Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords award winner

[RaymondG]

Hi

I thought it may be a good idea to have a thread on what can be achieved with researching attributable items.

Here is a SSFM (Fördernde Mitglieder der SS) membership book I researched some time ago. It all began with a hunch that if he can contribute 20 RM per month (the average was 1RM), then he was likely to be a bigwig industrialist. I thought that by becoming a member, he would use it as a means of currying favour with the new regime, in the hope of gaining lucrative contracts, which was not unusual at the time.

I was told by collector friends that I was reaching a bit with the theory, but I ignored them and continued to look for evidence.

After some time digging around, I discovered that not only was he an industrialist, but also that he worked for Albert Speer during the war in the war production ministry.

The best bit of the research was to discover that on December 7th, 1944, he became an recipient of 'The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords' (RK KvK mS).

So here are a couple of images of his membership book, labour card and short biography of the man!

Raymond

[RaymondG]

First up...

[RaymondG]

...

[RaymondG]

Here is a short biography. I still have not found a photograph of Herr Mauterer, but I will, I am sure!

Dr.-Ing. e.h. Arthur Mauterer

Born: 31/08/1888

For many years he was director of the Spundwand-Abteilung (department for steel piling) of the Deutsch-Luxemburgische Bergwerks- und Hütten-AG (DL), based in Bochum.

1934 - Managing Director of Dortmunder Union Brückenbau AG (Please see labour card that confirms this)
1938 - Chairman of the board of Dortmunder Union
1939 - Chairman of the board of Firma Wagner Birò AG., Graz/Wien

1944: Dec 7th awarded the RK KvK mS

After WW II: he was appointed to the board of Deutscher Stahlbau Verband
Vorstand der Rheinstahl-Union, Maschinen- und Stahlbau AG, Düsseldorf

1952 chairman of the board of directors of Rheinstahl-Union Maschinen und Stahlbau AG in Düsseldorf

Raymond

[RaymondG]

Now I hope that this spurs some members on to dig out those attributable items and get them posted up!

I will gladly help anyone with research on this forum and have helped other identify the owner of attributable SS items including glasses cases, TK rings, SS civilian pins, Gold Party Badges etc.

If you PM me or post up details then I will be only too pleased to help as I am sure will other forum members as we have a great knowledge base on here.

I must add that I will only help those. and give my time freely, to those who have made a commitment to the upkeep and running of this great forum by becoming Association members and paying their $25 annual membership fee. I think that is only fair and is not meant as disrespectful to new members who are trying the forum before they buy.

Now ladies and gentlemen, lets see some potentially attributable items!

Raymond