Oberst Rudel's awards

[Peiper]

Greetings menschen. The most unusual award i have ever heard of is Oberst Rudel's Air to Ground Support Operational Clasp (diamond class). As well as being the only recipient of the golden oakleaves with diamonds this Ace had won this award. It was constructed the same way as the normal clasp (crossed swords in a wreath summounted by wings), however this award was made from 22 carat gold, around its wreath were 20 rose-cut diamonds in a setting of platinium (the swaztika and crossed swords were made from platinium too). It also bore a 2000 sortie pendant (anhanger) beneath it, the only one of its kind. The pendant's number was filled with diamond chips and the pendant itself was pierced with small holes so light could be seen through the diamonds. No citation exists for this award, Rudel said that Goring just placed it in his hand without any box either. However a citation belonging to Rudel did come up for auction in 1984 at Christie's and it was for his basic Ritterkreuz (not other additions), it fetched an amazing £22,000. Hope you enjoyed my post, auf wiedersehen for now, Peiper.

[West-Front]

Regimentals in the UK have a tunic, sidecap and flying helmet as well.

HANS ULRIC RUDEL TUNIC & CAP.

We have for two years now been the owners of the ultra rare four pocket open collar Luftwaffe officers tunic, overseas cap and summer netting flying helmet belonging to the Legendary Hans Ulric Rudel. So much has been written about the most decorated German officer of any part of the Armed Services in WWII that it is unnecessary for us to go into excessive historical detail here. We will begin by describing the items.

The tunic constructed in standard Luftwaffe blue/grey twill material. To the upper inner collar area there is the grey and silver silk label of the tailors H.Miltenberger of Dresden. To the inside pocket is the same tailor’s owners name label with typed upon it ‘Oberleutnant H.U.Rudel’ with the number ‘247’ dated ‘1941’. The tunic is of medium size and it can be observed by viewing many photographs of Hans Ulrich Rudel. At the time of WWII he was a small man with a large head size. The insignia is of an Oberleutnant in the Luftwaffe with yellow based shoulder boards. Two gilt rank pips to each board. It can be seen that the very tips of the shoulder boards have had their yellow underlay worn through to the wire frame below, this quite often happens on tunics that have been well worn where the tip of the shoulder board butts up against the lower neck area of the tunic as the tunic is being worn. Yellow based Hauptmann’s wire woven collar patches. Early style heavy wire woven droop tailed breast eagle, which does have some oxidisation. Iron Cross 2nd Class ribbon to the top button hole. Loops above the upper left breast for one short medal ribbon bar and one flight bar. Below and on the left hand pocket there are loops for three awards. The Luftwaffe Pilot’s Badge, the Iron Cross 1st Class, plus two small loops together for the fitting of his Hitler Youth Golden Leader’s badge, which can clearly be seen worn on page 175 of ‘Stuka Pilot Hans Ulric Rudel’ by Gunther Gust. To the area just below the right hand breast pocket are two loops for the German Cross in Gold. To his right sleeve is the officers Geschwader Immelmann aluminium wire officers cuff title, which is heavily oxidised with part of the base blue material being shredded. This configuration of the cuff band and the German Cross in Gold can clearly be seen on page 162 of ‘Stuka Pilot Hans Ulric Rudel’ by Gunther Gust while accepting his Oak Leaves and Swords from Adolf Hitler in 1943. The breast eagle that he was wearing on the tunic is the droop tailed breast eagle. The tunic has some shredding to the cloth at base of both cuffs. Standard grey silk lining showing considerable wear use and some shredding around the armpit area. An unusual feature of this tunic is that there are two inside pockets, normally with Luftwaffe officers tunics there is only one. Otherwise the tunic is in good undamaged condition with only standard service wear. Some discoloration and dullness to the yellow underlay of the shoulder boards and collar patches.

Accompanying the tunic is the enlisted mans quality, but with officers waffenfarbe overseas cap. RB numbered to the interior, size stamp ‘57½’ with enlisted mans Luftwaffe eagle and cockade. Out of the many Luftwaffe officers overseas caps we have over the years the majority have had enlisted mans insignia. It can also clearly be seen in a large coloured photograph we have of Rudel that the quality of the cap is of enlisted mans rough quality material and not officers twill.

The last item in the grouping is a Luftwaffe summer weight net flying helmet, also stamped size 57 with its silk technical label attached. Earphones complete. Microphones complete, but the long lead that plugs into the aeroplane cockpit is cut.

Provenance; During the 1970’s and 1980’s a now retired ex Greek naval officer and his brother, who were fascinated with the events of WWII travelled in Germany extensively and on their travels they were able to make contact with many personalities of WWII such as Hannah Reitsch, Hans Bauer who was Hitler’s pilot, Admiral Bernard Rogge who was the Captain of the Atlantis and many others. During this period the ex Greek naval captain managed to meet and befriend Hans Ulric Rudel. A strong friendship developed culminating in Rudel and his family visiting Greece on many occasions. We have copies of many photographs of the Greek naval officer and Rudel together, plus much other evidence of their friendship. In 1982 after the death of Hans Ulric Rudel the tunic, overseas cap and flying helmet were given to the Greek naval officer as a memento of their friendship by Hans Ulric Rudel’s widow. We have a huge file of documentary evidence confirming these facts, which can only be viewed privately.

As it is widely known Hans Ulric Rudel was the highest decorated soldier in WWII for the Third Reich, being the eventual and only holder of the Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. He flew 2,350 combat missions all on the Eastern Front, destroyed more than 519 Soviet tanks, sank one battleship, one cruiser, one destroyer and 70 landing craft. He scored 9 confirmed air kills, comprising 7 Soviet fighters and two bombers. He destroyed over 800 vehicles and 150 artillery anti tank and flak positions. He was shot down himself over 30 times by flak and infantry weapons, wounded five times and rescued six downed crew from death or capture. In the last weeks of the war he completed these operations without the bottom of his right leg, which was amputated below the knee. There can be no doubt that this airmen is unique in the annals of military flying history.

A price will not be published on the Internet for this rare grouping of items and no enquiries will be entertained by email. Only personal callers by telephone to our office will this group be discussed.

Price: POA

[Peiper]

Greetings, cheers for that info, it seems every few years or so we see one of Rudels medals or possessions come on the market, it looks like the family won't part with it all at once, just a trickle now and then, i wonder what else they got tucked away?, by the way did you find out how much that collection went for?, just out of curiosity so i can start saving, (probably take me 100 years), regards Peiper.

[Hollenweger]

It appears the grouping is still available: http://www.regimentals.co.uk/viewitem.php?id=1019
I can't begin to fathom how much it might be though.