Offered here is a very interesting original document grouping belonging to Wilhelm Kampfenkel, born 10 March 1890 in Wittenberg, Prussia, documenting his service as a Sergant (Hornist) with the 4. Kompanie of the 1. Bayerischen Jäger-Bataillons during the First World War, together with his later recognition as a decorated and wounded WWI veteran.

The earliest and particularly interesting document is an original 1934 Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer award certificate, issued by the Polizeipräsident in Bochum on 5 November 1934. The certificate identifies Kampfenkel, by then a Reichsbank-Obergeldzähler, as a former front-line combatant and records the award of the Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer, established by the decree of 13 July 1934 in remembrance of the German veterans of the First World War. The original Bochum police stamp and period signature remain present.

Also included is an original Berechtigungsausweis for the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, issued at Dessau on 29 September 1936 by the Versorgungsamt Dessau. The document identifies Kampfenkel as a Reichsbankoberzähler, born 10 March 1890, and officially grants him the right to wear the black grade of the Verwundetenabzeichen. This is an important supporting document confirming that Kampfenkel had been wounded during his earlier military service.

The grouping is further supported by an official Bescheinigung of the Zentralnachweisamt für Kriegerverluste und Kriegergräber, Zweigstelle München, dated 26 August 1936. This document records Kampfenkel’s wartime decorations as Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, dated 6 August 1918, and Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz. Importantly, it identifies his wartime rank and appointment as Sergant (Hornist), 4. Kompanie, 1. Bayerisches Jäger-Bataillon, providing a direct contemporary record connecting him with this Bavarian Jäger formation.

The 1. Bayerische Jäger-Bataillon “König” was a long-established Bavarian Jäger formation based at Freising. During the First World War it became part of the Jäger-Regiment 1, serving with the German forces on several fronts, including the Western Front and later as part of the Alpenkorps. The 1st Bavarian Jäger Battalion was ultimately disbanded after the war in December 1918.

The documents also provide an interesting glimpse into Kampfenkel’s post-war civilian career. By the 1930s he is repeatedly identified as a Reichsbank employee, including as Reichsbank-Oberzähler/Obergeldzähler, with addresses in Bernburg and Wanne-Eickel appearing in the accompanying correspondence. Thus, the grouping documents not only his WWI military service, but also his subsequent civilian career and veteran status during the 1930s.

The documents remain in original period condition, showing the expected folds, age toning, foxing/discoloration and handling/storage wear. The original official stamps, signatures and typed details remain clearly visible throughout.

Original Bulgarian award certificate (Свидетелство) issued by the Kingdom of Bulgaria, Ministry of War, documenting the award of the Medal for Participation in the War of 1915–1918 to Unteroffizier Heinrich Pleumann, of Oberhausen/Rheinland, Germany. The certificate is dated Sofia, 23 May 1941 and records that Pleumann participated in the Bulgarian campaign of 1915–1918. In recognition and remembrance of his participation, His Majesty the King of Bulgaria awarded him the commemorative medal worn on a red ribbon.

This is a particularly interesting document because Pleumann was a German veteran, rather than a Bulgarian serviceman. The Bulgarian Medal for Participation in the War 1915–1918 was instituted on 9 December 1933 as a commemorative award for participants in the First World War. The red ribbon specifically denoted front-line veterans, while variants with additional central stripes were used for indirect participants and next-of-kin.

The award was also distributed to veterans of the former allied armies, including German, Austrian and Hungarian participants. Sources record that approximately 200,000 medals were sent abroad for presentation to former personnel of these allied armies. This makes a certificate actually issued to a German WWI veteran living in Germany particularly appropriate and collectible.

An especially attractive feature is the original Bulgarian 150-lev revenue/postage stamp affixed to the certificate, together with the embossed official seal of the Bulgarian Ministry of War. The funds raised through these special stamps were used for the planned construction of a new building for the National Military History Museum in Sofia, giving the stamp a direct connection to Bulgarian military heritage.

The certificate is signed by the Lieutenant General and Minister of War, with an additional signature from the official identified as Head of the Department for the Military Museum, Monuments, etc. The combination of the Bulgarian royal heading, Ministry of War documentation, original seal, revenue stamp and German recipient makes this an unusually attractive piece of international WWI veteran documentation.

The date of 23 May 1941 is also noteworthy. By this point Bulgaria was already closely aligned with the Axis powers and had joined the Tripartite Pact in March 1941. Only weeks earlier, Bulgarian forces had entered territories in the Balkans following the German-led campaigns of April 1941. This certificate therefore represents a fascinating intersection of Bulgarian WWI commemorative policy, German-Bulgarian military relations and the continued recognition of veterans more than two decades after the First World War.

Condition

Original large-format certificate with horizontal and vertical folds, age-related toning, light foxing/discoloration and general handling/storage wear. There is some edge wear and a small loss around the left perforation/filing hole, but the elaborate Bulgarian printing remains very attractive. The original 150-lev stamp, Ministry of War seal and signatures are all present.

Offered here is an original 1938 Ehrenurkunde awarded to Margarete Kühl for her good achievements in the “Wettkampfgruppe Textil” during the Berufswettkampf aller schaffenden Deutschen (Vocational Competition of all Working Germans). The certificate was issued in Berlin on the Day of National Labour, 1 May 1938, making it a very attractive pre-war example of official Reichsberufswettkampf documentation.

The document specifically records Kühl’s achievement within the Textile competition group, providing an interesting connection to the vocational and occupational competitions organised during the Third Reich. The Reichsberufswettkampf was a large-scale competition intended to test and recognise professional skills among German workers and young people across numerous occupational categories. The Textil category makes this particularly interesting for collectors of women’s vocational history, textile occupations and social-history material.

The impressive certificate features the large Reichsberufswettkampf emblem at the top and is beautifully printed in the characteristic Gothic typeface of the period. At the bottom are the signatures of Dr. Robert Ley, Reichsorganisationsleiter, and Baldur von Schirach, Jugendführer des Deutschen Reiches, giving the document considerable official presentation and historical interest.

The certificate remains in original period condition, showing age-related toning, foxing and scattered discoloration throughout, together with some light handling wear. The printed text, decorative design and both signatures remain clearly legible.

A very attractive and fully named original 1938 Reichsberufswettkampf certificate, combining a female recipient, the Textile competition group, an early pre-war date and the signatures of Robert Ley and Baldur von Schirach. An excellent piece of original documentation for collectors of Reichsberufswettkampf material, German occupational history, women’s history and Third Reich-era certificates.

Original WWII Luftwaffe award document grouping belonging to Gefreiter Hans-Georg Blunck of 3.(F)/122, including his Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse and Frontflugspange für Aufklärer in Bronze.

The grouping includes:

• Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse, awarded 10 January 1942, issued by the Chef der Luftflotte 3 und Befehlshaber West.
• Frontflugspange für Aufklärer in Bronze, awarded 2 January 1942, to Gefr. Hans-Georg Blunck, 3.(F)/122, at the Gefechtsstand of the IX. Fliegerkorps.
• Additional original Luftwaffe award documentation for the same recipient.

Of particular interest is the documented wartime fate of Blunck. He served as wireless operator aboard Ju 88A-5 Werknummer 0440, coded F6+PL, of 3.(F)/122. The aircraft failed to return from a mission on 19 January 1942 and was subsequently reported missing.

According to the available loss account, the aircraft was attacked by a Spitfire of RAF No. 145 Squadron, flown by Squadron Leader Tony Lovell, DFC. Following repeated attacks, the Ju 88 reportedly suffered a starboard engine fire, turned to starboard and dived into the sea, crashing approximately 20 miles east of Whitby. The entire crew was lost:

• Fw. Gerhard Drassdo – Observer
• Gefr. Hans Blunck – Wireless Operator
• Gefr. Johann Bauer – Gunner

This gives the award documents a particularly interesting connection to a specific operational Ju 88 loss, rather than merely documenting an unidentified Luftwaffe serviceman.

A highly interesting Luftwaffe reconnaissance document grouping with identified unit, aircraft, crew position and documented operational loss.

Condition: Period condition with folds, age-related staining and handling marks. Please see photographs for details.

Excellent original WWII award document pair to Klaus Schröder, serving with II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1.

• Fallschirmschützenabzeichen – awarded 5 August 1942, Berlin.
• Verwundetenabzeichen – awarded following a wounding sustained on 15 December 1943.
• Unit clearly identified as II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 1.
• The documents retain their original period handwriting, signatures and stamps.

The December 1943 wound places Schröder with FJR 1 during the fighting in the Orsogna–Ortona sector of the Italian Front. II./FJR 1 had been fighting around Melone and Orsogna in early December and was deployed into the Ortona/Orsogna battle area during the Allied offensive in mid-December. Contemporary campaign sources specifically document II./FJR 1 fighting around Melone and the Orsogna sector.

A very desirable Fallschirmjäger document grouping, particularly because both awards are named to the same individual and the unit is explicitly identified.

Condition: Original with age-related staining and handling marks, as shown.