An Excellent Afrika Corps Document Grouping to Panzer Grenadier Regiment 433 POW
A collection of documents to Erich Bach, consisting of:
A Soldbuch (salary booklet), measuring 103x144mm, very fine condition with damage to the spine, intermediate scuffing and creasing, and the body of the booklet having come close to completely loose. It is dated to November 27, 1939.
A certificate for the sleeve band “Afrika”, measuring 209x144mm, extremely fine condition with folding creases. It is signed by a Lieutenant Colonel and Regiment Commander, the name is indecipherable. A certificate for the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, measuring
148x211mm, extremely fine condition with folding creases. It is signed by Colonel and Leader of the 164th Light Africa Division Kurt Freiherr von Liebenstein (1899–1975), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross and of the Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
A post-war ID card for the British Zone of Occupation, measuring 80x123mm, fine condition with the pages being scuffed and having come completely apart. It is dated to December 29, 1951.
A post-war work ID, measuring 104x148mm, near extremely fine condition with scuffing and a small rip. It is dated to January 13, 1949. It also contains a small bank stub and a receipt of posting.
Footnote: Erich Bach was born on March 6, 1913 in Crimmitschau (Saxony). He served in the 4th Machine Gun Company of Infantry Regiment 433, later renamed Panzer Grenadier Regiment 433. On March 1, 1940 Bach was promoted to Gefreiter (Lance Corporal), and on September 1, 1941 he made Unteroffizier (NCO). His Soldbuch states that he “set foot on African soil” on August 5, 1942. There he was awarded the Italian-German Africa Campaign Medal on November 23, 1942, the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords on December 31, 1942, and the “Afrika” sleeve band on March 8, 1943. Bach’s regiment was destroyed in May of 1943. Presumably, Bach then became a POW.
A Soldbuch (salary booklet), measuring 103x144mm, very fine condition with damage to the spine, intermediate scuffing and creasing, and the body of the booklet having come close to completely loose. It is dated to November 27, 1939.
A certificate for the sleeve band “Afrika”, measuring 209x144mm, extremely fine condition with folding creases. It is signed by a Lieutenant Colonel and Regiment Commander, the name is indecipherable. A certificate for the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, measuring
148x211mm, extremely fine condition with folding creases. It is signed by Colonel and Leader of the 164th Light Africa Division Kurt Freiherr von Liebenstein (1899–1975), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross and of the Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
A post-war ID card for the British Zone of Occupation, measuring 80x123mm, fine condition with the pages being scuffed and having come completely apart. It is dated to December 29, 1951.
A post-war work ID, measuring 104x148mm, near extremely fine condition with scuffing and a small rip. It is dated to January 13, 1949. It also contains a small bank stub and a receipt of posting.
Footnote: Erich Bach was born on March 6, 1913 in Crimmitschau (Saxony). He served in the 4th Machine Gun Company of Infantry Regiment 433, later renamed Panzer Grenadier Regiment 433. On March 1, 1940 Bach was promoted to Gefreiter (Lance Corporal), and on September 1, 1941 he made Unteroffizier (NCO). His Soldbuch states that he “set foot on African soil” on August 5, 1942. There he was awarded the Italian-German Africa Campaign Medal on November 23, 1942, the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords on December 31, 1942, and the “Afrika” sleeve band on March 8, 1943. Bach’s regiment was destroyed in May of 1943. Presumably, Bach then became a POW.