Kriegsmarine grouping to Konteradmiral Rudolf Junker (1895-1980) serving as commander of the Torpedoversuchsanstalt Eckernförde. German Cross in Silver winner on 22.08.1944.
Awards
German Cross in Silver. Made by Deschler&Sohn, München. Silvered wreath. Black enameled swastika (no chipping). All four original rivets are in place. Multi-piece construction. Weight: 71.60 gr. (heavy version). With the original case of issue. Typical silver line around the top. The case opens and closes correctly.
1939 War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords. Tombak. "L/12" maker marked. Comes with the LDO case of issue.
1914 Iron Cross 1st Class. Made by Paul Meybauer, Berlin. Maker marked and "900" silver hallmarked on the back. Iron core. In the case of issue (damaged at the back).
8-place medal bar with 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class (WWII type), 1939 War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, Schwarzburg Honor Cross 3rd Class with Swords, Honor Cross of WWI, Kriegsmarine Long Service Award for 25, 18, 12, and 4 years. Includes the matching ribbon bar.
Certificates/promotions
Certificate to German Cross in Silver. Issued on 22.08.1944. Hand-signed by Großadmiral Karl Dönitz. Very rare to find!
Certificate to 1939 War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords. Issued on 20.04.1942. Hand-signed by a Kapitän zur See.
Certificate to 1939 War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. Issued on 19.12.1940. Hand-signed by Admiral Günther Guse, German Cross in Silver winner.
Certificate to Kriegsmarine Long Service Award 1st Class. Issued on 16.03.1938. Hand-signed by a Kontadmiral.
Certificate to Kriegsmarine Long Service Award 2nd to 4th Class. Issued on 02.10.1936. Hand-signed by a naval officer.
Certificate to 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class. Issued on 23.02.1920. Hand-signed by a Kapitänleutnant.
Certificate to 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class. Issued on 09.10.1920. Hand-signed by a Korvettenkapitän.
Certificate to Honor Cross of WWI. Issued on 30.11.1934. Hand-signed by a naval officer.
Two documents related to the award of the Schwarzburg Honor Cross. Dated "1936".
Certificate to Mother's Cross 3rd Class. Issued to Lilly Junker (his wife) on 01.10.1939. Facsimile signatures.
Promotion document. Promoted to Kapitänleutnant. Issued on 08.09.1925. Hand-signed by the Reichswehrminister Otto Geßler.
Promotion document. Promoted to Korvettenkapitän. Issued on 01.04.1933. Hand-signed by Reichspräsident Paul von Hindenburg and Werner von Blomberg, Pour le Mèrite winner. At this time he was serving on the German cruiser "Deutschland".
Promotion document. Promoted to Fregattenkapitän. Issued on 14.01.1937. Hand-signed by Adolf Hilter and Werner von Blomberg, Pour le Mèrite winner.
Promotion document. Promoted to Kapitän zur See. Issued on 15.09.1938. Facsimile signature by Adolf Hitler and hand-signed by Großadmiral Erich Raeder, Knight's Cross winner.
Promotion document. Promoted to Konteradmiral. Issued on 24.11.1942. Facsimile signature by Adolf Hitler and hand-signed by Großadmiral Erich Raeder, Knight's Cross winner.
Promotion document to Hanns-Joachim Junker (his son). Promoted to Leutnant zur See. Issued on 23.12.1942. Facsimile signature by Großadmiral Erich Raeder.
Several congratulatory telegrams, including on being awarded the German Cross in Silver (sent by Großadmiral Dönitz).
Impressive certificate from the Torpedoversuchsanstalt Eckernförde "TVA", that was presented to him on his retirement. Dated “October 1944”.
A congratulatory card and a letter from Großadmiral Dönitz to him. Both were hand-signed by Dönitz.
Further documents and photos
Konteradmiral Rudolf Junker served with the German navy in both world wars. His military estate consists of numerous documents and photos from both eras. Also post-war documents. Among them are excellent photographs from his service, such as portrait photos of him wearing the German Cross in Silver. The grouping still offers plenty of scope for further research.
