Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Photo & Document Group To The Pocket Battleship Admiral Scheer

A One-Of-A-Kind Collection of Kriegsmarine Diaries, Albums, and Documents of Senior Lieutenant Hans Schröer This is a very fine collection consisting of three parts; an exceptional War Diary, a photo album, and a variety of Kriegsmarine award documents belonging to Senior Lieutenant Hans Schröer, starting with:

1) An exceptional and certainly one of a kind Official War Diary (Kriegstagebuch) with a total of 400 pages, with 212 pages featuring handwritten entries in ink from 1941 to 1947. The are written in semi-neat handwriting, and are clearly legible. The diary measures 298 mm x 215 mm, with the exterior of the book showing some typical signs of age and use, but with the interior being wonderfully preserved.

2) A unique photo album of Hans Schröer containing 124 black and white photographs, 3 postcards, documenting Schröer’s adventures while in the Reichsmarine and the Kriegsmarine. Subject matter include; sailors and officers, on parade, at work and at play, four studio portraits of Schröer in uniform, including one of him wearing his Reichsmarine cap and two ‘Linienschiff Hessen’ on his tally ribbon; taken in mountainous, exhotic, and harbour locations; featuring islands, buildings, carts, people of a railway platform, ships in port and on the high seas...and much more. The album has a multi-colour cotton exterior and measures 315 mm x 220 mm. Some photographs have become loose through time and storage, but overall this album is very well preserved.

3) A wooden naval shield plaque depicting a fouled anchor with crossed flags, crossed lightning bolts and a large diagonal lightning bolt on the obverse - all in high relief; hand painted in red, blue, silver, and bronze colours; the reverse with an identifications sticker - but mostly worn; measuring 170 mm x 130 mm x 16 mm. Extremely fine condition. Accompanying this one of a kind collection are the following documents:

4) An award document for a High Seas Fleet badge, presented to Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) Hans Schröer for his participation on the Cruiser ‘Admiral Hipper’. The document is dated June 17, 1942, and depicts the signature of the Kriegsmarine Admiral and Flottenchef. It measures 205 mm x 141 mm, and is in near mint condition with some rust staining on the top left corner from a paperclip.

5) An award document for an Iron Cross 1939 Second Class, presented to Leutnant (Lieutenant) Hans Schröer from the Commando Cruiser ‘Admiral Hipper’. The document is dated in Wilhelmshaven on April 16, 1940, and depicts the signature of the Kriegsmarine Vizeadmiral und Flottenchef, Günter Lütjens. It measures 200 mm x 140 mm, and is in mint condition.

6) An award document for a Long Service Medal 3rd Class for Twelve Years’ Service; presented to Oberfunkmeister Hans Schröer of the Oberfelt. Mar. Kommandierten Kompanie. The document is dated in Berlin on October 1, 1938, and depicts the signature of the Kriegsmarine Konteradmiral. It measures 297 mm x 210 mm, and is in near mint condition with only a slight grease stain on the top left corner.

7) An award document for a Long Service Medal 4th Class for Four Years’ Service, presented to Oberfunkmaaten Hans Schröer of the I. Marineunteroffizierlehrabteilung. The document is dated October 2, 1936, and depicts the signature of Konteradmiral. It measures 296 mm x 209 mm, and is in near mint condition with only a slight grease stain on the top left corner.

8) A Typewritten letter regarding an accident on the Bulgarian Ruled Territory of Thassos (which took place on June 9, 1941, with two photographs depicting a seemingly drowned sailor laying on a river bank; black and white photographs with a glossy finish; measuring 69 mm x 57 mm each. Overall, this is an exceptional collection that tells an amazing story of the wartime service in the Kriegsmarine of Senior Lieutenant Hans Schröer. The photo album is certainly one of a kind example with too many photographs to describe. The diary offers an exceptional window into the service of Schröer if taken the time to translate. Overall, better than extremely fine/near mint condition.