My christmas present!!

[Nigel N]

I also bought another photo of Behnke to add to the group..........medals 475.jpg

[Nigel N]

And one last view of the RK, my best present...EVER!!! -Nigelmedals 465.jpg

[LuckyLuudje]

Although I am not attracted to the 2nd pattern cores, this looks to me like a very good quality RK wich I wouldn't mind having in my collection
The fact that it is named is a nice bonus!

You better take very good care of your wife....she must love you a lot giving you such a beautifull and expensive present !

[vic007]

Congratulations, Nigel.
I don't know for what first the wife or the little interesting group.

It is always nice that you can research the owner of the cross.
Here's a link to site with a lot RK winners. Of course Behnke is in that list.

http://www.ritterkreuztraeger-1939-4...Startseite.htm

It seems he also got the Krim shield.
If you have trouble reading German let us know and we'll help you out. There's a description how he won his RK. A brave man who could take a lot of pain it seems. He was shot in the pelvis and stayed with his troops to return them safely to the regiment.

Great christmas gift, Nigel.

Best wishes

stijn

[Nigel N]

icon_cheers.gif Cheers guys, and thanks for the link Stijn
Forgot to mention, its a "C" frame on this one!! - Nigel

[Seewolf]

What in hell have you done that your wife makes such presents
Congratulations on this great 2nd pattern RK AND on such a wife
Looks like an early 2nd pattern one with a very nice c-frame. I like the provenance too, it´s very interesting to read this mans story......

From 29.11.1941 to the 16th Mixed company of the now Jäger Regiment 49, where he is promoted on 01.12.1941 chief hunter. Furthermore, he takes from 01.04.1942 to 30.09.1942 on 10 Officer candidate training course at the Infantry School, Dresden participated. There, he was appointed to sergeant and OA on 01.09.1942, 26.09.1942 and promoted to lieutenant on the reserve.
On 01.01.1943 the 14th (Tank hunters) Company of the Grenadier Regiment 668, the 370th Assigned Infantry Division, will be on 31.10.1943 the lines of the 370th Infantry Division in the Nogai steppe attacked by the enemy. It succeeded the platoon leader Behnke, hold together with the remains of an infantry battalion, which he had placed himself, the town Koltschakowka against strong enemy attacks. He was severely wounded in the evening by a Beck shot. Nevertheless, he led his battle group in the night, back, taking with him all the wounded, without cover through the desert to the regiment. The successful defense of the battle group Behnke has enabled the division, as planned, due to their associations are organized and build on the Dnieper, a new defensive position. For this defensive success Behnke received the Knight's Cross on 20/01/1944.

[George L]

Hey Nigel, does your woman have any sisters?

A nice 2nd pattern RK there, but I'm not sure what to make of that case. It's still a nice group, though.

[Mike Yokum]

Just WONDERFUL Nigel! Both Gale AND the cross!!!

And if those two weren't enough you have his HAND SIGNED ID book too! WOOHOO!!! Really great stuff with which to commemorate a brave soldier. He was brave in combat and also brave to join Seylidtz army! Excellent addition buddy! A Merry Christmas to be sure!!!

[Nigel N]

Cheers my friends!! and thank you Rudiger for taking the time to type out the details of his combat experience!!
The case is not the usual one you find George, but its certainly old, i think i remember seeing a similar one in David's collection, with a nice 1st pattern in it
Dont know what i did to deserve this present, but its made for a great Christmas!!!xmas-smiley-031.gif -Nigel

[Matthieu]

A lovely 2nd pattern bulking with history, Nigel . Wish we could all have such understanding wives / girlfriends / family .

[DavidM]

The case is not the usual one you find George, but its certainly old, i think i remember seeing a similar one in David's collection, with a nice 1st pattern in it

Hello

First off, a very nice and desirable 2nd pattern RK, with a great attribution

As you say, the case isn't one of the usual ones that you find with a new form RK. The ones with the slightly rounded inner corners and black 'mushroom' style button are known 57ers, as they are in the EK/KVK cases, but there is also a modern reproduction version of this as well. The repro one with the 'mushroom' push button is most frequently encountered as an 'LDO' marked case, but occasional is plain. Nigel, could you please post some shots (full face on) of the top and bottom of the case, as well as close on shots of the push button and rear hinge, and describe what is under the white upper lid linning, e.g. foam or sponge like substance, a harder, uneven 'flocking' type substance, cardboard or what have you. Is the white linning UV negative or not?

Yes, I do have a case that is similar, and which is thought to be a legitmate 57one.

Regards
David

[Nigel N]

Hi David, i'll try and post some photo's tomorrow, but the underside of the case is the same as yours with angled edges to case (if you know what i mean)The case is also really well made, heavy and of good quality.
The padding under the lid liner is quite a stiff material, not foam or sponge, its all u v negative!!
I've seen the repro's in this style, but i did'nt think for a minute this was one, do you see any red flags David??

[DavidM]

Hi David, i'll try and post some photo's tomorrow, but the underside of the case is the same as yours with angled edges to case (if you know what i mean)The case is also really well made, heavy and of good quality.
The padding under the lid liner is quite a stiff material, not foam or sponge, its all u v negative!!
I've seen the repro's in this style, but i did'nt think for a minute this was one, do you see any red flags David??

No, nothing based on the photos so far. Given the description of the underside, a quick question which may save you having to photograph it. On the outside top portion of the case, is there a thin, faint line that runs all the way around the edge? The material used under the white inner linning. Does it feel ridged if you (carefully) run a finger nail sideways across it?

Thanks.

Regards
David

[Nigel N]

David, i can't see any line around the lid, but its well worn, almost to the point of smooth!
Under the lid liner,there are definite ridges i can feel, running vertically across the lid! The wadding or whatever it is finishes about a quarter of an inch from the top of the lid!! Anything like yours?? -Nigel

[DavidM]

David, i can't see any line around the lid, but its well worn, almost to the point of smooth!
Under the lid liner,there are definite ridges i can feel, running vertically across the lid! The wadding or whatever it is finishes about a quarter of an inch from the top of the lid!! Anything like yours?? -Nigel

Yes Nigel, sounds exactly like mine The line around the lid top can be quite difficult spot. If you look in this thread at the photos of mine, you will see that in some shots the line virtually disappears.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=192358

All depends on the angle you view it from, so yours may have a line, albeit a worn one, that will take a bit of looking for at the right angle and in the right lighting.

I'd say, from what I've seen and had described though, that it's a good 57 RK case

Regards
David