Archive (Sold)

Original Postwar Signature on a Photo of Theodor Busse. Generalleutnant Theodor Busse (15.12.1887 † 21.10.1986) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on January 30, 1944 as Generalleutnant und Chef des Generalstabes of the Heeresgruppe Süd. Postcardsize. Signed on the reverse.

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Albert Kerscher. Feldwebel Albert Kerscher (29.03.1916 † 12.06.2011) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on October 23, 1944 as Feldwebel in the 2. Kompanie/ schwere Panzer-Abteilung 502 (Tigers). He also earned the Panzerkampfabzeichen IV. Stufe (Einsatzahl “75”). Awarded for his successes in tank combat as the wingman of Otto Carius. Postcardsize. Condition as seen. Comes with signed letter.

Offered for sale is an exceptional and highly desirable original WWII grouping belonging to Hauptfeldwebel Grothklage, a long-serving NCO whose career spans infantry, cavalry, panzer troops, and elite assault armor formations.

Military Career

Grothklage served with the following units during his wartime career:

• Infanterie-Regiment 5

• Kavallerie-Schützen-Regiment 8

• Schützen-Regiment 28

• Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 216 (Werkstattzug)

His final unit, Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 216, was equipped with the formidable Sturmpanzer IV “Brummbär”, one of the rarest German armored vehicles of the war, with only approximately 300–400 produced. The unit saw combat service in Italy, adding further historical weight to this grouping.

Awards and Decorations

Grothklage was already a decorated combat veteran by 1940, earning multiple awards for his participation in the Western Campaign, including:

• Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

• Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber

• DRL Sports Badge

• Sudetenland Medal

• Dienstauszeichnung 4. Klasse

Documents and Contents

This extensive and well-preserved grouping includes:

• Original Soldbuch, complete with all pages intact and a superb period photograph (front cover denazified)

• Driver’s license, signed by Bruno Kahl, commander of Sturmpanzer-Abt. 216 and Eichenlaubträger

• Driver instructor license

• Award documents for the DRL Sports Badge and Wehrmacht Service Medal

• Sudetenland Medal award document

• Field post correspondence

• Period photographs

• Leather document case

• Additional original service papers

The Soldbuch records that Grothklage was issued the MP40 submachine gun, and also notes that he carried his own personal pistol, a highly attractive detail for collectors.

Collector Significance

This is a top-tier, combat-documented Panzer grouping with:

• A senior NCO rank

• Early war combat awards

• Direct association with the rare Brummbär assault tank

• Strong provenance to Sturmpanzer-Abteilung 216

• An outstanding Soldbuch photograph and extensive supporting paperwork

A truly killer, museum-quality grouping—rarely encountered in this level of completeness and condition, and a centerpiece item for any advanced WWII militaria or Panzer collection.

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Flemish Easternfront Volunteer Oswald van Ooteghem. SS-Untersturmführer Oswald van Ooteghem served in the SS-Freiwilligen-Legion “Flandern” and the SS-Jugend-Bataillon 27 of the  27. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division “Langemarck”. Postcardsize.

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Theodor “Teddy” Wisch. SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS Theodor “Teddy” Wisch (13.12.1907 † 11.01.1995) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on September 15, 1941 as SS-Sturmbannführer und Kommandeur of the II. Bataillon/ “LSSAH”, the Eichenlaub on February 12, 1944 as SS-Brigadeführer und Kommandeur of the 1. SS-Panzer-Division “LSSAH” and the Schwertern on August 30, 1944 as SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Waffen-SS of 1. SS-Panzer-Division “LSSAH”. Size: 9×12,5cm.

Offered here is an original Luftwaffe Soldbuch belonging to Oberwachtmeister Gerhard Domke, who served with several Flak and searchlight units during the Second World War. His documented service includes:

• Flak-Scheinwerfer-Regiment 146

• Flakscheinwerfer-Abteilungen 158 and 229

• Festung-Pantherturm-Kompanie 1213

• Festung-Pantherturm-Kompanie 1212, which saw combat in the Frankfurt (Oder) area during the final phase of the war

During his military career, Domke was awarded the following decorations:

• Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class)

• Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (Eastern Front Medal)

• Flakkampfabzeichen (Flak Battle Badge)

This Soldbuch is particularly noteworthy due to Domke’s service with a Pantherturm unit, making it a rare and desirable document. Pantherturm units employed detached Panther tank turrets mounted on concrete or steel bunkers for static defensive purposes, primarily in the later stages of World War II.

Condition:

• Complete Soldbuch with original photograph and all pages present

• Front cover denazified, as commonly encountered

• Overall condition consistent with wartime use (see images for details)

A scarce and historically significant Soldbuch, especially attractive to collectors of Pantherturm, Flak, and late-war defensive units.

Offered here is an outstanding and highly rare original WWII document grouping belonging to Gefreiter Rauter, a confirmed frontline sniper who served with Grenadier-Regiment Feldherrnhalle and later Panzergrenadier-Regiment 106 Feldherrnhalle. This is not a typical Soldbuch with a single sniper reference—this is a fully documented sniper career, supported by multiple original papers that unmistakably confirm training, equipment issue, and combat service.

Documented Sniper Training

Rauter successfully completed the 16th Scharfschützenlehrgang XX at Obergruppe near Graudenz between 24 July and 21 August 1944. Included is the original school-issued slip confirming that upon graduation he was entrusted with a Karabiner 98k sniper rifle fitted with scope.

His Soldbuch is stamped and annotated with the full issue of specialized sniper equipment received directly from the sniper school upon course completion, including:

• Camouflage jacket

• Face mask

• Helmet with camouflage net

• Additional camouflage items and field gear

Frontline Sniper in Action

Crucially, the documents show that after returning to his unit, Rauter saw active combat as a sniper during September, October, and November 1944. This elevates the grouping far beyond training-only examples—he was a deployed sniper in operational conditions.

Awards and Additional Papers

The grouping also includes:

• Original award document for the Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (Wound Badge in Black)

• Kennzettel specifically issued for his sniper rifle

• A slip listing documented combat days

• POW document

• Additional contemporary papers related to his service

Soldbuch Details

• Original Soldbuch with period photograph (photo present but pages loose)

• Internally complete and fully consistent with the accompanying documents

Collector Significance

Complete sniper groupings of this caliber are extremely scarce. While Soldbücher noting a scoped rifle occasionally surface, it is exceptionally rare to find:

• Verified sniper school attendance

• Official issue of sniper camouflage and rifle

• Supporting Kennzettel and training paperwork

• Clear evidence of subsequent combat service

This is a museum-worthy, researchable, and historically compelling Wehrmacht sniper grouping—an outstanding centerpiece for any advanced WWII militaria collection.

Original Wartime Signature on a Postcard of Joachim Helbig. Oberst Joachim Helbig (10.09.1915 † 05.10.1985) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on November 24, 1940 as Hauptmann und Staffelkapitän of the 4. Staffel/ Lehrgeschwader 1, the Eichenlaub on January 16, 1942 as Hauptmann und Kommandeur of the I. Gruppe/ Lehrgeschwader 1 and the Schwertern on September 28, 1942 as Hauptmann und Kommandeur of the I. Gruppe/ Lehrgeschwader 1. Condition as seen. Postcardsize.

This is sold on commission!

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Rolf Johannesson. Konteradmiral Rolf Johannesson (22.07.1900 † 06.12.1989) earned the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on February 12, 1942 as Fregattenkapitän und Kommandant of Zerstörer “Z-15 ‘Erich Steinbrinck’” and the Ritterkreuz on December 7, 1942 as Kapitän zur See und Kommandant of Zerstörer “Hermes”. Condition as seen. Large size: 20x25cm!

This is sold on commission!

Original Postwar Signature on a Card of Otto Weidinger. SS-Obersturmbannführer Otto Weidinger (27.05.1914 † 11.01.1990) earned the Ritterkreuz on April 21, 1944 as SS-Sturmbannführer und Kommandeur of the  SS-Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung “Das Reich”, the Eichenlaub on December 27, 1944 as SS-Obersturmbannführer und Kommandeur of the SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 4 “Der Führer” and Schwertern on May 6, 1945 as SS-Obersturmbannführer und Kommandeur of the SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 4 “Der Führer” of the 2. SS-Panzer-Division “Das Reich“. Postcardsize. Condition as seen.

This is sold on commission!

Original Scarce Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Siegfried Korth. SS-Obersturmführer Siegfried Korth (05.02.1922 † 06.10.1996) earned the Ritterkreuz on February 9, 1945 as SS-Obersturmführer und Chef of the 3. Schwadron/ SS-Kavallerie-Regiment 18 of the 8. SS-Kavallerie-Division “Florian Geyer”. Postcardsize. Condition as seen.

This is sold on commission!

Original Press Photograph of Walter Grabmann. Oberstleutnant Walter Grabmann was a Knight’s Cross recipient, serving as Kommodore of Zerstörergeschwader 76 (ZG 76), a heavy fighter wing operating Messerschmitt Bf 110s. 13x18cm. Condition as seen.

This is sold on commission!

SS-Standartenführer Leon Degrelle (15 June 1906, Bouillon † 31 March 1994, Málaga) was the Belgian leader of the Rexist Movement and one of the most famous foreign volunteers to serve in the Waffen-SS during the Second World War. He rose from enlisted service to command the Walloon volunteers on the Eastern Front, eventually leading the 28. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division “Wallonien.”

Degrelle distinguished himself in heavy fighting against Soviet forces, receiving some of the highest decorations awarded to non-German volunteers. He survived the war, escaping to Spain where he lived in exile until his death in 1994.

Awards and Decorations

• Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) – 20 February 1944, as SS-Hauptsturmführer and Führer of 5. SS-Freiwilligen-Sturmbrigade “Wallonien.”

• Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross (Eichenlaub) – 27 August 1944, as SS-Sturmbannführer and Kommandeur of 28. SS-Freiwilligen-Grenadier-Division “Wallonien.”

• Close Combat Clasp in Gold (Nahkampfspange in Gold) – 14 September 1944.

• Additional decorations included the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class and Infantry Assault Badge.

Item Details

• Authentic scarce postwar signature of Leon Degrelle.

• Signed on a large format postwar photo

• Condition: As seen – scarce and collectible.

• Color lines in the scan are from scanning, not in the original.

Collector’s Note

Leon Degrelle remains one of the most controversial and well-known foreign volunteers of the Waffen-SS. His rise from volunteer soldier to divisional commander, along with his postwar exile and continued notoriety, makes his autograph especially rare and sought-after. This large-format signed photo is an exceptional piece for advanced collectors of Waffen-SS history, foreign volunteer units, and Knight’s Cross recipients.

Original NSJV (Nationaalsocialistische Jeugd Vlaanderen) “De Jonge Nationaalsocialist” magazine. Complete. Condition as seen.

Original Allied Press Photo of the surrender of Großadmiral Karl Dönitz at Flensburg, 1945. 18×13 cm. Condition as seen.

Original Hitler-Jugend Vlaanderen “Tijl” (Issue Nr. 1 – Note: There are only 2 issues) complete with the extra subscription paper in it (which often is missing). Condition as seen.

Original Hitler-Jugend Vlaanderen “Tijl” (Issue Nr. 2 – Note: There are only 2 issues) complete with the extra subscription paper in it (which often is missing). Condition as seen.

Original Arbeitsbuch & Dienstausweis for a female who worked at the Kommandantur Flakartillerie Schießplatz Stolpmünde. Nicely filled in! ID complete with photo, middle has stress fractures. Condition as seen.

Original Wehrpass & Polizei-Dienstpaß of a NCO which served with the 3. Kompanie/ Polizei-Bataillon 303 and was Killed in Action on August 19, 1941. He was Polizei-Oberwachtmeister and served as groupleader. Before joining the police, he served with the Kavallerie-Regiment “Lüneburg”. He was member of the NSDAP, Reichsluftschutzbund, Soldatenbund and Reichskriegerbund.

He served with the Polizei-Bataillon 303 from April 941 until his death in August 1941. Polizei-Bataillon 303 was one of the most notorious police bataillons! His battlelist shows he took part in various “Säuberungsaufgabe” (“Clean-up” duties).

Police Battalion 303 was an Order Police (Ordnungspolizei) unit that participated in the German invasion of the Soviet Union beginning on 22 June 1941 as part of Operation Barbarossa. After forcing a crossing of the San River near Sanok, the battalion advanced eastward through occupied Poland and western Ukraine, passing through cities and regions including Przemyśl, Lviv, Brody, Dubno, Rivne, Zhytomyr, and ultimately reaching Kyiv.

Initially, the battalion was tasked with rear-area security and so-called “mopping-up” operations against dispersed Soviet troops. As the campaign progressed, however, its role expanded significantly. The unit became directly involved in anti-Jewish violence, with the 3rd Company carrying out early shootings of Jews in locations such as Miropol and Cutnow. Evidence suggests participation in further mass killing operations, although the full extent of its involvement in Zhytomyr remains unclear.

From 23 September to 14 October 1941, Police Battalion 303 was stationed in Kyiv, where it first performed policing and security duties. Following Soviet sabotage attacks in the city on 24 September 1941, German authorities initiated mass reprisals against the Jewish population. During the massacre at Babyn Yar on 29–30 September 1941—when 33,771 Jews were murdered—the battalion played a documented supporting role. Its responsibilities included sealing off areas, searching Jewish victims for valuables prior to execution on Melnykova Street, and transporting confiscated property.

Overall, the record shows that Police Battalion 303 evolved from a conventional security formation into an integral component of the Nazi occupation and extermination apparatus in Ukraine, actively facilitating the Holocaust through both direct killings and logistical support for mass murder operations.

Original Scarce Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Wilhelm Mohnke. SS-Brigadeführer Wilhelm Mohnke (15.03.1911-  06.08.2001) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as SS-Obersturmbannführer und Kommandeur of SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 26 of the 12. SS-Panzer-Division “Hitlerjugend”. Postcardsize. Condition as seen.

Mohnke was one of the original members of the SS-Staff Guard (Stabswache) “Berlin” formed in March 1933. From those ranks, Mohnke rose to become one of Adolf Hitler’s last remaining generals. He joined the Nazi Party in September 1931. With the SS Division Leibstandarte, Mohnke participated in the fighting in France, Poland and the Balkans. He was appointed to command a regiment in the SS Division Hitlerjugend in 1943. He led the unit in the Battle for Caen, receiving the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross on 11 July 1944. Mohnke was given command of his original division, the Leibstandarte, during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. During the Battle of Berlin, Mohnke commanded the Kampfgruppe Mohnke and was charged with defending the Berlin government district, including the Reich Chancellery and the Reichstag. He was investigated after the war for war crimes, including allegations that he was responsible for the murder of prisoners in France in 1940, Normandy in June 1944 and Belgium in December 1944.

Original Flemish propaganda booklet of the “Hitler-Jugend Vlaanderen”, issue June 1944. All pages present and in overall good condition. Interesting booklet! Condition as seen.

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Albert Frey. SS-Standartenführer Albert Frey (16.02.1913 † 01.09.2003) earned the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on November 17, 1941 with SS-Infanterie-Regiment “Leibstandarte-SS Adolf Hitler”, the Ritterkreuz on March 3, 1943 as SS-Sturmbannführer und Kommandeur of the I. Bataillon/ SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 1 “LSSAH” and the Eichenlaub on December 29, 1943 as SS-Obersturmbannführer und Kommandeur of the SS-Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 1 of the 1. SS-Panzer-Division “LSSAH“. Signed on the front and reverse! Postcardsize.

Original postwar signature on a postwar photo of Helmut Major. SS-Oberscharführer Helmut Major (08.11.1922 † 23.03.2003) served with the 7. Kompanie/ SS-Panzergrenadier-Regiment 1 of the 1. SS-Panzer-Division “LSSAH”. Earned the EK1 on 1st of August 1944. Postcardsize. Condition as seen.

Original award document set consisting of the Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern & Winterschlacht im Osten certificates including an eveloppe. The soldier served with the Divisions-Naschschubtruppen 216 of the 216. Infanterie-Division. The KVK2 award document was signed by Generalmajor Werner-Albrecht Freiherr von und zu Gilsa (RK+EL, Committed Suicide at the end of the war). Condition as seen.

Original Verwundatenabzeichen in Schwarz (Wound in Badge Black) award document belonging to a soldier of the Schützen-Regiment 2. Condition as seen.

Authentic original wartime German press photograph of Reinhard Heydrich, during the height of WWII. This is a period press photo (not a reproduction), distributed for wartime publication and documentation.

• Markings: Original press, with period stamps/annotations, consistent with 1940s press distribution.

• Condition: Very good for age. Minor edge wear and handling marks, typical of original wartime press material. No major tears. Text and imagery remain clear and historically intact.

• Size: Approx. press photo standard format

• Provenance: Guaranteed original WWII press issue photograph.

Historical Significance:
This photograph captures a major wartime propaganda and political coordination event focused on Southeastern Europe, attended by senior Reich leadership. The image provides strong collector appeal for:

• WWII historians and archives

• Collectors of original Third Reich press material

• Military memorabilia and wartime photography specialists

• Museum or research collections requiring primary source imagery