Luftwaffe General Rudolf Bogatsch signature on a War Merit 2nd Class (Swords) citation. The citation to Oberwachtmeister Paul Blome with Flak-Regt.18. Citation dated 11.6.1941. Good ink signature of Bogatsch.

Condition report:Two folds. File holes. Some  

Rarity status (Up to 10 rarest): 5/10.

Background to Rudlof Bogatsch: Rudolf Bogatsch joined the Imperial German Army on 19th March 1910 as a Fahnenjunker. On 18th August 1911 he was promoted to Leutnant. In early 1915, he was then appointed department aide in his regiment. From the beginning of March 1915 he was battery leader in the 1st Silesian Field Artillery Regiment "von Peucker" No. 6.

At the beginning of the autumn of 1917, Bogatsch received various commands to other units before he joined the staff service. On August 18, 1918, he was promoted to captain. At the end of the war he was then deployed to the General Staff. During the First World War, he was awarded next to both Iron Crosses with other medals.

After the war, Bogatsch continued in service with the Reichsheer. By October 1, 1926, Bogatsch was appointed Chief of the 3rd Battery of the 1st (Preuß.) Artillery Regiment in Insterburg. He then held this position for more than three years. On February 1, 1930, he was then promoted to Major simultaneously with the Reich Ministry of Defense (RWM) in Berlin.

In June 1933 Bogatsch was appointed head of the department LA IV. He was responsible for the anti-aircraft and civil air defence. In the summer of 1933 he was then appointed Chief of Staff of the still secret inspection of the flak artillery. In the expansion of the Reichswehr to the Wehrmacht he was appointed on October 1, 1934 commander of the driving department Berlin-Lankwitz.

On April 1, 1935 he was taken with simultaneous promotion to colonel in the Air Force. On February 1, 1939 Bogatsch was appointed General of the Air Force at the Commander in Chief of the Army. At the same time he was also commander of the Army Aviation and Flak Associations. On March 20, 1942 Bogatsch was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. At the end of March 1944 Bogatsch commanded the air fleet Reich .

At the beginning of May 1945 Bogatsch was taken prisoner by the Allies. He was released in the spring of 1946.