A silver goblet, thought to be from the personal collection of Hermann Göring (1893-1946), has been donated to the National Collection by Joseph Said, a former chairman of Heritage Malta. 

Göring, head of Hitler's Luftwaffe in the second world war, owned a remarkable silver collection part of which was kept at his fabulous country estate, Carinhall.   

The goblet was awarded to the Luftwaffe bomber pilot, Joachim Helbig (1915-1985) a recipient of the Knights Cross. For the purposes of the award the mid-19th century goblet was decorated with a silver wreath of oak leaves with a Luftwaffe eagle clutching a swastika. On the back, the inscription in German reads "Dedicated toMajor Jochen Helbig on 28.9.42 through Reichsmarshall and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Goring" was engraved. The base of the goblet was also engraved with the conventional Luftwaffe honour (translated) "For Great Success in the Air War 1942".

On the date of the award Helbig also received his Swords to the Knights Cross. He was a bomber pilot and is credited with the destruction of 182,000 gross register tons of Allied shipping accomplished in 480 flown missions.

He participated in the invasions of Norway, Belgium and France and was subsequently posted to the Mediterranean where he operated bombing missions against Malta and in support of the Afrikakorps. He became the 20th recipient of the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. 

This historic artefact will be permanently displayed at the World War II sections of the National War Museum at Fort St Elmo.