Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A German Second War Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross Presentation Citation and Folder awarded to the last Commander of the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (Adolf Hitler’s bodyguard) SS Brigardefuhrer and General Major of Waffen SS Theodore Wisch.

A stunning condition and ultra rare presentation citation and folder for the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. These beautiful folders that accompanied the awarding of the Knights Cross in the early stages of the Second World War are without doubt one of the most impressive legacies in object terms of the Third Reich. The folders are all identical for the Knights Cross measuring 45cm x 35.5cm, they are a single folder with hinge to the centre in red Morocco leather with the huge gilded down swept winged Reich eagle and swastika to the centre of the cover. To the interior the inside front and inside rear covers are lined in cream velum, the inner edges of the folder are all lined in gold and each folder has the leather artisan’s name at the base of the rear part of the folder ‘Frieda Thiersch’. To the centre of the folder there is a strip of circular Morocco leather that holds in place the slightly smaller 35cm x 44cm presentation document, again in matching velum. On opening the folder the most amazing handwork has been executed with a large Reich eagle and swastika to the top followed by ‘Im Namen Des Deutschen Volks’ followed by ‘Verleihe Ich Dem’ in English, In the Name of the German People I Award You’ followed by the recipient’s name and in this case ‘Dem SS-Sturmbannfuhrer’ followed by in large hand applied gold lettering the name of the recipient ‘Theodore Wisch’ followed by ‘Das Ritterkreuz Des Eisernen Kreuzes’. An image of the Iron Cross Fuhrer Headquarters, award date ‘15 September 1941’ From the Fuhrer and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces with the pen signature of Adolf Hitler. Slight age foxing to the velum of the document and the inside and back cover. Two minor scratches to the face of the cover otherwise the leather overall is supple, very good condition £8,000-£12,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of German Medals and Militaria.

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Theodore Peter Johann Wisch was born on 13 September 1907, the son of a farmer, and lived in one of Germany’’s most northern villages. Becoming an agricultural student, he joined the NSDAP, party number 369050 on 1 November 1930 and joined the SS the following day, SS number 4759. Serving as an SS man in the 53rd Standarte, he was promoted to SS Scharfuhrer on 1 March 1931, and became an SS Truppenfuhrer in January 1932. He was heavily involved in anti communist activities and was sentenced to 6 months in prison for causing bodily injuries on communists. Following his release Wisch became the Commander of the 53rd SS Standarte from October 1932 to March 1933; during this period Heinrich Himmler travelled widely throughout Germany visiting various SS Standartes looking for personnel to form the SS Stabswacht Berlin, the unit that later evolved into the Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler (Hitler’s personal bodyguard). Theodore Wisch was one of the first 117 men selected to join the SS Stabswacht Berlin in March 1933. They can be regarded as the Partial Cadre of the SS Verfungstruppen, which later evolved into the Waffen SS, and were called the first 120. Many other future divisional and regimental well known Commanders were also in this first 120.

After serving for 4 months in the early formed unit Wisch and 24 men under his command were ordered to serve as the 1st Wachkommando at Hitler’s Haus Wachenfeld at the Obersalzberg near Berchtesgaden; the unit was subsequently officially named The Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. Promoted to Sturmhauptfuhrer in October 1933, Wisch was appointed Company Commander of the 1st Company of the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler, and in May 1934 he received the SS Honour Dagger having been a member of the SS since November 1930. He was heavily involved in the invasion of Austria and Czechoslovakia and was one of the first troops involved in the invasion of Poland in September 1939. By the end of May 1941 Wisch was given command of the 2nd Battalion of the now expanded Leibstandarte; the unit was heavily involved in the fighting on the Eastern Front, which commenced after Operation Barbarossa. Due to his heroic actions in the Russian Campaign in September of that year he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. He served actively at all combat fronts in Russia rising again in rank, promoted to SS Oberfuhrer in July 1943 and was officially given command of the Leibstandarte. After the collapse of the Mussolini Regime and the invasion of Sicilly the Leibstandarte was moved to Italy, Wisch leading his men personally in operations to disarm the former axis partners troops and in October 1943 the division was moved back to the Russian Front where Wisch was again heavily involved personally in anti Russian operations.

With regard to his actions on the Russian Front in February 1944 Wisch became the 193rd recipient of the oak leaves to the Knight’s Cross and weeks before he was by then promoted to SS Brigadefuhrer and General Major Der Waffen SS. His overall Commander Obergruppenfuhrer Sepp Dietrich wrote about the Divisional Commander ‘Wisch ‘is a straight and impressive personality, during all missions he is exemplary brave, his performance as Commander of the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler was especially emphasised in the Armed Forces daily report. Wisch is an exemplary SS Leader and very well suited to be Divisional Commander’.’ He received the Oak Leaves personally from Adolf Hitler at Berchtesgaden. He was then taken ill through weariness and battle fatigue, entered hospital for a heart problem and returned to his Division in May 1944.

The Leibstandarte Division by then already in France was mobilised on 17 June. After continuous fighting on the French front on 30 August 1944 Wisch became the 94th recipient of the Swords to the Oak Leaves of the Knight’s Cross. Through various battle wounds and battle fatigue he was again sent to an SS military hospital and ended the Second War out of action. Taken prisoner by British troops at his home he was transferred to a prisoner of war hospital in Wiltshire, England. In 1947 after 5 months of standing trial in Hamburg the court ruled in his favour, dropping all charges brought against him. After the Second World War he became a leading member of the SS Veterans Association and attended many meetings and was involved in general fund raising. He died on 11 January 1995.

For the recipient’s S.S. Officer’s Sword, see Lot 724.