Germany, Heer. The Photo Album, Awards, and Insignia of Wolfgang Schulz, Qualified Helmsman

(Heer Steuermann Konvolut). A rare and fascinating collection of items from the estate of Wolfgang Schulz, who served with Pionier-Ersaz-Bataillon 3, consisting of:

1. A photo album, constructed of a card stock binding, the spine perforated with four eyelets reinforced with metal grommets with a drawstring that maintains the album’s structural integrity, the interior content consisting of 12 black card stock pages divided by wax paper liners to protect the images, the former consisting of 84 black-and-white photographs, including images of Schulz through the years as a member of the HJ, RAD, and Heer, with many images of him and others in uniform, supplemented by a number of family and scenic photographs of various sizes, measuring 21 cm (w) x 16.5 cm (h), the interior of the cover bearing a handwritten dedication dated 5 August 1935, demonstrating moderate fatigue throughout, in addition to the loss of small number of images, in very fine condition.

With a number of items secreted within, including:

2. A 1939 Iron Cross II Class, constructed of iron and silver, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central mobile swastika, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1939”, the reverse six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, unmarked, measuring 44.68 mm (w) x 48.28 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

3. A Black Grade Wound Badge, constructed of blackened magnetic steel, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, with a central raised Stahlhelm overlaid by a mobile swastika, on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with a clip hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flattened angular catch, unmarked, measuring 36.74 mm (w) x 44.15 mm (h), demonstrating some loss of finish to high-contact points, in very fine condition.

4. A matching set of Heer Unteroffizier shoulder straps, each constructed of field-grey wool, trimmed with dark green piping, and bordered by silver aluminum wire tresses, the reverse of each with an integral strap perforated with a reinforced buttonhole, both unmarked and measuring 45 mm (w) x 110 mm (l) demonstrating minor material fatigue throughout, in very fine condition.

5. A trench art Battle of Remini traditions badge, constructed of magnetic metal, perforated with three eyelets for sew-on attachment, unmarked, measuring 38 mm (w) x 40 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

6. A Heer Qualified Helmsman (Boat Pilot) sleeve insignia, constructed of a dark wool base, the obverse bearing a hand-embroidered silver aluminum wire anchor topped by a steering stick and overlaid by a wheel, unmarked, measuring 55 mm (w) x 75 mm (h), in uniform-removed and extremely fine condition; notably accompanied by an Qualified Helmsman Pass, constructed of oilcloth, featuring handwritten particulars to Schulz, dated 3 September 1941 and issued from Brandenburg, indicating that Schulz was attached to Pionier-Ersatz-Bataillon 3 (based at Brandenburg), the reverse indicating that he has been entitled to wear the insignia since 22 October 1940, measuring 10 cm (w) x 14 cm (h), demonstrating moderate material fatigue throughout, a scarce accompaniment to a desirable Heer qualification badge, in very fine condition.