Italo-German Africa Campaign Medal & Bernhard Hessing Documents 1942–43

Description

The Italo-German Africa Campaign Medal offered here forms part of an unusually coherent three-piece North African campaign grouping connected to Bernhard Hessing. The group consists of the campaign medal with its characteristic multicoloured ribbon, a named 1942 possession certificate for that same medal, and a second named document dated 1 May 1943 awarding Hessing the Ärmelband Afrika campaign cuff title.

What makes the group particularly interesting from a collector’s point of view is the relationship between the two documents. On the earlier certificate, dated 27 May 1942 in Africa, Hessing is recorded as an Unteroffizier. On the later Ärmelband Afrika document he appears as Feldwebel Bernhard Hessing, giving the group a clear chronological continuity and documenting his promotion during his North African service.

Italo-German Africa Campaign Medal and 1942 Certificate

The first award document is a Besitzurkunde issued to Unteroffizier Bernhard Hessing on 27 May 1942 for the Erinnerungsmedaille für den italienisch-deutschen Feldzug in Afrika.

The unit line appears to place Hessing with the Nachrichtenflugkommando / Luftnachrichten-Regiment (mot.) Afrika, connecting him with the Luftwaffe communications organisation operating in the North African theatre. Records relating to the Flugkommando Luftnachrichten-Regiment Afrika survive in specialist wartime unit documentation, while the Bundesarchiv specifically lists archival material relating to Luftnachrichten formations and Luftwaffe communications operations in North Africa.

The accompanying medal is the correct type for this certificate. Its design was intended to represent the Italian-German military alliance in North Africa. One face shows the Arco dei Fileni, flanked by German and Italian political symbols, with the campaign title written in German and Italian. The opposite face depicts two armed figures restraining a crocodile, a period allegory representing Britain. The distinctive ribbon combines the national colours of Germany and Italy.

The medal shown here has a grey, aged surface with clear relief detail and an extensively aged original-style ribbon. The surviving finish, metal composition and exact production variant would ideally be confirmed through an in-hand examination rather than asserted from photographs alone.

Importantly, although this is exactly the correct medal for Hessing’s 1942 certificate, the medal itself is not named. For that reason, it is more accurate to state that the medal corresponds to the named award document rather than claiming that its physical issue to Hessing can be independently proven.

The 1943 Ärmelband Afrika Document

The second document records another important North African campaign award. Dated 1 May 1943, it awards the Ärmelband Afrika to Feldwebel Bernhard Hessing.

The Ärmelband Afrika was formally instituted on 15 January 1943 as a campaign distinction for personnel who had served in North Africa. Unlike the earlier Afrikakorps formation cuff title, the later Afrika band was an award rather than simply a unit designation and could be granted across the armed services to qualifying personnel.

The date is particularly interesting. A surviving original certificate of the same design, also issued on 1 May 1943, is documented with the Oberbefehlshaber Süd format and Major Pfeffer administrative signature. The North African campaign was then in its final phase; the remaining Axis forces in Tunisia surrendered later that month.

Hessing’s certificate names Albert Kesselring in his capacity as Oberbefehlshaber Süd. It should not, however, be marketed as a handwritten Kesselring autograph. The period administrative format used a Kesselring authority/facsimile format together with the handwritten validation of the responsible staff officer.

Historical Context

The Italian-German Africa campaign medal was created during 1942 for service connected with the North African campaign. According to the Deutsches Panzermuseum, it existed in bronze and silvered forms and was awarded to both Italian and German personnel who met the relevant service criteria. The same museum notes that German wear of the decoration was later withdrawn following the breakdown of the German-Italian alliance, with the formal prohibition appearing in 1944.

The wider North African campaign generated comparatively distinctive documentation because personnel served across Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine and specialist communications and transport formations. The Bundesarchiv maintains substantial holdings relating to the campaign, including material from Luftwaffe units, the Luftnachrichten service and the personal papers of commanders such as Kesselring and Rommel.

Collector’s Interest

From a collector’s point of view, the strongest element here is the same-recipient continuity.

Rather than three unrelated Africa pieces, the documents tell a small but coherent story:

Bernhard Hessing — Unteroffizier — Africa medal — May 1942

followed by:

Bernhard Hessing — Feldwebel — Ärmelband Afrika — May 1943

This makes the group more attractive than a loose medal and unrelated documents. Both dates fall directly within the North African campaign, and the later rank provides evidence of Hessing’s progression during the intervening year.

The combination should appeal particularly to collectors of German campaign awards, Luftwaffe documentation, North African campaign material, named document groups and WWII medal-and-paper sets.

Condition and Authenticity

The medal displays substantial age patina and finish loss while retaining clear design detail. The ribbon shows fading, wear and fraying consistent with prolonged age and handling.

The two documents show normal period storage and handling, including fold lines, filing holes and age-related marks. Printed details, typed recipient information, stamps and signatures remain clearly visible.

The pieces are offered as original period historical collectibles, with authenticity guaranteed by the seller. The physical medal is the correct type corresponding to Hessing’s 1942 award certificate; because the medal itself is unnamed, however, no claim is made that its individual issue to Hessing can be independently proven.

Photographs form an important part of the condition description.

HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY NOTICE

This item is offered exclusively as a historical, documentary and collecting object. Autographs & Militaria has no political or ideological affiliation with the regimes, organisations or individuals represented by the material.

Deutsches Panzermuseum Munster — anchor: Italo-German Africa Campaign Medal — excellent source for the medal’s design, institution and historical context. Deutsches Panzermuseum medal reference

Bundesarchiv — anchor: German North African campaign archives — useful institutional reference for the campaign, Luftwaffe material and surviving unit records. Bundesarchiv Afrikafeldzug research guide

PRODUCT FAQ / AI SEARCH

Is this the correct medal for Bernhard Hessing’s 1942 certificate?

Yes. The medal shown is the correct Medaille für den italienisch-deutschen Feldzug in Afrika specified on Hessing’s certificate dated 27 May 1942. Because medals of this type are not individually named, the surviving certificate establishes Hessing’s entitlement but cannot by itself prove that this exact physical medal was the one originally handed to him.

Do both documents belong to the same soldier?

Both are named to Bernhard Hessing. He appears as an Unteroffizier in May 1942 and as a Feldwebel in May 1943, making the two documents internally consistent as a same-person grouping.

What is the second 1943 certificate for?

It is a Besitzurkunde for the Ärmelband Afrika, the German campaign cuff title instituted in January 1943 for qualifying service in North Africa.

Is the 1943 document signed by Albert Kesselring?

It was issued under Kesselring’s authority as Oberbefehlshaber Süd, but it should not be sold as a handwritten Kesselring autograph. This type of document used an administrative Kesselring format with validation by a staff officer; comparable 1 May 1943 examples are associated with Major Pfeffer.

Why is the grouping more collectible than the medal alone?

The two named documents place the recipient in the North African campaign in both 1942 and 1943 and record a promotion from Unteroffizier to Feldwebel. That personal continuity gives the group considerably more documentary interest than an anonymous medal by itself.

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