After the death of Generalmajor von Bernuth, the family had a special presentation case made containing his most important decorations. For this purpose, all decorations were ordered anew from the medal manufacturers and are in factory-new condition. Large black leather-bound presentation case with surrounding gold border, dimensions 25 x 29 cm. Interior lined with cream-colored velvet. The lid contains a silver plate with engraving "Julius von Bernuth 12.7.1942 Killed in Action as Generalmajor and Chief of General Staff of the 4th Panzer Army". The 6 enclosed decorations rest in corresponding recesses in the velvet bed: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939, manufactured by C.E. Juncker, Berlin. Particularly substantial matte-blackened iron core with silver frame. The frame frosted silver-plated with polished edges. Reverse stamped "L/12" and "800", the ribbon ring stamped "800", complete with short ribbon section. Honor Badge of 9 November 1923, so-called "Blood Order". Silver medal, 100% original toning preserved, reverse with award number "1493" above silver hallmark "800". Complete with original ribbon. Iron Cross 1914 1st Class. Deluxe manufacture in 1939 pattern. Matte-blackened iron core with silver frame. The frame frosted silver-plated with polished edges. Reverse stamped "800". 1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross 1st Class 1914, deluxe manufacture by Deumer Lüdenscheid. Non-ferrous metal frosted silver-plated with polished edges and swastika. Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class in deluxe version with applied 1939 Clasp. Glossy blackened iron core with silver frame. The frame frosted silver-plated with polished edges. Reverse stamped on edge "800". 1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class 1914, deluxe manufacture, non-ferrous metal frosted silver-plated with polished edges and swastika. A cream-colored velvet cushion lies over the decorations for protection. The case has 2 clasps on front. The case and decorations are in absolutely mint condition. Additionally, another Honor Badge of 9 November 1923, so-called "Blood Order". Silver medal, 100% original toning preserved, reverse with award number "1493" above silver hallmark "800". Complete with long original ribbon. Unworn, condition 2++. Also included is the breast pocket from Bernuth's field tunic with the sewn-in ribbon of the Blood Order - cut from the uniform of the fallen officer. Personal identity disc "Gen. Kdo XXVI AK 75", aluminum, with original neck cord, removed from the fallen officer. One pair of shoulder boards as Oberst in the General Staff, worn. Wehrpass, issued 18 March 1938 by the Kriegsakademie, fine uniform photo as Major, identity disc appropriately entered, filled completely with all entries, promotions, decorations and campaigns from 1914 until 12.7.1942 - killed in action. Condition 2+. Newspaper clipping "Hero's Death of Generalmajor von Bernuth". 21 original photos from the 1940 France campaign and 11 photos from the Russia campaign, all finely inscribed on reverse by Bernuth. Also included is a very fine large reproduction photo as Generalmajor with Knight's Cross (the pocket flap with Blood Order ribbon is clearly visible in the photo). A truly fantastic grouping of a brave general. Not only is the presentation case simply sensational and unique, but also the fact that Bernuth possessed 2 Blood Orders. We know of no other estate with 2 Blood Orders.

Julius Hans Camillo Friedrich Leo Ludwig von Bernuth (* 12 August 1897 in Metz; † 12 July 1942 near Ssochkranaja). Julius was the son of the Prussian Generalmajor of the same name, Julius von Bernuth. Bernuth first attended the Kadettenanstalt Karlsruhe, then the Preußische Hauptkadettenanstalt and after the outbreak of World War I, on 10 August 1914, entered as officer candidate into the Leibgarde-Infanterie-Regiment (1. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr. 115. Participated in the Battle of the Marne, during which he was wounded on 10 September 1914. By war's end he was a Leutnant and battalion adjutant in Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 365. He had received both classes of the Iron Cross, the Hessian Medal for Bravery, and the Wound Badge in Black.
Bernuth returned to his parent regiment on 13 December 1918. After demobilization, Freikorps 115 was formed from the regiment's remnants, to which Bernuth belonged until his transfer to the Reichswehr on 1 October 1919. He was initially assigned to Reichswehr-Schützen-Regiment 35. From 1 June 1920 he served with Reichswehr-Infanterie-Regiment 22. Beginning in 1921 he belonged to the 16th Company of the 15th Infanterie-Regiment. For his participation in the march on the Feldherrnhalle on 9 November 1923 in Munich, he was later awarded the Blood Order.
From 7 March 1932 von Bernuth served as Hauptmann in the Reichswehrministerium. On 1 October 1934 he was appointed company commander in Infanterieregiment München. On 15 October 1935 he became commander of the 2nd Company in Gebirgsjägerregiment 100 and as such was promoted to Major on 1 January 1936. On 7 March 1936 he transferred as First General Staff Officer (Ia) to the staff of the 17th Infantry Division. From 1 August 1937 he worked as tactics instructor at the Kriegsakademie and was promoted to Oberstleutnant in the General Staff on 1 January 1939.

During the 1939 Poland campaign, von Bernuth was Ia and O 1 of Panzer-Division Kempf. Subsequently he became Ia of XXVI. Armeekorps. On 15 March 1940 he became Chief of Staff of XV. Armeekorps (mot.). In the absence of the Commanding General, General der Infanterie Hermann Hoth, he thwarted the French attempt on 22 May 1940 to break through via Cambrai and Arras toward Bapaume, for which he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 August 1940.

After the end of the Western Campaign, von Bernuth was appointed on 26 October 1940 as Chief of the 4th (Training) Department in the Army General Staff and from June 1941 was liaison officer of the OKH to Army Group South, where he was promoted to Oberst i. G. on 1 December 1940. On 10 January 1942 von Bernuth became Chief of Staff of the 4th Army and was promoted there to Generalmajor on 1 April 1942. On 28 April 1942 he became Chief of the General Staff of the 4th Panzer Army under Generaloberst Hermann Hoth.

On 12 July 1942 he departed in a Fieseler Storch from Army Headquarters on a flight to XXXX. Armee-Korps, from which he did not return. Search parties found the crashed Fieseler Storch with von Bernuth's body near Ssochkranaja on 14 July. Von Bernuth was buried on 16 July 1942 in the Frolowskij cemetery near Stalingrad.

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Wehrmacht: Major Estate of Knight's Cross and Blood Order Bearer Generalmajor Julius von Bernuth

The estate collection of Generalmajor Julius von Bernuth represents an extraordinary assemblage of military decorations and personal documents spanning the First and Second World Wars. Following von Bernuth's death in July 1942, his family commissioned a special presentation case and ordered fresh examples of all decorations from the manufacturers, which remain in factory-new mint condition. The black leather-covered presentation case with gold border and cream-colored velvet interior contains six significant decorations along with extensive documentation and personal effects of the fallen general.

The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was renewed on 1 September 1939 by Adolf Hitler as the highest regular combat decoration of the Third Reich Wehrmacht, replacing multiple older merit awards of the German Empire. Based on the Prussian Iron Cross tradition from the 1813 Wars of Liberation, it was second only to the Grand Cross, which was awarded once to Göring. The Knight's Cross formed part of the National Socialist ideology of “One people, one nation, one leader” by being awarded across all ranks. Julius von Bernuth received this decoration on 5 August 1940 as Oberstleutnant im Generalstab and Chief of Staff of XV Armeekorps (mot.) for his actions on 22 May 1940 when, in the absence of the commanding general, he thwarted the French breakthrough attempt via Cambrai and Arras toward Bapaume. The example in this estate was manufactured by C.E. Juncker, Berlin, identifiable by the reverse stamps “L/12” and “800.” During World War II, approximately 7,300 Knight's Crosses were awarded, with analysis of German Federal Archives revealing 7,161 officially bestowed recipients.

Particularly remarkable is the presence of two examples of the Blood Order (Ehrenzeichen vom 9. November 1923). This decoration was instituted in March 1934 by Adolf Hitler to commemorate the failed Beer Hall Putsch of 8-9 November 1923 in Munich, when Hitler and approximately 2,000 supporters attempted to overthrow the Bavarian government and march on Berlin. The putsch ended at the Feldherrnhalle with police gunfire killing 16 putschists and 4 police officers. Hitler was arrested, sentenced to five years fortress confinement, served nine months, and wrote “Mein Kampf.” The award was instituted on the 10th anniversary in 1933/1934 to honor the “martyrs” and early party loyalists. By a 1936 decree, it ranked fifth among the top NSDAP honors. Both examples in this estate bear the identical award number “1493” above the silver stamp “800.” Fewer than 6,000 Blood Orders were awarded in total, possibly as low as 3,800 to 4,000. Von Bernuth received the decoration on 10 December 1935 for his participation in the 1923 putsch.

The estate further contains the Iron Cross 1914 in both classes along with the corresponding 1939 Clasps. The Iron Cross was originally instituted in 1813 and renewed for World War I on 5 August 1914 by Kaiser Wilhelm II. Between 1914 and 1918, approximately five million Iron Crosses 2nd Class were awarded. Von Bernuth received both classes during the First World War. The 1939 Clasps were instituted on 1 September 1939 by Adolf Hitler for recipients of the 1914 Iron Cross who distinguished themselves again in World War II combat. The examples in this estate are luxury productions with blackened iron cores and frosted silver frames with polished edges.

Julius Hans Camillo Friedrich Leo Ludwig von Bernuth was born on 12 August 1897 in Metz as the son of the Prussian Generalmajor of the same name. He attended the Kadettenanstalt Karlsruhe and the Preußische Hauptkadettenanstalt, entering the Leibgarde-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 115 as Fahnenjunker on 10 August 1914 after the outbreak of World War I. He participated in the Battle of the Marne and was wounded on 10 September 1914. By war's end he was a Leutnant and battalion adjutant in Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 365. After demobilization he joined Freikorps 115 before being transferred to the Reichswehr on 1 October 1919. He participated in the march on the Feldherrnhalle on 9 November 1923. During World War II, von Bernuth served as Chief of Staff of XV Armeekorps (mot.) during the 1940 French campaign and was promoted to Generalmajor on 1 April 1942. On 28 April 1942 he became Chief of the General Staff of 4. Panzerarmee under Generaloberst Hermann Hoth. On 12 July 1942 he departed from army headquarters in a Fieseler Storch for a flight to XXXX Armee-Korps. Search parties found the crashed Fieseler Storch with von Bernuth's body on 14 July. He was buried on 16 July 1942 at Friedhof Frolowskij near Stalingrad.

The estate includes the Wehrpass (military identification book) issued on 18 March 1938 by the Kriegsakademie, featuring a uniform photograph as Major and complete entries of all promotions, decorations, and campaigns from 1914 to 12 July 1942. Additionally, there are 21 original photographs from the 1940 France campaign and 11 photographs from the Russia campaign, all annotated on the reverse in von Bernuth's handwriting, along with a personal aluminum identification tag inscribed “Gen. Kdo XXVI AK 75” with original neck cord. A pair of worn shoulder boards as Oberst in the General Staff and the breast pocket cut from the fallen officer's tunic with the sewn Blood Order ribbon complete this exceptional collection.