Martin W

I picked this document up yesterday at a local show in San Jose. One i would consider to be any early document issued in Wilhelmshaven on 8 November 1940.It is of a large A4 size.When i looked at it there appeared to be no signature,even under magnification. It was inexpensive and came with another document,both issued to the same man.Due to it's early date of issue i decided to buy it. When i got it home i scanned the document and behold there seemed to be a feint remnant of a signature.I then did a high res.scan and sure enough there is a signature there,slightly visible on the detail image posted below.I had no idea as to who the signature belonged to until i looked at Gordon's book and on page 132 he has a similar document issued in Wilhelmshaven about one month later on 15 Dez.1940. The document in Gordon's book is signed by the "Fuhrer de Minensuchverbande Nord",K.z.S Bohmer.(posted below). It is hard to tell but i'm thinking that this was the same person that signed the document i have ?? Regards,Martin.

Interesting thread. Great shot of the old "Bull Ring Center". I was born and raised in Birmingham so i can appreciate the old familiar images. When i was a kid i remember my father being in the Special Constabulary.This was back in the 1960's, so i am not sure if he was a member of the WM Police Force or that of the City of Birmingaham Police Force ?? He was stationed at Longbridge in S.W Birmingham,close to where i grew up. This is photo i have of him from the early 1960's in his uniform. Regards,Martin.

Hi Luke, i will look forward to seeing the the pictures of the book when you receive it. If it is a 1st edition and it contains the complete crewlist,you will see the name of Matr.Alfons.Grzywotz. I am lucky enough to have his HK award. It is a tombak Juncker piece and he scratched his name on the reverse. One of my favorite HK awards along with Erich Kuhn' s HK award,which is also a Juncker. Most of the awards i have seen that came from Atlantis crewmen are made by Juncker. I have seen a Schwerin and a Meybauer badge that came from Atlantis crewmen,but i beleive theae may have been later "private" purchases ? Regards,Martin.

A similar book was produced for the crewmembers of the Hillfskreuzer Komet I found this old thread i posted way back in regards to the Komet book. Some of the content of this old thread is duplicated here in this Atlantis thread. Regards,Martin. .http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/41801-bookhilfskreuzer-komet/page-2?hl=+hilfskreuzer

As i mentioned in my first post the "Atlantis" book was primarily photographed,compiled and was printed due to the efforts of the ships A.O Dr. Ulrich Mohr. From what i have learned,Mohr was a very private man in the postwar years and would not sign "anything". A couple of years ago i picked up this signed photo of Mohr and a letter that descibes his reluctance to sign it and send it at the request of the collector. From a fellow HK collector i have been told that this signed image of Mohr is "ultra-rare" ? I tought i would post it here due to the subject of the thread. Regards,Martin.

It looks great Luke. Definately an original copy from what i can see.The handwriting looks to be that of Rogge's but i cannot quite make out what crewman it is dedicated to. When you get the grouping perhaps you could post more detailed photo's of Rogge's handwriting and i would like to see the contents of the 1960 "Kameradschaft in Kiel" booklet. If it has the complete crewlist in the back of the book then you have what looks to be a good 1st edition. Looks like you have a good group here Regards,Martin.

Hi Luke, can you provide images of this Atlantis book you intend to buy ? If you can get photo's from the seller and post them here,perhaps i can be of help.I know of other HK collectors who may also be able to help. Regards,Martin.

Here is the Erich Kuhn grouping i mentioned in the last post. The picure is taken along with my other copy of the Atlantis book and you see the Rogge dedication from the inside cover of the "Kuhn" book. Regards,Martin.

Hi Luke, since i started this thread i have managed to obtain a signed copy by Rogge that came in a grouping and belonged to his 1st Officer,Erich Kuhn. I am not sure if the book has been "faked" but it has been reprinted several times,even as late as the 1980's i beleive. As to the price on these books,i just do not know for sure,although i have heard of "Rogge signed" copies of the 1st edition going as high as a $1000.00 ? Hope this helps, Martin.

Sorry i cannot put help in putting a name to the face. But what a great portrait Terry. I like to see these "multiple award" KM photo's. Regards,Martin.

The only other Minesweeper document i have. This one is signed by Vizeadmiral Gustav Kieseritzky.

This is a Minesweeper document that came from a grouping.The recepient also served on the Hilfskreuzer ORION. Regards,Martin.

Hi Bob, well,i have a limited knowledge of the German language. From what i know the word "funker" translates as a "radio operator". I am presuming that this word be valid on an award document,whether the recipient was civil or Military ?? I hope i am understanding your question correctly. Regards,Martin.

A similar 1st Oktober document to the one Kevin posted above in post #16,except this is from 'Marinestation der Nordsee". It is to a crewman from the Zerstorer "Bruno Heinemann" and is signed by K.z.S Fritz Berger. Regards,Martin.

A similar example to a crewman from the TA-23,signed by Kreisch on the same day,29 Juni 1944.

With Gordon's permission i am posting a page from his book "War Badges of the Kriegsmarine". The text on this page gives a nice description of the the two types of award document,(civil and military) that can be found. Regards,Martin.

Hi Kevin, apparently there were two types of award documents for the Blockade Breaker badge,civilian and military. Civil award documents carry a serial number on the top right and in most cases are are smaller in size at 105mm x 145mm. Military documents are larger and include the text "Der Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine". Regards,Martin.

Here is the only other Blockade Breaker document i have in my collection so far. Again this is a document that can be found in many variations and i would like to see more. Personally,i would really like to obtain one of these doc's that was given to a crewmember of the HK Thor. After the Thor was destroyed by fire in Yokohama many of the crewmen made it back to Europe on Axis Blockade Breakers out of Japan. This document is unfortunately in poor condition,but i got it for a song,so to speak,and it came with the the guys Soldbuch. It is a variant of the Military document i beleive, with a feint image of the award printed on the document and with green lettering. The signature on this particular document is unknown to me. Regards,Martin.

At Chris' request i am posting this Blockade Breaker award document to Karl-Heinz Muller. The document was issued on 23 Sept.1941 and has a printed signature of the Transport Minister Julius Dorpmuller.

A KvK II mit Schwerten document awarded to a crewman who served on Blockade Breakers.This is the only KvK document i have in my collection. The document is signed by Vizeadmiral Ernst Scherlitz. I have the BB document and Soldbuch for this crewman. Regards,Martin

Interesting observation Odulf. I will go through my collection and look at dated images. Thanks for the list of books on the subject also.This is very helpful. I do have the Rivier 1920-1945 book,plus the Headgear,Vol 1 and the complete set of Die Krtiegsmarine. Regards,Martin.

Nice one Brian. I do not know anything regarding the unit,but the date on the document certainly suggests that this air-sea rescue crewman was involved in actions over the Channel during the Battle of Britain,or at least in the latter stages. Regards,Martin.

Some interesting signatures on the doc's poste above. Here is another EKII document i have from a Hilfskreuzer crewman. Ernst Schwabe of the HK STIER. Alas,i do not have his HK award document but i do have a couple of nice photographs of the man,one i have posted below. The document is signed by the Commander of the STIER,Horst Gerlach. Regards,Martin.

Another EKII document to a crewman from the Hilfskreuzer ORION,Schiff 36. Signed by the commander Kurt Weyher. Regards,Martin.

Good idea and a fine document you have there Kevin. Here is my favorite EKII document from a crewman from the Hilfskreuzer THOR. It is signed by the Commander Gunther Gumprich on Dec.24 1942 in Yokohama,Japan. Regards,Martin.