Wehrpass issued in Lübeck-Blankensee on January 20, 1939, with uniform photo, enlisted on April 1, 1935 with 2./Kfr.Luftkdo.Zossen, further units: 7./Pz.-Rgt.5, Fl.Gr.(S) Faßberg, I./K.G.257, Reich Air Ministry (Z.A.), L.K.-Schule 2, Staff/General Command I.Fliegerkorps, IV./K.G.76, I./K.G.76, RLM/Central Office Group; Decorations: Military Observer Badge, Lifesaving Medal on Ribbon, Reich Sports Badge, SA Sports Badge, DLRG Basic Certificate, Service Award 4th Class, admitted into the "Golden Book of Aviators" on April 14, 1938, Commemorative Medal of October 1, 1938, Iron Cross 2nd Class, Front Flight Clasp in Bronze, Iron Cross 1st Class, Crimea Shield, Reich Sports Badge in Silver with Golden Wreath (Disabled Sports Badge), War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords; he participated in numerous combat operations (air war against England, deployment in home war theater, Eastern Front with combat missions against Russia) and was discharged from active military service on March 31, 1945 as Major.
- Soldbuch issued on October 10, 1939 by the Reich Air Ministry (Z.A.), with photo, entries of units and decorations are identical.
- Certificate booklet for the German Gymnastics and Sports Badge in Bronze, with photo, awarded on October 19, 1933, with certificates and the certificate booklet for the Reich Sports Badge in Silver with Golden Wreath, issued on September 2, 1943 with uniform photo.
- DLRG Basic Certificate issued in Potsdam on December 20, 1933, with photo, with swimming certificates.
- Performance book for SA Sports Badge in Bronze, with photo in SA uniform, issued in Potsdam on January 11, 1935, certificate of ownership is pasted inside and dated February 28, 1935.
- Passport issued in Munich on September 3, 1936, with photo.
- Luftwaffe Sales Department - Membership card as extraordinary member
- Aero-Club of Germany - Entry ticket to the Aviators' House dated July 1, 1939
- Wehrstammbuch created on April 1, 1935 by the 2. Kraftfahrluftkommando Zossen, until June 1, 1939 with registered decorations: Military Observer Badge, Lifesaving Medal on Ribbon, entry in the "Golden Book of Aviators".
- Promotion certificate from Oberfähnrich to Lieutenant effective April 1, 1937, issued on April 20, 1937 by Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring. (A4 double sheet with inscribed paper envelope)
- Award certificate for the Aircraft Observer Badge, as Lieutenant, issued on October 1, 1937 by Oberst Robert Ritter von Greim (Knight's Cross on June 24, 1940, the 216th Oak Leaves on April 2, 1943 and the 92nd Swords on August 28, 1944).
- Congratulatory letter on the award of the Observer Badge from Generalmajor Dipl.-Ing. Gerhard Conrad, dated Zerbst October 8, 1937.
- Award certificate for the Service Award 4th Class, as Lieutenant of I./K.G.257, issued in Braunschweig on April 1, 1939 by Generalleutnant Alfred Keller - Commander of 4. Flieger-Division (Knight's Cross on June 24, 1940).
- Award certificate for the Medal in Commemoration of October 1, 1938, as Oberleutnant, issued on July 25, 1940
- Luftwaffe Ground Observer License issued on July 10, 1941, with photo
- Flight log book begun on July 7, 1941 with 38 recorded flights including 24 combat missions with Ju 88 (only the written pages are present)
- Award certificate for the Iron Cross 2nd Class, as Oberleutnant of I./K.G.76, issued in the field on August 7, 1941 by General der Flieger Helmuth Förster - Commanding General of I. Fliegerkorps (Knight's Cross on February 22, 1942).
- Award certificate for the Front Flight Clasp for Bomber Pilots in Bronze, as Hauptmann Staff I./K.G.76, issued on May 20, 1942 by General der Flieger Kurt Pflugbeil - Commanding General of IV.Fliegerkorps (Knight's Cross on October 5, 1941 and the 562nd Oak Leaves on August 27, 1944).
- Award certificate for the Iron Cross 1st Class, issued on June 4, 1942 by Generaloberst Alexander Löhr - Chief of Luftflotte 4 and Commander Southeast (Knight's Cross on September 30, 1939 and the 705th Oak Leaves on January 20, 1945).
- Certificate of ownership for the Crimea Shield, issued on March 15, 1943.
- Award certificate for the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, as Major, issued on September 1, 1944.
- Award certificate for the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords, issued on January 30, 1945.
- Severely war disabled ID card issued on July 11, 1944, with uniform photo.
- Recommendation for award of the Lifesaving Medal on Ribbon by the deputy Staffelkapitän Reible, with lengthy description of the accident on June 23, 1937 in Dedelstorf at very considerable personal risk to life in the rescue of the victims. Attached copy of the incident which also led to the death of 7 crew members of the Ju 52.
- Luftwaffe Regulation Gazette of August 23, 1937 with entry “Reward for a rescue act and the award of the Lifesaving Medal on Ribbon”.
- Transmittal letter for the Lifesaving Medal on Ribbon along with award certificate of August 9, 1937
- there follow numerous personal letters from July - December 1937 congratulating the award and the heroic deed from Major Reible, Generalmajor Conrad, Generalleutnant Felmy, Generalmajor von Stutterheim, Ritter von Greim and 2 transmittal letters from Minister President Generaloberst Göring with the sending of a personally signed and dedicated photograph of Göring each time (silver frame) from November 2 and December 27, both signed by Oberst Bodenschatz
- there follow numerous personal letters from the years 1938 - 1940, e.g. the letter from Generalmajor von Greim to Lieutenant Kube on admission into the "Golden Book of Aviators" with the entry: Lieutenant Rudolf Kube, I./Kampfgeschwader 257 Zerbst, on June 23, 1937 during a bombing accident rescued a severely wounded soldier whose clothes were already burning, despite further explosions from the vicinity of the burning aircraft. He extinguished the burning clothes by throwing himself selflessly over the rescued man. During this rescue operation he suffered life-threatening injuries from bomb fragments in addition to severe burns. ”
- Personnel record with photo and awarded decorations such as Lifesaving Medal on Ribbon, admitted into the "Golden Book of Aviators"
- War evaluation as of April 1, 1945
- various certificates, health documents, transcripts, curriculum vitae, issue No. 7 from October 1937 of "Soldier of the Luftwaffe" with photo and mention of Kube in the honor roll and for postwar newspaper.
- 4 large portrait photos in 20 x 30 cm mounted on cardboard
and attached are 80 photos in various sizes and formats from Kube's wartime with comrades in the field, at aircraft, etc. and a bag full of contact prints, as well as documents on his health condition, the accident and the rescue operation and much more into the 1950s.

The certificates are mostly only lightly used and the documents are in used condition.

The Golden Book of Aviators was a German-language book which was continued through entries of particularly noteworthy persons, and was thus a non-wearable decoration of the Luftwaffe of the Wehrmacht in the Third Reich. By the end of the National Socialist regime, the Golden Book of Aviators comprised a total of 35 names.

370661

€ 6.200,00

Luftwaffe - Large Document and Photo Group of Lieutenant Rudolf Kube of I./Kampfgeschwader 257, who was admitted as the 11th soldier into the "Golden Book of Aviators" and was awarded the Lifesaving Medal on Ribbon.

The extensive document collection of Lieutenant Rudolf Kube represents an extraordinary historical legacy of a Luftwaffe member who was recorded as the 11th soldier in the “Golden Book of Aviators” – one of the highest non-wearable decorations of the German Luftwaffe during the Third Reich.

The Golden Book of Aviators was created as a special form of recognition and recorded only 35 names by the end of the war. This extraordinary honor was bestowed only upon individuals who distinguished themselves through outstanding bravery, selfless rescue acts, or special merits. Admission was granted by personal decree of the Reich Air Ministry and documented in detail the reasons for this distinction.

Kube's military career began on April 1, 1935 with the 2./Kraftfahrluftkommando Zossen, documenting the systematic buildup of the Luftwaffe during the rearmament phase. His career progressed through various units, including Fliegergruppe (S) Faßberg, I./Kampfgeschwader 257, and offices in the Reich Air Ministry. His military passbook, issued on January 20, 1939, in Lübeck-Blankensee, and his paybook from October 10, 1939, meticulously document his advancement to the rank of Major, with which he was discharged from active military service on March 31, 1945.

The central reason for Kube's admission to the Golden Book was his heroic rescue act on June 23, 1937, in Dedelstorf. During a severe bombing accident in which seven crew members of a Junkers Ju 52 lost their lives, Kube rescued a severely wounded soldier from the immediate vicinity of the burning aircraft at the risk of his own life. Despite continuing explosions and under considerable personal danger, he recovered the injured man, whose clothing was already burning, and extinguished the flames by selflessly throwing himself over the rescued person. During this rescue, Kube himself sustained severe burns and life-threatening injuries from bomb fragments.

For this extraordinary act, he was awarded the Lifesaving Medal on Ribbon – a rare decoration given only for selfless rescue acts under considerable self-endangerment. The incident is documented in detail in the preserved records, including the recommendation by Deputy Squadron Captain Reible and the official announcement in the Luftwaffe Ordinance Gazette of August 23, 1937.

Particularly noteworthy are the personal congratulatory letters from high-ranking officers, including Colonel Robert Ritter von Greim (later Field Marshal and last Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe), Lieutenant General Hellmuth Felmy, and two cover letters from Minister President Colonel General Hermann Göring personally, signed by Colonel Bodenschatz, with the sending of personally signed and dedicated pictures of Göring in silver frames.

Kube's military decorations reflect an intense and dangerous period of service. The Military Observer Badge, awarded on October 1, 1937, by Colonel von Greim, documents his qualification as an aircraft observer. During the war, he participated in significant combat operations, including the air war against England, operations in the home war zone, and on the Eastern Front with enemy flights against Russia. His logbook records 38 flights, including 24 enemy flights with the Junkers Ju 88.

His combat decorations include the Iron Cross 2nd Class (August 7, 1941, awarded by General der Flieger Helmuth Förster), the Front Flight Clasp for Bomber Pilots in Bronze (May 20, 1942, awarded by General der Flieger Kurt Pflugbeil), the Iron Cross 1st Class (June 4, 1942, awarded by Colonel General Alexander Löhr), the Crimea Shield (March 15, 1943), and the War Merit Cross 2nd and 1st Class with Swords (1944/1945).

The severely disabled person's identification card from July 11, 1944, and the Reich Sports Badge in Silver with Golden Wreath (Disabled Sports Badge) document the severe injuries Kube sustained in service, presumably as a consequence of the 1937 rescue act and his combat missions.

The extensive document collection – with military passbook, paybook, military service book, promotion certificates, award documents from high-ranking commanders (including several later Knight's Cross recipients), personal letters, logbook, numerous photographs, and other papers extending into the 1950s – forms an exceptionally complete testimony of a Luftwaffe soldier's biography. It documents not only the military career but also the personal recognition of a man who, through a selfless act, was admitted to the exclusive Golden Book of Aviators – an honor bestowed upon only 34 other individuals.