Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Private Wartime Photo Album Of U-Boat Hunter Radio Operator Obergefreiter Hans Hüllmann

The album is titled “war memories”. It belonged to a radio operator, Obergefreiter (Corporal) Hans Hüllmann, and contains 93 photos and postcards. It also contains an award document (150x218mm, near very fine) for the Minesweeper War Badge named to Funkobergefreiter Hüllmann, dated to June 3, 1944 and signed in blue ink by the Commanding Admiral of the Black Sea, Vice Admiral Helmuth Brinkmann (1895–1983), a recipient of the Knight’s Cross. Furthermore, an envelope glued to a page of the album contains several official notes. One is an ID slip of the local commandant’s office in Sevastopol (Crimea) (148x108mm, fine). It is dated to February 18, 1944 and states that Hüllmann is part of the 1st U-Jagdflotille (U-boat Hunting Flotilla), stationed in the city. A second piece of paper (210x89mm, fine) dated to February 25, 1944 states that Hüllmann of the U-boat Hunting Flotilla 103 has permission to enter the western docks until March 15, 1944. Another ID card (131x90mm, fine) dated to April 20, 1944 states that Hüllmann is eligible to enter the port of Constanța, Romania for official business until July 31, 1944.

The photos show Hüllmann during his basic training. Many pictures show ships or their crews. Several photos on the early pages show Grand Admiral Dönitz. Some pictures of ships were taken in frozen waters. On the last few pages are five photos of a military funeral. The album measures 283 (w) x 202 (h) mm, with light scuffing and some damage to the spine, remains near very fine. A Wehrmacht eagle insignia used to be attached to the front cover, discernable by three small holes.