Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Bestowal Documents Awarded to Unteroffizier August Inkmann, a Recipient of the German Cross in Gold.

A superb grouping of 8 award documents, which culminate in the award of the German Cross in Gold, all awarded to Unteroffizier August Inkmann, for extreme bravery during the Second World War. Apart from the awards being for outstanding bravery, some of these documents have been signed by notable personalities who themselves were awarded the Knights Cross and above. The documents comprise:
i) German Cross in Gold award document, dated ‘16 February 1945’, with a facsimile signature of Field Marshal Keitel, A5 size, folded twice.
ii) Iron Cross First Class award document, dated 8 December 1944, and hand signed by General Major Gerhardt Engle, a recipient of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, who served as Adjutant to Adolf Hitler, A5 size, folded once.
iii) Iron Cross Second Class award document, dated 9 July 1942, and hand signed by General Major Walter Von Seydlitz-Kurzbach, a recipient of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, who was one of 27 Generals who was taken prisoner at the Battle of Stalingrad, A5 size, folded once.
iv) 25 Panzer Assault Badge award document, for 25 consecutive days of combat, dated 2 December 1944, A5 size, folded twice. Although Inkmann was an infantryman the operations must have included operations with a Panzer unit for him to qualify for this badge.
v) Infantry Assault Badge award document, dated 18 April 1942, A5 size, folded twice, two tears to the left hand side.
vi) East Front Medal award document, hand signed by Major Heinz Georg Lemm, a recipient of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, A5 size, folded once.
vii) Wound Badge in Silver award document, a field typed A5 size citation, folded twice, very frail.
viii) Wound Badge in Black award document, dated 6 March 1942, A5 size, folded twice, generally good condition (8) £800-£1,000

August Inkmann was born on 10 October 1917 and served during the Second World War initially with Stabskompanie, Fusilier Regiment 27 in the Russian Campaign, and later with Infantry Regiment 199 (List) n the Battle of the Bulge and the Ardennes Offensive. He died on 7 December 1982.

Sold with some very interesting research documents dating back to the 1980’s, carried out by the original collector, plus a nice letter written at the request of Inkmann’s widow by a school girl (on account of her understanding of English) to the collector who was enquiring as to the whereabouts and a possible contact with the recipient August Inkmann; the girl informs him that August Inkmann died a few months ago; together with four photographs of the recipient on the Russian Front, and letters from the Veterans Organisation of his unit.