Wolfgang Historica – Online Militaria Shop

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Studioportrait of unknown SA-Brigadeführer (Signed!)

€150,00

Original postcard-size studio portrait depicting an SA-Brigadeführer (Senior Commander) in full uniform, clearly wearing the rank insignia of his office on the collar and shoulder boards. The image is sharply focused, showing excellent uniform and insignia detail, with the subject posed against a classic photographic backdrop typical of official portrait studios of the period.

The photograph bears the officer’s original signature at the lower margin. Although the identity of the individual is currently unknown, further research may reveal it—only a limited number of officers held the rank of SA-Brigadeführer, making identification feasible (see the List of SA-Brigadeführer).

Printed on period photographic paper with a clean reverse side. Minor age wear and light toning consistent with original 1930s–1940s production; overall very good condition.

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Ernst-Hermann Mersmann – Kampfgruppe zbV 9 (Netherlands, Stalingrad, Cholm..)

€150,00

Original Wartime Signature on a Period Photo of Hauptmann Ernst-Hermann Mersmann

Ernst-Hermann Mersmann (21 June 1915 – 17 March 2002) was a decorated Luftwaffe transport and bomber pilot during the Second World War. Serving as Staffelkapitän of 1./Kampfgruppe zur besonderen Verwendung 9 (K.Gr.z.b.V. 9), he took part in nearly every major theatre of Luftwaffe air-transport operations, including Norway, the Netherlands, France, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Eastern Front.

His skill and courage in hazardous resupply and air-landing missions—most notably at Cholm, Demyansk, and Stalingrad—earned him the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross in December 1942. Over the course of the war he completed more than 300 front-line sorties.

Awards and Decorations

Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) – 23 December 1942, as Hauptmann and Staffelkapitän, 1./K.Gr.z.b.V. 9.
Iron Cross (1939) 1st and 2nd Class.
Front Flying Clasp in Gold and other Luftwaffe service decorations.

Item Details

Original wartime signature of Hauptmann Ernst-Hermann Mersmann.
Signed on a period photograph showing him in Luftwaffe uniform. Siganture faded but also on paper slip (torn)
Provenance: From the large personal collection of HJ boy Ernst Fritzsche, who collected wartime autographs and correspondence during the period.
Condition: Good; light age wear with a faint but legible signature.

Collector’s Note

Hauptmann Ernst-Hermann Mersmann distinguished himself through exceptional leadership and bravery during some of the Luftwaffe’s most demanding air-transport operations. Authentic wartime-signed photographs of Mersmann are seldom encountered, making this an appealing addition for collectors of Luftwaffe and Knight’s Cross material.

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Kriegsmarine Artilleryman with Specialist Badge, Bochum Studio

€25,00

Original wartime postcard-size portrait depicting a Kriegsmarine artillery enlisted man in service uniform. The subject is shown wearing a specialist trade badge, photographed in studio setting with period backdrop and carpet.

The photo was taken in Bochum, as indicated by the studio style and markings. Fine tonal contrast and sharp detail throughout, clearly showing uniform and insignia features.

Printed on period photographic paper with scalloped edges. Reverse is blank. Overall very good condition, light handling wear consistent with age.

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German Press Photo – “Fire-Spitting Bushes” at the Invasion Front, July 1944

€125,00

Original wartime German press photograph showing camouflaged anti-aircraft positions hidden within the dense hedgerow terrain of the Normandy front. The caption, titled “Feuerspeiende Büsche an der Invasionsfront” (“Fire-Spitting Bushes at the Invasion Front”), vividly describes the deception of the landscape — where seemingly harmless bushes conceal deadly gun positions ready to open fire.

Reverse caption reads:

“In dem hügeligen Kusselgelände der Invasionsfront steht Busch neben Busch. Nichts Lebendes ist zwischen dem Blattgrün zu sehen, und doch speien die Büsche auf Befehl Feuer. Von rückwärts sieht der Busch nicht so harmlos aus. Unter der Tarnung zeigt sich das gepanzerte Führerhaus der Selbstfahrlafette, der Vierlingsflak, dessen Bedienungsmannschaft einsatzbereit den Feuerbefehl erwartet.”
(In the hilly terrain of the invasion front, bush stands beside bush. Nothing living can be seen between the greenery — yet on command, the bushes spit fire. From behind, the harmless-looking foliage reveals the armored cabin of a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, its crew standing ready for the order to open fire.)

Caption Code: 65059
Date: 11 July 1944
Photographer / PK Unit: Kriegsberichter Röder, 260 PK-Aufnahme
Agency Stamp: Heinrich Hoffmann, Presse-Illustrationen, Berlin SW68 (on reverse)
Size: approx. 18 × 13 cm
Condition: Excellent – original typed caption label intact, light period wear, clear Hoffmann agency stamp.

Historical Context

Taken during the Normandy Campaign following the Allied landings, this image reflects German efforts to conceal Flak and anti-tank positions within the bocage countryside. The evocative caption title “Fire-Spitting Bushes” served as propaganda to emphasize both German ingenuity and resistance against overwhelming Allied air and ground forces.

Collector’s Note

A dramatic and well-documented Heinrich Hoffmann press photo, offering insight into the camouflage and defensive tactics of German forces during the 1944 Normandy fighting. Complete with its full typed caption slip and Hoffmann stamp, this is a fine and collectible example of authentic WWII propaganda imagery.

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German Press Photo – Panzergrenadiers in Training, July 1944 (“Brennende Erde”)

€100,00

Original wartime German press photograph showing Panzergrenadiers (armored infantry) during frontline training. The detailed typed caption explains the vital combat role of the Panzergrenadier, fighting in close cooperation with armored vehicles and assault guns, often in burning or contested areas — the literal “Brennende Erde” (“Burning Earth”) of the front.

Reverse caption reads:

“Panzergrenadiere in kriegsnaher Ausbildung. Auf allen Kriegsschauplätzen ist der Panzergrenadier an entscheidender Stelle dabei: er bildet heute den Rückhalt der Fronten immer da, wo ein Brennpunkt ist. Im Schutze des Schützenpanzerwagens geht er zum Angriff auf die feindlichen Linien vor… Schützenpanzer mit Flammenwerfern fahren mit aufgesessenen Panzergrenadieren in den Feind.”
(Panzergrenadiers in combat training. On every front, the Panzergrenadier plays a decisive role, providing the backbone of the lines wherever the fighting is fiercest. Under the protection of armored vehicles, they advance to attack enemy positions; assault vehicles with flamethrowers move forward with mounted Panzergrenadiers into the fight.)

Caption Title: “Brennende Erde” (“Burning Earth”)
Date: 20 July 1944
Photographer / PK Unit: Kriegsberichter Hellfritzsch (G/M)
Caption Code: L 2334 Wb EM
Agency Stamp: Weltbild Presseservice, Frankfurt am Main (on reverse)
Size: approx. 18 × 13 cm
Condition: Very good – complete typed caption slip, period pencil annotations, minor edge wear consistent with age.

Historical Context

Taken during the summer of 1944, this photo captures the intense training and battlefield readiness of Panzergrenadier units at a time when German armored forces were engaged in desperate fighting on both Eastern and Western Fronts. The use of the title “Brennende Erde” reflects the scorched landscapes of the Eastern Front and the fierce mechanized warfare characteristic of late-war operations.

Collector’s Note

An excellent and atmospheric Weltbild press photograph illustrating the frontline role of Panzergrenadiers in 1944. Photos from this period with strong thematic titles and complete typed wartime captions are highly collectible, especially when tied to armored and mechanized units. A strong addition for collectors of Wehrmacht, Panzertruppe, and propaganda photography.

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German Press Photo – Evacuation of Wounded Soldiers, August 1944

€100,00

Original wartime German press photograph depicting the transport of wounded soldiers to field hospitals during the later stages of the fighting in France. The accompanying typed caption describes the improvisation and urgency of evacuation efforts, including the use of a civilian ferry to speed up river crossings.

Reverse caption reads:

“Alle Möglichkeiten werden erschöpft! Beim Abtransport unserer Verwundeten darf kein Aufenthalt eintreten. Eine Zivilfähre wurde zur Flussüberquerung eingesetzt. So kommen nun unsere verwundeten Kameraden auf den schnellsten Wege ins Lazarett.”
(All possibilities are exhausted! During the evacuation of our wounded, no delay is allowed. A civilian ferry was used for a river crossing, allowing our wounded comrades to reach the hospital as quickly as possible.)

Date: 5 August 1944
Photographer / PK Unit: Kriegsberichter Wittke (Wb)
Caption Code: L 2736 Wb Ei
Agency Stamp: Weltbild Presseservice, Frankfurt am Main (on reverse)
Size: approx. 18 × 13 cm
Condition: Excellent for age – clear caption label intact, minor handling consistent with period use.

Historical Context

Photographed during the summer of 1944, amid the retreat and heavy fighting in Normandy, this image highlights the Wehrmacht’s efforts to maintain medical evacuation routes under increasingly difficult conditions. The use of a civilian ferry for wounded transport reflects the desperate logistical improvisations made as the German front lines collapsed in France.

Collector’s Note

An evocative Weltbild press photograph illustrating the human side of the war — not combat, but care for the wounded under fire. Original photos with typed wartime captions describing frontline medical operations are increasingly rare and sought after by collectors of Wehrmacht, Normandy, and propaganda photography.

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German Press Photo – Transport of Tiger Tanks, July 1944

€125,00

Original wartime German press photograph showing Tiger tanks being secured for transport using strong steel cables (Stahltrossen) and wooden chocks placed under their wide caterpillar tracks. The detailed caption explains how the heavy tanks were fastened and stabilized during movement to prevent shifting on railway or transport vehicles.

The reverse caption reads:

“Mit starken Stahltrossen werden die Tigerpanzer festgezurrt, unter die breiten Raupenketten werden hölzerne Hemmschuhe getrieben. Sie sind so gegen Schlingern der fahrenden Wagen gesichert.”
(With strong steel cables, the Tiger tanks are lashed down; wooden chocks are driven under their wide tracks to secure them against swaying during transport.)

Date: 10 July 1944
Photographer / PK Unit: Kriegsberichter Knirsch (/vb)
Agency Stamp: Weltbild Presseservice, Frankfurt am Main (stamped on reverse)
Caption Code: L 2129 Wb EM
Size: approx. 18 × 13 cm
Condition: Excellent for age – sharp image, full typed caption label intact on reverse, light handling consistent with period use.

Historical Context

Photographed in July 1944, this image dates from the height of the fighting in Normandy, when Tiger I heavy tanks were urgently moved between fronts to counter the Allied invasion. The photo highlights the logistical challenge of transporting these massive armored vehicles safely — an essential part of Wehrmacht operations.

Collector’s Note

Original Weltbild press photos featuring Tiger tanks are highly desirable among collectors due to their rarity and direct connection to armored warfare on the Western Front. This example, complete with a detailed original typed caption slip and agency stamp, offers both visual impact and historical depth — a fine addition to any WWII armor or propaganda photo collection.

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Gruesome Photolot (Postwar Copies) of Murdered/Dead German Soldiers

€200,00

20x Gruesome Photolot (Postwar Copies) of Murdered/Dead German Soldiers (of which 1 or 2 with civilians)

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Othmar Hermes – Grenadier-Regiment 464 (253. Infanterie-Division)

€15,00

Original Postwar Signature on a Postwar Photo of Othmar Hermes

Leutnant Othmar Hermes (25 November 1925 – 12 January 2014) was a decorated front-line soldier of the Wehrmacht who distinguished himself during the heavy fighting on the Eastern Front.