Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939, a classic production by Klein & Quenzer. Blackened iron core with silver frame. Reverse stamped "800", suspension ring stamped "65 800". Lightly worn, in good condition. Complete with an original neck ribbon section. Accompanied by the preliminary award certificate for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross issued to "Hauptmann Herbert Stenzel, Cdr. I./Pz.Gr. Rgt. 108 14. Pz. Div.", dated "HQ OKH, 8.3.1945". With original ink signature of Oberkommando des Heeres (Army High Command) by proxy "Maisel" Generalleutnant. The document is folded twice and was kept in the Soldbuch, condition 3, mounted on paper on reverse by the recipient. From the General of Panzer Troops: congratulatory letter on the award of the Knight's Cross, dated "H.Qu. OKH 8.3.45" with original signature "Guderian". Also included is the combat report of I./Panz.-Gren. Rgt. 108 regarding Hauptmann Stenzel's action during the fighting of 30.1.1945 and his counterattack, for which he received the Knight's Cross. Dated O.U., 15.3.1945, with signature of Oberleutnant and Battalion Adjutant. Additionally, a newspaper clipping from the Courland Army newspaper "In Vigorous Counterattack" describing Stenzel's action.
Close Combat Clasp in Bronze, fine zinc bronzed, maker: "FEC. W.E. Peekhaus Berlin - A.G.M.u.K. Gablonz", base and catch magnetic, condition 2. Accompanied by 2 insert sheets for the Soldbuch documenting close combat days with 16 confirmed close combat days from 15.4.44 to 25.3.1945. Also the certificate of award of the 1st Grade of the Close Combat Clasp, issued by Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 109 IIa, dated Rgt. Command Post, 3.4.1945.
Army Anti-Aircraft Combat Badge, maker Aurich Dresden, fine zinc toned, on magnetic pin, with maker's mark, condition 2. Accompanied by the application for award of the Army Anti-Aircraft Badge as Oberleutnant and Company Commander 10.(Fla.)Pz.Gren Rgt. 108, with 7 confirmed tank kills from 10.5.44 to 2.6.44, dated 21.10.1944, with original signature of Oberst and Regimental Commander, below notation regarding award and presentation: Awarded on 30.11.44.
Tank Combat Badge in Bronze, fine zinc bronzed, pin catch broken off on reverse. Worn, condition 2. Accompanied by the application for award of the Tank Combat Badge in Bronze as Oberleutnant, unit 10.(Fla.)Pz.Gren Rgt. 108, with 3 confirmed assault attacks from 15.4.33 to 13.5.44, dated Rgt. Command Post, 26.6.1944, with original signature of Oberst and Regimental Commander, with notation "Awarded on 13.7.44 by Cdr.Pz.Gr. Rgt. 108" regarding award and presentation: Awarded on 30.11.44. Iron Cross 1939 1st Class, inside of pin with maker mark "20", worn piece, condition 2-.
Tank Destruction Badge for Individual Combatants in Black, magnetic tank burnished, complete on silver braid, with magnetic backplate, heavily worn, condition 2-. Awarded according to Soldbuch on 14.11.44. Wound Badge 1939 in Black, base metal embossed, heavily worn, condition 2-. Awarded according to Soldbuch 20.10.41. Cuff Title "Kurland", printed version, one of the typical productions made in the Courland Pocket, worn, condition 2. Small medal bar with War Merit Cross 2nd Class and Wehrmacht Long Service Award as well as the ribbon for Iron Cross 2nd Class. Also from the field tunic a pair of collar tabs and shoulder boards as Hauptmann of the Panzergrenadiers with branch color meadow green. Clearly worn, condition 2-.
All decorations are housed in a folding wooden case with glass lid, interior lined with Wehrmacht field-gray cloth on which all decorations are mounted. Additionally, a very fine large portrait photograph, 15.5 x 22.5 cm, taken in the last days of the war in field tunic, with all decorations and rank insignia that are in the wooden case!
Soldbuch, issued 26 June 1944 as Oberleutnant, completely filled with all entries, promotion to Hauptmann on 1.11.1944, very fine portrait photo as Hauptmann with Knight's Cross, all 11 decorations entered, last entry in captivity from 18.6.1945. The Soldbuch is heavily used, swastika on cover blackened, condition 3. Also the Wehrpass as duplicate copy, issued 8.8.1944, with fine portrait photo still as Leutnant, complete with all entries and decorations including Kurland cuff title, swastika on cover blackened, condition 2.
Combat report I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 108, dated 3.2.1945 covering engagements from 24-31.1.45 with signature of Oberleutnant and Battalion Adjutant.
Copy of letter from unit FP.Nr. 57499a (= I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 108) to the Landeshuter Tageblatt, dated 14.3.1945 with a long report about the award of the Knight's Cross to Stenzel with exact circumstances, with signature of Oberleutnant and Battalion Adjutant.
Copy of Division Daily Order, dated 1 April 1945, with transfer to Fla. Ers. u. Aus.Bt. 1. (mot.) 52 for participation in the next Battalion Commander Course. (Thus Hauptmann Stenzel escaped the Courland Pocket in time during the last days of the war and fell into British captivity at war's end).

From the postwar period: discharge certificate from prisoner of war status 1947 (copy from 1952), identification card for use of compartments for severely war-disabled from 1948, extract from OKH personnel changes with promotion to Leutnant, issued 1954, teaching certificate DLRG from 1955 as well as 3 additional postwar documents.

A truly fantastic and complete estate of a brave company commander and Knight's Cross recipient from the final years of the war. We were able to acquire the group directly from the family.

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The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 – An Exceptional Estate from the Final Days of the War

This remarkable estate documents the military career of a company commander and later battalion leader of the 14th Panzer Division during the final months of World War II. At its heart lies the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), the most iconic German valor decoration of the Second World War, awarded to Hauptmann Herbert Stenzel, commander of the I. Battalion/Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 108.

Historical Origins and Institution

The Iron Cross was originally instituted on 10 March 1813 by Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III during the Wars of Liberation against Napoleon. It was subsequently renewed in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War and again in 1914 at the outset of World War I. On 1 September 1939 — the very day German forces invaded Poland — Adolf Hitler renewed the Iron Cross through the decree “Verordnung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes” (Regulation on the Renewal of the Iron Cross), published in Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573. For the first time in its history, the Iron Cross became a decoration of the entire German state rather than a purely Prussian honor.

The 1939 renewal introduced the Knight's Cross as an entirely new grade, designed to bridge the gap between the Iron Cross 1st Class and the previously almost unobtainable Grand Cross. It quickly became the most prestigious battlefield decoration available to German servicemen. Over the course of the war, higher grades were added: the Oak Leaves (Eichenlaub, instituted 3 June 1940), the Swords (Schwerter, 28 September 1941), the Diamonds (Brillanten, 15 July 1941), and finally the Golden Oak Leaves with Swords and Diamonds (29 December 1944), awarded only once during the entire war.

Award Criteria and Approval Process

The Knight's Cross was awarded for exceptional battlefield bravery or outstanding military leadership that exceeded the standards required for the Iron Cross 1st Class. It could be conferred across all ranks and for a wide range of reasons — from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of extreme gallantry. Documented acts such as single-handedly repelling superior enemy forces, achieving decisive tactical successes, or demonstrating prolonged outstanding performance in combat were typically required. Prior possession of the Iron Cross 1st Class was a prerequisite, though occasionally both were awarded concurrently. The approval process ascended through the entire chain of command to the service branch high command — the OKH (Oberkommando des Heeres) for Army personnel — with final approval by Adolf Hitler through 30 April 1945. Legal presentations had to occur before 23:01 CET on 8 May 1945, the moment of German surrender.

Physical Characteristics

This specimen was manufactured by Klein & Quenzer A.G. of Idar-Oberstein, identified by the PKZ code (Prüfzeichennummer) “65”. The Knight's Cross takes the form of a cross pattée — with arms narrow at the center and broadening toward the perimeter — worn suspended from the neck on the distinctive black-white-red ribbon. It features three-piece construction: a blackened iron core set within a two-piece silver frame with a beaded border. The obverse displays the date “1939” on the lower arm and a swastika in relief on the upper arm. The reverse bears the date “1813” on the lower arm, referencing the founding year of the order. The frame is stamped “800” indicating 80% silver purity (800/1000), while the suspension ring carries the markings “65 800”. The cross is complete with an original neck ribbon section.

The Recipient and His Action

Hauptmann Herbert Stenzel received the Knight's Cross on 8 March 1945 as commander of I. Battalion/Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 108, 14th Panzer Division, for a counterattack during the fighting on 30 January 1945 in the Courland Pocket (Kurlandkessel). The preliminary award certificate (Vorläufiges Besitzzeugnis) was signed by Generalleutnant Maisel on behalf of OKH. A separate congratulatory letter bears the original signature of Generaloberst Guderian, the Inspector General of Armored Troops. The accompanying combat report by the battalion adjutant provides a detailed account of the action that led to the award.

Notably, a previous commander of the same battalion — Oberleutnant Joachim Domaschk — had received the Knight's Cross on 12 October 1943 as leader of I./Panzergrenadier-Regiment 108, underscoring the combat distinction of this particular unit.

The Complete Estate

The comprehensiveness of this grouping is extraordinary. Beyond the Knight's Cross itself, it includes the Close Combat Clasp in Bronze with documented close combat days, the Army Flak Badge with its application noting seven confirmed tank kills, the Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze, the Iron Cross 1st Class, the Tank Destruction Badge for Individual Combatants, the Wound Badge in Black, and the “Kurland” cuff title — each accompanied by corresponding documentation. The fully completed Soldbuch and Wehrpass provide a seamless record of Stenzel's entire military career, with the last entry dated 18 June 1945, made in captivity.

Post-War History

After 8 May 1945, the legal awarding of the Knight's Cross ceased with Germany's surrender. Post-war West Germany prohibited the wearing of decorations bearing Nazi symbols. In 1957, the German government authorized a denazified replacement version of the Knight's Cross featuring an oak leaf cluster in place of the swastika, which wartime recipients could legally wear. The Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger des Eisernen Kreuzes, AKCR) was founded in 1955 to represent holders of the decoration. In 1999, German Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping banned official Bundeswehr contacts with the AKCR, citing neo-Nazi and revanchist sympathies among certain members.

Original World War II Knight's Crosses remain highly sought-after collectors' items. Authentic examples command prices of $3,000–$4,000+ USD, with documented, named pieces such as this one — acquired directly from the recipient's family — commanding significant premiums. This estate represents a remarkable and unusually complete record of combat service in the Courland Pocket during the final months of the war.