OTTO DESSLOCH (1889 - 1977) German Luftwaffe general and recipient of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. Dessloch commanded Luftwaffe units in the Eastern Front, as well as an air unit which avenged the liberation of Paris by bombing the city destroying civilian targets and killing 200 French civilians in September 1944. Scarce war-date D.S., 4pp. legal folio, Mar. 7, 1944, his approval of the awarding of the German Cross in Gold to Luftwaffe Ju 87 pilot Lothar Darstow, then serving with Stukageschwader 3 in Russia. A summary of Darstow's achievements which was ultimately sent to Hermann Goring mentions Darstow's destruction of T-52 and T-34 tanks, AA positions, and: "destruction of many trucks...loaded with ammunition...a direct hit on a temporary bridge...that was vital for Soviet operations...two direct hits on a tight group of attacking tanks...a pill-box...attacked by an Aircobra...able to shoot it down..." Also signed twice by the pilot's group commander. File holes and stains at left margin, else very good. Darstow would receive his award in March, 1944.