Showing 1–9 of 80 resultsSorted by latest
-
Original WWII German General Gause Photo Album – Rommel Inspection Denmark 1943 – Sabotage Troops – Atlantic Wall – Hanstholm – Very Rare Images
$5,130.00Extremely Rare Images of Rommel In Denmark Taken By General Gause.
-
WWII Waffen SS Soldbuch Group – SS-Rottenführer Affeldt – SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment 5 “Thule” – Shot in the Face – Captured 1945 – Extremely Rare
$2,150.00Here we have a very interesting SS Soldbuch issued in May 1942 with the Replacement unit (Ersatz) SS Polizei Infanterie Regiment 3 in Holland/Netherlands – s-Hertogenbosch to: Kurt Affeldt (Born 1924 – Died 2012) from Steinhagen, Westfahlen Germany. In his civilian lifer before the war he was a Maschine Engineer/Worker. Units served in: SS Polizei Infanterie Regiment 3 SS Schutzen Regiment 3 The SS Polizei Infanterie Regiment 3 was formed on September 18, 1939, during the formation of the Police Division from militarily trained members of the Order Police. After being assembled and spending three months at the Wandern military training area, the regiment was deployed to the Upper Rhine at the end of February 1940. During the French campaign, the regiment was deployed in June 1940 to storm the Argonne Forest and cross the Ardennes Canal. The fighting for the heights of Rilly and Voncq on June 9 and 10 was particularly fierce. After the fighting ended, the regiment remained in France as an occupation force. Older men were exchanged for younger recruits. From mid-June 1941, the regiment was relocated to East Prussia. On June 30, 1941, the regiment crossed the Lithuanian border and followed the army units northeast. On July 14, it crossed the Daugava River near Dryssa. On the night of July 24, it crossed Ostrow. On August 1, 1941, the regiment moved to capture the key position at Luga. After suffering heavy losses, the regiment ceased its attacks and on August 22, 1941, moved southwest past Sopolje to attack the flank of the Russian positions. To avoid encirclement, the Red Army evacuated the city on September 1, 1941. After breaking through the Russian defenses, the regiment took part in the encirclement of Leningrad and subsequently remained in the Leningrad area. By order of February 10, 1942, the regiment was transferred from the Ordnungspolizei to the Waffen-SS on February 24, 1942, and renamed SS Police Infantry Regiment 3. The regiment remained outside Leningrad for the entire year of 1942 and took part in the heavy defensive fighting there. On January 12, 1943, the Red Army began its winter offensive on the Northern Front. When Russian troops were able to break through the XXVI Army Corps stationed to the south, the SS Police Division with the SS Police Infantry Regiment 1 received orders four days later to fight to free Schlüsselburg and liberate the German troops trapped there. By November 1942 – Affeldt was shot in the face and returned to Germany for treatment. 31a – Infantry Bullet – Left Cheek. He was not released till September 1943, after which he spent some time with a replacement unit in the Netherlands (Nijmegen). By Early 1944, he was assigned to the SS Panzer Division Totenkopf Affeldt spent some time with SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 5 – “Thule” then was assigned in September to the Stab of the Wirtschafts Batl of the SS Panzer Division Totenkopf. 1944: Defensive Battles in the East January–March 1944: Retreat from the Dnieper and the Korsun Pocket Totenkopf was part of Army Group South, fighting in Ukraine. In early 1944, the division was engaged in heavy defensive battles during the Soviet Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive. It helped to relieve and later withdraw from the Korsun–Cherkassy Pocket, avoiding encirclement, though with significant losses. April–July 1944: Poland and the Kovel Sector The division pulled back into Poland, regrouping near Kovel and participating in defensive battles in Galicia. It became part of SS-Obergruppenführer Herbert Gille’s IV SS Panzer Corps, within Heeresgruppe Nordukraine. July–August 1944: Operation Bagration Aftermath The division was ordered northward as part of efforts to stop the massive Soviet Operation Bagration, which devastated Army Group Centre. Totenkopf fought defensive battles near Warsaw and Modlin, facing continuous Soviet offensives. 1944–1945: Battles in Hungary October–December 1944: Operation Panzerfaust and Debrecen Sent to Hungary, Totenkopf took part in Operation Panzerfaust, where the Germans secured control of Hungary following its attempt to exit the war. It fought in the Battle of Debrecen, part of the defense against the Soviet advance into Hungary. December 1944 – February 1945: Battle of Budapest As part of IV SS Panzer Corps, Totenkopf was one of the key divisions involved in relief operations for the encircled German and Hungarian forces in Budapest. Engaged in Operation Konrad I–III, failed attempts to break the siege of the city. Totenkopf suffered extremely heavy casualties in these operations and had to withdraw toward western Hungary. 1945: Final Battles and Surrender March 1945: Operation Frühlingserwachen (Spring Awakening) The division took part in Operation Frühlingserwachen, the last major German offensive of the war, near Lake Balaton in Hungary. Totenkopf was part of 6th SS Panzer Army, tasked with protecting the Hungarian oil fields. The offensive initially made progress but was soon repulsed by the Soviets, leading to a major retreat. April–May 1945: Retreat into Austria The division retreated through Austria, fighting rearguard actions. By April 1945, its remnants were pushed back through Styria, near Graz and Vienna. May 1945: Final Surrender On May 9, 1945, the remnants of the SS Panzer Division Totenkopf surrendered to Soviet forces near Radstadt, Austria, after Germany’s unconditional surrender (May 8). Many surviving members were taken prisoner by the Red Army. Unlike Western Allies, the Soviets dealt harshly with captured Waffen-SS troops, often regarding them as war criminals. A significant number of Totenkopf soldiers were either executed or sent to Gulag camps in the Soviet Union, where many perished. Security Stamps 20.IX.1943 – 8. Genesenden SS Grenadier Ausb u Ers Batl 4 – Stationed in Nijmegen, Netherlands 6.XII.1943 – 8. Genesenden SS Grenadier Ausb u Ers Batl 4 – Stationed in Nijmegen, Netherlands 4.III.1944 – SS Totenkopf Infanterie Regiment 1.Sept.1944 – Wirtschafts Batl – SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment Totenkopf Awards Black Wounds Badge – 28.1.1943 Silver Wounds Badge – 2.12.1943 – Awarded by the Totenkopf Inf Regiment was likely an upgrade due to the nature of his facial wound. War Merit Cross with Swords – Awarded During the Hungary Operation in Feb 1945 Last Comments A fascinating bit of…
-
WWII German Kriegsmarine “Funktagebuch” Daily Radio Dairy – U-Boat / Destroyer – Rare
$275.00A Funktagebuch (“radio logbook” in German) was a crucial document used onboard German naval vessels and U-boats during World War II. It played an essential role in recording all radio communications and associated activities, which were critical for operational security, coordination, and post-mission analysis. Purpose of the Funktagebuch: Record of Communications: All incoming and outgoing radio messages (Funkverkehr) were logged, including: Encrypted messages (Enigma) Plaintext communications Orders from high command (e.g., Befehl von BdU – “Order from U-boat Command”) Contact reports, weather reports, and distress signals Technical Logging: Times of transmission and reception (in 24-hour UTC/GMT format) Frequencies and call signs used Message identification numbers Signal strength and reception quality Security and Accountability: Ensured that messages were properly received, decoded, and acknowledged Served as an official record in case of investigation or loss of vessel Could be reviewed by Kriegsmarine command (BdU – Befehlshaber der U-Boote) for performance and procedural compliance
-
WWII German Notice Normandy – Feldkommandantur 723 Caen France – Rare
$385.00This is a bilingual German-French WWII-era notice framed under glass, issued by the German military authority in occupied France. Specifically, it comes from Feldkommandantur 723, based in Caen, Normandy. These types of notices were typically used by the German occupation forces to issue rules or proclamations to the local population during the German occupation of France. German Text (Left Side): FELDKOMMANDANTUR 723 CAEN BEKANNTMACHUNG Beschlagnahme und Wegführen der Materialien, Geräte und Einrichtungen der Strassen- und Wasserbauverwaltung sowie der für diese Verwaltung arbeitenden Unternehmer ist Streng Verboten. Der Feldkommandant. (Signature)Oberstleutnant u. Kommandant French Text (Right Side): COMMANDEMENT TERRITORIAL 723 CAEN AVIS Il est formellement interdit d’enlever les matériaux, le matériel et les installations de l’Administration des Ponts et Chaussées et de ses Entrepreneurs. Le Commandant territorial. (Signature)Oberstleutnant u. Kommandant English Translation: TERRITORIAL COMMAND 723 – CAEN NOTICE The confiscation and removal of materials, equipment, and installations belonging to the Roads and Waterways Administration, as well as those used by contractors working for this administration, is strictly prohibited. The Field Commander / Territorial CommanderLieutenant Colonel and Commander
-
Heinrich Himmler Signed Visitor Card with Dedication (1940) – Extremely Rare
$2,900.00Heinrich Himmler Signed Business Card with Dedication (1940) Description: Original business card of Heinrich Himmler, Reichsführer SS, with handwritten dedication and signature on reverse. Front : Name: Heinrich Himmler Title: Reichsführer SS Typeface: Fraktur (Gothic script) Inscription (German): „Meine herzlichsten Wünsche zur Hochzeit“ Translation: “Heartfelt Wishes on your Wedding Day !” Date: 25.VII.40 (25 July 1940) Period: Shortly after the German victory over France (May–June 1940) Extremely Rare item, Himmler has signed many documents but this is a first I have seen on his visitor card.
-
WWII German Waffen SS Pocket Diary SS Soldatenfreund 1944 -SS Unterscharführer Spitzhüttl – SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 20 – 9th SS Panzer Division “Hohenstaufen” – (RESERVED)
SS Soldatenfreund 1944 Owned by SS Unterscharführer Spitzhüttl According to his address, he was living in Sudetenland (Czech Republic) and was of German decent. His Feldpost Number is: 25405 C Stab II u. 5.-8. Kompanie Panzergrenadier-Regiment 20 (9. SS-Division) In October 1943, the regiment was renamed SS Panzergrenadier Regiment 20. In April 1944, the first battle took place near Tarnopol. On July 23, SS Panzergrenadier Regiments 19 and 20 suffered heavy losses and merged to form SS Panzerergrenadier Regiment “H.” On September 27, 1944, the regiment, together with SS Panzerergrenadier Regiment 19, the only half-strength Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion 9, the Divisional Escort Company of the 9th SS Panzer Division, SS Flak Battalion 9, elements of SS Pioneer Battalion 9, and a motorized artillery platoon, formed Kampfgruppe “Harzer,” led by SS Obersturmbannführer Walther Harzer. The KG’s troop strength was approximately 3,500 men. In November, the regiment was replenished and prepared for the Battle of the Bulge. On May 1, 1945, the regiment surrendered to US troops near Steyr along with the remnants of the division. More information: After the encirclement of General Hans-Valentin Hube’s 1st Panzer Army in the Kamenets-Podolsky pocket in Ukraine, Field Marshal Erich von Manstein requested that the Hohenstaufen and Frundsberg divisions be sent to attempt to link up with the encircled force. Arriving in late March 1944, the divisions were formed into the II SS Panzer Corps and were sent into the attack near the town of Tarnopol. In three days of combat, the Hohenstaufen destroyed 74 Soviet tanks, 84 self propelled assault guns, 21 anti tank guns, and 12 mortars. After heavy fighting in the season of rasputitsa (“roadlessness”), the division effected a link-up with Hube’s forces near the town of Buchach. The division’s actions helped prevent the encirclement of the 1st Panzer Army.[9] During these battles, Hohenstaufen had suffered 1,011 casualties. The II SS Panzer Corps was to act as reserve for Army Group North Ukraine. After the Allied invasion of northern France on 6 June 1944, the II SS Panzer Corps, including Hohenstaufen, was sent west on 12 June, to defend Caen in Normandy. Normandy Hohenstaufen suffered losses from Allied fighter bombers during its move to Normandy, delaying its arrival until 26 June 1944. Approximately 50% of the division’s tanks broke down during its movement to Normandy. The division’s armored forces would be reinforced by the newly attached 102nd SS Heavy Panzer Battalion. This would provide Hohenstaufen with 127 additional combat vehicles including 79 Panther tanks. The original plan for Hohenstaufen to attack towards the Allied beachhead was made impossible by a British offensive to take Caen. The II SS Panzer Corps was instead put into the line to support the weakened forces defending Caen, where Hohenstaufen suffered 1,891 casualties. On 10 July, the division was pulled back into reserve, to be replaced by the 277th Infantry Division. The division’s depleted Panzergrenadier regiments were eventually merged to form Panzergrenadier Regiment Hohenstaufen. The division saw much action defending against British armour during Operation Goodwood. During Operation Jupiter Hohenstaufen destroyed 58 British tanks with many of them being Churchill tanks. What we know from the entries, is that he was in Ukraine and in the battles, he earned a Panzer Badge in Bronze. It would also seem that he has made it out of there and by mid July is in France. Entries: there are scattered entries and notes taken the most interesting: Tactical Signs Journeys – naming every town/city and times he passed them. Award Entry – Panzerkampf Abzeichen – Panzer Badge in Bronze – 19.May.1944 Postal Record – Interestingly, he was recording when and from whom he was receiving post. With many entires in June 1944. Notes about places he was in 1943 till being sent to Lviv, Ukraine. Group Structure – Very detailed is the make up of the certain groups in the Company, this includes the names and dates. Basis for great research project. These entries shown in mid July 1944! Condition: Used, worn, and been there. It is in generally stable condition, with the map still inside, many have the maps missing. Final Comments: An interesting diary, with the potential for more research. Time could be invested into researching the individual soldiers. These are really rare with entries especially. It is unknown what happened to Spitzhüttl, it seems he is not on the VB Database as KIA and not on the Red Cross Missing Lists. He was most likely captured in France in the summer of 1944. Price includes World Wide Shipping!
-
WWII German Army Soldbuch – Feldwebel Hösch – Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 99 –
Soldbuch belonging to Feldwebel, (First Sergeant), Georg Hösch, born on February 6, 1920 in the small German town of Weinstadt. Soldbuch discharged on January 31, 1944, but it’s a duplicate, “Zweitschrift”, because on page 9, on vaccines, and on page 19, there’re records from 1941/42. Unfortunately, it’s unknown in what units he served during that time, if he was injured or suffered any illness. On January 31, 1944 he was assigned to Gebirgs-Jäger-Regiment 99, mountain hunter regiment, attached to the 1 Gebirgs-Division, which at that time, was in Bosnia and Croatia, fighting against partisan troops of the Marshal Tito. During these fighting, the 1- Gerbirgs Division was accused of war crimes, of burning several villages, and killing civilians. In March 1944, the regiment was sent to Hungary as reinforcement to the German troops that were there, to prevent the Hungarian government from capitulating or negotiating peace with the Soviets. When Hungary fell to Russian troops, the GJR-99 was sent to Greece as an anti- partisan force. In July of that year, again, these soldiers committed the same excesses they had committed in Bosnia, burning villages, killing civilians and stealing cattle, in the policy of “burned land”. After the fall of Greece, the regiment was sent to Montenegro, to face again the forces of Tito. On September 13, 1944, this Feldwebel was assigned to Grenadier Regiment 893, attached to the 264 Inf Div, which at that time was fighting in Belgrade and northern Serbia, next to the 118 Jäger Division, fighting, first against the Yugoslav partisans and then against the Soviet troops. In October the 2 divisions defended the Zara – Benkovac – Biograd line, but little by little they retreated through Drnis, Knin, Biha and Agram, suffering terrible casualties due to heavy artillery and Soviet bombers. On November 15, the 264-ID, together with the 373 Infanterie Division, (Croatian), fought in the defense of the Podkonje-Ocestovo line. But the Croatian division gradually decomposed, between casualties and desertions, exposing the right flank of the 264-ID. Finally, the German division, to avoid being surrounded, had to retreat north from Belgrade. In December 1944, the division suffered significant casualties, including the destruction of IBataillon / Grenadier Regiment 893, after having been surrounded near the town of Ruma. In the middle of the month, part of the division, which included units of the 891 and 892 regiments, almost the entire artillery regiment, communications, intendancy and supplies units, and the remains of the 373 Croatian division, were surrounded on the eastern shore of the Danube river, where they were destroyed by soviet heavy artillery and tanks. Both divisions suffered 4800 casualties, among dead, wounded, missing and captured; only about 500 soldiers managed to cross the river and contact the rest of the division. In early January 1945, the remains of the 264-ID forming a kampfgruppe, established a weak defensive position on the Bihac-Medak line, where they were supported by the also decimated 392 Infanterie Division, (Croatian). At the end of January, the division was removed from the front to be reorganized, and to receive replacements of just 17 years, without combative capacity. In March 1945, (in the soldbuch the exact date is not specified), this sergeant was assigned to the Jäger Regiment 21 der Luftwaffe, attached to the 11. Feld-Division (L), field division of the Luftwaffe, which by that then fought in Croatia and Serbia, along with some units of the Ustacha, the Croatian fascist militia. At the end of the month, the Luftwaffe division, attached to the LXXXXI Armeekorps, was very decimated, without receiving replacements, and with a few pieces of artillery, defended a broad front of almost 75 km. Between the Cepin-Bizovac- Valpovo-Marijanci line. In early April, a combined attack by Tito partisans and Soviet troops, supported by heavy artillery and tanks T-34 and KV-Il, broke the entire front. The sector of the 11. Feld-Division (L), at first remained calm, but the disarray of the 5th Croatian Division, exposed the right flank of the division, and initiated the withdrawal towards Nasice, Bukovica and Cancinci. In May, finally, the division surrendered to the Soviet troops, refusing to surrender to the partisan troops of Tito. Soldbuch with numerous records: material delivery, (among them, an MP40 automatic submachine gun and a Walther P38 pistol, vaccines, etc. Pages 21/24 are missing, for which the number of awards and / or permits it’s unknown. In the photograph of the cover, in the left pocket of the jacket, there is a pin of three medals, which seem to correspond to: 1) Iron Cross 2nd class, “Eiserne Kreuz 2 Klasse 2) Russian Campaing Medal 1941/42 , “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42, Ostmedaille” 3) Wehrmacht Long Service Medal 4th Class , “Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung , 4 “
-
WWII German Hitler Youth – Hitlerjugend Führerausweis 1936- Leaders Identity Papers – Jungzugführer Hans Joachim Hennig – Gebiet 18/Franken Fürth-
$245.00Original Large Version of the Hitler Youth ID Papers. This Version is for Leaders in the HJ. Original Photo in HJ Overcoat and cross strap. Issued to Jungzugführer Hans Joachim Hennig, from Fürth in Bayern, Germany HJ Area 18 – ( Franken ) in 1936.
-
WWII German Soldbuch Obergefreiter Josef Niewiera – Stalag IIID Berlin – Festungs Grenadier Regiment 863 – 348 ID (Normandy)
$385.00Wehrmacht Soldbuch Issued June 1940, to Josef Niewiera. Frontline Units Stalag IIID Berlin – (1940 – 1942) The camp was established on 14 August 1940 on the corner of Landweg and Osdorfer Straße in Berlin-Lichterfelde. The commandant and camp administration offices (Kommandantur) were later located at Belle-Alliance-Straße 106-107, in Kreuzberg. With prisoners from Belgium, United Kingdom, France, Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, Poland, United States, Italy and Czechoslovakia, the camp’s maximum capacity was 58,000 men. Prisoners were mostly allocated to sub-camps (Zweiglager) and work details (Arbeitskommando) in and around the city. Grenadier (Festungs) Regiment 863 (1943 – 1944/45) The 348th Infantry Division was created on 14 September 1942 for the OB West during World War II. The unit was formed as a ground-based division. The officer corps and the majority of the non-commissioned officers had combat experience from other theaters of war and were transferred to the division either after recovering or from a deployment at home. The troops were mostly made up of older, poorly trained soldiers. The reinforcements and supply troops were only poorly trained and reliant on fixed installations. After its formation, the division was deployed from November 1942 onwards to protect the coast in the Dieppe area and to the northeast. At the time of the Allied landings at Dieppe in August 1942, the division was still training in the hinterland and did not directly intervene in the fighting on the beachhead. After the Allied landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944, the division remained in the Dieppe area and was not transferred to Normandy until mid-August 1944. During the fighting there, the division was wiped out within a very short time and officially disbanded on September 29, 1944. Equipment / Medals Personal D.W Pistol , War Merit Cross with Swords – 20.4.1943 It seems he was either captured or there are no records on him or his fate.
