Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Germany, Third Reich, Special Merit Plaque for Crete 1941, rectangular, 149 x 111mm., white metal with gilt eagle, reverse stamped, ‘7’, very fine £150-200

The plaque, dated ‘20.5.41 - 2.6.41’ reads (in German) ‘In acknowledgement for special merit earned in action on Crete I award this shield, the Commanding General of the XI Flying Corps’.

Sold with an ‘Ersatz’ (replacement) Soldbuch to Feldwebel (Sergeant) Eduard Niedermeier of the Airforce Paratroop Pioneers. The Soldbuch issued by the Chiemsee (Bavaria) Reserve Military Hospital bears a photograph of the recipient in uniform. Based on the photograph Niedermeier had been awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, Airforce Parachutists Badge, Airforce Ground Combat Badge, Wound Badge (silver or gold) and the ‘Kreta’ cuff-title. He served with the Fallsch. Btl. 1 which operated in Italy during 1944-45. His Soldbuch shows him hospitalized at Chiemsee in March 1944 where he remained until the end of the war - which indicates him being severely injured - quite possibly in the action around Monte Cassino in March 1944. Also sold with a slip authorizing his promotion to Feldwebel on 13 November 1944.