General E. Jaschke - Oak Leaves and Knights Cross Group

German WWII > Awards and Medals > Iron Cross Series > Oak Leaves

A Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross documents and decorations grouping of General der Infantrie Erich Jaschke. Large award document for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to Oberst Erich Jaschke dated "FÜHRERHAUPTQUARTIER DEN 4.DEZEMBER 1941" with the original, handwritten signature of Adolf Hitler in ink. Double paged parchment with hand-rendered award text, the awardee's name rendered in gold lettering. The document is situated in a folder of red Morocco leather with a National eagle impressed in gold and artist's signature "FRIEDA THIERSCH", the interior borders of the folder with decorative lines in gold. The upper and undersides of the folder are somewhat convex, the lower retaining ribbon for the parchment document is loose. The corners are faded, and one is knocked. The document itself is in outstanding condition. Dimensions 45 x 36 cm.

Also the preliminary possession document for the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to (tr) "General of Infantry Jaschke, Commanding General LV.A.K." drawn up on 21 September 1943 (award 7 September 1943) and executed by the signature in ink of Generalmajor Burgdorf on behalf of Army High Command and stamped by the Army Personnel Office. Included is the original Hoffmann Press photograph "No 48400/978" of the presentation of the Oak Leaves by Hitler.

In addition, the award document for the 1939 Repetition Bar to the Iron Cross 2nd Class of 1914 dated 31 May 1940 to "Oberst Erich Jaschke" with original signature in ink of Army High Commander, Generaloberst von Brauchitsch and the award document for the 1939 Repetition Bar to the Iron Cross 1st Class of 1914 to "Oberst Erich Jaschke Rgt.-Stab J.R. 90" dated 8 July 1941 with signature of Generalmajor and commander of 20th Infantry Division Hans Zorn (291st Oak Leaves posthumously), "Div.Gef.St., a.d.Düna" countersigned by the adjutant. Further, the award document for the Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th through 1st Class for 25 years of service dated 2 October 1936 and signed by Chief of the General Army Office Generalmajor Fromm (Knight's Cross, shot in the aftermath of 20 July 1944), an award document for the (tr) "Medal in Commemoration of 1 October 1938 with Bar" dated 28 September 1939 for the annexation of the Sudetenland and the creation of the Protectorates of Bohemia and Moravia, a possession document for the Wound Badge in Black dated 9 September 1918 (after two wounds) and an authorization certificate (twofold) to wear the (tr) "Wound Decoration for Army Members in Matt White" on the basis of his third wound on 4 April 1936. Also, appointment documents to Major dated 1 April 1939 with original signatures of Hindenburg and Blomberg and to Oberst (Colonel) dated 28 February 1938 with original signatures of Hitler and von Brauchitsch, double-paged with blind stamped seal in a folder with gold embossed national eagle, a decorative sheet with congratulatory greetings from the 20th Infantry Division to their former commander Jaschke with signatures of commanders and officers among which are Generals of Panzer Troops Nehring and Jauer (Jaschke's successor), a further decorative sheet with a depiction of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves for departing General Jaschke signed by officers and officials of LV Army Corps and three large format wearer's photos as Oberst and as General and Oak Leaves recipient together with a military driver's license (1939) and identity card (1947).

A Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on a customised neck ribbon, worn by General Jaschke. The cross is a typical production of the firm Klein & Quenzer, Idar-Oberstein, with fineness punch "800" in the upper reverse frame edge. The Oak Leaves are of the 2nd Type made by the Godet firm in Berlin, with Präsidialkanzlei number "21" and fineness mark "900", the reverse showing an old repair to the suspension ring (solder mark), necessitated by an accident Jaschke underwent. Jaschke's original Knight's Cross made by Juncker was lost but the suspension ring was retained and is included. The current Knight's Cross is therefore a second piece obtained by Jaschke in 1944/45. Also, an Iron Cross 1st Class of 1914, the 1939 Repetition Bar to the Iron Cross 2nd Class of 1914, the buttonhole decoration to the House Order of Hohenzollern and a stickpin miniature for the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross. Born in Danzig on 11 May 1890, subsequent General Erich Jaschke was promoted to Lieutenant in 1910 after one year of service in the 1st Lower Alsatian Infantry Regiment. During the Great War, he was awarded the Knight's Cross with Swords to the House Order of Hohenzollern for his bravery and was carried over into the Reichswehr. After various assignments he was promoted Oberst in 1941 in command of 90th Infantry Regiment, and commanded 20th Infantry Division in 1942. He received the Knight's Cross for the assault on Leningrad, and for his leadership in command of LV Army Corps during Operation Citadel he was awarded the Oak Leaves. In 1943, Jaschke was assigned to Army High Command. He died on 14 October 1961 in Hamburg.