Description
This is an absolutely STUNNING and 100% identified WWII German Lt. General’s tunic, purchased directly from his son in 1989 with all original documentation included. Klatt, a veteran of WWI (twice wounded) and WWII (seven times wounded) achieved honors which nearly replicate an American getting the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was best known as Commander of the 3rd Mountain Division. I located the images of him (as shown) on the internet. This is a true rarity and of premier investment and museum grade overall.
This is the tunic description as given by a nationally known professional military dealer when it sold for $17,000 approximately five years ago:
“Fantastic piped service blouse for Heer Eichenlaubträger and commander of the 3. Gebirgs.-Division, Generalleutnant Paul Klatt. Includes full set of correspondence between Generalleutnant Klatt’s son and the American collector who purchased the set from him in the 1980s, the high quality service blouse was tailored from a fine grade of trikot wool, both the inner and outer front closures are piped from neck to skirt in red wool, the blouse has two pleated patch breast pockets while the hip pockets are of the slashed variety, the sleeves have turn back cuffs, the dark green wool stand and fall collar has two sets of brass hooks and eyes, the lining is of grey rayon and there is one internal breast pocket plus an internal belt with a two piece clasp buckle, the fine grained gilt pebbled buttons (including those at the rear waist) are stamped 42 on the reverse, smaller versions of these buttons are used to secure the shoulder boards, all buttons are sewn with matching dark thread, under the right shoulder board and between the second and third front closure buttons are two brown composite buttons of the type used to secure the aiguillette, insignia includes hand embroidered general’s collar batches of gold bullion embroidery on red wool, these are hand sewn to the collar, further there is a matching pair of shoulder boards for a Generalmajor tightly sewn into the shoulder seams, the national emblem is worked in celleon threads on to a dark green backing and it is hand sewn to the upper right breast, the mountain troop patch on the right upper arm is embroidered in white, yellow, grey and green cords plus bullion wire on a dark green badge cloth backing, this badge is also hand applied, in the second buttonhole there is the EKII ribbon with Spange and there are two embroidered holes on the right breast pocket for the German Cross in Gold, the left breast has loops for a long ribbon bar as well as loops for four breast badges, included are ribbon bar, EKI, and Spange for EKI, each also having belonged to Generalleutnant Klatt, further, there is a black and white photo signed by Generalleutnant Klatt, the service blouse is in generally excellent condition although there are a few flaws, the lining has three wartime applied patches in fabric of a similar color, there are a few holes to the lining at the inner skirt, a small hole 1mm in diameter to the front outer skirt, small holes at the lower corner of the right breast pocket and one badge loop is broken, Generalleutnant Klatt was awarded the oak leaves in December 1944 and passed away in 1973.”
Here is a brief overview of his service as found on the internet (if you Google his name and rank, there is a TON of information on him available):
Paul Klatt (6 December 1896 – 6 June 1973) was a German general who commanded the 3rd Mountain Division during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany.
Klatt surrendered to the Red Army in the course of the Soviet 1945 Prague Offensive. Convicted as a criminal in the Soviet Union, he was held until 1955, when he was repatriated to Germany.
Awards and decorations
- Iron Cross (1914) 2nd Class (4 February 1916) & 1st Class (12 March 1920)
- Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) & 2nd Class (30 March 1940) & 1st Class (8 December 1940)
- German Cross in Gold on 14 April 1942 as Oberst in Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 138
- Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
- Knight’s Cross on 4 January 1943 as Oberst and commander of Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 138
- 686th Oak Leaves on 26 December 1944 as Generalleutnant and commander of 3.Gebirgs-Division
