KNIGHT'S CROSS: Three original unsigned contemporary documents, each essentially identical, each three pages, folio ...

KNIGHT'S CROSS: Three original unsigned contemporary documents, each essentially identical, each three pages, folio, Headquarters, n.d. (September/October 1941), in German. The partially printed documents, completed in typescript, are issued by the Reich Minister for Air and Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, and are recommendations for the award of the Knight's Cross to Captain Robert Menzel, Squadron Commander of 3rd Sqn. (A.S.)/41st Gp. (Armd.), the summary of reasons for the recommendation stating, in part, 'In the course of numerous bold reconnaissance flights and in the successful directing of artillery fire, Captain Menzel has, with his squadron, as his army superiors unanimously report, taken an outstanding - at times, decisive - part in the victorious battles of this division in Poland, France, Yugoslavia and in particular Soviet Russia. It is characteristic of the exemplary attitude of this officer that he flew the most difficult assignments himself, and so provided his air-crews with an inspiring model of soldierly courage and constant readiness for action. The reconnaissance results from sorties which he has flown personally have been of prime importance for the armoured division's operations. I consider this officer who, in his role of carrying out tactical reconnaissance for an army formation…..to be worthy of being decorated with the Knight's Cross'. Each with two file holes to the left edges and some slight staining to the head of each page, otherwise VG, 3 Robert Menzel (1914-1944) German Luftwaffe pilot of World War II, killed in action. Ultimately Menzel's recommendation for a Knight's Cross was downgraded and on 13th November he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (DKG).