K.C. COMMANDER OF 'DER GREIF' DIVISION PHOTO ALBUM AND PRESENTATION ASHTRAY

K.C. COMMANDER OF 'DER GREIF' DIVISION PHOTO ALBUM AND PRESENTATION ASHTRAY
A terrifi ensemble of items, including an excellent photograph album containing combat and occupation images, and a 'trench art' presentation ashtray gifted to Rittmeister BERND-JOACHIM FREIHERR VON MALTZAHN (1903-1974), commander of Aufklärungs-Abteilung 122 and a recipient of the Knights Cross. The 12.75 x 9 in. photograph album contains 182 images, almost all 3 x 4 in., among other things: von Maltzahn reviewing troops from his armored command car with the emblem of his 'Greif-Division'; entrenched troops in winter gear; destroyed Russian tanks and villages, air-dropped supplies; summer occupation quarters; awards ceremonies; villages in flames; cavalry troops, bog-defying vehicles, local villagers, etc. Some of the images should be studied as they may originate from the raid on Jonava (see below). The album is accompanied by a fine piece of presentation 'trench art, ' an ashtray made in the field and given to von Maltzahn as a Christmas present by his staff. The base of the 24 cm. tall ashtray is a cut-down 17 cm. Kanone 18 shell casing dated 1938 with waffenamt. It is support by three cut-down shell casings, each 2 cm. wide. Cigarette supports are five curbed Russian coins soldered in place. At center, a small shell shell supports and engraved emblem of the 'Greif-Division' edged in red paint with a hand-hammered hawk's talon applied at center. On the base of the ashtray, a brass plate is engraved: 'Our esteemed Commander Herrn Frhr. v. Maltzahn from Staff A.A. 122.' On the opposite side, the shell casing is engraved: 'Christmas 1941 before Petersburg' On the opening of Barbarossa, the Greif Division was instrumental in the raid towards Jonava, taking a crucial railroad bridge in the city (see: https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=184488) Von Maltzahn would later command Panzer-Brigade 107 and Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 59 in 20.Panzer-Division. He would be awarded the Knights Cross on Feb. 14, 1945. Two excellent pieces!