Ernst Udet PLM!

Hi again,

What do you guys think about this one?

Ernst Udet - Pour le mérite.

Display item 1928, present of the jewellers and medal makers Hemmerle Brothers in Munich, Maximilianstr. 41 for Ernst Udet. Bronze, fire-gilded. In the original Hemmerle case. With it comes a letter of the jewellers dated March 20th, 1928 dealing with the sending of the medal (transl.): "Dear Udet! In spring 1918 you came to our shop and asked for a "Pour le mérite" we unfortunately did not have in stock. Today, almost exactly 10 years later, the same thing again! Lest you don't have to look for your lost P.l.M. in the deep snow of the Zugspitze plateau, we can only provide you with this display item ..." In addition to the mentioned objects (i.e. medal, case, letter) a repair invoice of the Hemmerle Brothers, a commemorative sheet of Fighter Squadron 4 on the occasion of the bestowal of the Pour le mérite on April 9th, 1918 with two cigars, the inside with the order of the menu served during the award-giving ceremony, and a humorous watercolour painting.
Udet lay wounded in a Munich military hospital, when the P.l.m. was bestowed upon him on April 9th, 1918. Due to the fact that he wanted to wear it immediately, he turned to the Brothers Hemmerle, who were not able to supply him with the medal. In 1928 he lost his P.l.m., an equivalent replacement could not be provided immediately by Hemmerle.
With it comes a proof of origin. Cf. Hermann Historica, auction 36, 17. October 1998, lot 6264.

Condition: II Limit: 1700 EURO

Highly collectable if it is all true.

regards,

Darren

[rammjaeger]

Udet was not wounded but sick in April 1918 (ear suppurated).

In his book "Mein Fliegerleben" he reports he wanted the wear the award immediately therefore he asked a juweler on the Theatiner Straße (not Maximilianstr.) but this shop did not have the award. Finally the award came from a juweler in Berlin.

Udet may have asked Hemmerle too in 1918 but it is not reported in his book.

[redalb2253]

"Pretty medal the Blue Max"

If anyone is interested, the Udet PLM sold for a mere 5400 Euro. Nice piece at a great price.

regards,

Darren