This is the medal cushion from the possession of SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Paar, who served in SS-Regiment “Der Führer”, during the 1944 invasion with Division "Götz von Berlichingen", and at war's end with SS-Regiment “Radolfzell”, which was formed from members of the SS-Unterführerschule Radolfszell. The medal cushion contains a total of 27 decorations, badges, membership pins and cuff titles, mounted on a rectangular medal cushion of green velvet. Also included are several documents and photos of Paar. The following decorations are on the medal cushion:
1. German Cross in Gold, heavy production by Godet, reverse with 6 rivets, underside of pin with maker mark "21". Clearly worn piece with slight enamel damage on the swastika. This is an early production from circa 1941, however the award to SS-Hauptscharführer Paar did not occur until February 28, 1945. Very likely he was awarded a worn piece by the regimental commander.
2. SS Long Service Award for 8 years of service, bronze metal version, without ribbon.
3. Close Combat Clasp in Bronze, fine zinc bronzed, reverse with maker mark "Fec. W.E. Peekhaus Berlin - AG.M.u.K. Gablonz". Worn, condition 2.
4. Close Combat Clasp in Silver, 1957 version, silver-plated bronze metal, condition 2+.
5. Close Combat Clasp in Gold, 1957 version, gold-plated bronze metal, condition 2+. Paar is not listed in the book about recipients of the Close Combat Clasp in Gold. By December 26, 1944 he had already accumulated 32 confirmed close combat days, the additional close combat days must have occurred by war's end in 1945.
6. Iron Cross 1939 1st Class, without maker. Worn, condition 2.
7. Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class, without ribbon, condition 2.
8. Infantry Assault Badge in Silver, fine zinc, reverse with maker "L/61", worn, condition 2.
9. Eastern Front Medal, on ribbon, condition 2.
10. War Merit Cross 1939 2nd Class with Swords, without ribbon, condition 2.
11. Wound Badge 1939 in Black, blackened bronze metal, reverse with maker mark "L/11" for Wilhelm Deumer, Lüdenscheid, condition 2.
12. Wound Badge 1939 in Silver, bronze metal version, lightly worn, condition 2.
13. Wound Badge 1939 in Gold, 1957 version, his last wounds must also have occurred in spring 1945.
14. Driver's Proficiency Badge in Bronze without backing cloth, condition 2.
15. Honor Badge of the Einsatzstaffel of the German Team in Croatia in Silver. Hollow struck, condition 2.
16. Austria 1945 War Disabled Association silver merit medal, on Austrian triangular ribbon.
17. Miniature medal bar 1957 model with 7 decorations: German Cross in Gold, Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, Wound Badge in Gold, Eastern Front Medal, Close Combat Clasp in Gold.
18. Miniature medal chain 1957 version with the same decorations.
19. Group of 7 lapel pins, including civilian pin HIAG Division "Der Führer", SS membership pin, without maker, etc.
20. 2 cuff titles "Der Führer" and "Götz von Berlichingen", both post-1945 productions.
21. A small portrait photo of Paar, still as an enlisted rank, likely during the 1940 French campaign wearing steel helmet.
22. Confirmation document "Close Combat Days for Paar, Karl" with 32 confirmed close combat days from 1943 to December 26, 1944. Including 6 close combat days in August 1944 in France as member of III./SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 38, 17th SS-Panzergrenadier Division "Götz von Berlichingen". Additional 8 close combat days in December 1944 during the Ardennes Offensive. Copy, issued by SS-Unterführerschule Radolfszell, early 1945.
23. Large portrait photo circa 1938 as member of the SS-Totenkopfstandarten, SS-Totenkopf Hundertschaft 11 in black uniform.
24. Another small portrait photo circa 1938 as member of the SS-Totenkopfstandarten, SS-Totenkopf Hundertschaft 11 in black uniform for an identification card. Reverse with stamp "Schnell-Photo Trude Schachner Salzburg..", with handwritten signature "Paar Karl".
25. Photo from the 1940 Western Campaign as enlisted rank in field tunic M 40 without collar tabs, with steel helmet M 35. (the same photograph as on the medal cushion).
26. Wedding photo as SS-Hauptscharführer and company sergeant major in Regiment "Der Führer" with cuff title, Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, Infantry Assault Badge and Wound Badge in Silver. Reverse with stamp of photo studio in Salzburg.
27. Finally a color photo from Paar's funeral on July 20, 1984: a comrade, also decorated with the German Cross in Gold, holding exactly this medal cushion! Reverse inscribed "20 June 84 Comrade Baumgartner with the medal cushion of Karl Paar".

A historically incredibly complete estate of an SS non-commissioned officer who served from 1938 to 1945. After his deployment at the invasion front in August 1944, Paar was assigned as instructor to SS-Unterführerschule Radolfszell. From the school, SS-Regiment Radolfzell was formed in November 1944, which was deployed in December 1945 during the heavy fighting around Colmar in Alsace. Paar was probably born in Salzburg, where he also married and lived after the war.

28. Additionally from the postwar period, a household identification card from the city of Salzburg for Karl Paar.

418142

German Cross in Gold Large Estate from the Possession of SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Paar, SS-Regiment "Der Führer", Division "Götz von Berlichingen", SS-Regiment Radolfszell

The German Cross in Gold, also known as the War Order of the German Cross in Gold, represents one of the most significant military decorations of the Second World War. Instituted by Adolf Hitler through a Führer decree on 28 September 1941, this decoration was created to fill a crucial gap in the existing awards system. Between the Iron Cross First Class, awarded for acts of bravery, and the Knight's Cross, an extraordinarily high decoration, there existed a range of outstanding military achievements that required appropriate recognition. The German Cross was designed to bridge this gap and honor achievements that exceeded the Iron Cross First Class but did not justify the strict criteria for the Knight's Cross.

The award was issued in two divisions: gold for repeated acts of bravery or achievement in combat, and silver for distinguished non-combat war service. A special grade of the German Cross in Gold with Diamonds was manufactured in 1942, with twenty specimen copies produced, but it was never officially instituted or bestowed upon anyone. The first award of the German Cross occurred on 18 October 1941. A total of 24,328 German Crosses in Gold were awarded throughout the war, demonstrating the demanding nature of the qualification requirements.

The physical design of the German Cross in Gold embodied the symbolic significance of the award. The eight-pointed breast star measured approximately 63 millimeters in diameter and featured an intricate design. At its center was a 21.5-millimeter black enameled swastika outlined in silver, placed upon a silver disk with a red-bordered edge. Mounted over this was a 39-millimeter golden laurel leaf wreath. At the bottom of the wreath appeared a square box with the year 1941 impressed into it. The reverse side displayed four or six rivets and bore the manufacturer's marking on the pin.

Production was undertaken by various manufacturers, with early examples struck from Tombac and weighing 60 to 70 grams. Later versions were produced from Cupal, a copper-plated aluminum alloy, and weighed between 45 and 55 grams. The firm Gebrüder Godet & Co. of Berlin, bearing manufacturer code “21”, produced early heavy versions with six rivets weighing approximately 69 to 70 grams. The swastika was enameled, underscoring the sophisticated craftsmanship involved in creating this decoration.

For combat wear, a cloth version existed featuring a metal wreath with the backing cloth color matching the tunic color: field grey for the Army and Waffen-SS, blue-grey for the Air Force, Marine blue for the Navy, and black for armored forces. This practical variant allowed soldiers to wear the decoration in combat situations without risking damage to the valuable original piece.

The award criteria were strictly defined. The recipient had to be a holder of the Iron Cross (1939) First Class or the Clasp to the 1914 Iron Cross First Class, or the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords. As a rule of thumb, six to eight acts of bravery were expected. The German Cross ranked higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. From 30 August 1944, recipients of the gold class Close Combat Clasp were normally also awarded the German Cross in Gold.

SS-Hauptscharführer Karl Paar received the German Cross in Gold on 28 February 1945. His military career took him through several units: the SS-Regiment “Der Führer” (a component of the 2nd SS Division “Das Reich”), during the 1944 invasion with the 17th SS-Panzergrenadier Division “Götz von Berlichingen”, and at war's end with the SS-Regiment Radolfzell, formed from the SS-Unterführerschule Radolfzell. The 17th SS Division was sent to Normandy in June 1944, launched counterattacks against the US 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions, and was practically destroyed as of July 1944. SS-Regiment Radolfzell was formed from the SS-Unterführerschule Radolfzell in November 1944 and saw action in the Kolmar area.

After World War II, wearing the German Cross was initially completely prohibited in Germany. With the Law on Titles, Orders and Decorations of 1957, wearing was permitted in denazified form with the swastika replaced by the traditional Iron Cross for the gold division and the War Merit Cross with Swords for the silver division. Qualifying Bundeswehr members wore the award on ribbon bar as a small replica on field grey ribbon. The specific cross from Paar's estate remained in his possession until his death in 1984. Notable recipients of the decoration included Count Claus von Stauffenberg, who received it on 8 May 1943.