Grouping to Oberleutnant Anton "Toni" Lindner serving as a fighter pilot with Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders". During his career, he was credited with 73 aerial victories. These were achieved over the course of 650 combat missions. Awards: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 8. April 1944, German Cross in Gold on 27. May 1942, Luftwaffe Honor Goblet on 12. August 1941, and Squadron Clasp for Kampfflieger in Gold with Pendant. After the war, he served with the German Bundeswehr. His last rank was Oberstleutnant. Among them are 3-4 photos from that time.
Two pre-war flight books from 21. November 1938 to 28. September 1939, listing a total of 1040 training flights ("Schulflug").
Luftwaffe 106 nice photo of his service. These show other high-ranking officers and Knight's Cross winners such as Werner Mölders, Adolf Galland, and GFM Albert Kesselring. Furthermore two photos of his Knight's Cross award ceremony and photos of German and foreign aircraft. Among them is a nice portrait photo of him wearing the Knight's Cross (reprint of an original photo).
In addition postwar documents, the death card of his brother Ludwig Lindner, and a handwritten letter (sent to Lindner, dated 24. June 1940).
Signs of use. Good condition.
Condition
2/2-
Historical information
NAME
Knights Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross
DATE OF INSTITUTION
1. September 1939 as the third and new grade of the re-instituted Order of the Iron Cross
AWARD CRITERIA
The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded for exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy and for outstanding merit in troop leadership. The awarding required the previous awarding of the two lower grades. The Knights Cross was solely awarded by the Führer upon the proposal of the soldiers unit and issued by the Heerespersonalamt. The Knights Crosses were stored at the Ordenskanzlei in Berlin, to be sent to the awardee after approval. There were no Knights Crosses stored at any level of the Wehrmacht before the end of April 1945.
MANUFACTURERS
The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross was produced by seven manufacturers, not including variations amongst the individual companies. The Knights Crosses can be found either unmarked (early Juncker and 3/4 Ring), with a silver content mark, with an LDO number (L/12 and L/52), and later on with the company’s Präsidialkanzlei number (2, 20, 65, and 4). Private sales were forbidden after October 1941.
AWARD NUMBERS
Accurate numbers are not known but the closest estimation is around 7,200, and most likely another couple of hundred on stock at the Präsidialkanzlei.
AWARD DOCUMENTS
The awardee received a preliminary document in A5 format and issued in the name of the Führer by the responsible personnel offices of the three branches of the Wehrmacht. The formal document (Große Mappe) was issued later and only until date of late 1942 / early 1943 due to the huge backlog.
WEARING METHOD
The Knights Cross was worn around the neck on a wider red white and black ribbon which came within the black award case of the Knights Cross.
.jpg "Major Heinrich Höfer - restored (!) Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross \"65\"")
