December 7th Militaria and Aviation Auction
Lot 97:
Description
This is a rare and historically significant grouping of three original German World War II award documents belonging to Obergefreiten Wilhelm Kapsa of the Truppen-Entgiftungskompanie mot. 609 Decontamination Troop Company Motorized 609. This unit was part of the 17th Army Chemical Warfare Arm and Medical Services, a rare and specialized branch of the Wehrmacht operating on the Eastern Front, responsible for neutralizing gas attack damage and decontaminating equipment. The grouping comprises three Besitzeugnis documents, all named to Wilhelm Kapsa: the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, awarded in December 1942 for service during the defense of the West Caucasus; the Wound Badge in Black, awarded in July 1943 for a wound suffered during the 17th Army s withdrawal from the West Caucasus; and the Kuban Shield, awarded in July 1944 for participation in the intense fighting to hold the Kuban bridgehead. The complete set of three original awards, detailing service in a rare Wehrmacht unit and signed by high-ranking commanders, provides a tangible and detailed record of a German soldier s experience in the brutal, defensive battles on the Eastern Front, particularly the critical Caucasus and Kuban campaigns of 1942-1943.
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