INCREDIBLE Grouping to Knights Cross w/Oak Leaves Recipient Admiral Theodor Burchardi-Theodor Burchardi (14 May 1892 – 12 August 1983) was an Admiral with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. He was responsible for organizing the evacuation of 2 million people from Courland and Eastern Prussia at the end of World War II in Operation Hannibal and the Evacuation of East Prussia. Burchardi was born in Homberg. He entered the Kaiserliche Marine on 1 April 1911 as a sea cadet and was trained on the Large cruiser SMS Hansa. During his attendance at Marineschule he was promoted on 15. April 1912 to Midshipman (Fähnrich zur See) and was transferred on 1. October 1913 to the large cruiser SMS Seydlitz. Just after the start of World War I he was promoted on 3. August 1914 to Lieutenant (Leutnant zur See). On 3. January 1915 he was transferred to the large cruiser SMS Moltke and from 6. May to 15. June 1915 he attended an artillery course on SMS Kaiserin Augusta. After that he was transferred to Torpedo boats half flottile as a watch officer. After his promotion to Lieutenant 1st grade (Oberleutnant zur See) 26. April 1917 Burchardi took over Torpedo boat G 39 as his first command, that he continued until end 1918. After his promotion to Captain (Kapitän zur See) on January 1, 1937, he was given command of the light cruiser Köln on October 15, and commanded it in patrols off the Spanish coast during the Spanish Civil War. At the beginning of the Second World War, Köln was in the Baltic Sea. Burchardi relinquished command of Köln on January 14, 1940 and was appointed chief of staff of the Kriegsmarine shipyard in Kiel. On January 1, 1941, he was promoted to Rear Admiral. In preparation for Operation Barbarossa, Burchardi was appointed as Marinebefehlshaber D (Naval Commander D). On November 6, 1941 Burchardi was appointed as Commanding Admiral in Ostland. On February 1, 1943 he was promoted to Vice Admiral. On June 17, 1944, Burchardi was appointed as Commanding Admiral of the Eastern Baltic Sea and was promoted to Admiral on January 1, 1945. Burchardi commanded the naval units involved in Operation Aster, the evacuation of German troops and civilians from Estonia. In the final months of the war, Burchardi commanded naval units in Operation Hannibal, he was responsible for organizing the evacuation of 2 million people from Courland and East Prussia. He died in Gluecksburg. Awards as follows: Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (24 January 1915) & 1st Class (27 September 1919), Wehrmacht Long Service Award 4th to 1st Class (2 October 1936), Sudetenland Medal (20 December 1939), Memel Medal (3 June 1940), Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (10 October 1939) & 1st Class (18 January 1940), Order of the Cross of Liberty 1st Class with Swords (7 June 1943), German Cross in Gold (31 March 1944), Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Knight's Cross on 29 September 1944 as Vizeadmiral and commanding admiral Ostland (823rd Oak Leaves on 8 April 1945 as Admiral and commanding admiral eastern Baltic Sea). Impressive!
Speaking of impressive, this grouping certainly is. It includes a tailor made service tunic, tailor made service breeches, privately purchased visor cap, boots, belt and holster. The tunic is a model 1936 in the army style as this is his coastal artillery set up. It is produced in a finely tailored tricot woven field grey wool that is in excellent condition. There is a six button closure and all buttons are gilt finished in the naval anchor pattern. There are four pleated pockets with scalloped flaps. There are French cuffs and a dark green badge cloth collar. The collar tabs are blue badge cloth with gold bullion and flat wire generals insignia. The generals shoulder boards have a gold and silver flat wire braid over blue badge cloth. Each has a single silver finished metal pip and the buttons are again the navy style. These are for the rank of vizeadmiral (rear admiral). The hand applied breast eagle is gold celleon over dark green wool. The left breast pocket has loops for three badges and just above the pocket are loops for a medium sized ribbon or medal bar. The right breast pocket has loops for a single award. This was undoubtably for the Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty First Class. The interior is fully lined in a fine grey silk that is in excellent condition as well. There is a pocket on the left side which has a tag inside. The tailor was Wilhelm Holters (the BEST!) and it has the admirals last name with the date 10.4.43. There is a slot for an edged weapon but this never had a strap. Onto the service breeches, which are also finely tailored but this time in tricot woven grey wool. Each leg has a pair of blue badge cloth stripes running their length. The lower legs have buttoned closures. There are buttoned hip pockets, a single rear pocket with a buttoned scalloped flap, a watch fob pocket and hip cinch straps with blue buckles. There is a four button fly with a metal hook and loop closure at the waist. The interior is partially lined in two different types of rayon plus white cotton for the pockets. There are buttons and straps for suspenders, a set of which are included (unknown vintage). On the back of one of the pockets is an identical tailor tag to the one inside the tunic. The only difference is it says “Ad.” For admiral in front of his last name. Otherwise they are identical including the handwriting, date and ink. The waist is a size 34 and these are 38” in length. Next, the visor cap which is an extremely high quality private purchase example. This one has more wear than the rest of the grouping which makes sense as the admiral probably wore it quite often and with multiple uniforms. It is produced in a very soft, field grey doe skin wool. The admiral removed the stiffening ring from the top panel so this has a very unique look to it, almost like a crusher which is enhanced by the fact that the visor itself is a black leather example. There is minor wear and tracking to the top panel. There is dark green wool piping around the top panel as well as at the upper and lower edges of the dark green badge cloth center band. The eagle and wreath are outstanding examples in gold bullion and flat wire. The eagle is over a dark green wool backing and the wreath is over a navy blue badge cloth backing. The cockade is aluminum with a red felt bulls eye. The double chin cord is gold bullion with gold naval buttons holding it firmly in place. There is minor wear to the visor from where the chin strap has rested for all of these years. It has moderate crazing and minor fading as well. The interior is fully lined in blue rayon. This does have some wear and discoloration from use but that is certainly ok! There is a diamond shaped moisture shield that is devoid of any markings at this point. The sweatband is brown leather with an adjustment string throughout. It remains quite soft and supple with minor wear and discoloration from use. The officer’s height black leather boots are of a very high quality as well. Each has a maker tag inside. The tag is for Rudolf Mörtz of Vienna. The soles are a bit worn from use. Also included in this grouping is a generals wide, brown leather belt with gold finished pebbled metal open claw type buckle and a brown leather, soft shell P38 holster. This is ready for a mannequin!