Knights Cross Certificate for Review LW Hans Kolbow

[17thairborne]

After one year of discussion with the family, and selling many items from my collection, I have acquired the original KC certificate from LW ace Hans Kolbow. A pleasant surprise was the addition of an original box of issue and the tissue paper protection for the leather cassette. The box and tissue preserved the entire group in a very nice manner. The parchment and the tissue exhibit some foxing and slight yellowing from age, and the cassette is only marred at one corner.

The group came from the family of Lt Willie True, who served as a Weather forecaster for the AAC during the war. he was stationed in England, and later in France and Germany as the unit moved forward. I have examined Lt True's uniforms and all of the documents and photos associated with his military career. The provenance of the officer is impeccable, but the only link to the document is the verbal attestation from the family who indicted their uncle kept these in a trunk ever since the war. The trunk passed to them years ago and it has sat in their garage. At a later date, the family desires to sell his uniforms and other documents to me, but what is pictured in the first image is from Lt True. The Lt's last name and that of the family who received the trunk (their uncle) are different, coming from a relative of the mother.

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Here is a single image of the top of the cardboard protective issue box, a very rare item indeed. A historical discrepancy exists in that the box is named to "Kolh" or "Kolb" There is a KC winner, Hans Kroh, (13 May 1907 in Heidelberg – 18 July 1967 in Braunschweig) was a German Fallschirmjäger and general in the Bundeswehr. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. He was the commander of I/Falschirjaeger Regt 2 and was awarded his KC on 21 Aug 41. I cannot affirm, nor could the family affirm that the issue box was for Kroh. I could find no KC for Krob.

The certificate on the interior is named to Hans Kolbow, (8 January 1914 – 17 July 1941) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Hans Kolbow was born on 8 January 1914 at Hamburg. Unteroffizier Kolbow participated in the Spanish Civil War with the Condor Legion as a fighter pilot. In November 1939, Kolbow was serving with 3./JG 20. During the French campaign, Kolbow would claim five victories, including his first on 12 May 1940, when he shot down a French Potez 63 twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft. On 4 July, 3./JG 20 was redesignated 9./JG 51. In the aerial battles of the Battle of Britain, Kolbow would add a further three victories to his tally operating with 9./JG 51. On 19 August 1940, Kolbow was appointed Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 51. He claimed a further five victories, including two RAF Spitfire fighters shot down near Dover on 26 August for his ninth and 10th victories, to raise his victory total to 13 by the end of the Battle of Britain. Oberleutnant Kolbow led 5./JG 51 to Russia where, on 25 June 1941, he claimed six Russian SB-2 twin-engine bombers shot down to record his 14th through 19th victories. On 3 July, in an engagement with Russian bombers, Kolbow’s Bf 109 F-2 (W.Nr. 12 804) “Black 1” was hit necessitating a forced-landing near Nowo-Hutkowo. Kolbow recorded his 20th victory on 29 June, when he shot down a Russian I-16 fighter. Kolbow was shot down and killed in Bf 109 F-2 (W.Nr. 8974) “Black 6” south of Stara Bychow by Russian flak on 17 July 1941. While he managed to bale out of his stricken aircraft, he was too low for his parachute to open and he plunged to his death. Kolbow was posthumously awarded the Ritterkreuz on 27 July.
Hans Kolbow was credited with 27 victories. He recorded 13 victories over the Western front.

Of note, one forum member in Ireland owns his uniforms and a few of his personal items. Here is an image of Kolbow and the issue box. Notice Lt True has penned his name in ink, and Kolh is written in German like script in pencil.

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The unveiling

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The gem

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The certificate

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Fine details

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Inside front and back

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Cassette details

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More details

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Two corners

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two more corners

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The box

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Gilding on Name

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Another close up of Douche Bag's signature

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Something like this deserves close scrutiny from serious collectors. I have never handled one of these before, and hence did as much research over the past year before I made a commitment. I searched previous sold prices from the auction houses and elsewhere and offered the family a price which reflected what they would have realized after commission from an auction house. Needless to say, they are very happy with their cash and no one in the family or the adult children had any sentimental attachment to it.