Germany – Third Reich: An Excellent and Unusual War Merit Cross 1st Class and Document Grouping to Oberschirrmeister Paul Wagener, 1st Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, 13th Infantry Division (motorised); light Engineer Column, 43rd Assault Engineer Battalion, Army Troops; Light Engineer Column, ‘Grossdeutschland’ Engineer Battalion; HQ 715th Engineer Battalion, 715th Infantry Battalion, a pre-war Career Soldier who saw extensive service in Poland, France, Yugoslavia and on the Eastern Front before surrendering to the American Army in late 1944 in France. The Group is particularly unusual in that it includes the recommendations for both classes of the War Merit Cross.
A rare and very interesting group of 5 award certificates, a War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords, a Steuermann Trade Badge, a Schirrmeister Arm Badge, 49 documents and 125 photographs which belonged to a former German Army Engineer Warrant Officer who at one point served in the elite ‘Grossdeutschland’ Engineer Battalion.
Decoration:
War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords. A good quality example with no maker’s mark on the reverse. A rare variant with a needle style retaining pin, not the usual flat style
War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. Early war bronze striking, not ring stamped.
Eastern Front Medal, not ring stamped, in good condition
1st October 1938 Commemorative Medal, in good condition
Award Certificates:
The Armed Forces 4 Year Service Medal awarded in Berlin on 4thApril 1937 as a Schirrmeister, 43rdEngineer Battalion. Signed for correctness by Jaenecke as Oberst and Commander Engineers III on behalf of General of Infantry von Witzleben as General Officer Commanding III Army Corps.
Jaenecke was awarded the Knights Cross on 9.10.1942 as Generalleutnant and General Officer Commanding 389th Infantry Division and the German Cross in Gold on 2.1.1943 as General of Engineers and General Officer Commanding IV Army Corps.
The 1st October 1938 Commemorative Medal awarded in Berlin on 8th December 1939 as a Schirrmeister, light Engineer Column, 42nd Engineer Battalion. Signed for correctness by Mahler as Oberstleutnant and Battalion Commanding Officer.
The Ostmedaille awarded by 715thEngineer Battalion HQ on 8thSeptember 1942 as an Oberschirrmeister. Signed for correctness by a Hauptmann and acting Battalion Commander.
This certificate was issued at a later date since Wagener was posted to the 715th on 16.12.1942.
The War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords awarded in the field as an Oberschirrmeister, light Engineer Column/Grossdeutschland Engineer Battalion. Signed by Hoernlein as Generalmajor and General Officer Commanding ‘Grossdeutschland’ Infantry Division.
Hoernlein was awarded the Knights Cross on 30.7.1941 as Oberst and Commanding Officer 80th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, the 213th Oakleaves on 15.3.1943 as Generalleutnant and General Officer Commanding Grossdeutschland Infantry Division (motorised) and the German Cross in Gold on 14.2.1943 as Generalmajor and General Officer Commanding Grossdeutschland Infantry Division (motorised).
This is a rare variant of the award certificate in as much as the reasons for this award have been typed on the reverse, the details as follows:
‘Oberschirrmeister Wagener has distinguished himself during the Campaign in Russia through particular prudence, determinationand through tireless diligence in which he through selfless action of his person not only brought up the necessary engineer material required by the Companies to carry out their combat tasks but also under the most difficult circumstances and under enemy action in the most forward battle line. He was always a rousing commander to his subordinates through his determination and exemplary conduct. Wagener has also proven himself as a particularly exemplary, prudent and action ready soldier in the Campaigns in Poland, France and Yugoslavia’
Dated Russia, 16th December 1942
The War Merit Cross 1stClass with Swords awarded by Divisional HQ on 1stSeptember 1943 as an Oberschirrmeister, HQ 715thEngineer Battalion. Signed by Hoffmann as Generalleutnant and General Officer Commanding 715thInfantry Division.
This is a rare variant of this award certificate in as much as the reasons for this award have been typed on its reverse, the details as follows:
‘Oberschirrmeister Wagener has seen unbroken service as a soldier since 3.4.1933 and promoted to his current rank on 1.5.1940.
Wagener has taken place in the following campaigns:
Poland (with this a member of 43rd Engineer Battalion which stormed the Brest Fortress)
France
The Balkans
The Eastern Front
Wagener has belonged to 715th Engineer Battalion since 16.12.1942.
Decorations:
The Armed Forces Long Service Decoration 4th Class
The 1.10.1938 Commemorative Medal
The Ostmedaille
The War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords since 14.10.1942
Wagener exercised the greatest prudence with work entrusted to him, he also earned the fullest confidence of his superiors through his independent and meticulous work. He was constantly active in ensuring the supply of munition and equipment to the troops. With the mechanisation of the Battalion he has worked with great prudence, being very conscientious and with great understanding. The good standing of the mechanisation of the Battalion owes a great deal to his particular personal credit. He was in every respect a good example and always a rousing commander to his subordinates.’
Promotion Certificate:
Issued in Berlin on 20th October 1936 to Wagener to confirm his promotion from the rank of Schirrunteroffizier to Schirrmeister in HQ 43rd Engineer Battalion. Signed by von Witzleben as General of Infantry and General Officer Commanding III Army Corps.
von Witzleben was awarded the Knights Cross on 24.6.1940 as Generaloberst and Commander in Chief 1st Army. He was hanged in Berlin-Plotzensee Prison on 8.8.1944 as a result of his implication in the failed assassination attempt on Hitler on 20.7.1944.
Militaria:
A four medal ribbon bar with the ribbons for the War Merit Cross 2ndClass with Swords, the Ostmedaille, the Armed Forces 4 Years Service Medal and the 1stOctober 1938 Commemorative Medal.
A Steuermann Trade Badge. In good but used condition. The anchor is embroidered in silver wire and is superimposed on a dark cloth background. This trade badge denotes that the wearer of this badge is a qualified Helmsman of Engineer Assault Boats.
A Schirrmeister Arm Badge. In used condition. The yellow emblem embroidered on a dark green circular cloth patch edged with silver wire piping. This arm badge denotes that the wearer is a Motor Transport NCO.
Documents:
Magdeburg, 7.7.1914 – vaccination certificate
Magdeburg, 16.5.1925 – vaccination certificate
A 1931 Notice of Pay received and tax deducted with respect to Paul Wagener (Engraver) who was living in Magdeburg during the period in question.
Magdeburg, 14.3.1933 – An official note from the 4th(Prussian) Engineer Battalion to Wagener telling him to report to the Battalion on 16.3.1933 for an interview and medical examination.
Magdeburg, 17.3.1933 – An official note from the 4th(Prussian) Engineer Battalion to Wagener requesting him to undergo a chest x-ray at his own cost since there was evidence that he had some time suffered from problems with his lungs. The certificate was to be forwarded to the Battalion.
A small card confirming that a Paul Wagener has taken part in a gas course of the Technical Assistance in an Emergency Magdeburg Group between 6.2 and 26.3.1933. the final examination on 26.3.1933 has been filed. The note is signed by the Gas Section Instructor.
Magdeburg, 3.4.1933 – Paul Wagener’s enlistment certificate for a 12 year service engagement as from the date of the certificate which is countersigned by Wagener himself. His service was to take effect as from 31.3.1933.
Magdeburg, 18.7.1933 – Pionier Wagener’s advanced swimming test certificate issued as a result of his having swum the required distance on 15.7.1933. Signed by his Company Commander (1 Company, 4th(Prussia) Engineer Battalion.
Berlin, 27.4.1934 – A letter to Pionier Wagener from the German Civil Service Assurance Company (Armed Forces Section) confirming that his first payment for cover had been received and enclosed the certificate No U 75 347.
Berlin, 18.12.1935 – A letter to Unteroffizier Wagener from the German Civil Service Assurance Company (Armed Forces Section) enclosing a new updated certificate L781 423 and requesting that he returned the old 75 347 Certificate to their officer.
Brandenburg/Havel, 5.5.1936 - A certificate confirming that Paul Wagener’s birth certificate is sufficient proof of his Aryan descent.
Brandenburg/Havel, 10.7.1936 – A letter to the Battalion HQ from his CO, Major Mahler, stating that Schirrunteroffiizier Wagener – active in the Battalion as a Schirrmeister – herewith receives the entitlement for the task of regular ordering as well as arithmetical assessments.
Branndenburg/Havel, 10.11.1937 – Wagener’s letter of complaint to the Berlin Director of Railways concerning a valid long term leave pass (16.10.1937 – 15.1.1938) issued on 16.10.1937 which had not been accepted by the ticket officer/inspectors. He lists a number of incidents. He enclosed a unit certificate which supported his complaint.
Berlin, 12.11.1937 – The Berlin Railway Traffic Officer reply to Wagener’s letter dated 10.11.1937 accepting that his long term leave pass was valid and stating that he should have no further problems when presenting it to the ticket office etc.
Egeln, 17.6.1938 – A certificate issued by the County Court certifying that proof of Mr Gustav Hellmann’s father’s Aryan descent can no be provided as the records have been destroyed a long time ago (Mr Gustav Hellmann was the father of Gerturd Hellmann – Paul Wagener’s fiancé.)
Brunswick, 27.6.1938 – The Brunswick Chief of Police’s confirmation of the correctness of the signature of a Minna Zippel, nee Hellmann, underneath a declaration which she had written concerning her son, a Gustav Hellmann (born on 28.8.1885 in Egeln).
Magdeburg, 13.7.1938 – A medical certificate for presentation to HQ 43rdEngineer Battalion concerning Shop Assistant Gertrud Hellmann (born 17.5.1914 in Magdeburg) stating that as a result of a medical examination there are no medical reservations to prevent the military approval of the wedding.
Brandenburg (Havel), 11.11.1938 – Copy of a Consent to a Marriage certificate: the marriage of Schirrmeister Paul Wagener and Gertrud Hellmann has been approved. Original certificate was signed by Wagener’s Commanding Officer, Major Mahler.
Brandenburg (Havel) – an undated Application of Schirrmeister Paul Wagener (HQ Personnel, 43rdEngineer Battalion) on granting consent to Marriage. Wagener has signed this document which gives details of his fiancé, her parents and the fact that she is of true Aryan descent. He also states their intention of getting married in December 1938.
Brandenburg (Havel) 14.11.1938 – An Authorization for the Application of the Notice of an intended Marriage – this is a declaration signed by Paul Wagener concerning the background of his fiancé, Gertrud Hellmann
715thEngineer Battalion, 7.10.1943. A report for the 12thCourse of Instruction for Candidates of the active professional technical service submitted by Wagener’s Commanding Officer who is recommending that Wagener should attend this course. There are 5 attachments to this typed letter to the Army High Command. His Commander states that Wagener has fulfilled his position in an excellent manner and for this was awarded the War Merit Cross 1stClass with Swords on 16.9.1943.
Magdeburg, 23.1.1944 - Express information card sent by Wagener’s wife to him (715thEngineer Battalion) with the following handwritten message: ‘Bomb damage Oma nervous shock Hospital otherwise all well.’
Magdeburg, 11.9.1944 – Express information card sent by Wagener’s wife to him (Engineer School 2 Lehrstab C) with the following handwritten message: Heavy damage, otherwise all well.
Strasbourg, 12.12.1944 – A certificate certifying that Oberschirrmeister (P) Paul Wagener born on 17.6.1913 has successfully attended a training course for candidates for a career in the Armed Forces (Army) professional technical service and has achieved a Grade of Good in the employment exam which took place on 11thOctober 1944.
12thOctober 1944 – 12thCourse of Instruction for Aspirant Candidates for professional Technical Service (P) – Class 12/1 Speech Day. This is a 5 page document which contains various articles with the signatures of all course members on the second page.
A Card of Capture for Prisoners of War dated 15.12.1944 sent by Wagener to his wife in Magdeburg. It states that he is not wounded and is well. His PW Number was: 81G 528007 H.
Brandenburg Havel, 10.1.1945. A copy of a typed letter from Wagener’s wife to the German Red Cross asking for information about her husband who she has not heard from since 18.11.1944.
Brandenburg Havel, 10.1.1945. A copy of typed letter from Wagener’s wife to the Armed Forces High Command – Armed Force Information Office – Berlin asking for information about her husband who she has not heard from since 18.11.1944.
Berlin-Zehlendorf-West, 10.2.1945 – A formal reply to Wagener’s wife’s letter to the German Red Cross enclosing a questionnaire which she is asked to complete and return.
Regensburg, 10.2.1945 – A letter to Wagener’s wife from the Engineer School 2, Lehrstab C stating that it has some possessions of Wagener and asking her where they should be sent.
Wagener’s Immunization Register as a Prisoner of War for Small Pox (5thMarch 1945), Triple Typhoid (2ndApril 1945) and Typhus (4thDecember 1944).
Four handwritten Prisoner of War Post Cards to his wife Gertrud as follows:
a) 21.3.1945 – to Brandenburg/Havel and forwarded to Magdeburg – Wagener in a German Labour Company in France.
b) 9.5.1945 – to Magdeburg – Wagener in a German Labour Company 8099 in France.
c) 1.4.1946 – to Magdeburg – Wagener in 8099 Labour Service Company, 5th Labour Supervision Area, APO 21/US Army (Istres area near Marseille, South France.)
d) 9.6.1946 – to Magdeburg – Wagener in 8099 Labour Service Company, 5th Labour Supervision Area, APO 21/US Army (Istres area near Marseille, South France.)
Brandenburg/Havel, 1.8.1945 – Gertrud Wagener’s cancellation of registration as from 1.8.1945 with moving from Brandenburg/Havel to Magdeburg. Persons involved are herself and her son Gunter (born 7.6.1941).
An undated 2 sided German POW Camp circular called ‘The Panorama’ which was produced weekly and censored by the American Chaplain’s Officer. This edition has a poetic article about what it was like to be an American Prisoner of War whilst on its reverse there is a cross word puzzle etc.
Injury Report Affidavit dated 29thSeptember 1945. Wagener was injured whilst working in connection with storage and issue of spare auto parts. The injury to his leg was a result of being caught between the front bumper of a stationary jeep and rear end of a bomb trailer which was moved in reverse at a slow speed.
Magdeburg, October 1945 – This is a radio license certificate issued to Gertrud Wagener.
Medical Report of Injury Affidavit dated October 1945. This report spells out the injuries to Wagener in more detail than the above Injury Report.
Two copies of Paul Wagener’s Personal Data Sheet (Area Control Form P.4) dated 18.10.1945. This document gives details of his Army Number unit, Next of Kin etc.
HQ 0-6008 Ordnance Depot/US Army, 12.5.1946 – A typed note stating that Wagener had done an excellent job as Foreman and Bin Stock Clerk and was considered as Superior Worker (Class ‘S’) and should be given preference in Repatriation by reason of his attitude.
HQ 165thLabour Supervision Centre, APO 21/US Army, 6.7.1946 – A typed note stating that Wagener had done an excellent job as a Clerk and Typist in the German Section of the 165thLabour Supervision Centre and was considered as Superior Worker (Class ‘S’) and should be given preference in Repatriation by reason of his attitude.
8276thGeneral Hospital/US Army, 30.7.1946. A medical report concerning Wagener’s damaged knees.
A certificate in lieu of Discharge, 5.2.1948 – stating that Wagener had been discharged from the German Army on 28.9.1946. it states that he was an Engraver and Locksmith, lived in Magdeburg, was married and had one child. There was an interesting typed comment stating that the original discharge certificate had been picked up by the Russians.
Certificate No AG 3303 dated 20.10.1946. This certificate was issued to Wagener in respect of completing a period of 14 days quarantine. The text on the front page is in German whilst the reverse is in Russian.
Wittenberg, 19.10.1946 – This is a small Health Pass issued to Wagener by the Wittenberg Quarantine Camp Doctor and covered the period from 8-19.10.1946. This Pass can be connected to the certificate above dated 20.10.1946.
Erfurt, 5.10.1946 – This is a German/Russian certificate concerning Wagener’s registration and medical treatment in the Reception Checkpoint for Prisoners of War of the former German Army, Erfurt.
Berlin-Niederschonhausen, 17.7.1958 – This is a short typed letter to Wagener from the Officer of the President of the German Democratic Republic. A translation of the content is as follows:
‘We inform you with reference to your petition to the President of the German Democratic Republic that your request is only dealt with by the local Police Authority. As we gather from your letter that a concluding decision has been given to you, we ask you to look upon this as binding.’
The above letter came with its original envelope addressed to Wagener in Magdeburg.
Photographs:
A very interesting set of 100+ photographs come with the group. They cover the period from when Paul Wagener joined the German Army on 31.3.1933 until post-war as an American Prisoner of War. You see him at all stages of his military service with the above Engineer Battalions – peacetime and active service. There are 2 very good PC size portrait photos of him as well as a number of group photos. You see him having fun with his comrades, at work in the office, training in the field, on active service and as a prisoner of war in France.
Paul Wagener was born on 17.6.1913 in Magdeburg and married Gertrud Hellmann, they had a son Gunter who was born on 7th July 1941. His civil employment was as an engraver and locksmith. Finally he joined the German Army (4th Engineer Battalion) on 21st March 1933 as a Regular Soldier.
He initially served with the 4th Engineer Battaloin from 1933 until 1935. He as then posted to the 43rd Engineer Battaloin from 1936 until 1942, where he saw service in the Polish Campaign of 1939 involving the assault on the Brest Fortress. By the time of the outbreak of the war he had been awarded the Armed Forces 4 Year Service Medal on 4th April 1937, after the Polish Campaign he was awarded the 1st October 1938 Commemorative Medal for his role in the Occupation of the Sudetenland.
After the Polish Campaign, 43rd Engineer Battalion saw service in France and then in Yugoslavia before being involved in the invasion of the Soviet Union. As an individual in a support role he wasn’t issued with any awards during these early war campaigns.
Fighting as part of Army Group Centre the unit took part in Operation Barbarossa and then Operation Typhoon, which was the assault on Moscow. Subsequently it took part in the defensive battles that came about as a result of the Russian counterattacks that began in early December and ran throughout the winter of 1941-42. By mid 1942, 43rd Engineer Battalion had become the Grossdeutschland Engineer Battalion which took in the fighting at Voronezh in July as the beginning of Operation Blau, the German Summer Offensive of 1942 that sought to capture Stalingrad and more importantly the Caucasus Oilfields.
Withdrawn from this area in August, the Division was moved to the Rzhev salient where the Division saw heavy fighting in combatting Russian attempts to collapse the salient and destroy the German troops within. This was one of the great ‘unwritten’ defeats of the Red Army which suffered over a million casualties in the area which came to be known as the ‘Rzhev meat grinder’. During the fighting in the region, Wagener was awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords on 14th October 1942 for his role in bringing engineering equipment up to the front line during the battle.
On 16th December 1942 Wagener was transferred to 715th Engineering Battalion HQ, where at some point afterwards he was awarded the certificate for the Ostmedaille, which was dated 8th September 1942, but marked with 715th Engineering Battalion stamp.
715th Engineer Battalion initially was serving on the Atlantic Coast, then Southern France before it was moved to Italy in October 1943. Before this move took place Wagener was issued the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords for his role in the invasion of Poland, France, the Balkans and Russia.
Continuing to serve in Italy he would have seen service around the Anzio Bridgehead from February before retreating northwards up to Genoa, it was then moved to the Rimini area on the Adriatic Coast. Wagener remained with the unit throughout this period.
In late 1944 he transferred to a training course at the Engineer School 2 Lehrstab C in Strasbourg in for Candidates for a career in the Armed Forces (Army) professional technical service. He was taken prisoner in 1944 and spent his time as a Prisoner of War in France until he was released on 28th September 1946 to return to his family in Magdeburg in East Germany.
