Iron Cross 1939 2nd Class, as single clasp, condition 2+, with field bar. Together with the award document as Lt. z.See from the 1st Torpedo Boat Flotilla, issued October 15, 1940, with signature “Lütjens Admiral und Flottenchef.”
Destroyer War Badge, non-ferrous metal, reverse marked with maker “Schwerin-Berlin 68”, worn, condition 2. Together with the award document for the Destroyer War Badge, issued as Leutnant zur See from Command 1st Torpedo Boat Flotilla, issued January 17, 1941, with original signature “Bütow Kapitän zur See und Führer der Torpedoboote”.
Iron Cross 1939 1st Class, no maker, in presentation case, condition 2. Together with another piece on screw disc, reverse with maker designation “L/50”, in presentation case, condition 2. Together with the award document as Oberleutnant z.S. from Command 4th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla, issued Sept. 18, 1941, with signature “Schniewind Admiral uz. Flottechef.”
E-Boat War Badge 1st Model

Non-ferrous metal, on horizontal pin, reverse marked “Schwerin-Berlin 68”. Lightly worn, condition 2.
E-Boat War Badge 2nd Model. Fine zinc, unmarked production by B.H. Mayer Pforzheim, condition 2. The E-Boat War Badge 2nd Model was introduced on January 28, 1943. Together with the award document for the E-Boat War Badge, as Oberleutnant z.S. from Command 4th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla, issued January 10, 1942, with original signature “Bütow Kapitän zur See und Führer der Torpedoboote”.
Teletype message from the Commander-in-Chief of the Kriegsmarine to Oblt z S Karcher - For merit as commander of an E-boat I award you in the name of the Führer and Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht the German Cross in Gold - Commander-in-Chief, dated 27.XI. (1942). Together with a congratulatory letter from the Leader of the E-Boats Petersen dated November 28, 1942 for the award of the German Cross in Gold. (The German Cross in Gold and the document are unfortunately no longer present.)
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939. Manufactured by Steinhauer & Lück Lüdenscheid, A-type, blackened iron core with silver frame, reverse marked “800”, the ribbon ring also marked “800”. On short worn neck ribbon section. In matching presentation case. Lightly worn, under the black lacquer of the iron core with traces of corrosion, probably caused by salt water, condition 2-. Together with a photographic expert opinion by the well-known specialist Dietrich Maerz from 2018. Preliminary certificate of possession for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross as Oberleutnant zur See, awarded August 13, 1943, issued Berlin, August 23, 1943, with original signature “Fregattenkapitän” at the High Command of the Kriegsmarine. Together with a letter from the “Admiral Inspector of the Kriegsmarine of the Greater German Reich, dated Berlin August 16, 43: “Dear Karcher! On the occasion of the award of the Knight's Cross to you on August 13, 1943, I send you my picture as a sign of my personal thanks and my recognition. With comradely greetings and Heil Hitler! Yours - Raeder”. Furthermore, the honor roll of the German Kriegsmarine with the mention “Awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross: .. Oberleutnant zur See Karl Erhard Karcher Commander in a Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla”.
Wound Badge 1939 in Silver - Wächtler & Lange

Fine zinc silver-plated, reverse marked “100”, condition 2.
Certificate of possession for the Wound Badge in Silver after 1 wound on June 13, 1944 as Kpt.Leutnant, service post field post number U 10 252 (= 4th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla), issued June 29, 1944. (However, according to the Soldbuch, Karcher had already received the Wound Badge in Black on 18.9.41, which he also wears in the portrait photos).
Soldbuch of the Kriegsmarine - Copy, issued February 8, 1944 by the service post Torpedo School I, recorded promotion to Kapitänleutnant on 1.4.44, all decorations entered, on page 1 pasted insert slip “... assigned to Command Harbor Captain Mürwik as of 191745..” as well as from the English occupation forces “Port-Intelligence Officer Flensburg.. The Garrison Commander” dated July 10, 1945. With “Soldbuch” protective cover. Karcher was discharged as a soldier with this Soldbuch and handwrote the commands of his E-boats in the 4th E-Boat Flotilla on page 21.
Dark blue visor cap from the personal possession of Kapitänleutnant Karcher,

circa 1942. Elegant visor cap in the typical form of the Kriegsmarine, complete with hand-embroidered metal thread national eagle, oak leaf wreath with cockade, the visor in hand-embroidered metal thread execution, black patent leather strap on naval buttons, black grosgrain ribbon. Inside stone-gray sweatband with owner's initials “K E K”, navy blue silk lining with celluloid trapezoid. Lightly worn, condition 2.
3 pairs of shoulder boards as Kapitänleutnant, 1 pair with loops, one pair with tabs and one pair for the white service tunic. Together with the gold-plated breast eagle for the white tunic.
A total of 32 photos of Karcher, including: large portrait photo as Oberleutnant with German Cross in Gold, E-Boat War Badge 1st Model, 1 large and one smaller portrait photo as Oberleutnant with freshly awarded Knight's Cross, E-Boat War Badge 2nd Model, the small photo hand-signed “Karcher 15.9.44”, 1 press photo with retouched Knight's Cross from Weltbild, dated 22.9.44., 2 beautiful photos from the Knight's Cross award ceremony on the pier in front of his E-boat, 6 very beautiful photos from the E-boat base, partly inscribed by Karcher on the reverse “Ready to depart, Shortly before casting off! The old commanders.. (= the commanders of the E-boats of his flotilla with him), 14 large photos with Karcher on land, visit to a factory, with other commanders in the harbor, at sea, 5 small photos, on board the E-boat on the bridge, his E-boat with ship painting “black panther”, as a young lieutenant and officer of the watch. 1 large photo of his E-boat at sea in passepartout.
Gift photo album “Memorial Pages of the Company Assembly of the Marine Engine Workforce of Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft Stuttgart-Untertürkheim on September 10, 1943” with a total of 32 photos, very beautiful shots of Karcher with Knight's Cross together with his flotilla chief Petersen and other officers of the Kriegsmarine during the factory visit.
A photo album from peacetime aboard the cruiser “Emden” from 1937, Karcher still as a cadet, large foreign voyage to Greece, Ceylon, Sumatra, equator baptism, Java, Eritrea, together with a series of loose photos from peacetime, a letter from a German from Batavia to Karcher from 1937, 2 printed pictures of E-boat paintings (folded), 1 photo and 1 postcard of E-boats. Together with 8 reproduction photos of his E-boats.

Karl-Ehrhardt Karcher, Karl-Erhardt, born 03.01.1918 Remscheid, died 12.03.1973 Freistett/Baden. Entry into the Kriegsmarine
03.04.1937 - 14.06.1937 Basic military training, II. Ship's Crew Division of the Baltic
15.06.1937 - 22.09.1937 Basic seamanship training, Training Sailing Ship “Gorch Fock”
23.09.1937 - 28.04.1938 Shipboard training (including world cruise (Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, Indonesia)) Cruiser “Emden”
29.04.1938 - 25.11.1938 Participant officer training course Naval Academy Mürwik
25.11.1938 - 02.04.1939 Advanced specialist training: weapons courses, platoon leader course, at SAS, TS, II.SStA
02.04.1939 Shipboard internship Destroyer Z 3 “Max Schultz”
00.09.1939 - 00.03.1940 Platoon leader 7th Ship's Crew Division
00.03.1940 - 00.09.1940 Watch officer Torpedo Boat T 3
00.09.1940 - 00.01.1941 Commander student 2nd E-Boat Flotilla
15.02.1941 - 09.04.1941 Commander S 12
16.05.1941 - 20.07.1941 Commander S 22
25.07.1941 - 17.01.1942 Commander S 50
15.04.1942 - 17.12.1942 Commander S 63
17.12.1942 - 10.02.1944 Commander S 87
15.07.1943 - 01.08.1943 Acting Commander S 88
01.03.1944 - 14.06.1944 Commander S 188
00.09.1944 - 00.05.1945 Instructor Torpedo School Mürwik.

Career in the Kriegsmarine
03.04.1937 Seaman (Officer Candidate)
21.09.1937 Naval Cadet
01.05.1938 Fähnrich zur See
01.07.1939 Oberfähnrich zur See
01.07.1939 Oberfähnrich zur See
01.08.1939 Leutnant zur See
01.09.1941 Oberleutnant zur See
01.04.1944 Kapitänleutnant.

Successes:
04.06.1941 Sinking of the British tender C ex “Marmari” (7924 GRT) (together with S 19, S 20, S 24),
07.09.1941 Sinking of the British freighter “Duncarron” (478 GRT),
17.09.1941 Torpedoing of the British freighter “Tetela” (5389 GRT),
09.07.1942 Sinking of the British naval trawler “Manor” (314 t),
12.12.1942 Sinking of the British freighter “Lindisfarne” (999 GRT),
12.12.1942 Sinking of the Norwegian freighter “Marianne” (1915 GRT).

A press article from the period described Karcher as follows: “Oberleutnant zur See Karcher, born on 03.01.1918 in Remscheid as the son of a high school teacher, has sunk a total of 10 enemy merchant ships of 29500 GRT during operations off the English south and southeast coast, all heavily escorted convoys. In addition, he participated in the sinking of another large ship of 600 GRT and also torpedoed a freighter of 4000 GRT. He carried out numerous successful mine-laying operations and repeatedly operated under fire from English coastal batteries. Without ever losing overview of the overall situation, he mastered such dangerous moments with ruthlessness and calm. Karcher is a dashing E-boat captain who has carried out his missions with tenacity and determination and has led his boat and his crew to new victories again and again with never-flagging combat readiness.

In the first days of the invasion he penetrated an enemy bridgehead in the Seine Bay, sank an unloading dock and was severely wounded during an engagement with an English motor gunboat.”

An impressive, nearly complete estate of a brave Knight's Cross recipient of the Kriegsmarine. In total there were only 23 awards of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to members of the E-boat force of the Kriegsmarine from May 1940 to May 1945. Of these, 8 members of the E-boat force received the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. In over 35 business years, this is the 1st Knight's Cross estate of an E-boat commander that we have been able to offer.

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The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 – The Estate of a Kriegsmarine Schnellboot Commander

This remarkable estate from the personal possession of Kapitänleutnant Karl-Ehrhardt Karcher offers a nearly complete window into the career of one of only 23 Knight’s Cross recipients from the Schnellbootwaffe (fast attack craft service) of the Kriegsmarine. At its center stands the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), one of the most significant military decorations of the Second World War, manufactured in this case by the firm Steinhauer & Lück of Lüdenscheid — the producer responsible for the majority of all Knight’s Crosses during the conflict.

Origins and Institution

The Iron Cross was originally created in 1813 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia during the Napoleonic Wars, and was subsequently renewed in 1870 and 1914. On 1 September 1939, the day World War II began, Adolf Hitler re-instituted the Iron Cross by decree (Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573), transforming it from a Prussian to a German Reich decoration. The Knight’s Cross represented an entirely new intermediate grade positioned between the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Grand Cross — the latter being awarded only once during the entire war, to Hermann Göring. Unlike Imperial Germany, where the Grand Cross was restricted to high-ranking officers, the Knight’s Cross could be awarded to personnel of all ranks, conforming to the National Socialist ideology of a classless military meritocracy.

Physical Characteristics and Manufacture

The Knight’s Cross takes the form of a cross pattée — a cross with arms that narrow at the center and broaden at the perimeter — and consists of three pieces: a blackened iron core sandwiched between two silver frames, hand-soldered together, with a suspension loop at the top for a neck ribbon. The Steinhauer & Lück version typically features a blackened iron core with a frosted silver frame and polished edges. The width measures approximately 48–49 mm, with a height including the suspension loop of approximately 54–55 mm. The frame is composed of 800-grade silver (80% silver content), confirmed by the “800” hallmark on both the frame and suspension ring, consistent with the markings described on this particular example. The obverse displays a central raised swastika on a black background with the date “1939” on the lower arm, while the reverse bears the date “1813” — the year of original institution. The decoration was worn on a black-white-red tricolor ribbon around the neck and was accompanied by a presentation case with black faux-leather exterior and white or black velvet interior, along with award documentation.

The Five Grades of the Knight’s Cross

The Knight’s Cross existed in five hierarchical grades: the Knight’s Cross itself (basic grade, instituted 1 September 1939); the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves (instituted 3 June 1940); the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (instituted 28 September 1941); the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (instituted 28 September 1941); and the Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (instituted 29 December 1944, awarded only once, to Hans-Ulrich Rudel). The decoration in this estate represents the basic grade.

Award Criteria and Procedure

The Knight’s Cross was bestowed for extreme battlefield bravery or outstanding military leadership across all branches of the Wehrmacht (Heer, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe), the Waffen-SS, and allied forces. Recipients were required to hold the prior award of the Iron Cross 1st Class 1939, though concurrent awards occasionally occurred. Criteria varied by branch — U-boat commanders, for instance, could qualify by sinking 100,000 tons of shipping, while Luftwaffe pilots accumulated points based on enemy aircraft destroyed. Nominations originated at company level or higher and required approval through the chain of command up to Hitler personally, a prerogative he retained until 30 April 1945. The last legally valid awards had to be made before 23:01 CET on 8 May 1945 — the moment of German surrender.

Karl-Ehrhardt Karcher and the Schnellbootwaffe

Karl-Ehrhardt Karcher, born 3 January 1918 and deceased 12 March 1973, served as an Oberleutnant zur See and Schnellboot commander in the 4. Schnellbootflottille. His Knight’s Cross was awarded for his command of S 87. Of the 318 Kriegsmarine recipients of the Knight’s Cross (316 formally presented, 2 after 11 May 1945 without legal authority), Karcher belonged to the extraordinarily small group of just 23 Schnellboot service members so honored. Of those 23, 8 also received the Oak Leaves. The present estate includes the preliminary certificate (Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis), a congratulatory letter from Admiral Raeder in his capacity as Admiralinspekteur der Kriegsmarine, and the Ehrentafel (honor roll) of the German Navy naming Karcher among the Knight’s Cross recipients.

Propaganda Role and Postwar Legacy

Knight’s Cross recipients were elevated to the status of propaganda heroes, featured on postcards, in newsreels, and at public events to inspire the population and youth. The press photographs and the gift photo album from Karcher’s visit to the Daimler-Benz factory in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim in September 1943 — where he appeared alongside his flotilla chief Petersen — vividly illustrate this function.

Following the war, the display of Nazi symbols including the swastika became illegal in Germany and Austria. In 1957, the Federal Republic of Germany authorized denazified replacement versions (1957 pattern) in which the swastika was replaced by oak leaves. The Association of Knight’s Cross Recipients (Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger, OdR), founded in 1955 in Cologne, became increasingly controversial, and in 1999 German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping banned Bundeswehr contacts with the organization. Today, original Knight’s Crosses are highly prized collector items. The corrosion traces beneath the black lacquer of this example’s iron core — likely caused by saltwater exposure during Schnellboot operations — lend it a particularly compelling provenance among the mere 23 examples associated with the fast attack craft service.