The Oak Leaves with Swords are of the classic manufacture by Gebr. Godet und Co. Berlin, hallmarked “21” “900” on reverse. The Knight's Cross is a typical early manufacture by Steinhauer & Lück. Blackened iron core with silver frame. Reverse stamped 800 silver. Complete with the original worn and tailored neck ribbon, length 47 cm. The piece shows clear wear, somewhat rubbed on the swastika and a few wear-related scratches, with beautiful patina.
From Reinert a hand-drawn map of the Libyan theater of war with 18 recorded victories during the African Campaign (Reinert achieved 51 aerial victories in Africa in 4 months and was thus the most successful German fighter pilot in Africa, he actually shot down more enemy aircraft than Marseille).
From his time with the Bundesluftwaffe his large ribbon bar with 13 decorations: Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, Honor Goblet Clasp of the Luftwaffe, German Cross in Gold, Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, Front Flying Clasp for Fighters in Gold with “800”, Wound Badge in Silver, “Krim” Shield, “Afrika” cuff title, Pilot's Badge, Medal for the Winter Battle in the East, German-Italian Campaign Medal for Africa, Romania Knight's Cross with Swords. Worn, condition 2. Also includes a large portrait photograph signed by him, on which the ribbon bar is clearly visible.
Mr. Reinert sold his pieces himself during his lifetime in 1988 to the then well-known dealer Theo Walpurgius. While the Knight's Cross and ribbon bar went into one collection, all documents were sold to another collection. However, all are included in photocopy along with the old sales receipt from Reinert. The photocopies contain all award documents that were still extant, including among others: the Provisional Certificates of Possession for the Knight's Cross and the Oak Leaves with Swords. Photo of the Oak Leaves presentation case with Reinert's personal signature. Extract from the Wehrpass with the listing of all decorations from 1942 to 1945. Soldbuch and Luftwaffe pilot's license. Certificates of Possession or award documents for the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, Front Flying Clasp for Fighters in Gold and with pendant, Wound Badge Black and Silver, Pilot's Badge, Honor Goblet for special achievements in aerial combat, Crimea Shield, Medal for the Winter Battle in the East, numerous telegrams, congratulatory letters, etc. The victory list from Jagdgeschwader 27 as attachment for the nomination proposal for the Swords, with a total of 171 victories and 702 combat sorties (annotated and corrected by Reinert in handwriting). Tabulated curriculum vitae until 1972, annotated by Reinert in handwriting.
Additionally 8 photographs as an officer of the Luftwaffe and the Bundesluftwaffe (all prints made after 1945), mostly with Reinert's personal signature as well as a biography written by Reinert with some very exciting combat reports from Africa, his being shot down over the Mediterranean (Reinert swam for several hours in the Mediterranean to shore wearing this (!) Knight's Cross after being shot down...), his wounds, Reinert parachuted out a total of 4 times.
Reinert, Ernst-Wilhelm

* February 2, 1919, Köln-Lindenthal

† September 5, 2007, Bad Pyrmont

Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert joined the Luftwaffe in April 1939 after completing his service in the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD). He then began his flight training. In autumn 1940 he was transferred to the Ergänzungsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 77 in France. In April 1941 he was then transferred to II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77, which participated in the Balkans Campaign. From May 1941 he belonged to 4. Staffel there. With this 4. Staffel he participated in the Russian Campaign from the beginning of summer 1941. He achieved his first aerial victory only on August 8, 1941. On December 1, 1941 he was promoted to Unteroffizier. On February 16, 1942 he received the Honor Goblet for special achievement in aerial warfare of the Luftwaffe. On May 25, 1942 he was awarded the German Cross in Gold. On July 1, 1942 he had achieved a total of 53 aerial victories, for which he was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on the same day. Simultaneously he was promoted to Feldwebel. On July 8, 1942 he lost his aircraft in an accident. On July 23, 1942 he was wounded in aerial combat when his aircraft was shot down by a Petlyakov Pe-2. Already on October 3, 1942 he achieved his 100th victory. On October 7, 1942 after 103 aerial victories he was awarded the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On November 4, 1942 he received the Oak Leaves together with Alfred Druschel, Günther Rall, Max Stotz and Johannes Steinhoff personally presented by Adolf Hitler. Afterwards he was permitted to go on leave. On November 23, 1942 during this leave he signed the Golden Book of the City of Leverkusen. In November 1942 Reinert transferred with his Staffel to the Mediterranean theater. Here he achieved another 51 aerial victories over British opponents, which made him the most successful fighter pilot in the African theater. In March 1943 he was promoted to Oberfeldwebel at 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 77. On April 19, 1943 he achieved his 150th aerial victory off the coast of Sicily. One day later he was promoted to Leutnant. On August 13, 1943 he was shot down by a Curtiss P-40 and landed in the Mediterranean east of Milazzo off Sicily. As Leutnant he was appointed Kapitän of 3. Staffel in Jagdgeschwader 77 in early September 1943. He then fell ill and did not return to the front until spring 1944. On April 20, 1944 he was promoted to Oberleutnant. As such he was appointed Führer of 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 in France in May 1944. On June 12, 1944 he was appointed Kapitän of 15. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 in France. Only a few days later he was wounded again. On July 1, 1944 he was appointed Kapitän of 12. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 in France. Through the renaming of his Staffel he was appointed Kapitän of 14. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 27 in mid-August 1944. In early January 1945, with simultaneous promotion to Hauptmann, Reinert was tasked with leading IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27 as successor to Hauptmann Heinz Dudeck. In this function he received the Swords to the Knight's Cross on February 1, 1945. Simultaneously he was promoted to Hauptmann and as such appointed Kommandeur of IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27. His date of rank was set at January 1, 1945. In March 1945 he allegedly transferred to Jagdgeschwader 7 to be retrained on the Messerschmitt 262. However, he did not achieve any further aerial victories with this aircraft type until war's end. In total Reinert achieved 174 aerial victories on over 700 combat sorties, of which 71 on the Western Front including the shooting down of two four-engine bombers. Furthermore he destroyed 16 aircraft, ten tanks and 6 locomotives on the ground. At war's end he was taken into American captivity in early May 1945. He was released from it already in September 1945. After the war Reinert worked in the private sector until 1955. In spring 1956 he joined the Luftwaffe of the new Bundeswehr. In 1972 he was retired there in the rank of Oberstleutnant as staff officer at Luftwaffenkommando in Köln-Wahn on Sylt.

Knight's Cross (July 1, 1942), Oak Leaves (October 7, 1942), Swords (February 1, 1945)

Most Oak Leaves with Swords on the market are more or less unworn in very good condition. A piece actually worn at the front over years, like the one offered here by us, has by contrast a very special aura and awakens memories of the deeds of the former wearer. The estate was in a German private collection for the last 40 years and has never been publicly shown or offered.

For the estate and provenance we give our unlimited lifetime guarantee of authenticity.

430423

Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords from the Estate of Hauptmann Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert

This grouping represents one of the most significant combat-worn Knight’s Cross assemblages to appear from private hands. It comprises the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) as worn by Hauptmann Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert (2 February 1919 – 5 September 2007), a Luftwaffe fighter ace credited with 174 aerial victories across more than 700 combat missions.

The Decoration and Its Grades

The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross was instituted on 1 September 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War, replacing older Prussian decorations such as the Pour le Mérite. As the war progressed and the need to recognize repeated acts of extraordinary valor intensified, additional grades were introduced in a mandatory sequential progression. These comprised the Knight’s Cross itself (1 September 1939), the Oak Leaves (3 June 1940), the Oak Leaves with Swords (28 September 1941), the Oak Leaves with Swords and Diamonds (28 September 1941), and the Golden Oak Leaves with Swords and Diamonds (29 December 1944). The Oak Leaves with Swords thus constituted the third-highest grade. All awards at every level could only be authorized by Adolf Hitler personally, and production was strictly regulated through government-approved manufacturers.

According to the Association of Knight’s Cross Recipients (AKCR), 7,318 Knight’s Crosses were awarded in total, though the German Federal Archives document 7,161 official presentations. The Oak Leaves were bestowed between 882 and 890 times. The Swords grade was awarded 159 times according to the AKCR, while the Federal Archives substantiate 147 awards. Among Luftwaffe fighter pilots specifically, 34 received the Swords and only 9 achieved the still-higher Diamonds grade.

Physical Description

The Oak Leaves with Swords element was manufactured by Gebrüder Godet & Co., Berlin, the officially designated producer for this grade. It is a three-piece die-struck construction consisting of the oak leaf cluster, crossed swords soldered to the base, and a suspension ring. The reverse is stamped “21” (the Godet manufacturer code) and “900” denoting 900-grade silver (90% purity). The piece measures 24.83 mm wide by 27.58 mm high, weighs 9.03 grams, with swords 24 mm in length.

The Knight’s Cross itself is an early production example by Steinhauer & Lück of Lüdenscheid, one of the most common manufacturers of this award. It features a three-piece construction with a blackened iron core framed by two silver pieces in the distinctive cross pattée form, with arms narrow at the center and broader at the perimeter, featuring beaded borders. The obverse displays the date “1939” on the lower arm and a swastika at center. The reverse is stamped “800” indicating 800-grade silver (80% purity). It measures approximately 48 mm × 48 mm and is accompanied by its original configured neck ribbon measuring 47 cm in length.

The Recipient: Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert

Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert entered the Luftwaffe in April 1939 and completed his flight training before being posted to the replacement squadron of Jagdgeschwader 77 in France during autumn 1940. Transferred to the II. Gruppe of JG 77, he participated in the Balkans campaign before deploying to the Eastern Front with the 4. Staffel from the summer of 1941. He scored his first aerial victory on 8 August 1941.

On 1 July 1942, having achieved 53 aerial victories, Reinert was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. By 7 October 1942, his tally had risen to 103 victories, earning him the Oak Leaves. On 4 November 1942, he received the decoration personally from Adolf Hitler alongside fellow recipients Alfred Druschel, Günther Rall, Max Stotz, and Johannes Steinhoff.

In November 1942, Reinert deployed to the Mediterranean theater, where he became the most successful German fighter pilot in the African campaign, amassing 51 victories against British opponents. On 13 August 1943, he was shot down by a Curtiss P-40 and came down in the Mediterranean east of Milazzo off Sicily. After recovery and a period of illness, he returned to the front in spring 1944 and assumed various command positions with Jagdgeschwader 27 in France. In early January 1945, he was promoted to Hauptmann and placed in command of the IV. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 27. On 1 February 1945, he received the Swords to the Knight’s Cross, becoming the 130th recipient of this grade, in recognition of his 174 aerial victories and his command leadership.

Reinert’s final tally comprised 174 confirmed aerial victories across more than 700 combat sorties: 103 on the Eastern Front, 51 in the Mediterranean, and 20 on the Western Front including two four-engine bombers. He additionally destroyed 16 aircraft, 10 tanks, and 6 locomotives on the ground.

Post-War History

Reinert was taken into American captivity at war’s end and released in September 1945. After working in the private sector until 1955, he joined the Bundesluftwaffe in spring 1956, eventually retiring in 1972 with the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel).

Under the West German law of 26 July 1957, veterans were authorized to wear denazified replacement versions of their wartime decorations, substituting an oak leaf cluster for the swastika in a design echoing earlier 1813–1914 Iron Cross patterns. The accompanying Bundeswehr medal bar with 13 decorations in this grouping reflects Reinert’s service across both German armed forces. Production of the 1957-pattern replacements ceased in 1986.

Reinert sold his decorations and associated items personally in 1988 to the dealer Theo Walpurgius. The grouping has since remained in a German private collection for approximately 40 years and has never been publicly exhibited or offered.