Private Sales List

Large photo grouping of appx. 450 photos of Knights Cross winner Albin ESCH. He served as commander of III./Geb Jag Rgt 85. He was also commander of Infanterie Division "Döberitz“ in the last weeks of the war. This was an alarm unit fighting for Berlin at the very last. During the French Campaign he served as commander !!!./IR 41. He was commander of III./GJR 85 from Oct 1940. He participated in the operations in Greece and Operation MERKUR, the invasion of KRETA. He was mentioned in the Wehrmachtsbericht of May2, 1941 for bravery in the battles in Macedonia and Thrazian. He was awarded the Knights Cross for heroic action in holding Mount Istibei on the Metaxis Line in Greece for 17 hours with his battalion. In July 1942 he was appointed commander Geb Jag Rgt 206. He was promoted to Oberts in Feb, 1943. In Jan 1945 he was awarded the DKiG (note, after the RK). He was given command of the 4 Gen Div in April 1945, before taking command of Inf Div Doeberitz at war's end. He was captured by the Russians and was in POW camp in Russia until 1949. This group was from his estate, not a few photos of him taken belonging to someone else. Comes with a letter he wrote in his own hand in 1941 and several letters of condolence to his wife after his death. Extremely good images of him including a super 9x13cm portrait photo wearing RK with ORIGINAL WARTIME (1941) SIGNATURE!! Many other photos of him in the field wearing RK. Many photos captioned on reverse in his own hand. In field HQ's in field, meeting with other high officers, Ski-Jaeger troops in white camo in assault positions, artillery batteries, close combat training, shells hitting enemy positions, vehicles, Krads, Esch awarding medals in field, Bear mascots, trench positions, funerals in field, polish POWs, more. Top group to a commander who won his RK during real fighting in the field, not behind the lines or behind a desk!