German WWII Original Photo of Knights Cross Winner Major Josef Rhein-Rhein was born in 1917. He was a highly decorated German World War II officer. He earned the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on February 23, 1944, while serving as a Hauptmann (Captain) and commander of the I. Battalion, Grenadier-Regiment 530 of the 299 for combat leadership and gallantry while holding the line. His unit saw heavy combat on the Eastern Front before being largely destroyed in the summer of 1944. He survived the war, joined the Bundeswehr and retired in 1975. He passed away in 2005. This photo was signed post war, most likely in the 1980’s when it became very popular to write to living veterans to ask for memorabilia. With this signed photo, we have a copy of both documents that came with his German Cross, and knights cross. There is also a nice copy of a newspaper article about Josef winning his German Cross, it is dated 1943. This is a very cool little lot. This black and white postcard measures 5 ½ inches (13.97cm) tall and 4 inches (10.16cm) wide. It is signed across the lower portion of the photos. Very cool.