Germany - Third Reich post-war commemorative: A Commemorative Plate for the Veterans' Association of the 4th SS Police Panzer Grenadier Division Reconnaissance Battalion during 1939-1945, produced circa 1960s, this being specific to veterans of the 4th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion (SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 4), of the 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division.
Printed wording: ‘Truppenkameradschaft der Ehemaligen 4. SS-Polizei-Panzer Grenadier Division Aufklärungs Abteilung 1939-1945. Decorated with oak leave and acorn emblems, the neck ribbon and suspension ring of a Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, the divisional and battalion emblems, and the vehicle of the unit, namely the Panzerspähwagen (Armoured Scout Car) known as the Sd.Kfz.231, with it 2 cm Kwk.38 turret gun. The plate has a gilded band around the rim, measures approximately 240 mm in diameter. The reverse has the makers details overlapped by a printed label reading: ‘Adolf Aledter TK.Pol-Div. Waldstrasse 44, 61200 Wolfersheim.
Condition: slight evidence of age and handling, overall Fine condition
The SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 4 (4th SS Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion) was the mobile reconnaissance unit of the 4th SS Polizei Panzergrenadier Division during the Second World War. It originally fought on the Eastern Front during 1941-1943. Originally formed as the Polizei-Radfahr-Schwadron (bicycle squadron), the battalion later saw combat in the Leningrad sector and the Volkhov River area. Following the division's reorganization into a Panzergrenadier unit, the reconnaissance battalion conducted anti-partisan operations and engaged in heavy combat in the Balkan regions in Greece and later Yugoslavia during 1943 to 1944. During its final battles in 1944-1945, it took part in defensive operations against the Red Army in Hungary before retreating and fighting in Pomerania, finally being destroyed or surrendering in the vicinity of Berlin and the Danzig pocket at the end of the war.
