WH (Heer) Award Document Grouping to Unteroffizier 'Arno Benzel', he was a member within the '5./Panzer-Regiment 29'. The Panzer-Regiment 29 was formed on 1 October 1940 in Sagan. Upon formation, the regiment was part of the 12th Panzer Division and remained so throughout its existence. The 12th Panzer Division participated in Operation Barbarossa, taking part in the drive towards Leningrad. Suffering heavy casualties during the Soviet counter offensive in the winter of 1941–42, the division was withdrawn to Estonia for a refit. It remained with Army Group North for the most part of the war except for a brief spell south while participating in the battle of Kursk in July 1943 and the following defensive operations and retreat after the German failure. The division returned to the northern sector in January 1944 but came too late to play any role in the unsuccessful German efforts to prevent the Siege of Leningrad from being broken by the Red Army. It was eventually entrapped in the Courland Pocket after the successful Soviet offensive in July 1944, Operation Bagration. The regiment participated in the six Battles of Courland, alternating between the 16th and 18th Armies. Soon after the enemy breakthrough to the Baltic Sea began on October 10, the regiment was forced to extend its front to Moscheiken. In mid-October, the regiment repelled the enemy offensive on the Moscheiken-Libau railway near Vainode. On 20 October, it was relieved and marched to the area northwest of Autz. On 27 October, it was thrown into the First Battle of Courland just north of Autz. The heavy fighting lasted until mid-November. After these first Courland battles Arno was awarded the Panzer Assault Badge for 50 Panzer Assaults. The enemy failed to break through to Frauenburg. The regiment (along with the rest of the division) capitulated in Courland on 9 May 1945. The grouping is consisting of 8 Award-Documents (Urkunden), each at (DIN) A5 size. 

The following Award Documents have been awarded to Arno:

• 1 November 1939 - 1 October 1938 Medal
• 1 April 1942 - Panzer Assault Badge in Silver
• 1 August 1942 - German Eastern Front Medal (Ostmedaille)
• 13 March 1944 - Iron Cross 2nd Class
• 22 August 1944 - Panzer Assault Badge in Silver for 25 Assaults
• 8 November 1944 - Iron Cross 1st Class
• 14 November 1944 - Panzer Assault Badge in Silver for 50 Assaults
• 14 November 1944 - Wound Badge in Black

Extremely rare and impressive group, a true piece of history!