Exceptional Paratrooper Document Grouping to Gefreiter Wilhelm Preute-Preute was a paratrooper who participated in the 1940 Holland jump! The grouping consists of the following:
1) Large award document issued to Preute in Berlin on 7 September 1938; document is signed by Oberst (Colonel) Karl Barlen (German Cross in Gold Recipient); when Barlen signed the document, he was a Section Chief in the Personnel Office of the Air Ministry (RLM);
2) Award document for die Medaille zur Erinnerung den 1. Oktober 1938 mit Spange (Medal in Remembrance of 1 October 1938 with Clasp), commonly known as the Sudetenland Medal. Document was issued on 20 June 1939 and is signed by Oberstleutant von Grazy, the Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1;
3) Large award document for the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Wound Badge in Black) issued to Prete in Munster in July 1940. As a member of the 1st Company of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2, Preute jumped in Holland on 10 May 1940 (along with the 2nd and 4th Companies of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2, the 1st Company was deployed to take control of the Ypenburg and Valkenburg Airfields near den Haag). The document is signed by Hauptmann Hans Kroh, the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion of Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2 (Kroh was a recipient of the Knight's Cross, Oak Leaves, and Swords, as well as the German Cross in Gold). Kroh was one of the most renowned paratrooper commanders; much information about him can be found on the internet;
4) Award document for the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class) issued to Prete in den Haag on 26 May 1940, just six days after the Holland jump. The document is signed by Generalmajor Karl Putzier, the Deputy Commander of the 7 Air Division (German Cross in Silver Recipient); 5) Award document for the Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse (Iron Cross 1st Class) issued to Preute in den Haag on 26 May 1940. This document is also signed by Generalmajor Karl Putzier; it's interesting to note that both Iron Cross documents were issued on the same day, demonstrating his exceptional performance on 10 May 1940;
6) Large award document for the Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold (Wound Badge in Gold) issued to Preute in the Luftwaffe hospital in Berlin on 26 August 1940. The document is signed by Dr. Hans Kitzler-Kosch, the Chief Medical Doctor of the hospital. The fact that Preute was awarded the Wound Badge in Gold shows that he was heavily wounded during the 10 May 1940 jump in Holland. This wound most likely caused severe injury, likely leading to an amputation, taking Preute out of the war. Documents for paratroopers who jumped in Holland on 10 May 1940 are extremely rare and sought after. A rare opportunity to acquire a remarkable document grouping for a paratrooper who fought with extreme bravery and was heavily wounded during one of the most notable paratrooper jumps of the Second World War.