ILMENSEE CERAMIC PLAQUE WITH CONFERRAL DOCUMENT AND PRESENTATION CASE

An incredibly rare relic, a 4.125 x 8.125 inch commemorative ceramic plaque made by ceramic company Meissen, presented to German officers for their bravery within the Demyansk Pocket � a pocket of German troops encircled by the Red Army around Demyansk, south of Leningrad, during World War II. The plaque shows an overhead map of various Russian cities in Demyansk pocket, including Chudovo, Novgorod, Schmisk, Staraja Russa, Demjansk, Waldai Hohe and Cholm, all beneath the header "ILMENSEE" and a swastika eagle in relief. The reverse side shows a uniformed German soldier in winter gear, triumphantly standing over broken barbed wire and holding his rifle. The plaque is sold with a T.L.S. from ERNST BUSCH (1885 - 1945), German field marshal who served under List during the invasion of Poland and who was sacked by Hitler after his defeat in Russia. Busch's letter, 1p. 4to., "Feldpostnummer 14700", Jan. 30, 1943, bestows the plaque upon fellow officer and Knight's Cross recipient CONRAD-OSKAR HEINRICHS (1890�1944), noting: "...The carriers of the Knight Crosses of our armed forces, in particular, are the guarantee of the success of our fight and fate...I present you on this memorable day a commemorative plaque of Jlmensee..." Busch signs at the conclusion. The letter and plaque are enclosed within a 5 x 9 in. wooden presentation case, bearing a painted 16th Army flag with painted red, black and white stripe at the top. All generally very good to fine condition. This award was founded by WALTER VON BROCKDORFF-AHLEFELDT (1887-1943), commander of the II Army Corps in 1942 which had fought on the Eastern Front. He had arranged to gift these plaques to his "brothers in arms" after he himself was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. While this plaque has very occasionally been put up for auction, our research could find no other examples that included the conferral letter or wooden presentation box.