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Historically important set of Mappe for the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, preliminary award documents for the Knights Cross as well as the Knights Cross with Oakleaves, death certificate for the awardee’s son, and a fine studio portrait of (eventual) Eichenlaubträger General der Infanterie Gustav Adolf Karl Friedrich Ernst von Zangen, originally acquired from the family, von Zangen served in the First World War as an officer and was wounded several times, he took part in the Western campaign in 1940 and Operation Barbarossa in 1941, for his leadership during the Battle of Moscow with 17. Infanterie-Division, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 15 January 1942, he commanded a Korps in France in 1943 and another in Italy before being appointed to command the 15. Armee on the Western Front, for this command with the 15. Armee von Zangen received the Oakleaves on 9 Nov., 1944, the 15. Armee was later destroyed in the Ruhr and von Zangen became a prisoner of war, he was released from imprisonment in 1948 and died in Hanau in 1964, please paste the URLs below for more information; the formal Knights Cross of the Iron Cross award document folder measures approximately 45x36cm, the cover is of deep red Moroccan leather has a large embossed eagle and swastika inlaid with gold leaf, the edges of the folder have gold colored cross hatches, the interior front and rear covers are of parchment vellum, the award document itself is a single piece of parchment which is held to the spine by a thick and unbroken leather covered cord, the bottom rear edge has the name Frieda Thiersch in small gold letters, the award parchment itself is lettered in brown ink with Oberst Gustav v. Zangen being rendered in gold, with the handwritten ink signature of Führer and Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler, the award folder is in fine condition with only slight signs of age; further included are preliminary award documents for both Knights Cross and The Knights Cross with Oakleaves, the first is pen signed by (Wilhelm) Keitel, General der Infanterie, the Oakleaves preliminary certificate is signed by (Viktor) Linnarz, Generalleutnant, with the signature date being omitted, both documents have been folded into quarters but are not hole punched and are still quite bright; additionally a heroic large format death certificate for General von Zangen’s son, Herbert von Zangen, Leutnant and Adjutant III.(mot.)/Gren.Regiment 51 accompanies the set, it measures 21x30cm, is dated 5 May 1943 and is pen signed by an Oberst u. Regiments-Kommandeur, it has a large gold eagle and the officer’s name is applied in brown ink, finally a fine large studio (Frankfurt a.M.) portrait with cover of General von Zangen is included, it depicts von Zangen with the rank of Generalmajor in piped service blouse bearing the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, splendid grouping in premium condition, USD $35,000
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav-Adolf_von_Zangen
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/15._Armee_(Wehrmacht)
