Historical Collection

Original German wartime letter dated 5 February 1941 from Dr. Ing. Otto Reuleaux of Vereinigte Leichtmetall-Werke, Hannover-Linden, to Obermeister J. Vaassen at the Leichtmetall-Büro Paris. The letter concerns the award and dispatch of a Kriegsverdienstkreuz, refers to a Luftwaffe presentation by Major von Unger and remarkably mentions a separate award certificate “signed by the Führer.” Hand-signed in ink by Reuleaux.

Original 1941 Wehrmacht booklet, Tornisterschrift Heft 53, “Schlag nach über die Sowjetunion”, marked “Nur für den Gebrauch innerhalb der Wehrmacht”. A compact reference on the Soviet Union’s territory, population, state, armed forces, economy and history, as presented to German soldiers in 1941.

Matched pair of original WWII psychological-warfare leaflets: an Allied Passierschein / Safe Conduct pass coded US/GB-ZG61A.1944, with the printed facsimile signature of General Eisenhower, and the German “Dear Friends” counter-propaganda version that imitated it and rewrote its message.

Original 1942 Kriegsmarine promotion patent issued to Korvettenkapitän Johannes Schur, promoting him to Fregattenkapitän effective 1 April 1942. The document is dated Führerhauptquartier, 15 April 1942, bears a facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler and an original handwritten signature of Großadmiral Erich Raeder. Accompanied by its official presentation folder and an original August 1942 forwarding letter from the Küstenschutzflottille Ostland.

Original Second World War Italian-German Africa Campaign Medal with its period ribbon. A commemorative decoration of the joint campaign in North Africa, associated with the Afrika Korps and the desert war. Darkened patina and aged ribbon.

Original Second World War Italian-German Africa Campaign Medal with its period ribbon. A commemorative decoration of the joint campaign in North Africa between 1941 and 1943, associated with the Afrika Korps and the desert war. Attractive aged patina.

Original award certificate dated Berlin, 30 January 1944, conferring the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse on Reichsbahnsekretär Eduard Weber of Oebisfelde. It bears the period facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler beneath “Der Führer” and a handwritten countersignature at lower right. A named railway-administration award document.

Original award certificate dated Berlin, 1 September 1941, conferring the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse on Franz Plschockt of Hamburg, recorded as an Aushilfsheizer. It bears the period facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler beneath “Der Führer” and further period countersignatures.

War Merit Cross 2nd Class without Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ohne Schwerter), dated 1939, with a good length of its red, white and black ribbon. Bronze-toned finish with attractive natural patina and clear details.

War Merit Cross 2nd Class without Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ohne Schwerter), dated 1939, with its red, white and black ribbon. Distinctive dark grey-brown patina with strong surviving detail; untouched.

War Merit Cross 2nd Class without Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1939 2. Klasse ohne Schwerter) with bronze-toned finish, clear 1939 reverse and a good length of red, white and black ribbon fitted with a pin.

Original WWII German War Merit Cross 2nd Class Without Swords, dated 1939. Period German decoration featuring the central swastika on the obverse and 1939 date on the reverse. Well-preserved textured surfaces with visible age, patina and wear, offered exactly as photographed.

Seven German badges and tinnies of the 1930s, including a large Reichsparteitag 1936 badge, a 1933 badge with stylised eagle, smaller eagle and geometric designs and a miniature axe-shaped badge. Visible age, patina and a variety of pin systems.

Six German insignia of the 1930s and war years: a large silver-coloured visor-cap wreath and cockade of Luftwaffe form, two enamelled veterans’ association badges marked 25 and 40, a 1934 Tag der Arbeit commemorative badge, an eagle badge and a small circular insignia.

Original WWII-era German “Meine Dienstzeit” military photo album containing approximately 160 period black-and-white photographs, including around 88 military images related to the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, uniforms, winter service, military groups, technical subjects and wartime graves, together with numerous private photographs.

Dark brown album with silver Meine Dienstzeit lettering and applied metal Stahlhelm decoration. An extensive visual archive documenting German military and everyday life around the Second World War.

NSDAP political armband (Armbinde) of multi-piece textile construction: red band with a separately applied white roundel and black central emblem. Stitching visible on the reverse. Period wear, creasing and tonal variation to the red cloth.

Two original WWII German newspapers dated 1939 and 1941: a Völkischer Beobachter Norddeutsche Ausgabe and Chemnitzer Tageszeitung. Period wartime press with front-page headlines, photographs, advertisements and extensive original content.

Original WWII German Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter 3rd Class in Bronze, commonly known as the Mother’s Cross or Mutterkreuz. Second-pattern example with blue and white enamel, period blue-white ribbon and the 16 December 1938 reverse with facsimile signature.

Varied lot of period German insignia: RLB and DAF stickpins, ribbon bars with miniature devices, button-mounted ribbons, a veterans’ or association badge, a miniature combination stickpin and a WHW “Das Deutsche Lied” miniature song booklet. A cross-section of the small badges worn in German civilian and veteran life in the 1930s and 1940s.

Original WWII-era German private scrapbook containing numerous mounted wartime newspaper and magazine clippings, period photographic images, portraits and handwritten biographical notes focused on Luftwaffe personalities and the North African campaign, including material naming Werner Mölders, Erwin Rommel and Herbert Ihlefeld.

Iron Cross 2nd Class 1939 (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, EK2) with its black, white and red ribbon. Dark core, silver-coloured frame with beaded inner border, 1939 obverse and 1813 reverse, natural patina. Ribbon worn and frayed.