WH Dienstauszeichnung IV. Klasse – Kriegsmarine – Kreuzer „Emden“ – 1937

Original German award certificate for the Dienstauzeichnung IV. Klasse, issued to Maschinistenmaat Heinz Wilde, who served aboard the light cruiser „Emden“ of the Kriegsmarine. Signed by the Fregattenkapitän und Kommandant Kreuzer „Emden“ Bernhard Liebetanz.

The certificate was awarded “für vierjährige treue Dienste in der Wehrmacht” — for four years of faithful service in the Wehrmacht.

The certificate is particularly interesting because it is directly associated with the light cruiser Emden, one of the most famous ships of the interwar German Kriegsmarine. The recipient, Heinz Wilde, is specifically identified as a Maschinistenmaat, giving the document a nice personnel connection to the ship’s engineering/technical branch.

The award was issued in Wilhelmshaven on 1 July 1937, during the pre-war period of the Kriegsmarine, making this a pre-WWII document and an excellent example of the formal award documentation used by the German Navy before the outbreak of the war.

Condition

Original period document with horizontal folding, light age-related discoloration and handling/storage wear. The original printed text, typed recipient details, signatures and Kriegsmarine Dienstsiegel remain present.

A very attractive original Kriegsmarine document with a named connection to the cruiser „Emden“, suitable for collectors of Kriegsmarine, naval documents, pre-war German military awards and „Emden“ memorabilia.