(Wehrmachthelferin Gruppe). An extensive group of insignia, documents, and photographs of Wehrmachthelferin Maria Maier, including a Reich Labour Service of Female Youth (RADwJ) Service Badge in Silver, constructed of silvered feinzink, the obverse consisting of a mobile swastika flanked by wheat stalks, above a banner with an inscription of “RADwJ”, the reverse with a ball hinge and horizontal pinback meeting a round wire catch, unmarked, measuring 42 mm (w) x 38 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a RADwJ Commemorative Service Badge in Iron, constructed of patinated non-magnetic iron, the obverse with a central mobile swastika flanked by wheat stalks, inside of a richly-detailed border, the reverse with a horizontal pinback, maker marked “J.B. u. Co” for Julius Bauer & Söhne, Zella-Mehlis, measuring 44 mm (w) x 34 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a Wehrmacht Female Auxiliary Signals overseas cap patch, constructed of black wool, the obverse with a machine-embroidered yellow threaded lightning bolt, unmarked, measuring 36 mm (w) x 55 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition; a Wehrmacht Female Auxiliary Signals badge, constructed of gilded bronze, horizontal pinback, the obverse with a yellow-painted lightning bolt on a black-painted background, unmarked, measuring 30 mm in diameter, most of the black paint has been lost, in overall very fine condition; a Wehrmacht Female Auxiliary Communications Worker (Nachrichtenhelferin des Heeres) cuff title, constructed of yellow cotton twill, the exterior with dual machine-embroidered black threaded bands, with an inscription of “NH DES HEERES” in Fraktur script, unmarked, measuring 34 mm (w) x 153 mm (l), in uniform-removed and near extremely fine condition; a Wehrmacht Female Auxiliary tunic breast eagle, constructed of black cotton, the obverse bearing a machine-embroidered white cotton Wehrmacht-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with three bronze snap buttons, measuring 104 mm (w) x 42 mm (h), in extremely fine condition, and; a pouch for a Wehrmacht identification tag, constructed of tan-coloured leather, unmarked, measuring 81 mm (w) x 74 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.
The collection features a group of books and documents, including a Wehrmacht song book, consisting of 76 pages of popular military-related song with lyrics and sheet music, compiled by J. Breuer and published by J. Schott’s Söhne, Mainz, measuring 102 mm (w) x 144 mm (h), with two pages missing, in otherwise near extremely fine condition; a group of 11 RADwJ-themed postcards, each depicting a colour photo on the obverse and measuring 148 mm (w) x 105 mm (h), accompanied by their period original folio, the cover indicating compilation by Hans Retzlaff as part of series II, measuring 110 mm (w) x 150 mm (h0), in near extremely fine condition; a group of five RADwJ-themed postcards, each depicting a black-and-white photo on the obverse and measuring 106 mm (w) x 148 mm (h), accompanied by their period original folio, the cover indicating compilation by Hans Retzlaff as part of series IV, measuring 107 mm (w) x 150 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a faux black-leather bound notebook, dated 1939, with handwritten entries dating between 26 August 1939 and 1 June 1940, inside the notebook is a memorial card for Maier’s father, Josef Maier, who died on 24 February 1963, the notebook measures 90 mm (w) x 144 mm (h), some material fatigue is evident, in an overall better than very fine condition; an award certificate for merit, named to Maier and dated 27 April 1945 to 7 June 1945, stamped with a post-Third Reich Nachrichten-Abteilung 316 Wehrmacht insignia, measuring 209 mm (w) x 149 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition, and; a Wehrmacht discharge certificate to Maier, dated 7 June 1945 and certified on 22 June, issued at Westensee, measuring 210 mm (w) x 297 mm (h), some material fatigue evident, in overall very fine condition.
The collection also includes an extensive group of black-and-white photos, including a photo of Maier in a German Red Cross (DRK) uniform, measuring 38 mm (w) x 50 mm (h), unmarked and undated, in extremely fine condition; a photo of Maier at leisure with a friend, dated 1943, measuring 90 mm (w) x 62 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a photo of Maier in a RADwJ uniform, dated October 1943, measuring 45 mm (w) x 65 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a photo of Maier with a group of women in RADwJ uniforms, marked “EASTER 1943”, measuring 91 mm (w) x 61 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a photo of Maier with a group of women in Wehrmachthelferin uniforms, dated 3 August 1944, measuring 140 mm (w) x 90 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a photo of Maier with other women in Wehrmachthelferin uniforms and Waffen-SS personnel, dated April 1945, measuring 85 mm (w) x 57 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a photo of Maier’s friend Anni Keil, marked “SALZBURG 1943”, measuring 60 mm (w) x 70 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; two photo’s of Maier’s friend Ursula, with one dated 16 January 1945 and measuring 85 mm (w) x 135 mm (h), in extremely fine condition, and the other depicting Ursula in a Wehrmachthelferin uniform, dated 25 January 1945 and taken in Coburg, measuring 82 mm (w) x 118 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a photo of an unidentified couple, with one individual in a Luftwaffe Flieger uniform, marked “URLAUB JULI 1942” (“VACATION JULY 1942”), measuring 76 mm (w) x 105 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition; a First War period studio photo of Maier’s father Josef, in the uniform of a Pionier enlisted man, dated “1917”, measuring 88 mm (w) x 137 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; a studio photo of Josef in the uniform of a Heer Gefreiter, wearing a Condor Legion Panzer Badge, measuring 83 mm (w) x 115 mm (h), in extremely fine condition, and; a field photo of Josef in uniform, dated “1940”, measuring 58 mm (w) x 85 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.
Footnote: Maria Maier was born on 12 July 1924 in Erkheim, Bavaria. Her father, Josef, served with the Imperial German Army in the First World War and later saw service in the Spanish Civil War as part of the Condor Legion, remaining with the Wehrmacht through the Second World War. Prior to her own Wehrmacht service, Maria Maier served as a German Red Cross Auxiliary. She entered Wehrmacht service on 19 June 1944 as a Wehrmachthelferin (Female Auxiliary). She served as a communications specialist with Nachrichten-Abteilung 316 (Information Department 316). Maier was discharged from Wehrmacht service on 7 June 1945.