WWII Named Luftwaffe Ehrenpokal Honor Goblet

The goblet was awarded to Leutnant Gerhard Berthold, a bomber pilot who flew missions over England before being transferred to combat operations on the eastern front. The award date on the goblet is “28.4.42”, or April 28, 1942. The goblet is an “Alpaka” example, standing approximately 8 inches tall and with a diameter of approximately 3 3/4 inches at the top. The goblet has a dark, uncleaned patina and is in excellent condition, without dents of cracks.

Gerhard Berthold was born 12/11/21, promoted to Leutnant 4/1/41; on 4/28/42, as a pilot he was awarded the Honor Goblet;  on 7/27/42 he was awarded the German Cross as a member of 8./KG 1 and listed as MIA as a member of III./KG1 in the vicinity of Kholm on 8/1/44.  The Luftwaffe units 8/KG 1 and III./KG1 flew Ju 88 bombers.

In early April of 1941 KG 1 took part in bombing raids on Birmingham , Poole, Liverpool, Bristol and Glasgow. Mid to late April bombing Coventry , Birmingham, London, Liverpool and Plymouth . On the night of April 19/20 1941, KG 1 participated in an attack on London by 712 aircraft.  In May, III./KG1 raided Great Yarmouth, Hull, Woodley, Newcastle, Nottingham, Upper Heyford, Watton, Sutton Bridge, Ipswitch, Lowestoft, Harwich, Dover and Manchester.

KG 1 was relocated East Prussia in early June 1941 to support the attack of Army Group North into the Soviet Union. III Gruppe was heavily involved in operations. It bombed Soviet airfields at Ventspils, Liepaja, Jelgava and Riga from 27–28 June. From 1–4 July it bombed Soviet troop concentrations at Jelgava and over southern Latvia. After the capture of Jelgava it moved there on 5 July to support attacks on airfields in Estonia. The group also interdicted rail lines between Lake Ilmen and Lake Peipus.  In September of 1941 KG 1 participated in bombing operations on the city of Leningrad an on 8 September, 27 Ju 88s dropped 6, 327 incendiary bombs, starting 183 fires. Bombing commenced around the clock, a systematic attempt to destroy the city.  Continuing on the Eastern Front KG/1 participated in many notable operations including the Demyansk and  Kholm Pockets.