Original Items: One-of-a-kind grouping. This is a fantastic named Heer award and document set, with two original German WWII awards, each with their original BESITTZZEUGNIS "possession/award" certificates. Both are most likely named to the same soldier, Jürgen Hans Groos, but one is named to LEUTNANT HANS GROOS and the other is named LT. JÜRGEN GROOS. Both documents list him as a Leutnant, an officer rank equivalent to a U.S. Army 2nd Lieutenant.

The two awards earned by this soldier in date received are the Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern (German WWII War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords - KvKII), and the Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen (German West Wall Medal). Both awards are in fair shape, with both retaining their original ribbon, and the West Wall medal still retaining its original packet, which is marked on the back to CARL POEILATH SCHROBENHAUSEN. The War Merit Cross has broken, with the ring holding the ribbon fully disconnected from the medal, although it should still display fine.

The War Merit Cross certificate measures 6 x 8⅜” and is dated December 23rd, 1941, while the West Wall Medal certificate measures 5¾ x 8¼” and is dated March 15th, 1940. The West Wall medal certificate indicates him as a member of the 697th Artillery Regiment, while the Merit Cross certificate does not specify a unit. 

The first award document indicates that the War Merit Cross 2nd Class was awarded to Groos on 23.12.1941, when he held the rank of Leutnant. The second document indicates that the West Wall Medal was awarded to Groos on 15. March 1940, when he held the rank of Leutnant. The document also bears the stamp of the 697th Artillery Regiment.

All documents are in good condition, with the expected wear and yellowing from age. They all show folding and light staining, as expected of documents of this age. The War Merit Cross certificate has a small bit of burn damage on the bottom right. Please consult the pictures for condition specifics.

The photograph of Groos is on a RPPC, a real photo postcard, and shows him in his uniform with his helmet, with writing on the back.

A really nice German WWII award set, complete with the original documents named to the same soldier, who was a member of the same unit for a long time. Ready to display!

War Merit Cross 2nd Class (Kriegsverdienstkreuz) with Swords (for Combat)
This was a decoration of NSDAP Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to military personnel and civilians alike. By the end of the war it was issued in four degrees, and had a related civil decoration. It was created by Adolf AH in October 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars. The award was graded the same as the Iron Cross: War Merit Cross Second Class, War Merit Cross First Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. The award had two variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service "not in direct connection with combat", and without swords for meritorious service to civilians in "furtherance of the war effort". As with the Iron Cross, Recipients had to have the lower grade of the award before getting the next level.

The West Wall Medal (Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen) was a decoration of NSDAP Germany. It was instituted on 2 August 1939 and was given to those who designed and built the fortifications on Germany's western borders, known as the Westwall or, in English, the Siegfried Line, between 15 June 1938 to 31 March 1939. On 13 November 1939 eligibility was extended to include servicemen of the Wehrmacht who served on the Westwall for at least ten weeks. In all 622,064 medals were awarded until 31 January 1941, when awards of the medal ceased. This early version was made of solid bronze. The back has the statement FÜR ARBEIT ZUM SCHUTZE DEUTSCHLANDS - "For Work to Protect Germany."