Knight’s Cross & DKiG Recipient Oberst Fedor Apelt

Museum-Grade WWII German Infantry Officer’s Service Tunic (Feldbluse) – Personally Owned by Knight’s Cross & DKiG Recipient Oberst Fedor Apelt (Worn as Oberstleutnant during the Crimea & Sevastopol Campaigns)

An unrepeatable, historically monumental discovery for the absolute pinnacle of militaria collecting. This is the completely untouched, combat-worn personal field tunic of Fedor Apelt, a highly decorated frontline commander of the renowned 24. Infanterie-Division. Apelt was officially awarded the German Cross in Gold (1942) and the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on February 8, 1944, for his extraordinary personal bravery and tactical leadership.

The jacket is tailored from premium, heavy officer-grade feldgrau tricot wool, showing a breathtaking, untouched front patina. Stitched deeply into the interior pocket is the original, woven officer’s name label: "Major Fedor Apelt – III./Infanterie-Rgt. 32". Tested under UV-light, this label remains completely dark and non-glowing, certifying its 100% textbook originality. This label captures the exact window of his promotion to Major on April 1, 1941, right before his battalion plunged into the early, intense campaigns on the Eastern Front.
Every piece of insignia on this uniform is entirely period-applied and historically locked to the jacket:

• The Breast Eagle & Collar Tabs: Exquisite, hand-embroidered silver bullion wire eagle and infantry-white (Weiß) collar patches. Both display a magnificent, deep age-softened silver oxidation that certifies decades of undisturbed originality.
• The Upgraded Shoulder Straps: A fully matching set of infantry officer straps with a single gold pip, representing his front promotion to Oberstleutnant on October 1, 1942. This showcases exactly where the field tailor upgraded his trusted wartime uniform as he advanced in rank during the Eastern campaign.
• The Crimea Shield (Krimschild): Neatly hand-secured directly to the upper left sleeve via coarse period stitching. This authentic bronze shield commemorates the division’s crucial role under Manstein in the historic siege and storming of Sevastopol (1941-1942).
• The Award Loops: The breast pockets feature 6 original hand-tailored thread loops on the left for his extensive combat awards (Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, Infantry Assault Badge, and the Ostmedaille), and 2 dedicated heavy loops on the right pocket specifically for his Deutsches Kreuz in Gold.

MILITARY CAREER & HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY

• 1922–1934: Fedor Johannes Alfred Apelt (Born October 14, 1904, in Zittau) started his professional military path as a Reichswehr volunteer in the 10. (Sächsisches) Infanterie-Regiment, earning promotions to Unteroffizier (1926) and Feldwebel (1929) before receiving his officer's commission as Leutnant in 1934.
• 1939–1940: Served as an Oberleutnant and Hauptmann during the Westfeldzug (Western Campaign), earning both the Iron Cross 2nd Class (May 27, 1940) and 1st Class (June 8, 1940) in rapid succession.
• 1941–1942 (The Crimea Campaign & This Tunic): Promoted to Major, he took active command of the III. Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 32. He led his men through the relentless siege of Sevastopol under Von Manstein, earning the Infantry Assault Badge (October 20, 1941), the German Cross in Gold (March 12, 1942), and the Crimea Shield (December 30, 1942). On October 1, 1942, he was promoted to Oberstleutnant, at which point this specific tunic received its single-pip shoulder strap upgrade.
• 1943–1944 (The Knight's Cross & Novgorod Defenses): Reaching the rank of Oberst on May 1, 1943, he was given command of Grenadier-Regiment 102. He orchestrated a legendary, heroic breakout for his surrounded troops west of Novgorod in January 1944. For this outstanding battlefield leadership, he was awarded the coveted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on February 8, 1944.
• August 17, 1944 (Wounded in Action): During the fierce and chaotic defensive retreat near Laudona (Latvia), Oberst Apelt was severely wounded by enemy fire. His injuries were so catastrophic that field surgeons had to amputate his entire right arm. For this severe trauma, he was awarded the Wound Badge in Gold and transferred to the OKH officer reserve, ending his active frontline service.
• Post-War Life: Captured by Allied forces in 1945, Apelt survived the war and subsequent captivity. He later rebuilt a peaceful civilian life in the historical garrison town of Bückeburg (Lower Saxony), where he remained a highly respected figure within veteran circles until his death on April 15, 1988, at the age of 83.
Condition-wise, this tunic is an honest, combat-proven masterpiece. The interior silk lining is heavily weathered from intensive deployment but remains structurally perfect and completely undamaged. The exterior wool is entirely free from modern alterations or moth damage, showing only a few tiny, authentic period burn holes near the lower trim—unmistakable field wear from frontline campfires or stoves.

Accompanied by a crystal-clear, original wartime portrait photograph of Fedor Apelt, providing absolute, ironclad provenance to this museum-grade ensemble.
Note: The officer's leather belt shown in the overview photograph is for display purposes only and is not included, but a wide selection of original Wehrmacht field gear is available elsewhere on our site.

• Officer: Oberstleutnant (later Oberst) Fedor Apelt (Ritterkreuzträger & DKiG)
• Unit: III./Infanterie-Regiment 32 (24. Infanterie-Division)
• Material: Heavy Officer Tricot Wool
• Insignia: 100% original, hand-applied silver bullion and bronze Krimschild
• Provenance: Fully named internal label & original wartime portrait photograph included