I originally posted a few years ago asking for views and information on a Ritterkreuz left to me by my late father with a view to selling. I've researched and sat on it for a while because, to be honest, it was a bit painful to sell, however, dad's been gone 5 years now and I've completed our research so the time has come to move on. I thought I'd add an information update before listing it in the E-Stand. I hope someone else finds the research interesting-it's not complete or perfect but a pretty good start and not easily googlable unlike some.
Our story
Firstly, my late father was a WO1 conductor in Bomb Disposal in the British army for 25 years ('74-99) and received this RK during the mid-90s. He was present at some point when the military museum at Shoeburyness was closed (now reopened years later at Foulness island) and was given this during a clearout. I couldn't tell you who by though, I was only about 7 at the time and he was quite well connected so could have been lots of people! We've had it for about 25 years and I believe it has never been commercially available.
I'm not a collector myself and not versed in authentication, so I spoke to some people back then at virtualgrenadier, e-medals and trave-militaria alongside another German auction house, a local militaria auction house 'Arms and Armour Auctions' UK and Bonhams who all said they think it is genuine but have never had a formal certificate of authenticity (is this a thing?) produced. Afraid I don't know any better method for authentication but would be happy to take it somewhere in the UK for this if there is such a service?
The Mappe:
Knights cross of the Iron cross for Wilhelm Crisolli, in Red Leather case. Tooled in gold and marked Frieda Thiersch on the inner cover. Inside is vellum, with raised gold hand lettering and autopen Hitler signature. On the inner left are residual marks from the museum. Damage to the leather is fairly minimal with the corners being in good condition along with the tooling, some minor marking and rippling of the vellum.
The Person
Really interesting research project! Hopefully, I've put together hopefully one of the more complete records for someone interesting and involved in a lot of important incidents but is also quite shadowy.
Wilhelm Crisolli, born in 1895 in Berlin of Italian descent first joined the Imperial Army in 1914 mostly with the 5th horse Jäger-Regiment (but several others; 4th, 15th etc). There is a mention of an award of both iron crosses (Ek1 &2) at this point, the original Prussian version alongside the wound badge (Verwundetenabzeichen). This regiment then transferred to the Reichswher after WW1, and Crisolli to the cavalry division of the Rider Regiment (mostly 5th) where he rose steadily before becoming a teacher of tactics at Potsdam Military Academy in the interwar period.
In 1938, he was appointed Commander of the 1st Division of the Cavalry Rifle Regiment 9. He then led the department into battle first in the Polish campaign and was awarded the Sudetenland Medal in 1938 during the annexation of the Sudetenand from Czechoslovakia. In the Polish campaign, in September 1939 he was also awarded both (1st and 2nd) Iron Crosses (wehrmacht version) - so was an active part in the beginning of WW2 but not a big name.
From there he was a part of the Battle of France and the invasion of Yugoslavia (with the Panzer division).
In 1940, he became commander of the 8th Rifles, 8th Panzer Division (Schützen-Regiment 8) which he led under Erich von Manstein during operation Barbarossa. He was awarded the Knights Cross on 15th July 1941 for his part in the operation. He also has the Pazerbadge (panzerkampfabzeichen) andEastern Front medal (winterschlacht im osten) from this time. On January 31, 1942 on the Russian Front, he was badly wounded and had to give up his command.
In 1942 he was commissioned Generalmajor of the 13th Panzer division and later assigned leadership of the 16th Infantry (motorised) and Panzer divisions in the offensive to the Caucasus and briefly colonel of 333rd infantry division and also 6th Panzer Division during July 1943 and the battle of Kursk.
In November 1943 he was dispatched to become Major General of 20. Luftwaffen-Sturm-Division in Italy after landing at Sicily to become part of the Gothic Line Defensive.
Crisolli was assassinated on 12 September 1944 during an ambush by Italian partisans whilst on the move in Modena. NB: This is during the period of where the SS are involved in multiple atrocities against partisans -there is some evidence of his involvement which may have led to his murder but nothing very concrete. Immediately afterwards the Germans launched a massive anti-partisan assault in the Bologna area, which became known as the Monte Sole massacre or the Massacre of Marzabotta, in retribution for the killing of a Luftwaffe officer. It became known as the worst massacre of civilians committed by the Waffen SS in Western Europe during the war.
He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Generalleutnant in March 1945.
Should you wish to read about him, his grandson, Thomas Medicus has written a book exploring his grandfathers time in Italy after finding the cross itself alongside some photographs after his grandmother died.
Photographs
Attached , for more pictures please see my Ritterkreuz album via my profile, these same photos are also available in a larger resolution here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pp21i3nuk...AZxyfd0Va?dl=0
Our story
Firstly, my late father was a WO1 conductor in Bomb Disposal in the British army for 25 years ('74-99) and received this RK during the mid-90s. He was present at some point when the military museum at Shoeburyness was closed (now reopened years later at Foulness island) and was given this during a clearout. I couldn't tell you who by though, I was only about 7 at the time and he was quite well connected so could have been lots of people! We've had it for about 25 years and I believe it has never been commercially available.
I'm not a collector myself and not versed in authentication, so I spoke to some people back then at virtualgrenadier, e-medals and trave-militaria alongside another German auction house, a local militaria auction house 'Arms and Armour Auctions' UK and Bonhams who all said they think it is genuine but have never had a formal certificate of authenticity (is this a thing?) produced. Afraid I don't know any better method for authentication but would be happy to take it somewhere in the UK for this if there is such a service?
The Mappe:
Knights cross of the Iron cross for Wilhelm Crisolli, in Red Leather case. Tooled in gold and marked Frieda Thiersch on the inner cover. Inside is vellum, with raised gold hand lettering and autopen Hitler signature. On the inner left are residual marks from the museum. Damage to the leather is fairly minimal with the corners being in good condition along with the tooling, some minor marking and rippling of the vellum.
The Person
Really interesting research project! Hopefully, I've put together hopefully one of the more complete records for someone interesting and involved in a lot of important incidents but is also quite shadowy.
Wilhelm Crisolli, born in 1895 in Berlin of Italian descent first joined the Imperial Army in 1914 mostly with the 5th horse Jäger-Regiment (but several others; 4th, 15th etc). There is a mention of an award of both iron crosses (Ek1 &2) at this point, the original Prussian version alongside the wound badge (Verwundetenabzeichen). This regiment then transferred to the Reichswher after WW1, and Crisolli to the cavalry division of the Rider Regiment (mostly 5th) where he rose steadily before becoming a teacher of tactics at Potsdam Military Academy in the interwar period.
In 1938, he was appointed Commander of the 1st Division of the Cavalry Rifle Regiment 9. He then led the department into battle first in the Polish campaign and was awarded the Sudetenland Medal in 1938 during the annexation of the Sudetenand from Czechoslovakia. In the Polish campaign, in September 1939 he was also awarded both (1st and 2nd) Iron Crosses (wehrmacht version) - so was an active part in the beginning of WW2 but not a big name.
From there he was a part of the Battle of France and the invasion of Yugoslavia (with the Panzer division).
In 1940, he became commander of the 8th Rifles, 8th Panzer Division (Schützen-Regiment 8) which he led under Erich von Manstein during operation Barbarossa. He was awarded the Knights Cross on 15th July 1941 for his part in the operation. He also has the Pazerbadge (panzerkampfabzeichen) andEastern Front medal (winterschlacht im osten) from this time. On January 31, 1942 on the Russian Front, he was badly wounded and had to give up his command.
In 1942 he was commissioned Generalmajor of the 13th Panzer division and later assigned leadership of the 16th Infantry (motorised) and Panzer divisions in the offensive to the Caucasus and briefly colonel of 333rd infantry division and also 6th Panzer Division during July 1943 and the battle of Kursk.
In November 1943 he was dispatched to become Major General of 20. Luftwaffen-Sturm-Division in Italy after landing at Sicily to become part of the Gothic Line Defensive.
Crisolli was assassinated on 12 September 1944 during an ambush by Italian partisans whilst on the move in Modena. NB: This is during the period of where the SS are involved in multiple atrocities against partisans -there is some evidence of his involvement which may have led to his murder but nothing very concrete. Immediately afterwards the Germans launched a massive anti-partisan assault in the Bologna area, which became known as the Monte Sole massacre or the Massacre of Marzabotta, in retribution for the killing of a Luftwaffe officer. It became known as the worst massacre of civilians committed by the Waffen SS in Western Europe during the war.
He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Generalleutnant in March 1945.
Should you wish to read about him, his grandson, Thomas Medicus has written a book exploring his grandfathers time in Italy after finding the cross itself alongside some photographs after his grandmother died.
Photographs
Attached , for more pictures please see my Ritterkreuz album via my profile, these same photos are also available in a larger resolution here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pp21i3nuk...AZxyfd0Va?dl=0
Fantastic & beautiful Document !!!!! Tom
We really enjoyed researching it
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