with the physical characteristics of manufacture Wächtler & Lange, Mittweida, measuring 43.88 mm (w) x 43.82 mm (h), weighing 20.4 grams, accompanied by its period original presentation case, constructed of a heavy card stock frame with a faux black leather exterior, the lid bearing a silver embossed Cross Pattée, the interior with a white satin-type lid liner and partially intact hinge cover, with a slotted beige felt medal bed, opening with a functional spring catch with exterior stud release and a functional metal hinge, unmarked, measuring 68 mm (w) x 68 mm (l) x 24 mm (h), some material fatigue is evident to the case in the form of deterioration of the hinge cover and loss of exterior lining, the cross in near mint condition.
A ribbon bar featuring four decorations, including a 1939 Iron Cross, an Eastern Front Medal, a Wehrmacht Long Service Medal, and a West Wall Medal, set on a 60 mm-long magnetic metal bar with a horizontal pinback and red wool reverse liner, unmarked, in extremely fine condition;
An Infantry Assault Badge in Silver, constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, diagonally across the badge is a Karabiner 98k rifle with the bayonet attached and carrying sling hanging from the rifle, the reverse with an integral hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flattened integral catch, maker marked with the logo of Gebrüder Wegerhoff, Lüdenscheid, measuring 47.56 mm (w) x 62.48 mm (h), weighing 27.1 grams, in extremely fine condition; accompanied by a period replacement badge, constructed of silvered bronze, the obverse of identical composition, the reverse with a crimped barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked, measuring 48.17 mm (w) x 61.35 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.
A Silver Grade Wound Badge, constructed of silvered zink, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, with a central Stahlhelm overlaid by a mobile swastika, on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with an integral hinge and vertical pinback meeting an integral catch, unmarked, measuring 37.07 mm (w) x 44.37 mm (h), weighing 30.2 grams, accompanied by its period original presentation case, constructed of two pieces of maroon card stock, the interior with a slotted maroon felt medal bed, unmarked, measuring 66 mm (w) x 66 mm (l) x 14 mm (h), with loss of finish evident to the reverse of the medal and material fatigue throughout the case, in overall near extremely fine condition.
A West Wall Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original parade-mounted ribbon with horizontal pinback, consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, the obverse with a raised pillbox topped by a crossed sword and shovel and Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a raised inscription of “FÜR ARBEIT ZUM SCHUTZE DEUTSCHLANDS” (“FOR WORK IN THE DEFENCE OF GERMANY”), unmarked, measuring 32.92 mm (w) x 44.58 mm (h), weighing 30.9 grams (inclusive of mounting and ribbon), in extremely fine condition.
A DRL Sports Badge, Bronze Grade, constructed of bronzed magnetic metal, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by a mobile swastika, overlaid by stylized letters “DRL” on a hollow background, the reverse with a barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, maker marked “ERNST SCHNEIDER, LÜDENSCHEID”, measuring 39.22 mm (w) x 48.63 mm (h), weighing 16.7 grams, in extremely fine condition.
A DLRG (German Life Saving Association) certification stick pin, constructed of bronze, the obverse bearing a raised DRLG-style German national eagle perched on top of rocks over a seascape, flanked by an inscription of “DLRG”, topped by an inscription of “GRUNDSCHEIN”, unmarked, measuring 20.91 mm (w) x 13.33 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.
A Heer Marksmanship Lanyard, Grade 6, consisting of an aluminum insignia, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, overlaid by a pebbled shield bearing crossed swords, attached with all four reverse attachment prongs to a lanyard constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire, with each end completing in a loop for uniform attachment and a single stylized acorn suspended from the lanyard, the insignia measuring 42.35 mm (w) x 56.78 mm (h), the lanyard measuring 420 mm in length, in extremely fine condition.
Accompanied by a Zweitschrift (second issue) Soldbuch, construstructed of a light card stock binding with 24 interior pages, issued on 19 November 1944 and indicating that Piehler was born in Frankfurt-am-Main on 26 May 1915 and was married to Leni (née Boenke), with handwritten entries for all accompanying awards with dates of issue, the Wehrmacht eagle on the cover has been covered with ink, measuring 105 mm (w) x 146 mm (h), in better than very fine condition; also accompanied by six photographs, including a studio portrait of Piehler, depicted in uniform and wearing the Iron Cross I Class, the Infantry Assault Badge in Silver, a Silver Grade Wound Badge, a Bronze Grade DRL Sports Badge, an Iron Cross II Class ribbon, an Eastern Front Medal ribbon, and a Heer Marksmanship Lanyard, the reverse studio-marked and with a handwritten inscription, measuring 88 mm (w) x 140 mm (h), with evidence of reverse adhesive removal, in overall extremely fine condition, and; five small photos showing Wehrmacht personnel on review and field equipment, printed on period Agfa paper, in overall near extremely fine condition.