WWII German Army Soldier Emil Furgol – Extensive Personal Archive, Original Photographs, Military Documents & Boxed Iron Cross 1st Class

WWII German Army Soldier Emil Furgol – Extensive Personal Archive, Original Photographs, Military Documents & Boxed Iron Cross 1st Class

A Rare and Highly Personal WWII German Military Archive – Emil Furgol, Grenadier Regiment 84, Eastern Front, 1942

An extensive and fascinating collection of original WWII German photographs, personal paperwork, military documentation and awards relating to German Army soldier Emil Furgol, born on 5 January 1916 in Oppeln, Germany.

This is a particularly interesting named grouping, bringing together numerous personal photographs and original documents that help reconstruct the life of an individual German serviceman, from his early years and marriage through to his military service and death on the Eastern Front during the winter of 1942.

The collection is accompanied by an original boxed Iron Cross First Class, a three-piece construction example, making this a substantial and historically significant personal archive.

Emil Furgol – Personal History

Emil Furgol was born on 5 January 1916 in Oppeln, Germany. Described in his personal records as a professional tailor, he was of slim build, with grey eyes and dark blond hair, and a recorded height of approximately 1.65 metres.

The surviving paperwork records his membership of the German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront, DAF) from 1 October 1937. The collection also includes a small brown NSKK membership card, together with a disability insurance card bearing blue stamps and valid from 9 April 1937.

Among the other documents is a small green booklet relating to shooting records and training, offering an additional insight into his recorded activities and training.

Emil married Ottille on 12 September 1942, shortly before his death. Particularly poignant are the photographs of his marriage and the other personal images preserved within the collection, including photographs from his childhood and his time in uniform.

German Army Service – Grenadier Regiment 84

The military information supplied with the archive identifies Emil Furgol as a sergeant serving with the 14th Company, described as the anti-tank company of Grenadier Regiment 84.

His service took place during one of the most brutal periods of fighting on the Eastern Front.

According to the surviving family and military documentation, Emil was killed by a grenade on 31 December 1942, during the fighting around Rzhev in the Soviet Union. The records state that he was buried approximately 30 kilometres south of Rzhev.

The Rzhev battles of 1942–43 became notorious for their ferocity, immense casualties and prolonged fighting. The wider campaign formed part of the struggle between German and Soviet forces west of Moscow during a critical period of the war.

Original Letter Confirming His Death

One of the most significant documents in the collection is an original letter addressed to Emil’s wife, dated 11 February 1943, from the leader of his company.

The letter reportedly informs her that her husband had been killed by a grenade.

Together with the death notice and photograph of his grave, this correspondence provides a direct and deeply personal connection to the circumstances surrounding his death. These documents are an especially important part of the archive, preserving the human story behind the surviving military objects.

Boxed Iron Cross First Class

Included with the photographs and paperwork is an Iron Cross First Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) in its box.

The cross is described as a three-piece construction example. This is a significant addition to the grouping, alongside the named documents and photographs.

The award should be assessed alongside the surviving paperwork, construction details, markings and overall condition. The precise circumstances and date of its award to Emil would require confirmation from supporting records.

Contents of the Collection

The archive includes a substantial range of original material relating to Emil Furgol, including:

Original boxed Iron Cross First Class, three-piece construction.

Numerous personal photographs, including childhood images, photographs in uniform and marriage photographs.

Original military and personal paperwork.

Death notice and related documentation.

Photograph of his grave.

Original letter to his wife dated 11 February 1943, reporting his death.

German Labour Front membership documentation.

NSKK membership card.

Disability insurance card with blue stamps.

Small green shooting and training record booklet.

Additional photographs and documents relating to his life and service.

Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of this extensive and varied grouping.

A Rare Named WWII German Personal Archive

Named groupings of this nature are particularly appealing to collectors of WWII German militaria, military historians and researchers interested in the personal histories of individual servicemen.

Rather than being a single isolated artefact, this collection preserves a broad range of material relating to one man: his early life, employment, marriage, military service and death during the fighting on the Eastern Front.

The inclusion of personal photographs, original correspondence, military-related documents and a boxed Iron Cross First Class makes this an especially substantial archive with considerable historical interest.

A rare opportunity to acquire an extensive WWII German Army personal grouping associated with Emil Furgol and the fighting around Rzhev in 1942.

Condition

The collection comprises original period photographs, paperwork, booklets, correspondence and the boxed Iron Cross First Class. As expected with material of this age, condition will vary between individual items. Please refer to the photographs for the condition of the documents, photographs, award and box.

Historical Note

The biographical details and circumstances of Emil Furgol’s death are presented according to the information accompanying the collection. Regiment, award attribution, burial location and individual service details have not been independently verified.