Germany, Wehrmacht. An Extensive Lot of Photos, Documents, and Insignia to Wehrmacht War Correspondent Fred Kratochwil

An extensive lot of photos, documents, and insignia to Wehrmacht Kriegsberichter (War Correspondent) Fred Kratochwil, including an Afrika Korps cuff title, constructed of olive-grab and dark green cotton, the obverse bearing a machine-embroidered silver aluminum wire inscription of “AFRIKAKORPS” within dual silver aluminum wire tresses, unmarked, measuring 33 mm (w) x 350 mm (l), in uniform-removed and near extremely fine condition; an Italian-German African Campaign Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse with central Arco de Fileni of Brega, flanked by a fasces and swastika, circumscribed by inscription “ITALIENISCH DEUTSCHER FELDZUG IN AFRICA” (“ITALIAN-GERMAN CAMPAIGN IN AFRICA”), reverse with raised image of German and Italian soldiers grappling with a crocodile, maker marked on reverse with “LORIOLI, MILANO” and designer marked “DE MARCHIS”, measuring 30.85 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition, and; a photo of Kratochwil in an Afrika Korps uniform wearing both the cuff title and the medal, undated, measuring 85 mm (w) x 137 mm (h).

A group of three travel passes, dated between 25 June 1944 and 27 July 1944, each embedding Kratochwil onboard Kriegsmarine craft and measuring 210 mm (w) x 142 mm (h), in better than very fine condition

A mixed group of three Wehrmacht-issued documents, including a deployment order, dated 24 June 1942, measuring 222 mm (w) x 142 mm (h); an embedding order deploying Kratochwil to Norway and Finland, dated 24 June 1944, measuring 209 mm (w) x 149 mm (h), and; a telegraph concerning bomb damage, dated 5 June 1943, measuring 209 mm (w) x 149 mm (h); all in better than very fine condition.

A large group of photos, including five large photos of Benghazi, each measuring 170 mm (w) x 123 mm (h); a small aerial photo of Benghazi, measuring 148 mm (w) x 98 mm (h); three small photos of Benghazi, each measuring 86 mm (w) x 129 (h); photo of Kratochwil on board a ship with a miniature copy, measuring 85 mm (w) x 135 mm (h) and 57 mm (w) x 57 mm (h), respectively; a photo of Kratochwil in a Kriegsmarine uniform with Italian naval personnel, measuring 100 mm (w) x 68 mm (h); a photo of Heer troops on review, dated 2 August 1934, measuring 96 mm (w) x 65 mm (h); a photo of Kratochwil wielding a camera, measuring 64 mm (w) x 64 mm (h).

Also included is an extensive group of newspaper published photos taken by Kratochwil, including four photos of the Italian Navy operating in the Mediterranean; a series of photos of the Kriegsmarine in the Black Sea; a pair of photos of Afrika Korps personnel with a headline of “ZWISCHEN DEN KÄMPFEN IN AFRIKA” (“BETWEEN THE FIGHTING IN AFRICA”); three Kriegsmarine newspaper front pages with a photos taken by Kratochwil; a photo collage of five Wehrmacht personnel with a headline of “GESICHT DES SOLDATEN - GESICHT GESICHT UNSERER ZEIT” (“FACES OF SOLDIERS - FACES OF OUR TIME”); a photo of a Kriegsmarine vessel; a photo essay of a Kriegsmarine minesweeper; a front page of a German newspaper in occupied Norway with a photo taken by Kratochwil; a photo of Heer personnel in Crimea; a photo of Kriegsmarine personnel in harbour; a photo of a Kriegsmarine patrol boat in the North Sea; a photo of Kriegsmarine submarine hunters at sea; a photo essay of Afrika Korps personnel with a headline of “WASSER IN DER WÜSTE” (“WATER IN THE DESERT”); a group of photos of Bergen, Norway for a German-language newspaper; a photo of a Kriegsmarine vessel in a Czech-language newspaper, and; two Kriegsmarine newspaper headlines.