Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Collection Of Career Awards, Award Documents, And Photo Albums Of Friedrich Weilkes.

1) A Kriegsmarine Honour Roll Clasp (Ehrenblatt der Kriegsmarine) with matching miniature 1957 version stick pin. Instituted on June 22, 1941 by A.H. (Issued 1941-1945). Constructed of gilt bronze, the obverse consisting of a central mobile swastika superimposed on an anchor within a full oak wreath, attached to a period original Iron Cross 1939 Second Class ribbon via four fully intact prongs, measuring 25.78 mm in diameter. Accompanied by its 1957 version stick pin - visually similar but without a swastika, attached to a 43.43 mm long needle pin. Accompanied by its original case of issue, constructed of heavy card stock, with a textured faux black faux leather (leatherette) exterior, a lined interior lid, and a removable felt lined medal bed, with dual metal hinges, measuring 99.22 mm (w) x 67.05 mm (h). Accompanied by its award document. The Honour Roll Clasp award document is named to Oberwaffenwart (Spr.) (Senior Weapons Ward in Sperrdienst; Senior Master Sergeant equivalent for blocking weapons, i.e. mines) Weilkes. It is dated to Berlin on December 9, 1944 and carries a facsimile of Grand Admiral Dönitz. The accompanying letter was sent by the Naval High Command and is addressed to Anna Weilkes, presumably Weilkes’ wife, in Wilhelmshaven (northwest Germany). It measures 209 mm x 296mm.

2) A Bronze Grade Spanish Cross with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Bronze mit Schwertern). Instituted on April 14, 1939 by A.H. A Maltese cross constructed of gilt bronze, vaulted, with swords and Luftwaffe eagles affixed between the arms of the cross, the center with a mobile swastika, the reverse plain, with a vertical banjo style pin, and a functional hinge/catch assembly, measuring 55.53 mm (w) x 55.80 mm (h), weighing 27.0 grams. Accompanied by its award certificate. The Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords award document is named to Bootsmann (Boatswain) Weilkes. It is dated to Berlin on June 6, 1939 and carries a facsimile of A.H. it measures 254 mm x 354 mm.

3) A Kriegsmarine S-Boat Badge, First Type (Schnellbootkriegsabzeichen). Instituted on May 30, 1941. (This type issued May 30, 1941 - January 27, 1943). Constructed of gilded and silvered bronze, the obverse constructed of an oval laurel wreath, with a national eagle perched on the top of the badge clutching a mobile swastika, with a side-view of an E-Boat cutting through a wave, with the bow of the ship extending over the wreath, plain reverse, with a horizontal banjo-style pinback, a barrel hinge, and a flat catch, marked “Schwerin Berlin 68” on the reverse, measuring 44.98 mm (w) x 57.10 mm (h), weighing 32.1 grams. Accompanied by its award certificate. The E-Boat Badge award document is named to Waffenwart Weilkes of the Commando 4th E-Boat Flotilla. It is dated to April 1, 1942 and signed in blue ink the Leader of Torpedo Boats, Captain at Sea Hans Bütow (1894–1974), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross. It measures 146 mm x 228 mm.

4) An Iron Cross 1939 First Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1939 I. Klasse). Instituted on September 1, 1939. (Issued 1939-1945). A cross pattée of multi-piece construction with a blackened iron core (magnetic) within a ribbed border, the obverse with a raised central mobile swastika with the re-institution date “1939” in raised numbering on the lower arm, the reverse plain, with a slender banjo style vertical pinback, a barrel hinge, and a round wire catch, marked “26” for “B.H. Mayer, Pforzheim” on the reverse, measuring 44.22 mm (w) x 44.33 mm (h), weighing 17.1 grams, accompanied by its original case with a black faux leather (leatherette) exterior, the exterior of the lid embossed with an outline of an Iron Cross in silver, with a lined interior lid, a recessed medal bed, a functional spring catch and stud release, and a functional exterior metal hinge, measuring 67.57 mm (w) x 68.26 mm (h). Accompanied by its award certificate. The Iron Cross 1st Class award document is named to Waffenwart (Master Sergeant equivalent) Weilkes of the Commando Leader of Torpedo Boats. It is dated to February 11, 1942 and signed in black ink by the Fleet’s Commander in Chief, Admiral Otto Schniewind (1887–1964), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross. It measures 140 mm x 199mm.

5) A ribbon bar with three medals, awards, and decorations, consisting of 1) An Iron Cross 1939 Second Class (Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse). A cross pattée of multi-piece construction with a blackened iron core (magnetic) within a ribbed border, on loop for suspension, the obverse with a raised central mobile swastika with the re-institution date “1939” in raised numbering on the lower arm, the reverse with the original institution date “1813” in raised numbering on the lower arm, measuring 43.63 mm (w) x 43.80 mm (h). 2) A Twelve Year Long Service Medal (Dienstauszeichnung für 12 Dienstjahre). A circular gilt metal (magnetic) medal, on loop for suspension, with its period original ribbon and Hoheitszeichen, the obverse with the German eagle in the center, circumscribed in German gothic lettering “Treue Dienste in der Wehrmacht” (Faithful Service in the Armed Forces), the reverse with the raised number “12” centrally within an oak wreath, measuring 30.10 mm in diameter. 3) A circular silvered metal (magnetic) medal, on loop for suspension, with its period original ribbon and Hoheitszeichen, the obverse with the German eagle in the center, circumscribed in German gothic lettering “Treue Dienste in der Wehrmacht” (Faithful Service in the Armed Forces), the reverse with the raised number “4” centrally within an oak wreath, measuring 30.05 mm in diameter. All accompanied by their award certificate. The Iron Cross 2nd Class award document is named to Waffenwart Weilkes. It is dated to Paris on March 3, 1941 and signed by the commanding Admiral in France, Otto Schultze (1884–1966), a recipient of the Pour le Mérite and the German Cross in Silver. It measures 140 mm x 199 mm. The 12 year Long Service award document is named to Oberbootsmannsmaat (junior NCO rank) Weilkes of the Commando Heavy Cruiser “Admiral Scheer”. It is dated to Kiel on April 1, 1938 and certified in blue ink by Commander of the “Admiral Scheer”, Captain at Sea Otto Ciliax (1891–1964), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross and the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. It measures 210 mm x 296mm. The 4 year Long Service award document is named to Bootsmannsmaat Weilkes of Heavy Cruiser “Admiral Scheer”. It is dated to Kiel on October 2, 1936 and signed in black ink by 2nd Admiral of the Baltic Sea, Rear Admiral Karlgeorg Schuster (1886–1973), a recipient of the German Cross in Gold. It measures 209 mm x 296 mm.

6) A Cased War Merit Cross Second Class with Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwertern). A Maltese cross in bronze, on a loop for suspension from its mint period original ribbon, the obverse with crossed swords between the arms of the cross and a circular raised border of oak leaves on the obverse with a raised mobile swastika in the center, the reverse with a circular raised border of oak leaves bearing the institution date “1939” in raised numbering, measuring 47.81 mm (w) x 47.74 mm (h), weighing 21.9 grams. Accompanied by its case of issue, constructed of cardstock, with a burgundy faux leather (leatherette) exterior, the exterior of the lid embossed with the LDO logo in silver, with a recessed lined medal bed, and an intact exterior leatherette hinge, measuring 68.71 mm (w) x 68.92 mm. Also accompanied by its period original ribbon bar, measuring 26.45 mm (w) x 16.99 mm (h). Accompanied by its award certificate. The War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords is named to Oberwaffenwart Weilkes. It is dated to January 30, 1945 and carries a facsimile of Commander-in-Chief or Navy High Command North Sea, Admiral Erich Förste (1892–1963), a recipient of the German Cross in Gold. It measures 148 mm x 209 mm.

7) A private photo album of Weilkes. Weilkes’ private photo album contains 152 photos as well as an envelope that contains another 19 loose photos. On the cover is a flag that has been denazified. It states: “In memory of my term of service”. On the inside of the cover, Weilkes wrote: “Memories of deployments in the West and the East - Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Finland”. The photos show a cross section of Weilkes’ life as a soldier, including being on duty as well as during freetime, and places that he has been, for example disposing of enemy mines at a beach in Belgium; the wreck of a French cruiser at the beach of Dunkirk; the city of Ypres; on a torpedo boat in the English Channel; the arrival in, and later departure from Turku, Finland; back on the Western Front, including Netherlands and France; and two loose pictures showing fjords in Norway, 1941. The pictures from the envelope show torpedo boats and Kriegsmarine sailors. Three photos show large sailing ships. It measures 266 mm x 190mm.

8) The two Artillery Marksmanship award documents are both named to Bootsmannsmaat Weilkes of Heavy Cruiser “Admiral Scheer”, “for proficiency in shooting year” 1934/35 and 1935/36, respectively. Both documents are signed in black ink by the Commander, Captain at Sea Wilhelm Marschall (1886–1976), a recipient of the Pour le Mérite and the German Cross in Gold, as well as in blue ink by the 1st Artillery Officer, Corvette Captain Ernst Lindemann (1894–1941), a posthumous recipient of the Knight’s Cross. They measure 217 mm x 273 mm.

Footnote: Beyond this collection, almost nothing is know about the life of Friedrich “Fritz” Weilkes. He was born on December 6th, 1906 in Essen (western Germany). He joined the military in the early 1930s. By 1934, Weilkes served on the Heavy Cruiser “Admiral Scheer”, a post he would hold until at least the spring of 1938. Since the “Admiral Scheer” was only commissioned in late 1934, Weilkes probably served there from the very beginning. He may have served on the SMS Hessen before, since this ship went out of service when the “Admiral Scheer” was commissioned, and the crew was simply relocated to the new ship. Weilkes participated in the German efforts to influence the outcome of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). The “Admiral Scheer” was evacuated German civilians in 1936, then went on patrols off the Spanish coast, protecting German ships delivering weapons. In May/June of 1937, it bombarded the harbour of the city of Almería. At some point, Weilkes decided to specialise in explosive weaponry. In the early days of the Second War, he served in a mine disposal unit stationed at the English Channel, first in Belgium, then in France. He stayed at the Western Front until at least early 1941. It is unclear when Weilkes was deployed to serve in Finland, but presumably it happened slightly before or shortly after the attack on Russia, judging from photographic evidence, mainly concluded by the awards he wears in the pictures. After returning to the Western Front in late 1941 or early 1942, Weilkes joined the 4th E-Boat Flotilla, patrolling the North Sea and the English Channel. Weilkes was awarded the Kriegsmarine Honour Roll in the rank of Oberwaffenwart of the Sprengkommando (bomb disposal commando) of the Sperrwaffeninspektion (blocking weapons inspection) on December 9, 1944, and mentioned in the Honour Roll on January 11, 1945. He was one of only 37 Kriegsmarine members to be presented with this award. On January 30, 1945 Weilkes received the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords. This is the final piece of information known about him.