Emil Berner – Flak-Regiment 18 (Afrikakorps)

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Emil Berner. Unteroffizier Emil Berner (04.12.1921 † 13.06.2008) earned the Ritterkreuz des Eiseren Kreuzes on November 3, 1942 as Gefreiter der Reserve und Richtkanonier in the 3. Batterie/ Flak-Regiment 18 in North Africa.

Awarded for distinguishing himself as a Flak gunner throughout the North African campaign. During the battles of Sidi Rezeg and Bir el Hacheim (1941) he destroyed 16 enemy tanks. During the advances in the time period May-June 1942 (Tobruk—Marsa Matruk—El Alamein) he destroyed another 19 enemy tanks. He also destroyed about 200 vehicles as well as anti-tank gun batteries and MG nests. During the combat along the El Alamein front he prevented an armoured breakthrough, destroying 7 tanks at a range of 30-50 metres and shielding about 1000 prisoners from the Allies long enough for them to be taken away by German troops. He had destroyed 42 tanks altogether by the time he received the Knight’s Cross.

Provenance: This signature comes from one of the largest postwar signature collection I’ve ever commissioned. This collection was started by a Waffen-SS Veteran, Werner H., in the 1950’s until he passed away.