2x Award Certificates & UK POW Docs – Infanterie-Regiment 67 (23. Infanterie-Division)

Offered here is an interesting original Wehrmacht grouping belonging to Kurt Bartke, including original award certificates for the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse and Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, together with a substantial selection of original wartime and post-war documentation relating to his captivity as a German prisoner of war. The grouping provides an unusually good combination of military service, decorations and subsequent POW documentation.

The Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse was awarded to Gefreiter Kurt Bartke, Stabskp./J.R. 67, im Felde on 10 September 1941. The certificate is signed by the Generalleutnant und Divisions-Kdr., Heinz Hellmich, commander of the 23. Infanterie-Division at the time. Infanterie-Regiment 67 formed part of the 23. Infanterie-Division, which participated in the 1939 Polish Campaign and 1940 Western Campaign before being committed to the Eastern Front in 1941. Hellmich commanded the division from June 1940 until January 1942.

The grouping also contains the Besitzzeugnis for the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen, awarded to Obergefreiten Kurt Bartke, Pi.Zg./J.R. 67, dated 26 February 1942. The document carries the original unit stamp and signature of a Major und Rgt.-Führer. The reference to a Pi.Zg. indicates Bartke’s association with the Pioneer Platoon of Infanterie-Regiment 67, adding a useful specialist element to his military service history.

Particularly interesting is the continuation of the grouping into the post-war period. The collection includes British/Commonwealth prisoner-of-war documentation, including a Prisoner of War Post / Kriegsgefangenenpost card addressed to his family in Berlin N 65, Amsterdammer Str. 8, as well as British POW administrative papers and discharge documentation. One of the documents records his release on 15 July 1946, demonstrating that Bartke remained in captivity well after the end of the European war.

The POW material gives this grouping considerably more personal and historical depth than a simple pair of award certificates. Together, the documents illustrate Bartke’s progression from Gefreiter to Obergefreiter, his service with Infanterie-Regiment 67, receipt of two important combat-related decorations, and ultimately his experience as a German prisoner of war and subsequent release in 1946.

Infanterie-Regiment 67 was a component of the 23. Infanterie-Division and saw extensive combat on the Eastern Front during 1941–42. The regiment later became Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 67 in September 1942.

The documents remain in original period condition, with the expected folds, age toning, foxing, handling wear and signs of storage. Several of the later POW papers show additional British administrative stamps and annotations, while the award certificates retain their original period stamps and signatures.

A very appealing and genuinely researchable Wehrmacht grouping, combining original EK II and Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen documentation with rare and highly relevant British POW and post-war release papers. The combination of military awards and captivity documentation makes this a particularly interesting grouping for collectors of Infanterie-Regiment 67, 23. Infanterie-Division, Eastern Front material, Wehrmacht award documents and German POW history.