Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Rare Lot Of Awards & Documents To Heinz Kollmann, Tigerverband

(Tigerverband Abzeichen und Papiere). A rare lot of awards and documents named to Matrosengefreiter Heinz Kollmann, a crewman aboard a minesweeper of Tigervand Norway. It includes:

1. A Minesweeper War Badge, constructed of gilded and silvered tombak, the obverse consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Wehrmacht eagle clutching a mobile swastika, around a central depiction of an exploding sea mine, the reverse with a barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, maker marked with LDO code “L/11” for Wilhelm Deumer, Lüdenscheid, measuring 42.54 mm (w) x 53.92 mm (h), weighing 25.0 grams, with loss oxidation and loss of finish evident throughout, in very fine condition; accompanied by its period original award document, constructed of off-white paper stock with black ink, named to Kollmann as a Matrosengefreiter, issued at Bergen, Norway on 19 November 1941, featuring a handwritten signature of Vizeadmiral Otto von Schrader (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 19 August 1943), measuring 148 mm (w) x 210 mm (h), with some creasing and discolouration evident, in very fine condition.

2. An Honour Pin of the Tigerverband, constructed of silvered bronze, unmarked, measuring 7 mm (w) x 9 mm (h), in extremely fine condition; accompanied by its period original award document, constructed of card stock with black ink, named to Kollmann as a Matrosen, featuring a handwritten signature of Kapitänleutnant Hans Bartels (Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, 16 May 1940”, measuring 148 mm (w) x 210 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

3. A Tigerverband Honour Shield, constructed of a patinated zink alloy, unmarked, measuring 50 mm (w) x 62 mm (h), with extensive oxidation and loss of finish evident, in poor condition.

4. A 1941 edition of “Tigerflagge heiß vor!”, constructed of a heavy card stock binding with 182 paginated interior pages, opening with a portrait and dedication from Hans Bartels, detailing his time as commander of Minesweeper M1 with the 1st Minesweeper Flotilla, measuring 150 mm (w) x 212 mm (h), minor material fatigue is evident and the book is missing its dust jacket, in near extremely fine condition.

Footnote: As an amalgamation of several minesweeping flotillas equipped with 45 vessels, the Tigerverband distinguished itself off the coast of Norway during the early years of the war with exceptional performance in mine-clearing, submarine-hunting, and coastal defence. As commander of Minesweeper “M1”, Hand Bartels dedicated the included awards to personnel of the unit.