Posted 14 years ago
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These combat awards and certificates were awarded to the same man, Gefreiten Gustav Rasch in 1945. The first award was given on March 11th, 1945. This award is for the Iron Cross 2nd class, given for bravery in combat. The following month on April 25th, Gefreiten Rasch was awarded the black Wound Badge for suffering up to two wounds during combat. When awarded the IC 2nd class he was serving in the 2nd company of Grenadier Regiment 2. The following month he was in the 3rd company of Grenadier Regiment 2. Both of these awards were given in the closing months of the war. With all of the chaos going on at the time, I am surprised they were even awarded, much less with the certificates. It is very rare to find two certificates and the actual awards a soldier won still together after all these years.
I found this set in Quebec almost 30 years ago at a flea market. Many German troops surrendered to Canadien forces during the war. The certificates had been folded at one time. This leads me to believe that Gefreiten Rasch was carring these certificates and the awards at the time of his capture. The Canadien soldier kept them together, and then one day decided to sell them. They then ended up at the flea market.
Wow!! You continue to blow me away!