GERMAN WWII GENERAL DER FLIEGER JOHANNES FINK OIL PAINTING.

An extremely well executed oil painting in its original period frame of General Der Flieger Johannes Fink. Half bust and head, hatless image 58 x 44cm without frame, 76 x 61 framed. Signed at the base in oil on card, Fink wearing the rare Gala uniform of a Luftwaffe General with the large white collars, General’s collar patches and shoulder boards, gold General’s breast eagle, gold buttons with Knight Cross at neck. Some age crazing to the oil overall with two light scratches to the very edge of the oil close to his right hand ear, otherwise the painting is in perfect order. The nails holding the painting into the frame at the reverse side are rusty indicating it has never been out of this frame. A very impressive painting of a well known Knights Cross Winner Luftwaffe General and an ideal item for a Luftwaffe backdrop in a collection. Johannes Fink born March 1895, died June 1981, a highly decorated General Der Flieger in the Luftwaffe during WWII, educational degree as an engineer, was captured by British troops in April 45 and was released in 1948. A soldier during WWI, he was awarded the Iron Crosses 1st and 2nd class, the Wurttemberg Military Merit Order in 1918, the Wound Badge in black 1914. The Third Reich awarded Honour Cross of the First World War 1914-18 awarded 1935, the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class 1939, the German Cross in gold October 1944 but interesting the Knights Cross to the Iron Cross on the 20th June 1940 earlier than the award of the German Cross as Colonel and Commander of Kampf Geschwader No.2. Johannes Fink whilst Commander of Kampf Geschwader 2 led this group throughout the Battle of Britain, on the 13th August 1940 KG2 led by Johannes Fink took off to attack targets in southern Britain. Fink was a career soldier from service in WWI in 1914 right through to 1945 without a break. Whilst as a prisoner of war with the British he was held at Special Camp 11 in South Wales along with many other high ranking armed forces officers, some years ago we at Regimentals managed to obtain a large amount of Luftwaffe, Army and Kriegsmarine insignia taken from the high ranking officers at Special Camp 11, there were included many Luftwaffe Generals pieces of insignia and although we could never identify where they came from some may have been from Johannes Fink. After his service in the Battle of Britain he had various roles within the Luftwaffe, which included Commander of the 2nd Flieger Division in southern France, Commanding General of the Luftwaffe in Greece, Commanding General of the 2nd Flieger Corps, a highly capable officer and a great work of art.

Code: 82033