MILITARY EPHEMERA 976* French Posters. Credit Lyonnais, Souscrivez au 4e. Emprunt National, circa 1898, colour lithographic poster featuring a semi-clad soldier thrusting his sword into an Imperial eagle, 79 x 120cm, togethr with a sepia-printed poster titled ‘3e. Emprunt de la Defense Nationale’, late 19th century, vignette artwork by Ridgway Knight, plus a letterpress poster for Republique Francaise ‘Avis aux Hommes des Reserves dans leurs Foyers’ and one other, various sizes (4)
£70-100
977* Knight Cross. An original document to SS Stormtrooper Fritz Christen awarded the Knight’s Cross 20 October 1941
973* Bayer (Herbert, 1900-1985). Arbeitsfreuder durch grune Werkhofe, circa 1937, colour lithographic poster, printed text to verso, tiny split to upper margin, some old water wrinkling visible to lower area verso, 288 x 203mm (11.25 x 8in) Bayer was widely recognised as the last living member of the Bauhaus. He remained in Germany far longer than most other progressives. However, in 1937, Bayer’s works were included in the Nazi propaganda exhibition ‘Degenerate Art’, upon which Bayer left Germany for Italy and then New York. This poster promotes the beauty of labour and strength through joy for the NSG (Nationalsozialistische Gemeinschaft). (1) £300-400
974* Erdt (Hans Rudi, 1883-1918). U Booge Heraus! [U-Boats Are Out!], 1917, colour lithograph, printed by Hollerbaum & Schmidt, Berlin, sheet size 72 x 50cm (28.25 x 19.75 ins), framed and glazed (glass cracked)
SS-Sturmann Fritz Christen was born 29 June 1921 and served in the anti-tank detachment of the SS-Totenkopf Division, receiving the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 20 July 1941. At noon on 24 September 1941, he was manning his 50mm anti-tank gun during a strong Russian assault on German positions near Lushno and was exposed to heavy artillery and Infantry fire, with all other guns knocked out Christen stayed at his post and was the only surviving member of his battery, he destroyed one enemy tank after another, until six were ablaze. At dawn the following day, ten Russian tanks and supporting Infantry attempted to break through once again. Christen proceeded to destroy a further seven enemy armoured vehicles, single handedly repelling the attack and bringing his personal tally to thirteen tanks within 24 hours. On 27 September the Russians were finally driven out of the Lushno area and his astounded comrades still found Christen crouched behind his anti-tank gun. During the preceding three days he had killed over 100 enemy soldiers and was immediately awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class and on 20 October 1941 he received the Knight’s Cross in honour of his bravery. (1) £200-300
A Bold propaganda poster by the graphic artist Hans Rudi Erdt, which advertised the first U-Boat propaganda film released by Bufa in early 1917. (1) £300-500
McCudden was an English flying ace of the First World War and among the most highly decorated airmen in British military history. He was killed in a flying accident following an engine fault on 9 July 1918. (a folder) £200-300
979 Military photographs. Five albums of WWII and later military photographs, including Norway 1945 mostly captioned for example ‘Sola Aerodrome Stavenger, the first Allied Aircraft land’ and ‘Cutis Commandoes of the US Transport command lined up ready for unloading’, plus New South Wales photographs, Palestine, Egypt etc. (5)
975* Free Czech Movement. An album of 60 press and propaganda photographs relating to the Free Czech Movement, circa 1940, showing soldiers, officials, field exercises, etc., some with wetstamps and annotations to verso, 20 x 25cm and smaller, loosely contained in a modern plastic photo album, 4to (1)
978* McCudden (James Thomas Byford, VC, DSO & Bar, 1895-1918). An important archive of letters and corrspondence, etc., mostly 1960s, largely handwritten and typed letters to McCudden’s major biographer C.C. Cole, and including correspondence from officers, men and civilians who knew McCudden and whose information was used as background for the book, also including a number of aces and ground crew who worked on his aircraft and witnessed his crash, a total of approximately 60 items, contained in a modern poly sleeve folder
£150-200
980* Royal Navy. A WWII Admiralty Pattern Parallel Rules, stamped with broad arrow, Patt No. 160100 and B.H.83, 45.5cm long in wooden case together with two others (3)
£100-150
Lot 978
168
£70-100