German WWII Afrika Korps DAK Grouping | AFRIKA Cuff Title, 1943 Award Document, Soldier Photo & Wehrmacht Afrika Map

An exceptional and unusually complete German WWII Afrika Korps grouping centered around an identified soldier, Obergefreiter Focko Berends, and combining several highly collectible pieces of original North Africa campaign material into one cohesive collection.

Included is an original "AFRIKA" campaign cuff title together with its matching award document, issued to Obergefreiter Focko Berends and dated May 1, 1943. The certificate records his authorization to wear the Afrika cuff title and was issued under the authority of the Commander-in-Chief South, Field Marshal Albert Kesselring, with the document signed in representation by a Major.

The grouping also includes a wartime hand-tinted portrait photograph of the soldier in tropical uniform, providing a personal face to the collection and making the grouping much more compelling than a set of unrelated artifacts.

Completing the collection is an original 1941 Wehrmacht "Afrika-Karte", a large-format military map produced specifically for restricted use within the German Armed Forces. Measuring approximately 24" x 26.5", the multicolor map was published by Bibliographisches Institut AG for the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, or German Armed Forces High Command.

The map covers the entire African continent along with Southern Europe and the Middle East, areas of enormous strategic importance during the North African campaign. Period colonial names remain throughout the map, including references to territories such as Tripolitania, British Somaliland, Belgian Congo, German Southwest Africa, and German East Africa, along with important resource regions and mandate territories.

Marked for Wehrmacht use only, the map belongs to the series of military Tornisterschrift, or backpack publications, intended to provide German personnel with portable geographic reference material.

Together, the cuff title, identified award certificate, portrait, and military map create a remarkable Afrika Korps display spanning personal service, uniform insignia, and the geographic theater in which German forces fought.

Highlights

• Identified to Obergefreiter Focko Berends
• Original AFRIKA campaign cuff title
• Matching award / possession certificate
• Dated May 1, 1943
• Issued under Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's command authority
• Signed in representation by a Major
• Includes wartime colorized soldier portrait
• Includes original 1941 Wehrmacht Afrika-Karte
• Military map marked for Wehrmacht use only
• Approx. 24" x 26.5" map
• Exceptional multi-piece Afrika Korps grouping

Condition

The grouping contains several original period artifacts with preservation characteristics consistent with wartime use and storage. The cuff title, award document, soldier photograph, and Afrika map should each be reviewed closely in the available photographs for exact condition, markings, signatures, folds, and age-related wear.

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