Description:

WEHRMACHT SOLDIER''S PHOTO ALBUM, AWARDS AND DOCUMENTS GROUPING
Fine grouping of photographs, documents, awards and insignia, all related to the World War II and postwar service of one Willi Franzack, includes: photo album, 50pp. 4to., containing 116 wartime b/w photographs, depicting Franzack''s prewar service with the Reichsarbeitsdienst, his peacetime military service, and predominately his service during the invasion of France in 1940. This group of images depicts German artillery in action, distant views of the Maginot line, ruined French towns, captured French tanks, artillery, tear gas shells, and soldiers, and more, additional photos show Franzack performing occupation duty in Poland, including several views of war damage in Warsaw, while the final World War II images show bomb damage in the German city of Rostock. The album further contains 41 postwar color photos, predominately showing reunions with family members and old comrades, as well as a postwar T.N.S., 1p. oblong 12mo., Munich, [n.d.], signed by Field Marshal and final commander of the Oberkommando de Heeres FERDINAND SCHOERNER (1892-1973), thanking the sender for his note and expressing his regrets that he cannot reply in greater detail. The album bears an embossed 1939 Iron Cross on the front cover. Several photos are loose from their mountings, and several appear to be missing entirely, else very good. WITH: Group of ten awards and pieces of insignia, including a 1939 Iron Cross, First Class, clasp back, unmarked but showing the characteristics of a Paul Meybauer- produced example; a Wound badge in Silver, pin back, unmarked; a postwar Iron Cross, Second Class; a postwar Infantry Assault badge; a postwar Wound Badge in Silver; a postwar DRL Sports Badge; a ribbon bar featuring four medals with three postwar devices; an Iron Cross buttonhole ribbon; an unknown tie tack; and an embroidered Bundeswehr patch. All very good. WITH: Group of five award certificates, all grating Franzack awards described above, includes: partly-printed D.S., 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], Aug. 24, 1941, granting "Gefreiten" ("corporal") Franzack the Iron Cross, Second Class, signed at bottom by Major-General and Division Commander WALDEMAR HENRICI (1878-1950); typed D.S., 1p. oblong 8vo., [n.p.], Nov. 18, 1940, a "besitzzeugnis"("ownership certificate"), confirming that Franzack has received the Infantry Assault Badge; partly-printed D.S., 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], April 8, 1943, granting "Unteroffizier" ("sergeant") Franzack the Wound Badge in Silver; partly-printed D.S., 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], Aug, 27, 1941, granting Franzack the Wound Badge in black; and a partly printed D.S., ip. oblong 8vo., Wedel, Jan. 13, 1965, a "Ersatzurkunde" ("replacement certificate") confirming that Franzack received the Iron Cross, First Class in August of 1944. All show folds and file holes, else very good.

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April 17, 2018 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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