Award-document for the ‘DKiG'
This is a nice example of a ‘formal’ award-document for the ‘Deutches Kreuz in Gold’ awarded to the Luftwaffe ‘Unteroffizier Heinz Frister’, who was a ‘Bordfunker’ (radio operator) in a ‘Sturzkampfgeschwader’ on 12 December 1943. Regrettably, could I not find any more details regarding ‘Frister’ (but I am convinced that further study would reveal more details about him i.e. his service.) The ‘formal’ document (sized: 35,5 x 25,5 cms.) is in a nice, unfolded and not hole-punched condition. It bears both the signatures of Hermann Göring (I deem a facimile) and of ‘Generaloberst Bruno Loerzer’. Bruno Loerzer (22 January 1891 - 23 August 1960) was an officer in the German \'Luftstreitkräfte\' during World War I and Luftwaffe during World War II. Born in Berlin, Loerzer was a pre-war army officer, who learned to fly in 1914. Hermann Göring flew as Loerzer\'s observer until mid-1915. Transferring to fighters, Loerzer flew with two \'Jagdstaffeln\' in 1916 before joining \"Jasta\" 26 in January 1917. By then he had scored two victories over French aircraft. His tally reached 20 at the end of October and he received the \'Pour le Mérite\' in February 1918. The same month, he took command of the newly formed \'Jagdgeschwader III\', the third of Germany\'s famed \"flying circuses.\" His aces included his brother Fritz, who claimed 11 kills. Leading ‘Jasta 26’ and three other squadrons, Loerzer proved a successful wing commander. Equipped with the new BMW-engined Fokker D.VII, JG III cut a wide swath through Allied formations in the summer of 1918, and his own score mounted steadily. He achieved his last ten victories in September when he reached his final score of 44. Shortly before the armistice, he was promoted to \'Hauptmann\' (captain). Loerzer illegally fought with the one of the ‘Freikorps’ from December 1918 until March 1920. During the 1930s he was a leader in various civil aviation organizations and commanded fighter unit JG 334 \'Pik As\' when the Luftwaffe was organized. Loerzer benefited from his long friendship with Göring, becoming a lieutenant general in 1939. During the early war years he was commander of the ‘II.Fliegerkorps’ and being awarded the KC (‘Ritterkreuz’) in May 1940. Goering promoted Loerzer to ‘Generaloberst’ in February 1943 and in June 1944 he became chief of the National Socialist Leadership Branch of the Luftwaffe. He retired in April 1945 and died in 1960, at the age of 69. The document shows some minor staining (possibly caused by having been hung in a frame for years). It also has a neat (superimposed and embossed) eagle ‘Blindprägesiegel’ depicting Görings coat of arms. It should be stated that DkiG documents for Luftwaffe staff are not that easy to encounter! A nice historical piece that was awarded to a ‘Stuka’ radio-operator!