C & T Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd
Lot 952
Luftwaffe Bomber Pilot Oberst Joachim Helbig Gold Presentation Ring, Given for Being the 20th Recipient of the Knights Cross with Oakleaves and Swords on 28th September 1942, fine quality personal ring produced in gold with hallmarks to the rear. Centre section shows a Luftwaffe eagle with “20” besides, an engraved inscription is around the band, however this has worn and is not legible in places. Interior section is engraved with his details when he was at the rank of Hauptman and the presentation date of 28.9.1942. Accompanying the ring is a wartime postcard photograph of Helbig in Luftwaffe uniform with a clear blue ink signature to the bottom. Joachim Helbig was born on 10th September 1915. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1936 and served for the majority of the war with Demonstration Wing Nr 1 (Lehrgeschwader 1 (LG 1)). He served with distinction as a Bomber pilot during the campaigns in Poland, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, France and the Battle of Britain in 1940. For his contributions to this campaign, he was awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross in late 1940. Helbig then transferred to the Mediterranean campaign and was involved in the bombing of the fortress island of Malta, the British Mediterranean fleet and flew in support of Rommel’s Afrikakorps. It was for his service during Rommel’s campaign in the desert that Helbig became the 20th recipient of the Knights Cross with Oakleaves and Swords. After the awarding of the Knights Cross with Oakleaves and Swords, Helbig was removed from frontline duty and assigned to a staff role. He was later put back into combat missions, when he was heavily involved in the Luftwaffe air operation against the allies in Italy, before being moved to France after the Normandy invasion. His last posting was to the Eastern Front, where he was tasked with flying bombing missions to destroy the bridges over the Oder River to try and halt the advancing Red Army. In May 1945, Helbig surrendered to the American Forces. After the war Helbig pursued a civilian career and worked as a manager for a brewery in Berlin. He died in a motoring accident in Spain on 5th October 1985. Other notable awards bestowed on Helbig include the 1st and 2nd class Iron Cross, Al Valore Militare and the Ehrenpokal (Honour Goblet) for Outstanding Achievement in the Air.
