RK of the Youngest Recipient

[Harry]

......at least at the time he received it, he was the youngest, at 19 years old and still a Gefreiter. A nice slightly flawed A-type S&L.

[Harry]

Looks like a Burgdorf signature. There is a faint penciled number on the reverse of the prelim document, it looks like L-909125/3...

[Dietrich Maerz]

Did you go to the Wehrgeschichtliches Museum Rastatt to make a picture of the cross?

[-=Re-Sa=-]

Nice set, is this from museum?
regards
Sasha

[Harry]

I purchased the cross as part of a group from D Niemann, it came with many of his original award documents. The 'Iron Time' pictures an RK, EK1 and EK11 supposedly from Hermes, maybe the picture in that book is from the museum. On hermes own personal account, his decorations were taken when captured by the russians. He had however, recieved two RKs, one of which he posted home to his parents after the award ceremony. What I am trying to establish is whether it is likely that this is one of his crosses, or whether it is matched to the documents.

[Hank C.]

Dreamy, just dreamy.....congrats on this!

best
Hank

[Dietrich Maerz]

Harry,

(and whoever else might read this...) I don't want to say anything bad so I will only report what I know and what I did:

During the Rounder affair I got an "expertise" from Nimmergut about a Rounder and he mentioned that an example with 'round inner corners' can be found at the Wehrgeschichtliche Museum in Rastatt. When I saw the book from Stephen and - being still on the hunt for a genuine Rounder - contacted him about a better picture of the RK from Hermes as shown in his book on page 409. he told me at that point in time that the picture does not depict the actual cross but was rather a genuine depiction of what Hermes got. So, from that I can only say this:

- there is a cross at the Wehrgeschichtliche Museum in Rastatt which was/is attributed to Othmar Hermes (I never saw it)

- the RK depicted in Stephens book on page 409 is (that I was told by SP) not Hermes' cross.

I know also that Hermes got two crosses and that he did send one home. The other one was taken by partisans and is lost. I would assume that DN bought the cross form the family (after they got it back from the Museum - if it ever was there) and I'm sure he can back that up.

Maybe the Museum was wrong also. But this is a strange one since it popped up already twice in the literature.

That's all I know and I would love to see pictures of the cross. A slightly flawed S&L awarded in mid-44 fits perfectly in the timeframe!

Dietrich

[Harry]

Thanks Dietrich, for your input. I am a little unclear...Were Niemergutt and Privetera talking about the same RK? and was this the cross supposedly at the museum at one point? Was Niemergutt referring to Hermes cross specifically, or just a random cross held at the museum

[Dietrich Maerz]

Harry,

Nimmergut mentiones specifically Othmar Hermes' cross in the "expertise". There you have a statement by an expert under oath that at least in July 2000 the cross was in that Museum (or he thought so).

Since I thought - based on Nimmergut - that the Hermes cross was a Rounder I contacted Stephen and he told me that he does not have actual pictures of the actual Hermes cross - the pictures in the book are just generic examples to show to the reader what Hermes had.

I don't know if you, Niemann, Nimmergut and Stephen are talking about the same cross - but I know this: all four do certainly think so!

[Harry]

The paperwork and cross were obtained from the family by Carsten Baldes. D Niemann bought the group directly from Carsten. I have been in touch with the museum in Rastatt, and initial enquiries indicate they do not have any item related to Othmar Hermes, but have examples of RKs and photos of recipients.

[Dietrich Maerz]

Looks like Nimmergut was wrong again! Congrats to a good catch then!

Dietrich

[Harry]

Dietrich
I have long since learned to discount expertises by Nimmergut, he has incorrectly authenticated fakes as originals on many occasion -as you have discovered.

[Marc Garlasco]

BLASPHEMY!

[Dietrich Maerz]

Harry,

that is clearly true and he is more wrong than right. But one cannot discount everything he says just because it's him. I really thought that this statement of the RK of Hermes being in Rastatt is so clear and proovable that it just might be right... wrong again!

But don't be mistaken, he is not the only one who makes mistakes. When it comes to groups the highest level of scrutiny is very advisable. Just imagine how stupid one would look if announcing a nice cross with a nice Name behind it and the 'same' cross would have been in Rastatt.

But a group with a second cross is actually unprovable in both ways.

Please do post pictures. I would love to see the flaws. Just remember that this flawed cross would have been considered post-war just not to long ago! (and still is by some people...)

Dietrich

[Harry]

Some detailed shots..much frosting still remains.