Superb, 5-pieced WH (Heeres) ie. DAK-related insignia-grouping comprising of resp. an: 'Afrika'-cuff-title, ID-disc, rank-chevron, 'K.-Bew.Abz. in B.' and an: 'Ärmelabzeichen für Angehörige des Sonderverbandes 287 o. 288'
This is a truly attractive - and obviously used- and/or worn- ie. carefully tunic-removed! - 5-pieced, WH (Heeres) ie. DAK- (or: 'Deutsches Afrikakorps'-) related insignia-grouping comprising of respectively an: 'Afrika'-cuff-title (ie. 'Ärmelstreifen'), an aluminium-based ID-disc (ie. 'Erkennungsmarke') bearing the clearly stamped unit-designation that simply reads: 'Ers.Kp.M.G.Btl.8', a field-grey-coloured rank-chevron (ie. 'Armwinkel') as was intended for usage by an: 'Obergefreiter', a golden-bronze-toned: 'Kraftfahrbewährungs-Abzeichen in Bronze' and a rarely seen: 'Ärmelabzeichen für Angehörige des Sonderverbandes 287 o. 288' (being an example as was executed in the BeVo-weave-pattern) all five pieces coming in an overall nice- (albeit clearly used- and/or worn-), condition. The grouping was always together and was clearly used as such: the grouping originates from a private-household in Germany where it was recently found as such: it was never before in collectors'-hands. The attractive cuff-title (ie. 'Ärmelstreifen') comes in a truly worn- and/or once-tunic-attached- and still 'sewn-together' condition: it measures (folded) approximately 36 cms. and was clearly once worn and/or carefully tunic-removed (as can be noticed on the pictures). Both ends are still period 'sewn-together' and show some normal fraying as is more often encountered and the piece still shows some (clearly present!) stitching-remains (as can be seen on the pictures). The armband shows some obvious age, wear and staining and was stored as such for decades. The cuff-title is executed in the (typical) neat (ie. 'smooth-type'-) beige-brownish-coloured, so-called: 'Kamelhaar' (camel hair) as is more often encountered. It should be stated that these 'Afrika'-cuff-titles are not to be regarded as commemorative cuff-titles (such as the 'Afrikakorps' cuff-title) but were regarded as official awards that needed official recognition (and entries in both 'Soldbuch' and/or: 'Wehrpass'). The aluminium-based ID-disc (ie. 'Erkennungsmarke') is bearing the clearly stamped unit-designation that simply reads: 'Ers.Kp.M.G.Btl.8' (and was as such intended for a soldier who served within the replacement- (ie. 'Ersatz'-) company of this 'Infanterie'-related, machine-gunners 'Bataillon', numbered: '8'). It should be noted that this particular unit was truly one of the first units that set foot on African soil (ie. Libyen) in 1941. The disc also shows the soldiers'-bloodgroup-type (ie. 'Type A'). The field-grey-coloured rank-chevron (ie. 'Armwinkel') shows two stripes of the bluish-grey-coloured NCO-braid and was as such intended for usage by an: 'Obergefreiter': it was clearly used and was carefully tunic-removed. The golden-bronze-toned: 'Kraftfahrbewährungs-Abzeichen in Bronze' is also nicely preserved and comes mounted onto its original piece of field-grey-coloured wool. It retains its period, beige-coloured 'backing-paper' and most of its somewhat shiny ie. 'Brennlack'-like surface (as can be seen on the pictures). The last piece in the grouping is a - rarely encountered and/or equally desirable! - WH (Heeres) 'BeVo'-woven armbadge that is also known as: 'Ärmelabzeichen für Angehörige des Sonderverbandes 287 o. 288' and that comes in an overall very nice- (and clearly worn- ie. carefully tunic-removed-), condition. This special unit (ie. aka 'Sonderverband 288') was raised on July 1st, 1941 in the town of Potsdam (near Berlin) and was composed of units from all over Germany. The armbadge is nicely woven in the so-called: 'BeVo'-weave-technique and is a truly attractive example of this fantastic technique. The badge comes as stated above in a truly used and once tunic-attached condition: some of the stitching-holes are still present and visible and it shows some age, wear and/or staining (as can be seen on the pictures). The badge on offer here is naturally a 100% period- and/or genuine example for which I give a life-time garuantee (as always). I deem that I have priced this attractive - and with certainty desirable! - 5-pieced WH (Heeres) ie. DAK- (or: 'Deutsches Afrikakorps'-) related insignia-grouping accordingly!
Code: 53510