Beware the Burgdorf

Wilhelm Burgdorf was born February 15, 1895 in Furstenwalde/Spree. He served as an officer in both WWI and in the Reichswehr. He was promoted to Oberstleutnant August 1, 1938; to Oberst September 1, 1940; to Generalmajor October 1, 1942; to Generalleutnant October 1, 1943; to General der Infanterie November 1, 1944. Most of his military career was spent in administrative positions. So, why would any collector today care about a paper pusher? Burgdorf's signature appears most frequently on Knight's Cross preliminary documents for Army recipients.

As of late, there has been a rash of "bad" Burgdorf signatures appearing on supposed original Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross, Oakleaves to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and other high award documents that were awarded by the Heerespersonalamt. There has even been a Burgdorf signature spotted on a Luftwaffe recipient's Knight's Cross preliminary document. Every knowledgeable collector knows the Army Personnel Office never made Air Force awards. If a collector is forewarned and knowledgeable about the specific signers on preliminary Knight's Cross award documents, then he won't be fooled by an altered or fake document.

Fortunately, whoever has attempted to imitate Burgdorf's signature on award documents has not done his homework (isn't that almost always the case?). One document dated September 1943 has a bold Burgdorf signature with "Generalieutnant" preprinted on the document, beneath his signature. Burgdorf became a Generalleutnant on October 1, 1943. At the time of this signature he was a Generalmajor. The only Generalleutnant in the Heerespersonalamt in September 1943, was Rudolf Schmundt. Another preliminary document for the Knight's Cross has a 1941 date and also a Burgdorf signature as a Generalleutnant. In 1941 Burgdorf was an Oberst and was not even working in the Army Personnel office! That document should have been signed by Bodewin Keitel, who at the time was the only Generalleutnant working in the Heerespersonalamt. Burgdorf didn't come to Army Personnel until May 1, 1942.

Burgdorf's rank and position should always be correct for the date on the award document. Even if the award was made postumously, it wouldn't effect Burgdorf's signature or position. (Nor would it have any effect on the document itself. There is no such thing as a special form for a posthumous award of the Knight's Cross.)

This June 23, 1944 Burgdorf signature appears' on an award of the Oakleaves to the KC of the IC preliminary document. At that time he was a Generalleutnant and still an assistant to Rudolf Schmundt.

This September 15, 1944 Burgdorf signature appears on a posthumous Iron Cross First Class award document. At the time he was still a Gereralleutnant and 16 days away from assuming the position of the Chief of Army Personnel. The signature is a little less open than others, but the letters are still readable, the tail of the "g" remains a straight line and the "u" remains over the "U".

Aside from the rank and position, the signature itself should be scrutinized. The newly done signatures are easily recognizable as "Burgdorf'. However, that's where the similarities end. Wilhelm Burgdorf signed in black ink and with a fine point pen. Most of the newly done Burgdorf signatures have been done with a wide point (felt-tip looking) black pen. Original signatures have distinct open characters. A collector can easily read each letter. The newly done signatures have closed letters, which makes it a little difficult to discern each letter. The tail of the "g" is almost always a straight horizontal line on original signatures. It is almost always arched on the new ones. And, the biggest give-away? Burgdorf always put a "U" shaped line over the "u" in his name. It's a straight line on all the newly done signatures.

Could Burgdorf have signed these after the war, perhaps as an old man? Nope! He died in May of 1945. Armed with a little knowledge, the collector who wants to buy a Knight's Cross preliminary document should not be apprehensive. There are still original, unaltered documents to be found.

Emilie Caldwell Stewart, "Beware the Burgdorf", Der Gauleiter, 1993