Check THIS out!

[schönbeck]

sorry but that is a no match for me,.

[tmca05]

I had an old neighbor named Mr. Flansburgh (1970's) who has long since passed away. He had a RK with oakleaves that was given to him by a Luftwaffe pilot at the end of the war. They were made the same way. (handmade oaksleaves on a IC 2nd). I wish I had a photo of them. I tried to buy them from him for years and he would never sell them. I always wondered what happened to them.

I also recall in some older era book on U-boats seing a photo of a U-boat Captain being awarded a set of Oakleaves by his crew at sea. They were handmade as well in the photo and were very large in proportion to the cross. I do not recall the book, but it was something from the 70's on U-boats if I recall.

[Ludwig]

The soldier is Franz Kieslich of SG77. He had over 1000 missions and was shot down 20 times, so it´s quite understandable if he had a fieldmade KC set round his neck. Perhaps he had already lost his "real" set or he didn´t want to risk it.

[tystgaard]

Is he alive?

Franz Kieslich is listed to be alive 98????.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Kieslich

Maybe he is selling out of his old stuff or maybe his family? Interesting to see if more hit the marked. A shame the lot could maybe have been greater documented, if more information had been added.

Nicolai

[Flemming]

I think the problem is the angles are different.

Even though the angel is different, then you should be able so see the hump on the war time photo.
I really can't see these two as a match.

/Flemming

[reichenberg]

..

[morel5000]

This interesting thread will be worthless in a few years without big pictures... here they are

Best regards,
Michel

[morel5000]

one more:

[Biro]

In my opinion this picture http://www.lewisheatonbooks.com/phot...s/Kieslich.jpg taken outside the same wall but from a slightly different angle shows him clearly wearing this field made set.

I think this piece has verifiable photographic provenance and would be worth more to me than a factory made knights cross with no provenance whatsoever.

I would happily take this off the new owners hands for twice what he paid for it.

My opinion of course...

Marshall

[reichenberg]

[QUOTE=Biro;4732498]In my opinion this picture http://www.lewisheatonbooks.com/phot...s/Kieslich.jpg taken outside the same wall but from a slightly different angle shows him clearly wearing this field made set.



Yes, that looks much more like it.

[George Stimson]

"In my opinion this picture http://www.lewisheatonbooks.com/phot...s/Kieslich.jpg taken outside the same wall but from a slightly different angle shows him clearly wearing this field made set."

Even the creases in his left shirt collar are the same.

[vonStubben]

"In my opinion this picture http://www.lewisheatonbooks.com/phot...s/Kieslich.jpg taken outside the same wall but from a slightly different angle shows him clearly wearing this field made set."

Even the creases in his left shirt collar are the same.

Not only that but even the creases in the ribbon are the same.

[Van]

Pretty neat set, I like it...
Van

[AUSGANG]

I think this piece has verifiable photographic provenance and would be worth more to me than a factory made knights cross with no provenance whatsoever.

I would happily take this off the new owners hands for twice what he paid for it.

Well, this brings up an interesting issue. It may be virtual Knight's Cross but its an actual Second Class Iron Cross. So even if it was worn as an RK it still isn't one. So its value is determined by the pocketbook of whoever wants it. Don't get me wrong, its a wonderful and curious item but I think the $400 price tag is about right!

[Don D.]

What do the early neysayers say now?