A Silver Cigarette Case presented to the Imperial German Nav...

Estimate

£800 - £900

A Silver Cigarette Case presented to the Imperial German Naval Ace “Theodore Osterkampmein” Although initially turned down for regular service due his frail build, Osterkamp joined the Marinefliegerkorps as an observer in 1914, trained as a pilot and became the first to fly a reconnaissance-mission over England. On 21 March 1917, Leutnant Osterkamp took command of Marine Feld Jagdstaffel 2, scoring a total of 32 victories by the end of the war. He was one of the last to be awarded the Prussian military order Pour le Mérite (The Blue Max) on the 2nd September 1918. This cigarette Case was a gift to him from fellow Officers in his Sqn. He went on to win a Knights cross in WW2, but that is another story.