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Early production by C.E. Juncker, Berlin. Massive matte-blackened iron core, the silver frame “frosty” silver-plated with polished edges, reverse stamped “800” silver, the ribbon ring marked “800” silver, complete with the 74.5 cm long original neck ribbon. Complete in matching black presentation case, interior with black velvet insert and white silk lining. Unworn, in absolutely mint condition - “in stone mint condition”. This Knight's Cross is the unworn duplicate from the estate of Generaloberst Löhr, which was kept with the family in Bad Ischl.
Included are 3 handwritten letters from Generaloberst Löhr to his wife, partly on letterhead “Der Oberbefehlshaber Südost Heeresgruppe E”, dated September 1944, March and April 1945, each with field post envelopes. Also included in photocopy is the personnel file from the Reich Air Ministry with all entries through 1945.

The estate of Generaloberst Löhr was divided several years ago in Austria into 7 groups due to its extent, and each group sold individually. In May 2019, we had the opportunity to acquire one of these groups. The group consisted of the following pieces: the Combined Pilot and Observer Badge with Diamonds, a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Austria 1st Republic Combined Pilot and Observer Badge (only 4 awards), a pair of unworn collar tabs as Generalleutnant of the Luftwaffe (circa 1938), his domestic annual hunting license, issued 1942, various secret target data cards of the Luftwaffe for the bombing of Yugoslavia, as well as several field post letters and letters from captivity written by Löhr to his wife.



Löhr, Alexander


* May 20, 1885, Turnu Severin / Transylvania

† April 6, 1947, Belgrade (executed)


Alexander Löhr joined the k.u.k. Infantry Regiment 85 as a Leutnant in 1906 and later completed General Staff training. Subsequently he was assigned to the Command of the Transportation Troops Brigade in the General Staff and at the beginning of World War I was transferred as Oberleutnant to the Operations Section of the k.u.k. 5th Army. Later he joined the General Staff of the 58th Infantry Division and the 29th Infantry Division. In November 1915 he was assigned as Hauptmann to Section 5/M (Aviation Group) of the k.u.k. War Ministry. At war's end he was commander of an infantry battalion and finally on the staff of an army brigade. Subsequently he was transferred to the Austrian Federal Army and employed in the Federal Ministry of Defense. From 1927 he began building an Austrian air force and was promoted to Oberst on July 1, 1928. On May 1, 1934 he became Commander of the Austrian Air Force and was promoted to Generalmajor on September 25, 1934. On April 1, 1938 he was transferred to the Wehrmacht as Commanding General of the Air Force and promoted to Generalleutnant. From August 1, 1938 he was Chief of Luftwaffe Command Austria and was promoted to General der Flieger on March 18, 1939. On the same day he was appointed Chief of Luftflotte 4 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on September 30, 1939 for his leadership performance during the Polish Campaign. Subsequently he led Luftflotte 4 during the Western Campaign, in spring 1941 in the Balkans and during the Crete operation, and finally from June 1941 in Russia. He was promoted to Generaloberst on May 3, 1941. On October 11, 1941 he was mentioned by name in a special announcement and again on October 12, 1941 in the Wehrmacht communiqué: “In cooperation with the Luftflotte of Generaloberst Löhr, the Army of General der Infanterie von Manstein, the Romanian Army of Corps General Dumitrescu and the Panzer Army of Generaloberst von Kleist have defeated and destroyed the mass of the 9th and 18th Soviet Armies.” On May 30, 1942 he was again mentioned by name in the Wehrmacht communiqué: “The Luftwaffe units of Generaloberst Löhr and General der Flieger Pflugbeil supported the Army's battles in defense and attack with relentless commitment and drove the enemy air force from the field.” At the end of June 1942 he was transferred to the Führer Reserve of the OKL and on August 1, 1942 became Wehrmacht Commander “Southeast” in the Balkans. From August 26, 1943 he was Commander-in-Chief of Army Group E, which he withdrew in orderly fashion from Greece through the end of 1944, for which he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on January 20, 1945. On March 25, 1945 he became Commander-in-Chief of Army Group Southeast and was captured by the British at war's end and extradited to Yugoslavia. He was executed in Belgrade on April 6, 1947 for Wehrmacht war crimes in the Balkans.
For the items from this estate we provide our lifetime guarantee of authenticity.

This is the classic production by the firm Gebr. Godet und Co. Berlin, punched “21” “900” on the reverse. Worn piece, the original silver plating is still well preserved on the reverse.
Included are 3 handwritten letters from Generaloberst Löhr to his wife, partly with letterhead “Der Oberbefehlshaber Südost Heeresgruppe E”, dated March 21 and 23, as well as his last letter before captivity, dated May 8, 1945 (!) each with field post envelopes. 2 letters as prisoner of war mail with envelopes. Furthermore, the last and farewell letter from Generaloberst Löhr to his wife, written the evening before his execution, with the envelope “Frau Christine Löhr - to be delivered after my death. Löhr”.

Furthermore, a historically highly interesting and moving letter from Paul Gerhardt to the widow of General Löhr, dated January 12, 1948. Content: Gerhardt was stationed as a Revierleutnant of the Schutzpolizei together with Generaloberst Löhr in 1947 in the same cell in the military prison of Belgrad. While Gerhardt “was dismissed from the trial at the last hour”, the trial for Löhr ended on February 13, 1947 with the death sentence, further: “Herr Generaloberst commissioned me to convey to you, gracious lady, and to your dear daughter and all his other loved ones his last, but all the more heartfelt greetings... A treasure, his Oak Leaves he gave to me to send to you, gracious lady. It is proof that he always fulfilled his soldierly duty. Herr Generaloberst sank the Knight's Cross into the Croatian soil upon his capture. I ask you to inform me by what means I should send you, gracious lady, the Oak Leaves...”. With this the envelope as registered mail, postmarked January 11, 1948. According to the statement of the previous owner, General Löhr removed a button from the side of his visor cap and inconspicuously attached the Oak Leaves there and thus saved them through captivity and they were brought back to Austria by Gerhardt and handed over to the widow.
A condolence letter to the widow from a war comrade, dated February 27, 1947, furthermore 2 letters from old comrades from the year 1955.

Additionally, in photocopy, the personnel file of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium with all entries up to 1945.

The estate of Generaloberst Löhr was divided into 7 groups years ago in Austria due to its scope and each group sold individually. In May 2019 we had the opportunity to acquire one group from it. The group consisted of the following pieces: the Combined Pilot and Observer Badge with Diamonds, a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Austria 1st Republic Combined Pilot and Observer Badge (only 4 awards), a pair of unworn collar tabs as Generalleutnant of the Luftwaffe (circa 1938), his domestic annual hunting license, issued 1942, various secret target master cards of the Luftwaffe for the bombardment of Yugoslavia as well as some field post letters and letters from captivity written by Löhr to his wife.



Löhr, Alexander


* May 20, 1885, Turn-Severin / Transylvania

† April 6, 1947, Belgrad (executed)


Alexander Löhr came to the k.u.k. Infanterie-Regiment 85 as Leutnant in 1906 and later completed General Staff training. Subsequently he was assigned to the Command of the Transport Troops Brigade on the General Staff and at the beginning of World War I was transferred as Oberleutnant to the Operations Section of the k.u.k. 5th Army. Later he joined the General Staff of the 58th Infantry Division and the 29th Infantry Division. In November 1915 he joined as Hauptmann the Department 5/M (Aviation Group) of the k.u.k. War Ministry. At the end of the war he was commander of an infantry battalion and finally on the staff of an army brigade. Subsequently he was transferred to the Austrian Federal Army and employed in the Federal Ministry for Military Affairs. From 1927 he began establishing an Austrian aviation force and was promoted to Oberst on July 1, 1928. On May 1, 1934 he became commander of the Austrian Air Force and was promoted to Generalmajor on September 25, 1934. On April 1, 1938 he was transferred into the Wehrmacht as Commanding General of the Luftwaffe and promoted to Generalleutnant. From August 1, 1938 he was Chief of Luftwaffen-Kommando Österreich and promoted to General der Flieger on March 18, 1939. On the same day he was appointed Chief of Luftflotte 4 and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on September 30, 1939 for his leadership performance during the Polish Campaign. Subsequently he led Luftflotte 4 during the Western Campaign, in spring 1941 in the Balkans and during the Crete operation and finally from June 1941 in Russia. On May 3, 1941 he was promoted to Generaloberst. On October 11, 1941 he was mentioned by name in a special announcement and on October 12, 1941 again in the Wehrmacht communiqué: “In cooperation with the Luftflotte of Generaloberst Löhr, the Army of General der Infanterie von Manstein, the Romanian Army of Corps General Dumitrescu and the Panzer Army of Generaloberst von Kleist have defeated and annihilated the bulk of the 9th and 18th Soviet Armies.” On May 30, 1942 he was again mentioned by name in the Wehrmacht communiqué: “The Luftwaffe units of Generaloberst Löhr and General der Flieger Pflugbeil supported in merciless commitment the battles of the Army in defense as well as in attack and defeated the enemy air force from the field.” At the end of June 1942 he was transferred to the Führer Reserve of the OKL and on August 1, 1942 became Wehrmacht Commander “Southeast” in the Balkans. From August 26, 1943 he was Commander-in-Chief of Heeresgruppe E, which he withdrew in an orderly manner from Greece until the end of 1944, for which he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on January 20, 1945. On March 25, 1945 he became Commander-in-Chief of Heeresgruppe Südost and was captured by the British at the end of the war and extradited to Yugoslavia. For the war crimes of the Wehrmacht in the Balkans he was executed in Belgrad on April 6, 1947.
For the pieces from the estate we give our lifetime guarantee of authenticity.