Rare Knights Cross Citation to Oberleutnant Fritz Eckebrecht

Original WW2 Knights Cross citation to pilot Oberleutnant Fritz Eckebrecht who was also the holder of the Honour Goblet and DKiG. Citation is the field type which has been sent down from Luftwaffe command. Along with the Citation is a letter of congratulations from back home as well as some nice art which has also been done for him from back home in relation to his achievement. A really rare piece that has come from the family.

Fritz Eckebrecht was born on May 8th, 1912 in Berlin, and went to school to become a stonemason. However, he worked as a general employee before being drafted into the Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Pilot School in Hildesheim on November 26th, 1939. He got married prior, on October 12, 1935, to his wife Irmgard Eckebrecht. He received his pilot’s licence on May 15, 1040, and received further training in Gas Protection in Paris in February 1941, Skiing in January 1942, and further training with the MG81 in February 1942. Eckebrecht was promoted from Leutnant to Oberleutnant on November 1, 1942. He was heavily decorated for his service in the Luftwaffe, having received the German Cross in Gold on April 17, 1943, the Front Fighter's Clasp for Reconnaissance Pilots Gold Grade on February 14, 1944, as well as the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on November 9th, 1944. He received multiple injuries from enemy fire to his right hand (between the second and third finger) and to his left thigh on June 22, 1942, and spent time in the field hospital in Simferopol between June 22 and June 30th, 1942. He was moved to a hospital in Tempelhof, where he stayed from July 3, 1942 until September 30, 1942. It is likely that he was released from service following his release from the hospital. However, but from this record it is clear that, before his release, he flew multiple missions in Belgium, France, reconnaissance flights and emergency rescue flights, aerial protection flights of mine clearing boats, as well as select missions on the eastern front.

We have been able to find a photo of him online wearing several decorations. Please view the last photo to see this.

Code: 1727