Militaria

An Imperial German Aviators Honour Goblet (Ehren Pokal) attributed to Leutnant H. Baldamus. Imperial German Ehren Pokal, 1st model, 194mm high x 96mm diameter, produced in 800 silver with gilded interior, the lower section within the silver casting  Dem Sieger im Luftkampfer’ [translates as ‘The Winner in Air Combat’], with German silver content marking on the circular section below the bowl, and cast on the underside of the base in relief a Prussian national eagle with the text ’Chef des Feldflugwesens’ and a star all within a double border. This goblet is absolutely superb, they were never officially engraved although later privately engraved versions are known, extremely good condition £6,000-£8,000 --- Provenance: Sold by family descent. Hartmuth Baldamus was born in Dresden on 10 August 1891, and served during the Great War initially with Feldflieger Abteilung 20 (Field Flyer Detachment 20) from 29 March 1915, flying two-seater reconnaissance airplanes. Commissioned Leutnant on 20 September 1915, he scored his first aerial victory on 29 July 1916, with his fifth confirmed victory arriving on 29 July 1916. Unusually, having become an ‘Ace’ before being assigned to a Fighter Squadron, he was posted to Jagdstaffel 5 (Fighter Squadron 5) on 27 August 1916, flying fighters from this date, and then transferred to Jagdstaffel 9 in November 1916. By the end of the year he had increased his tally to 9 victories, and on 8 January 1917 was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Swords of the Royal Hohenzollern House Order. Baldamus recorded his 17th victory on 12 April 1917. Two days later, on 14 April, he was involved in a mid-air collision with a French Nieuport 17. Both planes crashed to the ground near Sainte-Marie-à-Py, resulting in Baldamus’ death, in what was ultimately his 18th victory. Sold together with some contemporary documentation, family photographs, and a letter of provenance.