Rudel's RKEK with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds

Christoph K · Post by **Christoph K** » Sat May 17, 2003 9:45 am

Hello there,

I have just one simple question, what happened to Rudel's Knight's cross to the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds? And what would it be worth?

Thanks
Chris K

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Sat May 17, 2003 2:42 pm

I believe when Rudel landed at the now allied occupied airstrip where he chose to surrender he was wearing it and the first US soldier to his cockpit attemptd to take it from him. I think Rudel told him to 'piss off' or words to that effect.
Unless it is still in the Rudel family or Iron clad provenance of the peice could be bought forward, any example that comes to light must be viewed as most likely to be fake.

Like so many other unique Third Reich items it is probably lost to us forever.

As for what it would be worth? Well, you could buy Fat Hermanns dog tag on Ebay a few weeks back for $US30,000. I would put Rudels award somewhere around that if not slightly higher.

Abwehr · Post by **Abwehr** » Sat May 17, 2003 6:02 pm

$100,000+

generalmajor · Post by **generalmajor** » Tue May 20, 2003 4:10 pm

I sure that item could catch around 300K. I have seen post war pictures of it in a book, so it has to be somewhere.

Korbius · Post by **Korbius** » Tue May 27, 2003 12:38 pm

I think that his daughter inherited the RK of Rudel, along with many other exotic things that were his belongings.

Christoph K · Post by **Christoph K** » Tue May 27, 2003 4:13 pm

Thanks guys, what a price for a relic though, I guess it will never leave the Rudel family with that value.

Rommel8 · Post by **Rommel8** » Tue May 27, 2003 5:13 pm

depends tho, ya never know

Craig · Post by **Craig** » Tue May 27, 2003 10:35 pm

His award was auctioned in 1982 for just over $35,000 US.

So today, maybe $100,000....if you were lucky.

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 7:22 am

Hi,

I am pretty sure of having read that the original award Rudel received was
destroyed during an air raid in Jan. ´45.

As far as I know Rudel was wearing a reproduction himself, as did many others in day by day use.
What happend to this (probably equally of value) I do not know.

stuntman · Post by **stuntman** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 4:15 pm

As far as I'm aware Rudel's decorations are still in the possession of his family and are kept in a bank vault. He definately had at least two sets of the golden oak leaves et al. Value? F++kin priceless!!

Tolga Alkan · Post by **Tolga Alkan** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 1:12 am

The family can be held his awards but many of high-decorated soldiers awards and decorations were stolen by allied soldiers.You was like naked newborn child when you released from POW camp.You have a new life.