Rare Personalized Third Reich Army Officer Dove Head Sword w/Damascus Blade Grouping Belonging to Knight's Cross Recipient Hauptmann Albert Kaiser. Paul Weyersberg raised sword inside wreath TM. A photograph of this pattern sword appears on page 130, upper, of Swords of Germany 1900/1945 by John R. Angolia as an unattributed Weyersberg model. Gilted brass hilt fittings show wear primarily to the backstrap and pommel with virtually 100% of the factory honey-toned gilting remaining on the knuckle-bow and obverse langet. Pommel, knuckle-bow, and obverse langet all feature engraved oak leaves. Reverse langet is jeweler engraved with the owner's initials in shaded stylized letters, "AK". Black celluloid grip is perfect with no cracks or chips and with tight triple wire wrap present. "Maiden hair" Damascus quillback blade measuring 32 7/8" in length grades excellent+ showing light surface wear, some minor gray speckling, and several very faint surface nicks to the lower cutting edge. Blade is complete with brown leather blade buffer pad. Dent-free steel scabbard retains approximately 95% of the non-professionally applied black enamel. Based upon the amount of wear to the scabbard, this repaint could have been done during the period. Sword is complete with an original Officer sword knot with leather strap and bullion acorn in excellent+/excellent++ condition. Research in the original Wehrpass, Soldbuch, and Truppenausweis that accompany the sword indicates that Hauptmann Kaiser was born on 01 March 1910 in Harrbrücken in Northern Bavaria. He volunteered for military service on 25 September 1929 with 3rd Company, 7th Bavarian Motor Transport Battalion located in Fürth (located on outskirts of Nurnberg), and served with the Battalion until 31 March 1935. He was promoted from Senior Officer Candidate to Leutnant on 1 April 1935 and reassigned to Panzer Abwehr Battalion 17 (Pz. Abw. Btl.) also located in Fürth. On 10 November 1938, Leutnant Kaiser was reassigned to Pz. Abw. Btl. 44 which was the organic anti-tank battalion of the 1st Gebirgs Division garrisoned in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps. He remained with Battalion 44 throughout the war until he was killed in action on the Eastern Front in August 1941 while serving as Commander of 1st Company Gebirgs Panzer Jäger Abteilung 44. The final entry in his Wehrpass states, "Geffalen aus 6.8. 1941 bei Trojanka/Kr. Uman in der Ukraine". Hauptmann Kaiser was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 August 1941.

In addition to the personalized sword and the above documents, the following items are included in the grouping:
A. Hand-Lettered "Divisions-Tages-Befehl" (Division Order of the Day) Announcing the award of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to Hamptmann Kaiser (21.8.41) and to his Battalion Commander, Oberstleutnant Lanz (23.8.41). Document is hand-signed by the 1. Gebirgs Division Kommandeur, Hubert Lanz (later General der Gebirgstruppen and Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves recipient), and dated 28 August 1941.

B. Hand-Lettered Gebirgs-Division Posthumous Certificate of Appreciation to Hauptmann Kaiser dated "Juli 1942". Hand-signed by Generalmajor Lanz. At the top of the certificate is a water color rendering of the Knight's Cross with ribbon surrounded by oak leaves and Edelweiss.
C. Interim Certificate to the Posthumous Award of the Croatian Crown of King Zvonimir 3.Class with Swords dated 10.IV.1942".
D. Photographs.
1. 7" x 9 ½" black & white photograph of Hauptmann Kaiser in service uniform aboard a transport
ship.
2. 7" x 9 ½" black & white photograph of Hamptmann Kaiser in service uniform standing at field table in Russia. Reverse of the photograph features a 5-line hand-written remembrance inscription dedicated to his dear comrade, Hauptmann Kaiser by Generalmajor Lanz, and dated, "Rusland Oktober 1941". This photograph was apparently sent to Hauptmann Kaiser's family.
3. 4 5/8" x 7" black & white photograph of Oberstleutnant Lanz and Hauptmann Kaiser discussing field operations. Hauptmann Kaiser is in his service uniform complete with mountain cap with Edelweiss badge.
4. 7 ½" x 9 ¼" black & white photograph of Hauptmann Kaiser's gravesite, "Field Grave of our Fallen Comrade Hamptmann Albert Kaiser by Trojanka". The photograph is dated, "7.8.41." and credited to Karl N. Kempter.

In addition to the above original documents, the grouping also includes copies of ranklist entries for Herr Kaiser, as well as his Knight's Cross award listing and the information on General Lanz. Rare personalized Third Reich Damascus sword grouping belonging to Knight's Cross winner Hauptmann Albert Kaiser recently obtained in Germany. Exc+/Exc++ (23042) $9,500.