Ostmedaille 1941/42 Award Doc –Tel.-Bau-Abteilung Barthel – Kowel, 1943

Original wartime award certificate for the Ostmedaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”, awarded to Obergefreiter Wunibald Heislbetz. The certificate records that Heislbetz was awarded the Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42 (Ostmedaille) on 20 August 1942.

Of particular interest is the unit information: the certificate was confirmed by Tel.-Bau-Abteilung Barthel, with the document dated Kowel, 15 December 1943. The unit designation and location give this otherwise standard campaign-medal certificate a specific wartime connection to the German military communications/construction organization operating in the occupied Eastern territories.

The certificate is signed under “Für die Richtigkeit” by the unit’s Sdf. (K) und Einheitsführer, with the original unit stamp of Tel.-Bau-Abteilung Barthel. The combination of the named recipient, original unit stamp, handwritten signature and precise wartime location of Kowel makes this an interesting piece of original Eastern Front documentation.

It is also notable that although the award is recorded as having been made on 20 August 1942, the certificate itself was issued considerably later, on 15 December 1943 at Kowel. This provides an interesting example of the continued administrative processing and documentation of Ostmedaille awards well after the original award date.

Condition: Original wartime condition with a horizontal fold, light age toning, minor foxing/discoloration and general handling/storage wear. The original stamp and handwritten signature remain clearly visible, and the document is fully legible.