An original World War II German Heer portrait photograph depicting a highly decorated Army officer wearing the prestigious Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes).
The officer is shown wearing a service tunic with an impressive array of wartime awards, including the Knight’s Cross at the neck, the Iron Cross 1st Class (EK1), the Golden Party Badge (Goldenes Parteiabzeichen der NSDAP), the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords (KVK1 mit Schwertern), and the 1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class Spange above the right breast pocket.
The reverse bears a Soviet control stamp reading “ПОГАШЕНО” (“Cancelled”), indicating the photograph was processed by Soviet authorities after the war, a feature commonly encountered on captured German military photographs.
Condition
Very good original condition with light age wear. Reverse displays Soviet cancellation stamp and archival inventory markings.
Specifications
Period: Third Reich (1933–1945)
Country: Germany
Branch: Heer (German Army)
Type: Original Period Photograph
Subject: Decorated Heer Officer
Decorations Visible: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, Iron Cross 1st Class, Gold Party Badge, War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords, 1939 EK2 Spange
Material: Photographic Paper
Dimensions: 9 × 13 cm
Reverse: Soviet “ПОГАШЕНО” cancellation stamp
Originality: Original period photograph
Historical Note
Portraits depicting recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross are highly desirable among collectors due to the award’s prestige and the comparatively limited number of recipients. The additional presence of the Gold Party Badge and other high-level decorations makes this a particularly attractive wartime portrait of a distinguished Heer officer. The Soviet cancellation markings further document the photograph’s post-war history after being captured by Allied forces.
