WW2 Elite German Trench Art 20th Volunteers 1st Estonian Trench Art Box RARE
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:43171282 | germany ww2 trench art: german wwII elite |
WW2 Elite German 20th Volunteers (1st Estonian) Division Trench Art box. Made from aluminum this hinged box is 3" (7 cm) by 2" (5 cm) by 1/2" (1 cm) and neatly carved on the front with the Roman numerals XX (20) and the Estonian Crest - 3 Lions - and what looks like the soldier's initials (L or I and R). The box has neat decorations around the edge on the front, back and sides which obviously took a lot of skill and patience. The back is carved to look li...ke an envelope, though this is more crudely done. Written on the back is ..-FELDPOST and more lightly underneath the numbers 11131, perhaps the feldpost number, as well as the name TOILA. The crude nature of writing makes me think it was done in a hurry or added later.
Toila is an Estonian town that has a large WW2 German cemetery, and was located near the heavy fighting during the Battle(s) of Narva and the Tannenburg Line. Some units of the 20th were sent to Toila for refitting during the fighting as well. Toila may also be the soldiers home town.
The 20th division was officially formed as a Grenadier Division on January 23, 1944 and fought until German forces withdrew from Estonia. Estonian soldiers were permitted to stay to defend their homes joining local Estonian units, though up to 11, 000 chose to withdraw with the Germans, reforming the Division (with some 2, 500 or so Germans) and going back into action in February 1945.
This is a unique and amazing piece of history to a rare unit of World War 2 and is in great overall condition, with only a few small dings and nicks that testify to the life it has seen.
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Toila is an Estonian town that has a large WW2 German cemetery, and was located near the heavy fighting during the Battle(s) of Narva and the Tannenburg Line. Some units of the 20th were sent to Toila for refitting during the fighting as well. Toila may also be the soldiers home town.
The 20th division was officially formed as a Grenadier Division on January 23, 1944 and fought until German forces withdrew from Estonia. Estonian soldiers were permitted to stay to defend their homes joining local Estonian units, though up to 11, 000 chose to withdraw with the Germans, reforming the Division (with some 2, 500 or so Germans) and going back into action in February 1945.
This is a unique and amazing piece of history to a rare unit of World War 2 and is in great overall condition, with only a few small dings and nicks that testify to the life it has seen.
Email questions
