{"product_id":"ww2-german-afrika-korps-dak-collection-of-afrika-campaign-cuff-title-with-original-award-document-to-obergefreiten-focko-berends-signed-by-dak-major","title":"German WWII Afrika Korps DAK Grouping | AFRIKA Cuff Title, 1943 Award Document, Soldier Photo \u0026 Wehrmacht Afrika Map","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn exceptional and unusually complete \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGerman WWII Afrika Korps grouping\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e centered around an identified soldier, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObergefreiter Focko Berends\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and combining several highly collectible pieces of original North Africa campaign material into one cohesive collection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIncluded is an original \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"AFRIKA\" campaign cuff title\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e together with its matching \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eaward document\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, issued to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObergefreiter Focko Berends\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and dated \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMay 1, 1943\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The certificate records his authorization to wear the Afrika cuff title and was issued under the authority of the Commander-in-Chief South, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eField Marshal Albert Kesselring\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with the document signed in representation by a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMajor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe grouping also includes a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewartime hand-tinted portrait photograph\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCompleting the collection is an original \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1941 Wehrmacht \"Afrika-Karte\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a large-format military map produced specifically for restricted use within the German Armed Forces. Measuring approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e24\" x 26.5\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the multicolor map was published by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBibliographisches Institut AG\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOberkommando der Wehrmacht\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or German Armed Forces High Command.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe map covers the entire African continent along with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSouthern Europe and the Middle East\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, areas of enormous strategic importance during the North African campaign. Period colonial names remain throughout the map, including references to territories such as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTripolitania, British Somaliland, Belgian Congo, German Southwest Africa, and German East Africa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, along with important resource regions and mandate territories.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMarked for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWehrmacht use only\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the map belongs to the series of military \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTornisterschrift, or backpack publications\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, intended to provide German personnel with portable geographic reference material.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTogether, 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHighlights\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eIdentified to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eObergefreiter Focko Berends\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eOriginal \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAFRIKA campaign cuff title\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eMatching \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eaward \/ possession certificate\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eDated \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMay 1, 1943\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eIssued under \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eField Marshal Albert Kesselring's command authority\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eSigned in representation by a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMajor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eIncludes wartime \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecolorized soldier portrait\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eIncludes original \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1941 Wehrmacht Afrika-Karte\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eMilitary map marked for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWehrmacht use only\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eApprox. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e24\" x 26.5\" map\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eExceptional multi-piece \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfrika Korps grouping\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e⚔️ Why Shop With Us\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Over 2,500 5-star reviews online\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Carefully researched and curated collectibles\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• Fast, secure, and reliable shipping\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Collectors Crossroads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44135272054858,"sku":"WIW3104","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/collectorscrossroads.com\/products\/ww2-german-afrika-korps-dak-collection-of-afrika-campaign-cuff-title-with-original-award-document-to-obergefreiten-focko-berends-signed-by-dak-major","provider":"Collectors Crossroads ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}