Documents and Photos to Obergefreiter Heinz Gropengiesser-Gropengiessen was a paratrooper who fought during Unternehmen Merkur (Operation Mercury), the German airborne invasion of Crete.
The grouping includes the following:
1) seven photos of Gropengiesser, three of which show him wearing the ribbon for the Iron Cross 2nd Class, the Iron Cross 1st Class, and the Paratrooper Badge;
2) large, early award document for the Fallschirmschützenabzeichen (Paratrooper Badge) dated 12 November 1940. The document has a facsimile signature of Generalleutnant Gustav Kastner-Kirdorf (awarded the German Cross in Gold on 21 April 1943; committed suicide in Berchtesgaden on 4 May 1945);
3) Award document for the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Wound Badge in Black) dated 19 June 1942. The document reveals that Gropengiesser was a member of the 2./Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 1 (2nd Company of Paratrooper Artillery Regiment 1), part of the 7. Flieger-Division (7h Airborne Division), and was wounded on 9 May 1942 in Russia.
4) Award document for the Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe (Ground Combat Badge of the Air Force) dated 1 October 1942 (this is a very early date for this award). The document reveals that Gropengiesser was serving with the 1st Battalion (likely still with the 2nd Company) of Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 1. The document is signed by Generalmajor Richard Heidrich, the Commander of the 7. Flieger-Division. Heidrich was awarded the Knight's Cross on 14 June 1941, the German Cross in Gold on 31 March 1942, the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross on 5 February 1944, and the Swords to the Knight's Cross on 25 March 1944;
5) award document for Die Medalle Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (Medal for the Winter Battle in the East 1941/42), also known as the Ostmedaille (East [Campaign] Medal). The document is signed by a Hauptmann (Captain), and stamped with Gropengiesser's unit stamp, Feldpostnummer (Military Mail Number) 34305 (Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 1);
6) Award document for the Ärmelband (Crete Cuff Title) issued to Obergefreiter Heinz Gropengiesser on 20 May 1943, exactly two years after the German airborne invasion of Crete. The document reveals that Gropengiesser was then serving with the 10./Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 1(10th Company of Paratrooper Artillery Regiment 1). The document has a facsimile signature of General Kurt Student, the Commanding General of the XI. Fliegerkorps (XI Air Corps). Student was awarded the Knight's Cross on 12 May 1940 and the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross On 27 September 1943.